Bristol R 2004 - No longer will we go wild Rover?

[SirFozzie]

Bristol Star- July 11th, 2004 Edition

Yellope announced as new head man at Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers announced yesterday that former U-17 coach, David Yellope, had been announced as the new manager at the League Two side with immediate effect.

The 29 year old Cambridgeshire native was reportedly delighted to take over at Rovers, and hone his management skills at The Memorial Stadium. The pundits claim that Bristol have an outside shot at promotion this year, with a goal of a finish in the top half of League Two.

However, Yellope inherits a side that will not have much extra going for it this year. According to an unnamed club source at Bristol, the club is nearly a half-million pounds in debt, and the source said it was "highly unlikely" that the side would be granted any transfer funds.

Yellope has said that he was studying the roster, and while he understands that the club's financial position would likely keep the team from being a player in the transfer market this season, he would be studying the loan list for players that he thought could help the club at certain positions."

Bristol Rovers
Also known as - Pirates
Year Formed - 1883
Ground - The Memorial Stadium (Capacity 12,000 (4,000 seated)
Colours
Home: Blue and white quartered shirts, white shorts, blue stockings
Away: White shirts, black shorts, white stockings

Honours: League One winners, 1990, 2nd place 1974, 3rd Place 1970, LDV Vans Trophy Runner Up, 1990.
FA Cup Best season: 6th-round, 1951, 1958
League Cup Best season: 5th-round, 1971, 1972

Bristol Rovers FC All Time Records
Attendance 9464: vs Liverpool 08/02/1992 FA Cup R4
Best league win 7 - 0: vs Brighton & Hove Albion 29/11/1952 Division 3S
Worst league loss 0 - 12: vs Luton Town 13/04/1936 Division 3S
Best cup win 6 - 0: vs Merthyr Tydfil 14/11/1987 FA Cup R1
Worst cup loss 1-8: vs QPR 1937/38
Most capped player Neil Slatter: 10 Wales
League appearances Stuart Taylor: 545 1966/80
League goals Geoff Bradford: 245 1949/64
Goals in a season Geoff Bradford: 33 1952/53 Division 3S
Transfer fee received £2,000,000: Barry Hayles Fulham November 1998
Transfer fee paid £370,000: Andy Tilson Queen's Park Rangers November 1992

[SirFozzie]

Goalkeepers

Kevin Miller (35, Valued at 16K, 800/Wk Wages)
Ryan Clake (22, Valued at 4K, 250/Wk Wages)

Miller is definitely the first choice between the pipes in net. Clarke is a youngster who has an extra year on his contract left, while Miller's expires at the end of the year.

Miller is one of those goalies who isn't good for reflex saves, but at least he has basic punching skills for crosses. If Clarke doesn't catch those looping crosses, he's in big trouble.

With Miller aging and leaving after this season, I'm probably going to have to either get some money for transfers and go hunting, or dip a toe into the Bosman GK's lsit.

[SirFozzie]

Defenders

D L Robbie Ryan (Irish, 27, Valued at 60K, 1,200/Wk)

Our top defender, I don't feel so bad about having him on the left side of defense. A good man-marking type, with good stamina, and great anticipation. He works well with his fellow back line players. I think he'll be out there most of the season.

D C Steve Elliot (25, Valued at 30K, 3K/Week wages)

Steve is still living off his two U21 caps for England in his younger years. He's good physically, but more of a scrapper type technically. I might attempt to see if I can move him, since moving him would get us closer to the Chairman's wage budget (we have a targer of 17.75K per week, we are currently at 23.1K/week)

D C John Anderson (Scottish, 31, Valued at 20K, 600/Wk Wages)

Probably the starter at one of the D C positions (we're going to run a 4-3-1-2 counter style).. very good aerially, with very good stamina and fitness, and tackling's not bad either. He's strictly a hit and hope type when creating a counter, however.

D RC Craig Hinton (26, 16K value, 500/Wk Wages)

Decent if not good, has slightly above average skills in Heading, Marking and Tackling (11 in each), and good teamwork. Will likely start on the Right side, and maybe move into the other DC position if we get rid of Elliot.

D/DM L Ijah Anderson (28, Valued at 14K, 500/wk Wages)

Backup strictly, has some good physical tools, but his technical skills, are quite lacking

D C Liam Burns (Northern Ireland, 25, Valued 10K, 500/Wk Wages)

Holder of 15 U21 caps for the Northern Irish side, fell out of favor with the previous regime, and was transfer listed. We removed him from the list, as he is better then a couple of the other guys we have, at least technically, and we've told Burns he has a chance to prove himself with us, start from scratch, so to speak.

D C Christian Edwards (Wales (1 Cap), 28, Valued 9K, 800/Wk Wages)

On the list, (how did he ever get an international cap???)... Hope I can find someone to take his 800/wk salary. Good aerially, but lacking in most other categories.

D C Sonny Parker (21, 4K Value, 350/Wk)

On the list, Very determined but, just not cut out for footy at this level.

D/DM L Jon Beswetherick (26, 2K Value, 700/wk

On the list, luckily, his contract for some reason ends at the end of October. Will be moving on.

[SirFozzie]

Midfield

AM R/L Ryan Williams (25, Valued at 28K, 1K/Wk Wages)

He's playing for a contract, but he'll likely be playing elsewhere. The regime listed him, and while he's a decent to ok player, he's also making a bit too much for my tastes, and will stay on the list. Good penalty taker tho.. if he plays, he'll probably be my first choice.

M R/L/C Stuart Campbell (Scottish, 26, 24K, 1.4K/Week)

A pretty versatile player, with some decent ratings. A bit pricy, but he brings a good variety to the side. Holds 15 U21 caps in past years for Scotland, but hasn't played for the Tartan Army national side. Likely will start all over the place.

DM R Ali Gibb (28, 24K Value, 700/Wk Wages)

Pretty unflappable, we hear at least one or two Ali G jokes a practice aimed at Ali, but he takes it all in good stride. He's a good player to bring the ball upfield, and hopefully start some attacks. Will start on the Right side of midfield.

M R/C David Savage (Ireland (5 Caps), 30, 24K Value, 2K/Week wages
Pretty fast, and definitely a starter in my setup. 2k/Week is a bunch, but hopefully he lives up to it. He IS playing for a contract, however (expires in June)

M L/C Paul Trollope (Welsh (9 Caps), 32 years old, 20K value, 1K/Week Wages)
The starter at the Left side of midfield, and one of the best players on the team. Will be one of the veteran players that the team will look to.

AM C Craig Disley (22, 18K Value, 750/week)
A bit slow at the Attacking Midfield position, average at best, but he's the best of a bunch of not so good options right now, I think. Let's see if he can improve himself.

M R/C Aaron Lescott (25, 16K, 700/Wk)
A very capable backup, he'll be all over the place.

DM C James Hunt (27, 16K, 1K/Wk)
Strong mentally, but needs work on the field.

M C Thorsten Dinkel (German, 27, 3K, 325/wk)
Not really going to feature in my plans. Listed, and ready to go home.

[SirFozzie]

Forwards and Strikers

F C Junior Agogo (Ghana, 24, 35K, 1.1K/week)
Holds an English passport, so we don't need to worry about a work permit. Pretty good at scoring, but will not create a lot of wonder-goals. Should be the focus of our attack, however.

Lewis Haldane (19, 30K, 450/wk)
A hot prospect for the future. Good at finishing, but I think I will be loaning him out to get first team experience. Contract expires this year, but I will be offering a 2 or 3 year deal, just to see how he develops.

S C Richard Walker (26, 28K, 1K/Wk)
2nd choice, and a pure striker type, good off the ball skills, but average at finishing. 2nd choice on the team for penalties.

F C Jamie Forrester (29, 26K, 1K/Wk)
He joined us in the offseason from League One side Hull, where he scored 4 goals in 21 games. He will be in the rotation up front, but I wanted him to play the AM/C role.. but I don't think he'd work there.

[SirFozzie]

Right now, looking at the squad, Midfield is thin, and we could use a pure goal scorer to partner Agogo up front. Time to hit the loan wire, and see if there's some guys we can grab.

[SirFozzie]

These are the five players that I request to get on loan (at least to start)

S C Adam Birchall (Arsenal Reserves, 19)
M C John Spicer (Arsenal Reserves, 20)
M R Ciaran Ryan (Bolton Reserves, 21)
AM R/C Benjamin Collett (Man Utd Reserves, 19)
AM/F R/C Ryan Stevenson (St Johnstone (1st Div Scotland), 19)

[SirFozzie]

Friendly 1: Home Vs Livingston (Scottish Premier League)

The first half is mixed, Livingston is one of the minnows in the SPL, but they are still a top-flight club, and they spend a lot of time in our half of the field. Hinton plays the best of the first half players, (Form of 7), while Junior Agogo picked up a minor knock, and was less then good (Form 5).

We make six changes at half time, and see how the 2nd team does.

Well, we are good on the defensive side, on the 2nd 45 minutes, but we lack offensive spark, which just confirms that we need more help up front..

We survive, and a scoreless result isn't bad.. it's just not great.

Bristol R 0-0 Livingstone (No Goals) Att:588

[SirFozzie]

Haldane signs with us at 450/week through 2008.

We're waiting to hear on the loan requests, while other teams try to get involved as well, so it's a wait and see.

It doesn't look good for the UK teams in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers, as Moldovian side Sheriff Tiraspol defeats Irish side Shelbourne 3-1. The only saving grace for the Irish side is that the 2nd leg is at home in Shelbourne.

Northern Irish side Linfield is also down 3-1 (to former Russian-sattelite Georgia's WIT-Georgia FC Tbilisi), with their home leg still to come.

Welsh side Rhyl had the best first leg performance, but even their advancement is up in the air, as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home against Latvian side FK Skonto Riga

[SirFozzie]

Ryan Stevenson flatly rejects coming out from Scotland to play for us, so we let it go.

and our midfield problems just got worse, as Ryan Williams takes a tumble after going up for a header, and accidentally getting undercut. The broken jaw has him on liquid food for a couple weeks. our physio tells us it'll be a month before he'll be in game shape.

[SirFozzie]

Well, we're 0 for 3 on loan requests, with ManU's Benjamin Collett, chosing a freaking Conference North team (Worksop) over us, and Liverpool's Jon Ostemobor choosing Championship side Sheffield United.

Grrr...

[SirFozzie]

We strike out on the rest too.. grr.. Time to go hunting again.

We lose 3-1 in our 2nd friendly, to conference side Aldershot. Junior Agogo scored the only goal.

[SirFozzie]

Well, Shelbourne gets the required two goals needed to advance in the home leg, winning on away goals on a 3-3 aggregate with Sherriff. However, Linfield came close, winning 2-1 at home, but got bounced 4-3 on aggregate to WIT-Georgia, and Rhyl lost 2-0 on the road, which sent them out 3-1 on aggregate.

[SirFozzie]

We lose 2-0 to Crystal Palace in our third friendly (at least we pull almost 12,000 fans to the game)..

However...

Grrr..

An injury at a position we just can't afford to have one, as 35 year old Goalie Kevin Miller twisted his ankle and will miss 3 weeks, which means he isn't likely to be ready for the season opener.

The loan hunt continues.

[SirFozzie]

we Lose 2-1 to Premiership side Charlton, as we start to get ready for the season, and we do finally manage to bring one loan player into the side, as Rochdale's striker Kevin Towson joins us for 3 months.

[SirFozzie]

We manage to get two more players on loan.

We solve our goal keeper deficiencies with Oxford's Simon Cox for the season, he will be a likely #1 while Miller is not available, how he does during that time frame will decide what happens when Miller returns.

We also get Manchester United to send us defender Phillip Bardsley on a 3 month loan

[SirFozzie]

We do manage a win in preseason, as Liam Miller and Kevin Towson score late in the game to get us past Northern Irish side Glentoran, 2-0.

This is what we look like entering the season

GK: Clarke
DL: Ryan
DC: Elliot
DC: Hinton
DR: Bardsley
ML: Campbell
MC: Hunt
MR: Gibb
AMC: Disley
FC: Townson
FC: Agogo

S1: Clarke (GK)
S2: J.Anderson (D C)
S3: Lescott (M RC)
S4:Forrester (F C)
S5: I.Anderson (D/DM L)

[SirFozzie]

We get told of our first round game in the League Cup, and it's less then optimal, as we'll be away, but the game is definitely winnable, at fellow League Two side Bury.

We are favored against Macclesfield, as the bettors seem to think that we're going to get off to a big start.

(H) Macclesfield 7-2, Draw 9-4, Bristol Rovers 4-6 (Fav)

[SirFozzie]

7: We nearly go up early, as Kevin Townson blasts one that Macclesfield netminder Alan Fettis has to palm over the bar. They clear the resulting corner, and we try to counter after they blast the ball to midfield, but Agogo is offside.

19: Clarke with a poor clearance, and Macclesfield on the attack, but fortunately, Tipton puts it into the side netting.

20: Hunt booked for tripping a Macclesfield player.

22: Hunt from just outside the 18 is clear.. right on net, parried by Fettis and cleared. On the ensuing attack, Macclesfield midfielder Joey Jones is booked for bringing down Hunt.

25: Tipton misses wide

36: Agogo seems to have the ball in space, but a Macclesfield defender rides him off the ball just before the 18, and the attack fizzles.

42: Agogo misses wide on a blast from outside the area.

45(1st Minute Stoppage): Sheron nearly puts them up before the break, with a shot that scrapes the corner where the crossbar and post meet.

Halftime: 0-0. Pretty even so far. Surprised that we don't have more then 1 card, because we've committed 9 first half fouls.

53: Cox saves a Jones shot and we clear the ensuing rebound.

62: They make a couple changes, bringing on Parkin and Whitaker for Jones and Miles.

63: Whitaker with the 30 yard free kick.. oof.. right over the wall, Cox never saw it, and into the corner of the net. Down 0-1.

64: Forrester on for Townsend, I.Anderson on for the tired Campbell, and J.Anderson on for Hinton, who's been average at best (6 for form, everyone else is a 7)

65: I.Anderson celebrates getting into the game by getting a slight injury. The physio's taking a quick look at him.

67: We're playing 11 on 10, and missing Anderson when Elliot brings down Macclesfield's Swadi in the Box. (grrr.. give me reasons to ship you out, you blankety-blanker.. 3K/Week my ass. I can hire a trained monkey for one fifth of that, and he'd probably trip less people...)

68: Barras to take the penalty.. AND COX GUESSED RIGHT! Barras tried to put it right up the middle and Cox gloved it easily.

69: Forrester with space.. Fettis comes out to shutdown the angle.. Forrester shoots.... JUST wide. ARGH. so close.

76: Forrester AGAIN with the breakaway, two Macclesfield players hot on his heels, hits the box.. shoots.. Just over. Forrester's made a lot of opportuniteies since subbing in. Now if he could just get one IN.

82: Bristol on the counter attack again. Agogo just puts it wide, however. We're not missing by much, but we're not using hand grenades, and they only count the ones that go IN the net, not by the net.

83: Goal kick intercepted.. Hunt finds Agogo, shot.. Fettis tips it over the bar. Arrrrrghh.. that's what.. four, five straight world-class chances???

86: Disley disagrees with an offside call, and gets booked for dissent. I see Forrester trying to pull Disley away, but he must have said the magic word, because right after the yellow card went into the pocket, it came back out again, this time followed by a red. Bristol are down to 10. I try to decide if I should warn or fine Disley, the last five minutes of a game where we are down 1-0 is NOT the best time to get shirty with the man in black.

88: Swadi feeds Welch right at the 18, who puts one in the net, Cox was screened. Down 0-2, and my blood boils a bit MORE at Disley.

90: In the final seconds before injury time, Forrester has a chance, but puts it just wide. I vow to myself silently to do the next session with my forwards next to a barn, just so I can see if they can hit the broad side of it.

90 (3rd minute stoppage). Gibb takes the pass back, and tries a low hard shot. But that Fettis parries it again, and they clear.

90 (4th minute stoppage) Anderson takes a wild shot just seconds before the final whistle, and it went into the side netting.

We lose 2-0.

Macclesfield 2-0 Bristol Rovers (Disley Sent Off (2 bookings) 87')
Att: 3,126
Man of the Match: Macclesfield GK Alan Fettis (5 saves)

[SirFozzie]

Disley gets an automatic one-match suspension for the Sending Off, and he is the lucky winner of the new practice technique, reserved for those who really screw up, called. "Run laps until you fall down and can't get back up, or throw up, whichever happens first."

[SirFozzie]

I offer Edwards to a team who was interested in him for 2K. They decline, but two other teams (Exeter and Aldershot)make a bid for him.

Shelbourne's adventure in Europe is over, as they lost 2-1 on aggregate, to Croatian side Hadjuk. They were the only UK side in the 2nd qualifying round, but some big names will be in the final qualifying round, after which the 32 group teams will be drawn.

[SirFozzie]

With our 2nd game just three days after the first, our home game against Bury (in the league, we meet them in the League Cup later), sees a bunch of changes for tired players, and Disley's suspension (plus the fact he's still throwing up after running till he dropped)

GK: Cox
DL: Ryan
DC: Elliot
DC: J.Anderson
DR: Bardsley
ML: Trollope
MC: Hunt
MR: Savage
AMC: Campbell
FC: Forrester
FC: Agogo

S1: Clarke (GK)
S2: Burns (D C)
S3: Gibb (M RC)
S4:Thorpe (F C)
S5: Hinton (D RC)

[SirFozzie]

Bury come out in a defensive 3-2-3-2 with five players in either defense or defensive midfield.

3: Savage volleys wide after a nice move.

12: Cox parries a shot from Bury's Newby, and we clear.

14: Agogo has a great shot on a counter, but we just can't put a dent in the old onion bag, as Garner pushes it around the post.

17: Elliott goes chasing after a ball near midfield, which COMPLETELY leaves a zone open, and they thread a through ball to Newby in that zone.. and after a couple dribbles, he puts the ball by Cox. 0-1. Grrr.. have I mentioned I HATE ELLIOTT???

23: Agogo gets the ball outside the side of the box, makes two great moves, beats one guy, then another.. and shoots.. and puts it into the side of the net. Right now we couldn't hit the barn if we shot from INSIDE THE DANG THING.

33: Agogo with another great individual effort, but his cross is too deep and it's punched out by Garner.

42: They have a free kick outside the box, but Elliott clears it out with a header.

45: Agogo is injured and has to come off. @&@$&@!!!

45: (1st minute stoppage) Thorpe on for Agogo. Which is like replacing a car with a moped.

Halftime, 0-1.

56: Ryan with a cross, and Forrester is running for it, but it drifted a bit deep and Garner can collect.

60: Forrester comes up crocked, and needs to come off. So we didn't have a good attack to start.. and now both our starting forwards are hurt. Oy vey.

61: Gibb on for Forrester. Campbell moves up front, and Gibb's way out of position at AMC, but not much we can do.

70: Trollope with the pass back to Savage, but his shot is blocked before it can get on net.

81: Thorpe gets the ball at the 18, but his shot whizzes over. I am not surprised.

82: Savage tries his luck from 40 yards, and Garner has to tip the ball over.

That's all she wrote. 2 straight losses without a goal to start the year. 1-0 Bury.

[SirFozzie]

Oh bloody hell.

Agogo is done for a long time. There's a break in his leg. The doc says.. maybe half a year, maybe longer (7 months)

And Forrester is out for two months with a broken jaw.

Savage tweaked his shoulder and will miss 5 days.

so that's three players who will miss our next game in four days.

Oh man.

I get asked by the press how bad Agogo's injury affects our offense. I almost want to ask what offense.. weren't they watching what happened out there so far? Instead, I take the diplomatic route and say that our offense will be greatly affected by Agogo's abscence.

[SirFozzie]

On the injury front, Miller returns from injury, and while Cox hasn't played badly, it's going to be a toss up for who starts..

on the transfer market, Edwards will go to Exeter for 2K, after having agreed terms.

[SirFozzie]

Our next game is on the road against Chester.

Our lineup:
GK: Miller
DR: Bardsley
DL: Ryan
DC: J.Anderson
DC: Elliot
MR: Gibb
ML: Trollope
MC: Hunt
AMC: Disley
FC: Walker
FC: Townson

S1: Cox
S2: I.Anderson
S3: Campbell
S4: Thorpe
S5: Hinton

Dry, sunny and 23 celsius is the weather for the game.

We are even odds.

[SirFozzie]

3: A Great chance as a Give and Go frees Disley, but Brown saves the close-range effort

5: Watson of Chester booked.

12: Miller is called into action when Elliott leaves his zone to chase again, and leaves space open.

15: They lose a player to injury. I'm just glad it's them instead of me.

19: Ellison puts a cross in for Chester, and Harris heads it back across the goal into the corner of the net. Premiership goalies would have trouble with that one. 0-1 Down.

25: Trollope booked for a bad challenge.

26: Harris with the free kick. Miller thinks it's going over, but it slams off the crossbar, and falls right to Clare, who has a tap in. Miller still hadn't moved. 0-2 down. Grrr..

28: Gibb booked, and on the ensuing free kick, we have a Chinese fire drill.. *sigh* Hessey puts it in. 0-3 down.

we have one good chance in the half, but it's 3-0 Chester at half.

Gibb sent off for a 2nd yellow in the 2nd half, and I just shake my head.

Rapley makes it 4-0 with a half hour to play.. and the bench players look at each other.. one of em murmurs.. "oh, feck, are we going to be running this one off in practice."

and they are, trust me.

Hunt gets injured late, and I just want this farce to be OVER.

4-0 the final.

[SirFozzie]

Well, the sick list is growing and growing, and for a change growing..

Two more names go on it, after the Chester game. Hunt fractured a couple ribs, and will miss a month, while Beardsley started limping in the post match cool down, and the doc found he had strained a muscle in his calf. Out two weeks.

We have a sign put over the training room. "Abandon all game-fitness, ye who enter here".

It fits the mood of the team perfectly.

[SirFozzie]

We're continuing to hit the loan wire, just to cover all these injuries.

We bring in Leeds teenaged striker Barry Corr on a short term loan.

We're dead last after three games. But I figure that just means we have no where to go but up.. .... Right???

Our next game is home against Leyton Orient. Our lineup: (back to a standard 4-4-2 for now)

GK: Cox
DR: Hinton
DL: Ryan
DC: J.Anderson
DC: Elliot
MR: Campbell
ML: R. Williams
MC: Savage
MC: Trollope
FC: Towson
FC: Corr

S1: Miller
S2: Burns
S3: Disley
S4: Lescott
S5: I.Anderson

Dry, 13 degree Celsius weather.

[SirFozzie]

9: Scott putts one over the bar.. pretty decent defense on him pressured him a bit.

20: Elliott makes a fine interception, setting off a Bristol counterattack, but it Fizzles.

24: Leyton Orient's Justin Miller is booked for a two-footed challenge

26: Williams puts the cross in from the left, but Towson's header from close range is at a bad angle and goes over.

29: Cox saves in a one on one situation, with Orient's captain Alexander being freed by a ball over the top.

34: Corr freed on a pass from Campbell, his shot SLAMS into the post, and back out. Almost on his first shot!

42: Cox easily saves on a long range tester, he holds onto it too.

halftime, 0-0.

56: Alexander puts one wide far side. dodged a bullet there.

62: A great offensive move for Bristol, Trollope gets it out wide to Campbell (who's been really good out there today), and a cross for Towson.. Morris palms the header just up enough, it brushes the crossbar on its way over. our best move so far this season.

64: Disley on for an EXHAUSTED Williams.

76: Lockwood sends a free kick well wide of net.

79: Cox parries a 35 yard free kick around the post, maybe should've had it cleanly, it didn't swerve, or dip, or anything, but the important thing is it's still 0-0.

80: Ibhere with a shot, Cox dives to his right.. deflects BACK to the left.. I'm watching in horror.. OFF THE POST... Whew.

82: Saah well wide from distance.

90: (1st minute of stoppage time) well.. a long free kick from Miller from well inside the Leyton Orient half finds Alexander in space, and he pots one in off the post. Down 0-1..

(pause)...

DAMNIT.

0-1 Final. Won 0, Drew 0 Loss 4, Goals for, *0*, Goals Against 8.

[SirFozzie]

The League Cup game with Bury is next. We're on the road, we're 0-4, we haven't even scored a goal yet.

So I change tactics again, to a 4-3-3 normal formation. We're going to put some pressure on and see if that changes our luck. We also go to a long ball attack.. it's not tactically pretty, but when you haven't scored in 360 minutes, you don't care about the pretty.

The lineup:

GK: Miller
DR: Hinton
DL: Ryan
DC: J Anderson
DC: Elliot
MC: Savage
MC: Trollope
MC: Disley
FC: Walker
FC: Haldane
FC: Towson

S1: Cox
S2: Burns
S3: Campbell
S4: Corr
S5: I. Anderson

Dry, and 12 degrees Celsius conditions.

[SirFozzie]

Bury comes out in a 3-4-3, so I expect plenty of offense. Hopefully by beingin a 4-3-3, we can skip over the midfield with long balls.

14: Newby booked for Bury

18: Miller denies Nugent on a close range shot.

22: Savage booked for a trip of an opponent. Lucky not to be sent off.

23: Dunfield puts a free kick right at the edge of the box over.

25: Nugent just fakes Elliot out of his uniform, and breaks in all alone, J.Anderson knocks it away just before the shot. On the ensuing play, Mattis puts it well wide.

29: Haldane gets the long ball, runs on, and shoots.. just wide.. the commentator says it for me. "WHERE IS THE FINISH?"

30: Elliot booked for a bad challenge.

36: Another free kick in a dangerous location, fortunately Barry-Murphy's shot swerves wide.

38: Bristol wins a corner. Elliott will take it. Looks like it's too close to the goalie, there's a pile up.. and Kevin Towson gets above the goalie (who was late in jumping) and heads it home! Our first competitive goal of the season! 1-0 Bristol!!!!!!!!

45 (2nd Minute Stoppage time): Newby shoots wide.

1-0 Bristol Rovers at the half.

Halftime: Burns on for J Anderson, who's had a rough game distributing the ball.

68: Porter finds Dunfield, who heads it past Miller, who was slow to react. 1-1.

79: Barry-Murphy hits a free kick from just outside the box. Well over.

90: Corr on for Haldane. Let's see if some fresh legs can settle this before extra time here in the Cup.

90 (1st minute stoppage time): Santi with a shot from just outside the box, but Miller, who seems to have it, makes a complete howler of it and lets it in. *sigh* Down 1-2.

And that's the way it ends.

[SirFozzie]

Valencia sees off Porto 1-0 to win the European Super Cup at the Stade Louis II.

I'm trying a completely new tactic for the game at Lincoln. We've been pretty decent on the wings, but been killifed on the middle of the field.

Our tactic is a 3-1-3-3. No wingers, but the left and right center midfielders are to make side runs, as are the two forwards to the left and right of the middle.

It's hard to do with all the injuries.. but this is how it turns out.

GK: Cox
DC: J.Anderson
DC: Elliott
DC: Hinton
MC: Trollope
MC: Campbell
MC: Savage
FC: Townson
FC: Haldane
FC: Corr

S1: Miller (I'm still pissed at him for that howler against Bury)
S2: Walker
S3: Burns
S4: Thorpe
S5: Lescott

Lincoln go COMPLETELY defensive. a 3-3-2-1-1 with only one AMC and one SC.

[SirFozzie]

2: Well, so far the tactic doesn't work, Cox has to make a diving stop on a cross and a diving header.

8: Haldane with a NICE pass to Savage who blasts it from 25 yards, ticketed for the corner of the net, but, in the story of our life, Marriott makes a diving stop.

9: Bardsley with a PERFECT long pass to Corr, who takes it to the byline, crosses it, Townson nods it back to Haldane, but Marriott stones him.. Townson has a chance for the rebound, but his shot is blocked.

20: Lincoln's Gordon booked for dissent.

22: Campbell puts one just out in front of Corr, but trying to fight off two defenders, his shot is saved by Marriott. the Long ball seems to be working here.

30: Trollope has two chances at goal. First one blocked right back to him, 2nd one wide.

32: Campbell wide on a half-chance.

Halftime, 0-0, but we're making Lincoln work defensively.

58: Cox dives and tips a yeo shot over the bar,

73: Bardsley with a chance.. he strikes it wide.

73: Thorpe on for Corr, and Lescott on for Campbell

76: Lescott's shot is wide of target.

78: Savage makes the run up the left side.. to Thorpe, who touches it on to Lescott. Lescott has it.. Haldane's open but offsides.. Lescott wisely keeps it.. moves forward.. Haldane dives back onside.. Marriott out to stop the shot.. and LESCOTT SLOTS IT UNDER MARRIOTT AND IN!.. GREAT GOAL.. 1-0 Bristol!

79: Cox makes TWO diving stops to stop a Lincoln attack right after the restart.

81: Morgan shoots wide for Lincoln from outside the 18. It's all hands man the pumps time. We just want to keep them out of our net for 10+ more minutes!

84: Bad marking leaves Robertson for Lincoln WIDE open.. but COX makes the save and holds on! WOW.

85: Lincoln are pressing forward now, looking for the equalizer.. and Thorpe gets the long ball on the counter.. shoots.. beats the goalie.. OFF THE POST.. argghhhh that would have been a clinching goal!

90 (2nd minute stoppage) Thorpe takes the ball crosses.. Townson all alone.. saved by Marriott, scramble in front.. another shot blocked.. they clear. But there are seconds to go.. Lincoln dive forward.. we're caught out.. Gordon shoots.. and puts it in off the far post. Devestation!

we don't even get to the restart.. 1-1 final. Our first point, and first goal. We looked like the better team today.

[SirFozzie]

Even with the loans.. we still have room for a couple more players.. and while none of em will set the world on fire, at least we can afford it ;)

We sign Scottish Third Division side reserve forward Christopher Fisher for 20% of next sale, and Kettering Reserve forward Mark Cartlidge will join us for a 40% of next sale clause. Neither expect to see much action, but we'll see how they develop. besides. The price is definitely right ;)

[SirFozzie]

Both Fisher and Cartlidge make it clear that while they understand they may not break into the first team setup right away here at Bristol, they hope to work hard and hope that I will reward them with a place on the first team. Good luck guys!

We also brought Free transfer Keith Graydon in for a trial. Our coaches liked the way he played, so we offer him a contract. He officially joins us on the morning of our next game against Boston Utd. We are still bottom with one point from four games, Boston Utd is 3rd.

GK: Cox
DC: J Anderson
DC: Elliott
DC: Ryan (normally a D L)
DMC: Bardsley (normally a D C)
MC: Savage
MC: Campbell
MC: Trollope
FC: Thorpe
FC: Walker
FC: Townson

S1: Miller
S2: Burns
S3: Hinton
S4: Haldane
S5: Corr

Dry and 8 Degree weather. We've been lucky it's been dry lately.

[SirFozzie]

They are in a standard 4-4-2.

10: Townson booked for dissent.

21: Boston Utd's Ellender booked for pulling a Rovers player back.

23: McManus booked for dissent for Boston Utd

33: Thorpe earns us a corner by harrying a defender deep, but it comes to nothing.

41: West booked for a challenge on Trollope, Boston Utd's 3rd yellow.

Halftime, 0-0. Not much happening either way.

48: Holland puts a free kick from a long way away towards net, but it's harmlessley high.

49: Thomas jumps unfairly with Thorpe. The referee, Mark Cooper shows him a yellow, Boston's FOURTH yellow.. with almost a full half to go!

51: Bardsley booked for a challenge (he got the ball, but kinda crumped the opposition at the same time)

58: Trollope booked for pushing a Boston Utd player over challenging for a 50/50 ball. That makes seven total yellow cards issued (4 for them, 3 for us.)

64: Burns (making his debut) on for Beardsley, and Haldane on for Walker, after Walker limps off after a challenge.

69: Greaves gets booked for Boston, which makes it 5, and an automatic fine from the FA... Suckerrrrrsssss...

71: Ok, the ref's just LOOKING for players on Boston Utd to put in the book, and McCann is sixth.

76: Wow, an entry that doesn't involve a yellow card! :D Townson finds Campbell, but he couldn't guide his shot.

77: Anderson with a deep cross, but too deep and at a bad angle, all Thorpe can do is put it into the side of the net.

85: A scramble in the Rovers box gives Watson a perfect chance, but it rattles the post, and we clear.

0-0 Final. Our 2nd draw in a row. We remain on bottom with two points from six games, but it's still early, and now we just need to get a win or two and we'll move up quickly.

[SirFozzie]

Here's the standings (you may need to scroll from side to side)


| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | | Cheltenham | | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 16 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | | Rushden | | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 15 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | | Boston Utd | | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 12 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Swansea | | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 11 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Leyton Orient | | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 11 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6th | | Chester | | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 6 | +6 | 10 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th | | Southend | | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 10 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8th | | Cambridge | | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 6 | +2 | 9 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9th | | Wycombe | | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 9 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10th | | Macclesfield | | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 8 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11th | | Northampton | | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12th | | Bury | | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 8 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13th | | Oxford | | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14th | | Scunthorpe | | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15th | | Darlington | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16th | | Lincoln | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17th | | Shrewsbury | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18th | | Grimsby | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19th | | Yeovil | | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20th | | Mansfield | | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 6 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21st | | Rochdale | | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 6 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22nd | | Notts Co | | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | -3 | 4 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23rd | | Kidderminster | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 13 | -11 | 3 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24th | | Bristol Rovers | | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 2 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[Desnudo]

That is some ugliness. Good luck with the rest of the season. I'm sure you'll turn it around!

[SirFozzie]

Thanks Desnudo :)

We draw the POSH SCUM in the Vans Trophy 1st Round South, as we take on League One side Petereborouh.

England kick off their European World Cup Qualifying with a 1-0 win at Austria. Fellow Group 6 UK teams, Wales (3-1 winners over Azerbaijan), and Northern Ireland (2-1 shock winners over Poland) also win their opening games. Scotland had the game off, and Ireland beat minnows Cyprus in Group 4, 1-0

There were two other upsets in the first full round of qualifiers, as Georgia defeated Turkey, 2-0 in Turkey, and Iceland defeated Bulgaria 1-0

[SirFozzie]

the 2nd round of Euro WCQ happened, just days after the first set, in a mid-week clash.

England got goals from David Beckham (who converted a Penalty kick), and two from Steven Gerrard, to beat Poland 3-0.

In an all-UK group 6 encounter, Wales moved to the top of group 6 with 4-0 shellacking of Northern Ireland.

Scotland got their WCQ campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 win over Estonia.

Ireland took advantage of the shock result of the round, with the Faroe Islands tying France at the Faroe Islands 1-1, when they defeated Switzerland 1-0 at Switzerland, they moved to the head of group 4, with a maximum 6 points from the two games.

[SirFozzie]

For the game at Cambridge (8th in L2), I give a couple of our new players a start to see how they react.

GK: Cox
DC: Bardsley
DC: J Anderson
DC: Elliott
DMC: Cartlidge (Debut)
MC: Savage
MC: Campbell
MC: Trollope
FC: Graydon
FC: Walker
FC: Townson

S1: Miller
S2: Hinton
S3: Disley
S4: Haldane
S5: Ryan

9 Degrees and dry/sunny today.

[SirFozzie]

Cambridge comes out in the 4-5-1, with only the striker in the offensive half. I expect a low scoring game, but I think we're starting to get our feet under us.

7: Bardsley with a good header out of play to give Cambridge a corner. It's a good header because if it went over his head, the cross was going to find an open Cambridge attacker.

10: Graydon is free on the right side.. Nearly all alone.. takes it almost to the six yard box, shoots, but Wales U21 goalie James Jowsey makes a tremendous stop.. and Cambridge scramble it behind before we can put home the rebound.

19: Graydon puts one well-wide, he was free, but only for the moment, and he tried to hurry his shot.

21: Savage turns it over deep in our half, and Guttridge has an attempt that skids wide.

22: Beech gets the ball deep on the left side, crosses it, and Easter is there to nod it home in the left corner. Not much Cox could do on that one. Down 0-1.

26: Tudor puts a free kick well over.

31: A nice flick on header puts Walker free, but Jowsey stones him cold on the shot. What is it with goalies playing awesome versus us so far this year (admittedly, Jowsey's been awesome this year. Despite giving up a goal a game, he has an average rating of 7.80)

33: Townson has a half-chance, with two Cambridge players trying to ride him off the ball without getting a penalty.. the first shot is deflected and slams into the diving Jowsey, but Townson gets the balll back and lifts it over the prone Jowsey... AND INTO THE NET! 1-1. Gritty never give up goal from Townson!

38: Cartilidge booked for dissent

40: Trollope with a nice pass to Townson, who's further out left here then he was.. he crosses it, and Walker heads it.. off the crossbar, and Jowsey dives on it.

41: Tudor with the corner, Beech hits a half-volley, deflected and completely wrong-foots Cox. down 1-2.

Halftime. Down 2-1, but it's been a good game. We are getting better and better, but it's a matter of now finishing it off.

Haldane comes on for Graydon as we come back from halftime.

46: Beech is killing us with his crosses. I wish I had a player like him right now. Another perfct cross arrives on the foot of Luke Guttridge who slots it home. Down 1-3.

64: Jowsey denies Townson. What I wouldn't give to put a laxative in the other goalie's coffee before a game. great saves.

71: Cox comes out on a ball he just can't get to, and Cambridge sub Daniel Chillingsworth feeds Guttridge who has to side foot it home for the 4-1 lead. *sigh*

76: And in the time it took me to type the above, it's now 5-1 from Ashley Nicholls.

79: And we're hit for a sixth as Chillingsworth continues the humiliation.

87: Savage puts a FK wide

It's mercifully over. 6-1.

Cox had a four rating, and Elliott and Anderson had 5's. I know it seems like I have a grudge against the guy, but Elliott's play is so eccentric.. it really pisses me off. I decide he's going to get an official warning for poor play. I can't really do much to Cox, as he's a loaner.

[SirFozzie]

Elliott shocks me by... taking the news calmly and even apologizing..

Steve Elliott has apologised for his poor performance in his previous match and admits that he dserved his official warning. He understands that senior squad members have to lead by example and has said that he will try to motivate himself more for future matches.

Ok.. let's see if that leads to results.

[SirFozzie]

Here's our line up for our next game, at home against Notts County.

GK: Miller (Fox has earned a spot on the bench for the next few.)
DC: Ryan
DC: Elliott (let's see how he does after being called on the carpet)
DC: J Anderson
DMC: Bardsley (Hunt is just not fit yet to take the DMC duties)
MC: Savage
MC: Campbell
MC: Trollope
FC: Fisher (debut)
FC: Walker
FC: Townson

S1: Cox
S2: Hinton
S3: Lescott
S4: Thorpe
S5: Gibb

A little bit warmer, 13 degrees celsius.

[SirFozzie]

Notts Co come out in a 4-3-3.. they probably want to put a big # against us as well, but a home win here would be huge, Notts Co is 22nd in the table, and a win would move us close to moving out of the relegation zone.

2: They have an early shot at goal from a cross, but it wouldn't have counted anyway, as they were flagged for offside.

9: Robinson shoots wide for Notts.

18: Walker puts it over the bar, one-on-one with the goalie. *sigh*

19: Walker shoots, and this time it's on targetm but Notts goalie Mildenhall tips it over the bar. Corner doesn't amount to much

23: Biggins booked for a trip just outside the Notts penalty area. Trollope takes the free kick, and it catches the crossbar and goes over.

25: Campbell booked for dissent.

32: Trollope again, and again, over the bar.

38: Savage's turn to kick a field goal, well over the bar.

45 (1st minute stoppage time) We have two great chances. the first, by Trollope beats the keeper but CANNONS off the crossbar, then about 30 seconds later, Townson is in at a bad angle, but Mildenhall makes the save.

0-0 at the Half, 9 shots, 2 on goal. Sheesh.

48: Trollope shoots over from just outside the box. We got a great bunch of FG kickers.. sadly you don't score points that way in footy.

54: A Notts player, Bolland is booked for holding back Trollope. In the resulting free kick, Savage goes for a bit of variety by booting the ball wide of net (don't worry, it was high too!)

58: Whitlow booked for Notts, (their third, for dissent)

63: You think they would have learned that back-chatting the referee was going to get your name added to the book, neh? (Biggins, Notts 4th player to receive a yellow)

64: Townson with the cross.. punched out by Mildenhall, there's a bit of a scramble for it, Campbell gets it with his back to goal, and going away from goal side foots it over to Savage. The fans are already putting up their arms in the American signal to show a kick is good (IE, over the bar), but Savage.. PUTS IT LOW AND IN THE NET! 1-0 Bristol! Who'da thunk it??

67: Thorpe on for Fisher, Lescott on for Campbell

73: Thorpe just wide.. but a great long ball by Ryan as Notts shifts towards the attack.

75: Ryan booked for a foul stopping a Notts attack.

79: A free kick by Scully of Notts Co is well over.

83: Townson wrong-foots the keeper, but can't keep it on target, and they dodge a bullet.

87: Biggins with a hit and hope from 45 yards out, well wide. no shot really.

88: Townson wide of net... but we're really more clock watching at this point, and he does put it high enough that we have to get another ball while the fans toss that one back ;)

89: Mildenhall makes the save on Thorpe.

90: Hinton on for Bardsley, as we try to chew on the clock a bit ;)

And there's the whistle! We've finally broken the duck on the year with our first win. :)

1-0 final.

[SirFozzie]

The win officially moves us out of the relegation zone, as we're up to 22nd. with 5 points from 8 games.

[SirFozzie]

We put our longest win streak of the season (errr... one) on the line as we travel to 20th ranked Darlington. Hunt is practicing fully with the team again, recovered fully, while Forrester's jaw is no longer wired shut, but he's still a long way away from game fitness.

Our Lineup:
GK: Miller
DC: Bardsley
DC: Elliott (a 7 last game, not bad.. I'm not letting up on him though)
DC: Ryan
DMC: Hunt (making his return from injury, I'm not expecting him to go 90)
MC: Savage
MC: Campbell
MC: Trollope
FC: Walker
FC: Townson
FC: Thorpe

Subs: Cox, Hinton, Lescott, J Anderson, Fisher

Our streak of good weather continues. A bit cloudy, but otherwise fine (10 degrees Celsius)

[SirFozzie]

Darlington's main threat is Alun Armstrong, who has scored 5 of their 8 goals so far thsi year. They too come out in a 4-3-3.

2: Walker has a header saved by Russell, but it's a good start.

4: Walker wide on his second attempt.

5: Ryan lucky not to be sent off after a two footed challenge. He is booked, however.

11: Trollope scrapes the outside of the post with a shot across goal.

18: Hignett booked for dissent after Notts give up a free kick. Walker (that guy again ;)) puts the free kick over the bar though.

27: Close booked for a challenge, and Hignett still has some things to say to the ref after that previous incident. Uh, bad idea. Up pops the 2nd yellow, and he'll be in the showers before halftime (hope he doesn't use up all the hot water....)

28: We very nearly take instant advantage of the sending off, as Hunt pops one off the crossbar, and we have another chance, but Notts scramble it out for the corner.

32: Wijnhard goes well wide with a long shot for Darlington.. Darlington shifts into a 3-3-3.. very odd.. :)

36: Armstrong is getting crowded everytime he touches the ball. He gets a moment of daylight, but his shot from distance is well wide.

38: Clarke receives the fourth yellow card for Darlington. (remember, Hignett got two of them)

41: Did I say four? Make it five (We really must be good at winding up the opposition, that's the SECOND time this year our opponent's got some 'splanin to do to the FA), as Hutchinson is booked.

Halftime. 0-0. But we still have another 45 minutes to go, and hopefully the man advantage will tell.

46: Thorpe plays a great ball for Townson, and he crosses it over to Walker, who was in space, but the header went over.

52: Walker with a cross that's way too deep.. and the Darlington goalie actually has to tap it over the bar, just in case.

59: Walker takes a cross and tries to put it far post back the way it came, but misses it horribly.

62: Two yellows in a row, one each way. Hutchinson for Darlington, Savage for us.

65: Armstrong with a long distance header, but he couldn't get much on it, Miller makes the save.

74: Hunt booked for dissent (I think he's more trying to catch his breath...) Lescott and Fisher on for Hunt and Walker.

90: (3rd minute of stoppage time), well, just when I think it's going to end with a whimper and not a bang.. they throw one last attack forward, Miller goes up for a fairly routine punch of a cross, and the @$&)@$&@) ref somehow thinks Miller pushed off (HOW CAN HE.. He's COMING INTO the )@$&)@7 pileup!!!) and awards the penalty.

You're shittin me..

Wijnhard with the penalty... SAVED BY MILLER!

And a metaphorical middle finger to the ref.

0-0 final. We really need someone who can put the ball in the net.

[SirFozzie]

We play a second team in the Vans Trophy, and they do ok, but lose 2-1 to Peterborough.

Well, gain one, lose one, as late in the week, Jaime Forrester returns to action after his broken jaw, but we lose Steve Elliott to a twisted knee for a couple weeks. We'll have to make a decision on him soon. We just can't afford to tie 3K/week wages in a average to good player.

We place an advert for some additional coaches, and wait to see what we get.

[SirFozzie]

I'm sick, but I'm home and at least I can update what's going on, going to switch to a month to month view for now see how it works :)

[SirFozzie]

October 04

Despite drawing 0-0 at 2nd place Rushden, we slide back into the relegation zone on goal difference, but we're getting better (we're 17th in the form category, unbeaten in our last three.

England destroys Wales 4-0 at St James Park. After three games, it's all UK, all the time at the top of group 6, England on top with max points (9), while Wales and N.Ireland each have 6.

We add a player/coach to our roster, as Scottish midfielder Chic Charnley signs a deal.. the 41 year old will be used as cover, but also will help teach some of our younger players.

In the final couple weeks for a couple of our short-term loans, so we ask Man Utd to lengthen the loan of Bardsley for the rest of the year. We'll also hit the loan market coming up, a couple of the choices we lost out on before are returning to their clubs, and we might be able to get them on a loan now.

England wins again, 4-0 at Azerbaijan, and the UK dominance continues, as Northern Ireland defeated Austria 3-1, and Wales destroys Poland 4-1.

So, as the Group 6 gets close to the halfway mark, England leads by 3 points over Wales and Northern Ireland, and the rest of the group is pretty much out of it.

Manchester Utd agrees to extend the deal for the rest of the season, so we have an important part of our defense here for the rest of the year.

Our offense finally wakes up for the first time this season, at home against midtable Grimsby, and in a surprisingly ill-tempered game (12 yellow cards, including two red cards for two yellow), we actually take the lead three times, and although Grimsby pegs us back twice, (Savage and Campbell scored the first two for us), substitute Jamie Forrester (making his return from injury) scores the winner in the 81st minute, in a 3-2 win that moves us up 3 slots on the table, now we're 20th.

[SirFozzie]

Bristol continues their unbeaten streak, moving it to 5, as goals from Savage (on a deflected free kick) and Fisher lead us to a 2-0 win over Rochdale at home. Note: Not only are we undefeated in our last six, and up to 17th in the table, we've won 3 straight at home. Another nice fact, we've scored multiple goals in consecutive games for the first time this year,

Forrester is a bit sore, and he'll miss a good part of practice for the next few days as he recovers, but we're starting to feel like our attack has started to show up.

[SirFozzie]

two huge upsets rock the Spanish Cup, El Copa Del Ray, the King's Cup.

2nd division side Lleida stun mighty Real Madrid 2-1, with the unlikeliest of heroes, 38 year old Eduardo Estibariz, a defender who spent the last three years out of football, scoring the winner in the 87th minute.

Meanwhile, non-league U.D. Atletica Gramenet scored a 2-1 win over super-side Barcelona, scoring the winner in Extra Time.

We manage to secure Adam Birchall for the rest of the season. He's a striker with a deadly right foot. He'll start against bottom side Kidderminster, as we try to keep our streak intact.

Birchall makes me look good with two goals in his first game for Bristol, in the 5th and 37th minute, and we win 2-0.

We're safely in the midtable at 14th, at the end of the month.

[SirFozzie]

The end of October table.

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | | Cheltenham | | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 9 | +18 | 35 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | | Leyton Orient | | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 11 | +14 | 30 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | | Swansea | | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 26 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Boston Utd | | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 21 | 9 | +12 | 26 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Rushden | | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 26 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6th | | Cambridge | | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 11 | +16 | 25 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th | | Southend | | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 23 | +2 | 22 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8th | | Scunthorpe | | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 20 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9th | | Grimsby | | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 22 | 20 | +2 | 19 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10th | | Shrewsbury | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 18 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11th | | Lincoln | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 18 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12th | | Chester | | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 16 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13th | | Northampton | | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 16 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14th | | Bristol Rovers | | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 16 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15th | | Notts Co | | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 12 | +2 | 15 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16th | | Oxford | | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 15 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17th | | Bury | | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 15 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18th | | Rochdale | | 13 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 13 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19th | | Macclesfield | | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 23 | -4 | 12 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20th | | Wycombe | | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 22 | -11 | 12 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21st | | Darlington | | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 11 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22nd | | Yeovil | | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 24 | -12 | 11 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23rd | | Mansfield | | 13 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 25 | -17 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24th | | Kidderminster | | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 30 | -21 | 7 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[SirFozzie]

Bardsley gets the Young Player of the Month award for October, and I'm 3rd place in the Manager of the Month award. Not bad ;)

I'm a little pissed, as Birchall, who's off to a great start, will miss a game coming up.. he's been called up to the Welsh U21 side for two games against Egypt's U21 side.

[SirFozzie]

November 2004

Well, I notice that in a previous post, I give two lengths of time for our unbeaten streak.. of course such things change, although in this case, I was recapping the same game when I did so! (oops).

Ah, well, doesn't matter. We travel to Swansea and they beat us in a really good game, 3-2. Swansea's one of the top teams in the division, and it's hard to win on the road. Birchall had the goal of the game, a 35 yard strike from the run of play.

Middlesborough bring back a familiar name to try to save the Premiership side from relegation, Gianluca Vialli will take over at the team who has lost all 12 games so far this year, and is already seven points deep into the relegation zone.

The board inject 50,000 Pounds into the club to help pay some of the club's debts, we are still 375,000 pounds in debt. I decide we're going to play first teamers in the FA Cup... hopefully a good cup run will free us from debt. We get a pretty good draw for the first round... at home against League One promotion contenders Huddersfield. If we can pull off a replay, or better yet, a win...

[SirFozzie]

We sign youngster Keiran Walmsley from Morecambe, for no transfer fee, but 15% of next sale. While he didn't get a glowing recommendation from our scour, we'll give him a chance to learn his trade in the reserves and see where he goes from there.

Miller gets hurt in the next game, against Cheltenham, and it's bad enough that we're down 1-0 a half hour in, but Cox lets in three more goals as we get smacked 4-0.. It's pretty obvious he's not the answer, and with Miller being 35, we will be hunting for goalie on Bosman or free transfer.

In the short term tho, we need another goalie as Miller will miss one month with an ankle problem.

Cox just is outclassed at this level. I contact Oxford and tell him that I'm going to send him back to them, I'd rather he get moved to a team he can actually help then to sit on our bench.

We have several irons on the fire to replace him though

[SirFozzie]

We officially replace Cox with Middlesborough's Australian GK, Brad Jones.The 22 year old GK previously went to Oldham (League One), but didn't see any first team action there. He was glad to come here, and we were glad to have him. He arrives just prior to our FA Cup game with Huddersfield.

It's only for three months, but I hope if he does as well as I think he will, both Middlesborough and Jones will consider lengthening his stay here.

[SirFozzie]

We come very close to pulling off the upset in the FA Cup, but Walker's goal is pegged back by an injury time equalizer, and we draw 1-1 with Huddersfield. When you consider we were missing Birchall (who was playing for Wales U21), that's one heck of a result.

When you add the fact that we drew 11,157 for a Cup game, and that means we got 200K in gate reciepts.. AND we will travel to Huddersfield and their 24,554 all-seater stadium for a replay... Great job you guys!

[SirFozzie]

Well, the draw for the 2nd round came out today, and the winner of the Huddersfield/Bristol replay will take on.... Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium

While the location isn't great for money making purposes (IF we get there), I want to beat Cambridge to avenge that 6-1 humilation they dropped on us.

[SirFozzie]

Blargleflarz.

I am not a happy person when Adam Birchall gets off the plane from the Egypt games with a taped up wrist in a soft cast. Luckily, it's just a strain.. he'll miss a week. He'll be iffy for the FA Cup replay.

[SirFozzie]

We secure a last second penalty taken by Walker to get a 1-1 home draw with Wycombe, so it could have been worse.

Spanish legend Javier Clemente signed on to be Championship side West Ham United's new gaffer.

We get ready for the mid-week FA Cup replay. Huge game here.

[SirFozzie]

Well, the good news is that 15,000 showed up for the replay at Huddersfield.

Some decent news, we were only down 1-0 with 5 minutes to play.

The bad news is they scored three goals in that time frame to decisively put us away, 4-0.

We make a good 125,000 pounds on our share of the gate, so we're only 100K pounds in debt now.

[SirFozzie]

(EDIT: lost what was under this post to a crash). Replaying now, posting soon ;)

[SirFozzie]

As we end November, we earn a 1-1 tie at Yeovil, Jamie Forrester scoring the Bristol goal, but Birchall is injured (what, again?), so we'll have to do without him for about ten days. Thankfully, we only have one game in that time frame. Our offense, while no longer non-existent, is still fairly anemic, Birchall with his three goals in four appearances ties him for 2nd on the team for most goals (Savage has four).

Up next is a home game against 9th ranked Shrewsbury. It's a relatively slow affair, the two teams only combine for 4 shots on goal. We had 3 of them, and one of them, again by Forrester, went in. The 1-0 win moves us up to 14th.

[SirFozzie]

December 04

We have ten days off between games, so I use the time to arrange the Bristol Rovers house in order.

I set Robbie Ryan to be retrained as a DM C instead of the D L he now plays. Basically.. it's formalizing what he's known.. under our current setup, we don't have much need for a left side defender, but he could make a fine Defensive midfielder in our tactics.

We sign Irish goalkeeper Neil Bennet on a free transfer, basically he'll get some reserves time and see how it goes.. and we make steps to improve our GK position when the current transfer window ends.. I have a feeling renewing Jones's loan might be difficult.

We also sign two new coaches, Mick Hallsall (who will take over the reserves team duty, now that we actually HAVE a reserves team), and Simon Morgan

[SirFozzie]

Southampton, who are right at the edge of the English Premier League trapdoor in 17th, fire manager Steve Wigley, after numerous reports that the players had lost confidence in him.

Middlesborough has seen good results from Gianluca Vialli, as they have won their first two games of the year. They're still in the drop zone, but there's a big difference between 0 wins, 12 losses, 0 draws, and 2 wins, 12 losses, 0 draws.

[SirFozzie]

We're expected to take care of business at home against current bottom side Mansfield, and goals from Forrester (his third straight game with a goal, and his 100th in league competition) and Walker give us a 2-0 win. We're now up to 13th, and are unbeaten in our last four.

You know, I'm really going to stop mentioning unbeaten streaks, as we travel to Northampton takes us to the woodshed. The final is 3-1, but in reality, in Madden, we'd be calling this a "No F*cking Way Game"..

(you know what I'm talkking about, you've won a bunch in a row, and the console decides.. "Ok bucko, you've kicked my ass enough for one night. Welcome to a "No F*cking Way" game. Your receivers will now drop the ball 10 times as much, your running back will fall down if someone even looks at him funny, and your defense suddenly resembles swiss cheese.. only with more holes.")

[SirFozzie]

It looks like another NFW game as we take on Scunthorpe at home. We dominate early, but hit posts, crossbars, it's really quite sickening. When Scunthrope score twice before the half (both on League Two Beckham equivalent freekicks), I figure that we're doomed, after all, there is NFW we're going to come back here.

But then Richard Walker goes boom. Goes nuclear in fact.

Scores in stoppage time of the first half to cut the lead to 2-1.

8 Minutes into the second half, he puts home a rebound to tie things at 2.

81st minute.. scores a real scrapper of a goal, I think we had three shots, but the last one by Walker pings off the post and IN.. 3-2, and a hattrick!

90th Minute (2nd minute of stoppage) Thorpe gets caught at the edge of the box and we get awarded the penalty.. Walker of course steps forward.. GOAL! his FOURTH of the match, and we win 4-2.

Unfeckin real.

[SirFozzie]

I hate referees.

I really do.

In our next game against Oxford, Walker is offsides, didn't think he was. shrugs his shoulders at Referee (and head goit) Mark Cooper. Somehow booked for dissent.

Five minutes later, Walker is again off sides. trots back to position.. it's obvious he thought he was onside but hell, the assistant saw it differently.

I see Cooper running towards Walker.. and I freeze in utter disbelief.

Walker did SOMETHING apparently that was considered dissent (maybe breathing, I suppose), and out comes the second yellow.. he's off.

So 13 minutes in, we're a man down.

We manage to keep it 1-0 through the 51st minute, but apparently, Bristol Players are like Lays Potato chips for Cooper, he can't get just 1.

So Lescott makes a garden variety foul. Nothing major. Not the last man, nothing of the sort..

and Cooper shows him the straight red card.

WHAT.

THE.

FUCK!!

Every Bristol foul there seems to be a yellow card popping up. Meanwhile, Birchall gets hit from an elbow, and is down and dazed.. and nothing. NOTHING.

Somehow, we keep it 1-0.. but I am not a happy man.

[SirFozzie]

Somehow, with Walker and Lescott suspended (we're waiting to hear back from the tribunal on if they're going to tack on games) and a couple of other players still tired from a game two days ago.. we have to take on fellow mid-table side Southend.

Fortunately, a patchwork side is up to the challenge, as Stuart Campbell scores 60 minutes in, and Barry Corr scores in the 84th minute and we win 2-0.

However, the win (which puts us in 13th) is tempered by the fact that David Savage took a horrid challenge and broke a bone in the upper leg. He'll miss eight months, which means that his Bristol career is likely over (his contract expires in June), and maybe his career. (he'll turn 32 before he starts playing again).

That's the last news of 2004.

More players coming in, now and at the end of the season. Who? keep reading :)

[SirFozzie]

January 2005
We sign Scottish goalkeeper Chris Fahey to a deal. He played for Scottish Third Division side Albion Rovers, and has very good technical skills (except for one-on-one), but if he lives up to his potential, will be very VERY good. He's 26, so he's been in the game for a while.

We have about 15 offers/feelers out for players to determine if we can bring them on board on Bosmans. Our money isn't great, so we can't sign U23 players, but there may be players to make a difference.

The yearly European awards:

GK of the year: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, ESP) (2nd Valdes (Barcelona, ESP), 3rd Buffon (Juventus, ITA))

Defender: Gianlucca Zambrotta (Juventus, ITA), (2nd Kuffor, Deportivo La Coruna, ESP, 3rd, Samuel (Real Madrid, ESP))

Midfielder: Zinedane Zidane (Real Madrid, ESP), (2nd Zambrotta, Juventus, ITA, 3rd, Raul (Real Madrid, ESP)

Striker: Adriano (Inter Milan, ITA), 2nd Raul (Real Madrid, ESP), 3rd Eto'o (Barcelona, ESP)

[SirFozzie]

I decide to throw Fahey into the fire right from the get go, and the day after he shows up, he's in net for the game against 20th ranked Macclesfield.

He's not tested severely, Macclesfield didn't have much offense, but the two shots he saved were both very good saves.. and goals from Trollope and Walker (his 10th on the year), give us a 2-0 win, and officially move us into the top half of the table for the first time in quite a while.

I'll post Fahey's screen in a minute, first.. here's the New Year's Day standings.



| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | | Cheltenham | | 23 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 41 | 15 | +26 | 53 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | | Cambridge | | 24 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 50 | 22 | +28 | 48 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | | Boston Utd | | 24 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 16 | +23 | 48 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Swansea | | 23 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 52 | 30 | +22 | 48 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Leyton Orient | | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 38 | 35 | +3 | 38 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6th | | Notts Co | | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 18 | +12 | 37 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th | | Rushden | | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 28 | 23 | +5 | 37 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8th | | Shrewsbury | | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 30 | 26 | +4 | 37 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9th | | Grimsby | | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 42 | 39 | +3 | 37 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10th | | Scunthorpe | | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 40 | 34 | +6 | 35 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11th | | Darlington | | 24 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 33 | 34 | -1 | 35 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12th | | Bristol Rovers | | 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 26 | 32 | -6 | 33 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13th | | Northampton | | 24 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 28 | +3 | 32 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14th | | Chester | | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 31 | 30 | +1 | 31 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15th | | Wycombe | | 24 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 23 | 31 | -8 | 30 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16th | | Lincoln | | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 31 | 33 | -2 | 29 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17th | | Rochdale | | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 31 | 37 | -6 | 29 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18th | | Southend | | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 36 | 47 | -11 | 29 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19th | | Oxford | | 24 | 5 | 12 | 7 | 27 | 28 | -1 | 27 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20th | | Macclesfield | | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 34 | 40 | -6 | 25 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21st | | Bury | | 24 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 37 | -15 | 23 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22nd | | Yeovil | | 24 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 22 | 41 | -19 | 23 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23rd | | Kidderminster | | 24 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 19 | 53 | -34 | 14 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24th | | Mansfield | | 24 | 2 | 7 | 15 | 19 | 46 | -27 | 13 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[SirFozzie]

Fahey's stats (Used MS Paint, couldn't figure out how to crop, and not feeling to great..

http://www.thesbl.com/untitled.jpg

[SirFozzie]

Fahey will get another start, at home against 21st ranked Bury.. he just didn't get enough of a look in the Macclesfield game. He does give up an early goal, but it was on a PK, and that's no big deal. He DOES make a series of big saves throughout the game, I think he's going to be something special if he keeps this up.

On the offensive side, Birchall finally breaks off the bad streak he's had with two goals, and Corr and Disley add one each for a four-1 win. Fahey gets man of the match for his efforts.

We are now 11th, 25 games into the year, and just as interesting, just two points out of the playoff spots, (16 out of the promotion spots however)

[SirFozzie]

The board is intensely pleased with the result.

Aston Villa's board however, does not share the holiday spirit, and despite being comfortably midtable (11th) in the Premiership, Chairman Doug Ellis racks up another manager scalp for his wall, firing David O'Leary.

[SirFozzie]

We get a point with a 1-1 draw with Chester, but it's looked at more like two points lost then a point gained, as they scored a goal in the final minute of stoppage time. Our goal was an own goal, so we really have no kick coming to tell the truth.

Walker resigns, a 3 year deal, at a slight payraise (1200/wk).. I figure he had all the negotiating power after his four goal haul a bit ago.. but he's definitely going to be pushed all the way.. as we sign Austrian international (3 caps, 1 goal) Muhammet Hanifi Akagunduz to a Bosman deal that will see him join us from Turkish Premier League side Konyaspor, where he's scored 9 goals in 18 games. A class pickup, really.

[SirFozzie]

A bit of good news, as Junior Agogo begins light practicing with the squad. It'll be another full month before he's anywhere NEAR game fitness, but it's good to see him back on the training ground.

The draw with Chester actually moves us up one spot, to 10th, but up next is a HUGE trip to Leyton Orient. They are 2 points ahead of us in 7th (the final playoff position), so a win here would be great. There's still a lot of footy to be played either way, mind you, but this would definitely signal ambition as a playoff contender.

Well, we go down 1-0, but we go down fighting. We had a goal called back for a questionable offside decision, (one of those kick at it till it goes in things) and Birchall hit the post twice. (I really ought to see if I can find a way to bring him on full time!)

[SirFozzie]

Things don't get much better, but they do get better, we draw 0-0 with Lincoln, in one of those games remeniscent of the beginning of the year where we controlled the game, but could not score.

Then, against top side Cambridge United, we avenge our 6-1 shellacking from early in the year, edging them 2-1 thanks to two goals from Birchnall and the heroic goalkeeping of Fahey, who had a 10 for form, which included saving an injury time penalty that would have cost us two big points.

It's a muddle still in mid-table, we had been down to 15th after the last two games. We remain 15th, but two points out of 8th, and 4 out of the last playoff spot.

[tanglewood]

Good dynasty. Nice to see you doing well after a horrible start.

[SirFozzie]

Thanks tanglewood, appreciate the good thoughts ;)

Today's going to be a bit slow, I'm fighting off a flu bug, and I sleep, well, near constantly. But I will try to get some games in today/tonight and then hopefully do a lot of the season, maybe even to the end, by the end of the weekend.

[FrogMan]

Fahey's stats (Used MS Paint, couldn't figure out how to crop, and not feeling to great..

Foz, I use a nifty little freeware called IrfanView (www.irfanview.com (http://www.irfanview.com)) to do all my cropping and basic graphic stuff. Works great.

FM

[SirFozzie]

Interesting, FM.. I'll have to look into that ;)

With this being the last gme before the transfer window closes, (although we are still allowed to buy players domestically, with no transfer money in the kitty, it realistically means we're done for the year) I look into getting us some back up at Midfield, where we are stretched thinner then a sheet of paper.

With Savage done for the season, Trollope still missing two weeks with a fractured cheekbone, and now Disley in the last game going down for a month or so with a sprained ankle, that is pretty much our starting midfield right there. I can cover somewhat, with Forrester moving back to midfield, but it is quite obvious that I need another midfielder or two on loan. Right now, Chic Charnley, our 42 year old player/coach, is penciled in to the starting lineup! :eek:

Compounding the problem is the unfortunate fact that this late in the transfer window, most players worth a darn are already loaned/transfered out, but let's see if I can find at least a couple players for backup status.

[SirFozzie]

We do manage to get two halfway decent midfielder for the next three months. 20 year old midfielder Paul Longthorn (who likes it here, he stated a desire to make the move permanent, and hopefully if Birmingham lets him go (his contract expires in May), I can sign him up (he's 20 so a Bosman would cost me $$$$). Developing his technical skills a bit is needed, but he's pretty much there mentally and physically.

The other signee, Yeovil Town midfielder Nicolas Mirza, is only 19, and doesn't speak english, but is a pretty nice player, with no GREAT ratings, but a bunch of double digit ones. His contract also expires on May, so maybe, possibly? Who knows.

We also announce that we've acquired backup for Hunt at the DM C position next year, as Matthew Gill, of Notts County, will join us in the off season on a Bosman.

[SirFozzie]

Feb 05
Our next game is pretty pivotal, with Longthorn starting and Mirza on the bench, we play 2nd ranked Boston Utd (who recently picked up former New England player Richie Baker ina bit of synergy ;))

Of course, my delight is tempered when I see who the referee is for this game.

Mark freaking Cooper.

ohh shite.

I hurriedly call the team over and instruct them in the STRONGEST possible terms, NOT to look at the ref. Not to talk back to the ref. Not to say anything or do anything that might be considered disrespectful to the ref. I'm not letting this son of a bitch ruin ANOTHER game.

Despite all our precautions, we still get hit with three yellows. Cooper spent most of the game looking over at us, as if to challenge us to get aggrevated with him.

But in the end..

he couldn't stop us.

Forrester scored a 15th minute goal, and that held up for the 1-0 win.

[SirFozzie]

Longthorn falls victim to the midfield injury curse, but it's short term. Unfortunately, our next game is just three days away.

In the first half against Notts County, it's a veritable shooting gallery. Shot after shot after shot comes flying in on net.

Unfortunately, it's my net they were attacking.

Fortunately, out of the 9 shots (all on target :eek: ) Fahey saved em all.

At halftime, Fahey gets a laugh from the rest of team asking if he gets combat pay for this one.

Two minutes into the 2nd half, Birchall scores on our FIRST shot on target.

Fahey does give up a 2nd half goal (on a rebound, nothing he could do about it, the first save was magnificent, but left him on the ground), but we manage to hold on for a 1-1 tie.

*sigh* Thank goodness we have a week off in between games. Our midfield is now COMPLETELY injured. Campbell and Lescott picked up tweaks (only missing 5 days each, but COME ON)... Here's what our midfielders look like

List of Midfielders and Attacking Midfielders

Campbell - Damaged Shoulder (5 days)
Lescott - Strained Neck (5 days)
Savage - Broken Leg (7 months)
Trollope - Fractured Cheekbone (a week)
Longthorn - Damaged Shoulder (3 days)
Charnley - Uninjured, but I think he's still in the trainer's room taking oxygen after playing 90 competitve minutes at 42.
Mirza - Uninjured (as a preventitve measure I have ordered him to be swathed in cotton. so nothing can hurt him)
Disley - Sprained Ankle (3 weeks)

[SirFozzie]

During a week of light practice due to the lack of healthy midfielders, we ask Leeds and Middlesborough to extend the loans of Corr and Jones for three more months. They acqueisce, and they'll stay with us the rest of the way.

Cardiff City, who are likely to be relegated from the English Championship have hired Stan Ternert to try to save the team from the drop (they are seven points from safety with 15 to play).

In the last three games, we've taken on the 1st (Cambridge), 2nd (Boston Utd), and 7th (Notts Co) place teams. It doesn't get any easier right away, as we take on 6th place Rushden at home.

We manage to have a full midfield as Lescott and Longthorn recover in time to join Mirza in midfield. However, an hour in, Longthorn gets sent off for two yellows (great, he'll miss another game, *sigh*) and we lose 1-0.

The loss puts us in 13th, but if you told me we'd get seven points from playing four top seven teams in a row, I would be happy. With 14 games left in the season, there's a lot of teams between us and the playoffs, but only five points. One good run could be all we need.

[SirFozzie]

Ok. Rant time.

I hate Mark Cooper. I despise him. I loathe him. I wish I could stake him over a anthill and let the ants eat him alive at this point.

We draw this utter fuckstick as referee for our next game, on the road against 19th place Rochdale. We're down 1-0, but dominating. We've had a goal called back for a questionable offsides (I can't even blame Cooper for it, it's the assistant that calls it).

Then in the 33rd minute.. Hunt committs a garden variety foul. Tugs on an opponent's shirt. No last man, there was an entire defense behind him, Not a horrible challenge. Just tugs on his shirt.

For this heinous crime, he gets sent off with a straight red card.

Then, 3 minutes later, a Rochdale player goes in TWO FREAKING FOOTED and rolls Mirza's ankle. He's screaming in pain, and rolling on the ground.

No Fucking Call. Not even a foul given.

We do equalize through Walker in the 38th minute, but the man advantage takes its toll (especially since Hunt was our DM C, and a player that stopped a lot of incoming attacks) and they score again with 15 minutes to play and we lose 2-1.

Mr. Cooper, I would recommend you stay far far away from Bristol during the offseason. Because if I see you, I might just get out of prison in time for the regular season. Then again, I might not.


:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[SirFozzie]

Mirza has a severely sprained ankle and will miss a month. God, I wish karma applied and Cooper felt that kind of pain.

[SirFozzie]

Our next game, on the road against Grimsby, I'm quite surprised it went on. With temperatures of -3 degrees Celsius and Sleet, it's more suited for American Football then the Beautiful Game.

Oh wait. Mark Cooper is refereeing (what, again?)

Of course this means, it's open season on Bristol Rovers players.

45 seconds in, Mansaram goes in hard on Campbell, who falls down in a heap and is injured. You guessed it no foul.

I shall now go into an insane rage and start foaming at the mouth.

(@$)&$@)&@)$&@)($&@)$&@)$&@)&@)(%^@()%)@^*_#_#&!!!!!!!!

Of course, he has all our players intimidated. I can't AFFORD any more suspensions. We were on normal tackling, I go all the way to easy tackling.. and Grimsby's too good a team to take lightly.

Despite trying to take it as easy as possible, we get SIX yellow cards. Grimsby? Despite committing MORE fouls then us.. None. Zero.

Final 3-0 Grimsby. and I have to be physically restrained at the final whistle from going out and doing to Cooper what he's allowed other teams to do to us

[SirFozzie]

Campbell's out three weeks with a groin strain.

Time to put FM05 away for a few hours.

More tommorrow :)

[SirFozzie]

Ok. I'm rested, feeling a little bit better, and a little less likely to kick Mark Cooper in the groin many times if ever I should meet him in a dark alley :)

[SirFozzie]

The next game sees an extremely patchwork side run out, due to fatigue, suspensions and injury.

Or as I like to say, thanks to Fatigue, Mark Cooper and Mark Cooper.

Our next game is against Darlington, and it brings the return of Junior Agogo.

He scores twice. Not a bad return.

Unfortunately, our midfield and defense is so decimated that when Fahey has a below average game (his first since coming to Bristol), they can't provide a life. We lose 4-2.

[SirFozzie]

Newcastle claims the first honors of the year, defeating Everton 4-2 in the League Cup final.

March 05

With about 2 1/2 months to go in the season, we MUST turn it around now if we're going to have a shot at the playoffs.

We're in 14th place, 10 points from the playoffs. We have 11 to play. We play some of the lower teams, but it might be a bit too late. The good thing is, with a couple good runs, we assured ourselves safety. We still have the bottom 3 teams left in our schedule.

Now, it starts with a home game against Kidderminster, who are in the drop zone at 23rd, (5 points from safety). They have 11 cup finals left, so to speak, and will be coming hard. However, we are closer to full health then at any other time so far this season. The playoff run. Begins NOW.

[SirFozzie]

It starts well, with goals from a couple unexpected sources as goals from Hunt (his first for Rovers) and Disley (in stoppage time) sparks a 2-0 win.

We're back up to 12th, and more importantly, we are now 7 out from a playoff spot. Great way to start.

[SirFozzie]

The board inject another 240K pounds into the operation, because of all the players I brought on. We're still 100K in debt tho.

[SirFozzie]

(Sorry, fell asleep earlier)

Three days later, we have what could be our toughest task of our remaining games. Three days after a previous game, we have to take on 4th place Cheltenham on the road.

We're helped when just after the break, a Cheltenham player is sent off for his second yellow. We keep getting break after break after break, only to miss wide, or hit the post, or watch the goalie bail their defense out.

But in the 70th minute, Longthorn breaks through and scores on a rebound off a Free Kick.

We manage to hold on, and win 1-0.

We're now up to 11th, and are six points out with 9 to play.

[SirFozzie]

David O'Leary makes a quick return to the premiership, having signed on with Bolton Wanders, (who are just two points above the relegation zone with 9 to play, so it may be a short stay).

Our next game is again on the road, at 12th place Shrewsbury. I know all our games are big if we want to maybe make the playoffs, but Shrewsbury's one of those teams fighting for the spot, so we need at least a draw here.

[SirFozzie]

Only Eight teams remain in the Champions League, as the first Knockout round has concluded. Two UK teams (Celtic, and Chelsea) are left in the tournament, and the shock of the round was PSV Eindhoven defeating Real Madrid in the first leg at home 2-1, and then grabbing a scoreless draw in the second leg to knock out the Spanish Giants.

The Final Eight:

Inter (4-3 over Barcelona)
Celtic (2-2 over Roma, settled by Penalties)
Bayern Munich (3-0 over Lyon)
Juventus (2-0 over Liverpool)
AC Milan (3-0 over Deportivo La Coruna)
PSV (2-1 over Real Madrid)
Werder Bremen (4-2 over Dinamo Kiev)

[SirFozzie]

We play an AWESOME game against Shrewsbury, a brace of goals by Birchall, and single goals by Walker and Agogo (can you imagine what we would have had if Agogo hadn't missed most of the season? Arrrgh :D) and we win 4-1 over Shrewsbury.

As you can see from the table, things are going to get MIGHTY interesting down the stretch. :D

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | | Cambridge | | 38 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 82 | 33 | +49 | 81 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | | Boston Utd | | 37 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 61 | 24 | +37 | 76 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | | Swansea | | 38 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 71 | 51 | +20 | 72 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Cheltenham | | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 66 | 39 | +27 | 70 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Notts Co | | 38 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 51 | 26 | +25 | 64 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6th | | Rushden | | 38 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 61 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th | | Chester | | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 54 | 41 | +13 | 58 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8th | | Grimsby | | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 62 | 58 | +4 | 57 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9th | | Leyton Orient | | 37 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 52 | 51 | +1 | 55 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10th | | Bristol Rovers | | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 54 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11th | | Oxford | | 38 | 11 | 19 | 8 | 47 | 38 | +9 | 52 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12th | | Lincoln | | 38 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 53 | 44 | +9 | 50 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13th | | Shrewsbury | | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 45 | 51 | -6 | 50 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14th | | Northampton | | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 49 | 47 | +2 | 49 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15th | | Darlington | | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 56 | 61 | -5 | 48 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16th | | Wycombe | | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 50 | -13 | 46 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17th | | Scunthorpe | | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 57 | 62 | -5 | 44 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18th | | Southend | | 37 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 53 | 66 | -13 | 44 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19th | | Rochdale | | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 40 | 58 | -18 | 40 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20th | | Macclesfield | | 38 | 11 | 7 | 20 | 50 | 69 | -19 | 40 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21st | | Yeovil | | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 36 | 62 | -26 | 36 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22nd | | Bury | | 37 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 32 | 61 | -29 | 33 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23rd | | Mansfield | | 38 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 36 | 63 | -27 | 31 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24th | | Kidderminster | | 38 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 34 | 80 | -46 | 26 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[SirFozzie]

This is our remaining schedule:
(Today is 3/12 for reference)

3/19 H 3rd place Swansea
4/2 A 16th Place Wycombe
4/9 H 21st Place Yeovil
4/16 A 23rd Place Mansfield
4/19 H 14th Place Northampton
4/23 A 17th Place Scunthorpe
4/30 H 11th Place Oxford
5/7 A 18th Place Southend

All but the Swansea game are VERY winnable games (and the Swansea game is at home, too, so maybe a draw or a win isn't out of the question!). Hopefully we can win a few more in a row and really make a run at em! :D

[SirFozzie]

Remember how I said in my last post that a win or draw against 3rd place Swansea wouldn't be "out of the question"? :D

Oh, me of little faith.

Agogo scores twice (his 4th and 5th goals of the league campaign.. not bad!!) and Birchall adds a third, and we run out to a 3-0 first half lead. They get a penalty late, but it never was going to be a comeback, and we run out 3-1 winners.

Unfortunately, all the teams ahead of me in the playoff race won, so we're still 10th, 4 points out, but momentum is rolling...

Here's what kills me. Agogo's only played in seven games this year so far, but he's tied for third for most goals this year with Forrester at 5 goals. (Walker has 12, Birchall has 11).

To have him for the full season....

[SirFozzie]

We have a week off due to international games and even though we're red-hot, I'm glad for the break, it gives some of my tired players a chance to rest and recover from the niggling injuries a season can bring.

I watched England resume their World Cup Qualifying domination of Group 6 by defeating Northern Ireland, 2-0. The group now is at the official midway point, and it looks good for perhaps a 1-2 UK finish. England leads the group with 15, Wales (who tied 1-1 with Austria) is second with 10, Northern Ireland is third with 9, Poland has 6, Austria has 4, and Azerbaijan has yet to score a point (but has scored 1 goal. Too bad they let up 16).

Basically, it should only take 2-3 wins in the reverse fixtures to clinch England a WCQ spot. With the playoffs, it's not quite set, with Wales and Northern Ireland so close, but likely if they play as well as they have so far, Poland and Austria probably are long shots for a playoff bid

[SirFozzie]

Northampton sign England international (66 caps/5 Goals) Tony Adams to be their new manager. Argh. So now they're playing for their lives for next year, eager to see if they can impress the new manager enough to get big contracts. Groovy.

In the second set of games for the international week, the midweek games saw England lay a 5-0 beating on Azerbaijan, and things are getting interesting for 2nd place. Wales could only manage a 1-1 draw with Austria, (still a fine result, considering the game was played in Austria), and Northern Ireland's magic seems to have run out, as Poland laid down a 4-0 beating on them. With four games left, England could conceivably clinch during the next round of fixtures, as they lead by seven over Wales, and Poland and Northern Ireland are two further back.

[SirFozzie]

April 05

Well, the rosters are set now. No more transfers at all, as the final transfer window for domestic teams has passed. But right now, I feel pretty good about Bristol's chances.

Adam Birchall gets Young Player of the Month honors for March, but Bardsley was second. Not bad ;)

Even better, for guiding Bristol to four wins in four attempts in March, I receive the Manager of the Month Award. :D

However, I don't have much time to celebrate, because the next day sees us traveling to Wycombe Wanderers.

For the first seventy five minutes, it's back and forth, with Wycombe showing good attacking skills, but just not able to break through against Fahey. We have a couple good spurts, but as the minutes tick away, it looks like a draw would be a good result (not good considering the standings.. but good based on the play on the field).

Then in the 78th minute, on a counter, Birchall's cross finds Junior Agogo, and he heads it IN THE NET! 1-0 Bristol!!!!!

Again, it's all hands man the pump time as Wycombe tries for an equalizer, but Fahey makes a couple good saves, and the defense blocks a couple shots.

In the final seconds of injury time, Forrester (on as a sub) finds Birchall on a breakaway, and he calmly dribbles past the despairing keepr and lashes it home for the final margin.

2-0 win, and wow, what an effort!

Leyton Orient lose 1-0 to Lincoln, so Chester moves up to 7th, based off a 1-0 win over Boston Utd (although they have possible league champions Cambridge next!) We are within TWO points of the playoffs.

Here's the top 10 (11th place Lincoln is pretty much out of it with 54)


| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | Pl | Cambridge | | 40 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 85 | 34 | +51 | 85 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | | Boston Utd | | 40 | 22 | 12 | 6 | 62 | 26 | +36 | 78 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | | Swansea | | 40 | 23 | 6 | 11 | 76 | 56 | +20 | 75 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Cheltenham | | 40 | 20 | 14 | 6 | 68 | 40 | +28 | 74 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Notts Co | | 40 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 57 | 30 | +27 | 70 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6th | | Rushden | | 40 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 53 | 34 | +19 | 67 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th | | Chester | | 40 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 58 | 44 | +14 | 62 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8th | | Leyton Orient | | 40 | 17 | 10 | 13 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 61 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9th | | Grimsby | | 40 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 63 | 60 | +3 | 60 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10th | | Bristol Rovers | | 40 | 17 | 9 | 14 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 60 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[SirFozzie]

Here's the Round 41 important matches (at least to me and my playoff hopes :D)

(Home Team listed first)

2nd Place Boston Utd vs 8th Place Leyton Orient
10th Place BRISTOL ROVERS vs 21st Place Yeovil Town
1st Place Cambridge United vs 7th Place Chester City
9th Place Grimsby Town vs 19th Place Southend Utd
6th Place Rushden & Diamonds vs 20th Place Macclesfield Town

[SirFozzie]

It's all one way traffic to start, we are just POUNDING at Yeovil's goal. We have 9 first half shots, but nothing on the board. Agogo's been average, so I bring on Corr just after halftime, and within 5 minutes, he puts one IN the net, an unstoppable low shot. We are riding high, with other results, we might move into a playoff position today...

4 minutes later, Disley adds a 2nd one, and it's 2-0!

Not wanting to risk giving up a goal that would let them back into it, I back off the all-out attack we had gone to at halftime, but we nearly get a third on a couple occasions, but a 2-0 win is great!

And now, the other results.

Boston Utd beat Leyton Orient 2-0! Woot!

Cambridge POUNDED Chester City, 4-1. Og this is good..

Rushden won 4-1, and they're probably completely safe now.

Arggh.. Despite having a player sent off in the 79th minute, Grimsby Town scores TWICE in injury time to beat brave Southend Utd, 2-0. They are now ahead of us, only on goal differential.

It's now a five team race for two spots, but Rushden seems to have one of them pretty much locked up. Here's the standings

6th Rushden & Diamonds 70 Pts (+22 GD)
7th Grimsby Town 63 Pts (+5 GD)
------ Playoff Line ------
8th BRISTOL ROVERS 63 Pts (+3 GD)
9th Chester City 62 Pts (+11 GD)
10th Leyton Orient 61 Pts (+1 GD)


Two teams had their fate for next year made clear, as Wrexham will be relegated from League One, and Crystal Palace's stay in the EPL will be cut short after this year.

In happier news, Sutton Utd has clinched the English Conference South with 3 games to play.

[SirFozzie]

Mid-week, I see the story that Harrogate Town, who are on the verge of dropping out of the Conference South (20th, 2 points from safety) hired Willy Wordsworth to be their new manager. I tried telling em I knew this guy who could really help them.... :)

The Quarter Finals in the Champions League are set. Here are the Champions League "Final Four"

Inter Milan (3-0 winners over Celtic)
Juventus (4-0 Over Chelsea)
Bayern Munich (2-2 aggregate, won on away goals vs AC Milan)
PSV Eindhoven (5-2 winners over Werder Bremen)

[SirFozzie]

The Semi-Finals in the UEFA Cup are set. Here are the four surivors.

VFB Stuttgart (4-0 over Greek side AEK)
Ajax (4-4 agregate, won on away goals over Dortmund)
Arsenal (4-2 over Lazio, with a 4-0 home 2nd leg saving their butt)
Feyenoord (3-1 over Newcastle)

[SirFozzie]

Here's the Round 42 matchups of note in the playoff chase.

(home teams listed first)

23rd place Bury vs 6th Place Rushden
9th Place Chester vs 5th Place Notts Co
10th Place Leyton Orient vs 1st Place Cambridge
20th Place Macclesfield vs 7th Place Grimsby
22nd Place Mansfield vs 8th Place BRISTOL ROVERS

[SirFozzie]

We're up 1-0 (thanks to a Walker goal) in the 29th minute when Mansfield's Neil sees a straight red card for elbowing Birchall. I immediately tell the guys to rush into the attack. With Goal Differential currently the difference between playoffs and no playoffs, we need every goal we can get.

They do equalize, and right after that I get a news flash from the Grimsby game, apparently Macclesfield had a player sent off as well. So I'm gritting my teeth, but both our game and their game is tied at the half.

The 2nd half, we push forward and score three times, from Disley, Mirza and Forrester, for a 4-1 win.

Unfortunately, Grimsby gets a PK, in the 66th minute, and goals in the 82nd and 86th minute to beat 10 man Macclesfield 3-0. So, in the big picture? Nothing's changed. All that's really changed is we have one less game to catch them.

The other reports of note:

Chester had a 2-0 loss to Notts County, it will be very hard for them to catch Grimsby or Bristol, as they are now four points back of us.

Leyton Orient managed a 2-2 draw at home against Cambridge, and are also four points back.

Rushden beat Bury comfortably, 2-0 to maintain a seven point clearance of Bristol and Grimsby.

Here's the standings.

6th Rushden 73 (+24)
7th Grimsby Town 66 (+8)
-----Playoffs-------
8th BRISTOL R 66 (+6)
9th Chester 62 (+9)
10th Leyton orient 62 (+1)

[SirFozzie]

We have Round 43 on Tuesday, and players fitness will be a question.

Grimsby has their last "gimme" game, at home against Bury (they finish with 9-11 teams Chester, Leyton Orient and Lincoln, while we have Northampton next, then Scunthorpe, Oxford and Southend)

Chester basically must beat Rushden to have any shot at the playoffs, while Rushden know they can pretty much clinch a playoff spot with a win against Chester.

I'm pretty much rooting for Chester to beat Rushden, that might open up a possible second spot, but it would make their next game against Grimsby SO very important. Except for this mid-week game, I think I have an easier schedule then Grimsby.

If (and it's a rather big if), Leyton Orient stays in the playoff hunt, they also play Grimsby town in the next to last game of the year.

But the way the two teams are playing, it might just come down to the final game, or down to goal differential. It's going to be fun.

[SirFozzie]

The Northampton game is pretty wide open, but neither side can finish. For one of the first times this year, the game ends a scoreless tie, 0-0.

But the good news is that, in a TREMENDOUS upset, Bury defeats Grimsby 1-0 thanks to a 38th minute goal. So while things get tighter, we actually IMPROVE with the draw.

Rushden ties 1-1 with Chester. Combined with ours and Grimsby's results, they have moved within 2 points of clinching their place. I've dropped them from the listings. Leyton Orient lost 1-0 to Notts Co, and are also dropped out of the other side of the standings (although with the right results could get added back in)

The showdown with three to play.

7th BRISTOL ROVERS 67 (+6)
---- PlayOff ----
8th Grimsby Town 66 (+7)
9th Chester City 63 (+9)

Here's the matchups for Round 44.

16th Place Scunthorpe vs 7th Place BRISTOL
9th Place Chester vs 8th Place Grimsby

HUGE HUGE game. If Chester wins, it gets very interesting, especially if Bristol fails to get 3 points from Scunthorpe. If Grimsby wins, Chester is out. A draw.. well a draw is the best result I can ask for, (combined with a win against Scunthorpe, of course :D)

[SirFozzie]

(this is a replay, unexplained crash to desktop, no warning Grrrr)

Scunthorpe comes out in a 4-2-4. Very interesting, I haven't faced that once this year.

We do manage to break over the 4-2-4 with long balls, and one on one contests between Adam Birchall and the goalie? My money's on Adam ;)

He scores twice in the first half, and Scunthorpe have a goal pulled back for offsides. We win 2-0.

[SirFozzie]

Chester City beat Grimsby 3-0, to make it a tie for 8th, but thanks to our win, we are now four points clear with two to play. If we win either of our final two games, we are in the playoffs. I may give some of the reserves and 2nd teamers a chance to play in our next game (against Oxford) just to rest some of them (especially our defenders, who have pretty much been the same three the entire year.

[SirFozzie]

(The real reason I put in the subs is because I didn't want to improperly benefit from the crash, in the Scunthorpe game pre crash, I tied, so I figured this would be enough a penalty.)

I do go with a mainly second team 11 against Oxford, and they don't do half bad. Oxford takes a first half lead, but Chic Charnley (yup, our 40+ year old coach/player) scores the tying goal in the 2nd half with 12 minutes to play, and we get a 1-1 draw.

What this DOES do though, is it removes our safety net. We are two points up on Grimsby and Chester, who both won. If we win, we're in. They can't catch us. If we draw, and either of them win, it'll be close (Grimsby needs to win by three goals to beat us, they are at +5, we are at +8.. they've scored more goals.. Chester WILL beat us on goal differential should it come down to us.

[SirFozzie]

It's going to be an all-Italian Champions League final, as Inter Milan destroyed PSV 6-2 over the two legs, and they'll be playing Juventus, who beat Bayern Munich 5-2.

On the UEFA Cup side, it's going to be Dutch side Ajax (3-1 winners over Arsenal) to take on VFB Stuttgart, who won 4-1 in the 2nd leg to win on aggregate 5-3 over Feyenoord..

[SirFozzie]

Not trying to draw it out. (honest) but this cold has really kicked my ass. More tonight or tommorrow

[SirFozzie]

Ok, finally found the (enforced) time to continue this, sorry, big ass update coming :)

[SirFozzie]

As we travel to Southend for the final regular game of the year, we know a win and we're in the playoffs, anything else is likely not enough.

And boy, do we respond.

We get an 8th minute own goal to jump out into the lead, and then Lescott makes it two with a goal inthe 14th minute. When Walker makes it 3-0 a minute later, it's party time for the traveling Bristol fans. We do give up a goal late, but by that time we have a fourth, one a penalty by Walker, and at the last gasp, we are through to the playoffs with a 4-1 to finish 7th in the table

[SirFozzie]

The playoffs see us drawn against 4th place Swansea, who we split a pair of games with during the season (winning 3-1 at home late in the season, but losing 3-2 at their place earlier in the year).

The first game sees us at home, which I prefer.. it gives a chance to set a target and know exactly what we need to do on the road to advance.

We take the lead in the 39th minute from Birchall, and look to have suffered a disaster when Fahey gives up a 74th minute penalty kick.. but we're extremely lucky when Swansea's Gurney puts it wide.

Agogo sends the fans home happy, with an injury time goal to give us a good start, as we will travel to Swansea, up 2-0.

[SirFozzie]

In the 2nd leg at Swansea, we know one goal would probably be enough to put us through (thanks to the away goals rule, they would need to beat us by three if we scored any), so I tell the guys to hang back and absorb attacks.

They do just fine, and as the minutes start slipping away.. I let the offense go out slightly, and they respond. Birchall scores a 68th minute goal to put the series away, and even though they score a 72nd minute equalizer, it's nowhere near enough. We are through to the playoff finals on 3-1 aggregate

[SirFozzie]

While we wait to play Notts County, some pretty big games are being played in Europe.

Ajax brings home the tropy to Amsterdam, defeating VFB Stuttgart 2-0 in the finals of the UEFA CUP.

Juventus takes home the Champions League title, 1-0 over Inter, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring the only goal of the game.

[SirFozzie]

Over Twenty Seven thousand Notts County and Bristol Rovers supporters head to the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales for the League Two Playoff Final.

It's a tense game.. both teams have a couple good chances, during the first half, but no goals are to be found.

In the 64th minute, Adam Birchall scores his team leading 17th goal of the season to put Bristol up a vital goal.

Notts County pressed, and Fahey makes a couple big stops....

then in the final minute of regular time, Fahey scores off a deflected shot.. AND WE'RE PLAYING IN LEAGUE ONE NEXT YEAR!

Final 2-0...

[SirFozzie]

Final standings..


Holders - Cambridge





| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1st | C | Cambridge | | 46 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 97 | 39 | +58 | 97 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2nd | P | Boston Utd | | 46 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 71 | 30 | +41 | 90 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 3rd | P | Cheltenham | | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 80 | 51 | +29 | 83 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4th | | Swansea | | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 83 | 64 | +19 | 82 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 5th | | Notts Co | | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 65 | 37 | +28 | 79 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 6th | | Rushden | | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 61 | 37 | +24 | 78 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 7th | P | Bristol Rovers | | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 63 | 52 | +11 | 74 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 8th | | Grimsby | | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 71 | 64 | +7 | 72 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 9th | | Chester | | 46 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 64 | 50 | +14 | 70 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 10th | | Lincoln | | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 62 | 51 | +11 | 63 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 11th | | Leyton Orient | | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 57 | 60 | -3 | 63 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 12th | | Northampton | | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 61 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 13th | | Rochdale | | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 61 | -12 | 60 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 14th | | Oxford | | 46 | 12 | 23 | 11 | 51 | 48 | +3 | 59 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 15th | | Darlington | | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 64 | 72 | -8 | 59 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 16th | | Scunthorpe | | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 72 | 73 | -1 | 57 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 17th | | Shrewsbury | | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 52 | 65 | -13 | 56 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 18th | | Wycombe | | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 43 | 61 | -18 | 50 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 19th | | Southend | | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 60 | 84 | -24 | 48 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 20th | | Macclesfield | | 46 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 61 | 89 | -28 | 45 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 21st | | Yeovil | | 46 | 9 | 16 | 21 | 41 | 71 | -30 | 43 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 22nd | | Kidderminster | | 46 | 10 | 9 | 27 | 53 | 96 | -43 | 39 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 23rd | R | Mansfield | | 46 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 44 | 75 | -31 | 37 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 24th | R | Bury | | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 77 | -39 | 37 |
| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

[SirFozzie]

We will be bidding a fare-thee-well to the following players after our last game

S C Adam Birchall (loan): Scored a team leading 17 goals this year (in 32 (2) appearances). Will be heading back to Arsenal short term, but his contract's almost up. We will try to sign the 20 year old on a free if he becomes available.

D C Phillip Bardsley (loan) An absolute workhorse for us, played 49 games, with a rating of 7.37. We'll see if we can get him again next year.

D/DM L Ijah Anderson (End of contract) Only played Five times for us, was decent, but we decided it wasn't worth renewing his contract.

GK Kevin Miller (End of Contract) Hopefully the aging GK will sign on for at least one more year. Appeared in 11 Games for us, allowed 14 goals, but was overshadowed by Fahey and Jones in crunch time, and at age 36, we couldn't see him handling League One strikers.

M R/C David Savage (End of Contract) *sigh* tough decision. He really played good for us, 7.27 rating in 22 appearances, but at 32, coming off a long term injury, and with his salary at 2K/week, we just couldn't keep him for next year

[SirFozzie]

We are welcoming the following players to Bristol on a full time basis.

S C Barry Corr (1K deal, paid 85/week) Scored three times for us last year on loan from Leeds in 15 appeareances (5 as a sub), still only 20 years old, basically on a make good contract.. He's improved since he came to Bristol.

We will also welcome these players as of the First of July.

S C Muhammet Hanifi Akagunduz (from Konyaspor, Turkey). Finished 04-05 with 16 goals in 35 appearances for the Turkish mid-table Premier league side, and scored two goals in two appearances for Austria.

DM C Matthew Gill (From Notts Co), Scored twice and had five assists for Notts Co, racking up an impressive 7.38 rating. Likely will be in the starting mix at the DM C position

[SirFozzie]

Scotland win again, at Moldova, and with four games to play, have moved in front of the Azurri of Italy for the automatic bid from Group six in world cup qualifying.

[SirFozzie]

Season 2 is here :) (http://dynamic2.gamespy.com/~fof/forums/showthread.php?t=35800)

[SthLdnTing]

i just spent about 1 hour reading season 1 lol. I think your a great manager. I tried to do this exact thing with southend but 1, i ended up cheating giving myself money with unreal tranfers xD and MANY restarts, and then when i won the season and got promoted i thought feck it xD and i deleted it. U have insipired me to do it all over again but with a even harder team as southend was quite easy even if i didnt restart i would have easily got 7/8th place. So I plan to do this lol. i definetly plan to keep reading about this season lol. Btw we are talking about the game Football Manager right? lol when u report it back u make it so realistic. neways keep up the good work in league 1 :D