FM2012 - 2 Live Crewe (And US Too!)

[Abe Sargent]

With my new expanded sports package for cable, I’ve been watching a lot of soccer. With a soccer bug biting, it seems like the right time to take FM 2012 for a spin. I have four possible dynasties in mind. Here they are:

1). Take a newer team, such as Vancouver or Portland, from the MLS. I have never played an MLS team, and with the massive and esoteric rules in place, you are really constricted in player acquisition. It’s often difficult to find players from other leagues at the beginning of ours, due to the start time of the league. Playing my first MLS team that’s not in a strong place would be something new.

2). My standard play at the beginning of my CM and FM playing experience was to take a lower league team in English football and get it promoted up and up. I stopped doing this after I encountered another way of playing in the game, but I enjoyed it. I haven’t done this in a while, and perhaps it’s time to do it again, I’ve been feeling the itch.

3). While playing a dynasty as Carilsle and having gotten them promoted to the Championship, I was offered a deal at newly promoted Kaiserslautern in the top German league. I decided to take it and established a dynasty in K-Town, and it was a lot of fun. For my next dynasty, I began a team in Ukraine, and I’ve never had more fun with a dynasty (until possible Slavia Prague, my most recent FM excursion). Since then, I took a lesser league team in a top flight European club that is out of favor. I get them to the top of the league and into European play. I’ve played teams in Austria, Belgium, Czech, Ukraine and Greece. I’d love to do this again, perhaps in Turkey or somewhere else.

4). As a fantasy challenge, take a team with some cash in a one of the best leagues that allow a lot of international players. (Such as France for their rules (but not cash)). Then see if I can build a team of all African players that competes, wins, does well in Europe, and so forth. Have all of the normal expectations, but with just African players =- and preferably Sub-Saharan players. After looking at various clubs and leagues, I feel that Malaga would be the best place to try with a transfer kitty of 27.62 M and just expecting to be 6th in the league. Since Spain allows all of the Cotonu Agreement nations to count as EU, I can pick up players from almost any African nation. Doing well with just African sides in this league would mean something


So those are my four options. Low level English team getting promoted, new MLS team, lesser league club expecting relegation battles to ensue, or Malaga with my African fantasy plan. Which one will I choose?

[Abe Sargent]

At this point, I’m totally unsure. Parts of me are being pulled in all four directions.

The first one I pull out is the one I’ve been doing for a while. Let’s pull out option #2, the normal lower level top flight team with the low expectations. Let’s do something different this time. Perhaps it will be different by going back to what I used to do in English football. Let’s choose my lower flight club to see who I would be.

Good options are Macclesfield for a challenge – predicted 22nd with a small stadium but with good training facilities and no debt. Crewe Alexandra has top training faciities, predicted 8th, and 10l strong stadium. It’s not a bad choice from League 2 either. Bradford has a huge stadium at 25k, but just adequate training facilities and expected 12th. Plymotuh at 15th is tied for the best youth facilities with adequate, a 16k+ stadium and a 15th prediction. It has insecure finances, that’s not good. Also fairly basic training. Of these, I feel that Crewe is the best positioned to move up without taking a team in the top five or anything. I have no transfer budget. The senior squad is very young – everyone is 21 or under save for 2 at 22, 2 at 23, one 24, one 28, one 30 and one 33.

So I’ll be playing Crewe Alexandra, or Vancouver, or Malaga. Which will it be?

I see the Crewe dynasty as a long term commitment, and I’m, not sure that I have the time or patience for that. It would be at least two years before I could guarantee a promotion, and then another to get to Championship, and I suspect this team is at least three years from being in the Championship, and more likely four. That’s a commitment. I can just play Vancouver until I get and set it down. I expect to fully Africanize the Malaga senior squad in three years. However, it would take me some time to suss out the MLS< so there is a commitment to Vancouver for that.


Okay, let’s really push this time, and say no to Crewe. We’ll do something brand new – Vancouver with MLS oddness or Malaga with its African challenge.

[Critch]

A few years ago Beveren in Belgium pretty much tried your African challenge. Signed loads of African players with a view to selling them on for profit when they'd proven themselves. Most of the money was coming from, and going to, investors so the plan wasnt successful for the team.

Beveren eventually went out of business, so that sets the bar pretty low for you to beat with Malaga.

[Abe Sargent]

It’s the next day, and I still haven’t chosen. I’ve been wrestling with who I want. I was hoping that inspiration would strike, but it hasn’t. In fact, I’ve been leaning more towards Crewe again. Let’s toss Crew back into the match, and then let’s do something radical. I’m grabbing a d6, and a 1 or 2 will be Crewe Alexandra, a 3 or 4 will be Malaga and the African challenge and a 5 or 6 is Vancouver and the MLS’s byzantine rules Here we go.


The die rolls. Red plastic tumbles and lands, revleaing a pair of black pips starting back at me.



Say hello to Crewe Alexandra

[Abe Sargent]

A few years ago Beveren in Belgium pretty much tried your African challenge. Signed loads of African players with a view to selling them on for profit when they'd proven themselves. Most of the money was coming from, and going to, investors so the plan wasnt successful for the team.

Beveren eventually went out of business, so that sets the bar pretty low for you to beat with Malaga.



Awesome!

[RPI-Fan]

I was by far most interested in the last idea (the African team in Europe).

[Abe Sargent]

I hear ya, but I got tired of that, I just couldn;t commit.

[Abe Sargent]

Braham Essex, 35
Welsh/Norwegian
Professional Player

Favorite Team – Swansea



Only England is used, but includes Conference leagues , as well as Wales, Ireland, N Ireland and Scotland. In all cases, the lowest level league is selected. Large database is used.


Crewe Alexandra –

The Railwaymen

3.8 m value, 1.2 m in loan; Okay Finances

10109 all seater at the Alexandra Stadium

Top training facilities, average youth facilities

Predicted to finish 8th this year

[Abe Sargent]

0 transfer budget, and 19016 Euros in weekly budget, currently standing at about 1200 loer than the budgeted amount, leaving us with little room for maneuverability

We begin with Ass-Man, 3 youth coachs, one fitness and one coach, one scout, and two physios


About Crewe – Crewe are a club that has historically been at or near the bottom of professional English football for long stretches of time. However, a commitment by long term manager Dario Gradi on youth development allowed Crewe to become not only a profitbale club by selling off players trained, but also a home-grown club. For the first time in more than 60 years, Crewe had players getting English caps despite lower standings. This approach enabled Gradi to get the club to Division One football (eventually renamed the Championship), for a few years, until Dean Ashton was sold and Crewe began to tumble. For a while in the mid 2000;s, Dario Gradi was the longest tenured manager in English football. In 2006, Crewe was voted the Most Admired Club by a few major magazines. He stepped aside to become technical direction while a new manager came up in 2007. Of course, no manager could do with Crewe what Gradi had done. Thus began an era of new managers, who were let go and Gradi came back to caretaker the team until another was brought in.

Today, July 5, 2011, the third manager to be brought in after Dario Gradi “left,” one Braham Essex, was hired. With no managerial experience but a solid professional career of playing with some degree of tactical and leadership demonstrated, he has been entrusted with Division 2 side Crewe Alexandria. The division leading goalscorer from last, year, who was on Crewe with 29 goals was Clayton Donaldson, but he moved to Brentford. Can Essex replace such a powerful presence in the attacking game? What impact will Braham have on Crewe?

[Abe Sargent]

Staff Moves – I mutual terminate Nick Oakley., a physio. Dario Gradi is my youth coach, and he’s pulling in 2400 a week, In reality, he does more ta just a youth coach. I don’t like their quality, so I also let go Coach Ray Walker, Ass Man Neil Baker, and Youth Coach Neil Critchly

I look to see what I can uncover in the staff market

I make an offer to a Scout named Harry N’Timbanzeh for 400/week salary

I make an offer to Coach Paul Thompson for 575 a week and Coach Huy Lloyd for 375 a week

I also look and I’m able to afford Ass. Man John Morling, so I make him an offer at 500 euros a week.


Let’s leave staff for a bit


We have several affiliated clubs. The first is IBV, an Icelandic club. The second is a local club named Nantwich. We have to play them an annual friendly at their place. We have to do the same to Congleston and Quorn. None of these teams are any good.


The following pre-league friendlies have been scheduled:

Kettering, away, July 9
Luton, away, July 16
Tottenham Reserves, home, Jul 19
West Brom, home, 24th
Quorn, away, 26th
Nantwich, away, 30th

Our first game of the season is home vs Accrington on August 6th.

I cancel the Kettering Town match, and schedule a friendly with Congleston at their place for the 11th. That should fulfill our obligations while also pushing back the first game by two days in case I bring in some players

[Abe Sargent]

As i mentioned before, I have a very young squad – that’s the concept here at Crewe.

Reserve Squad in age – Everyone is between 17 and 20, and we have just 19 and one at 20.

Senior Squad – ages listed – 17, 17. 19, 20, 20, 21, 21, 21, 21, 22, 22, 23, 23, 24, 28, 30, 33

17 players total

Key Players –

Ashley Westwood, 21 year old DMC, MC worth 45k and making 1.2k a week

Highlights include 14 determination and many average stats, such as 11 passing, and solid mental attributes, with just two less than ten (Flair and Bravery, each at 8). Weaknesses include below average technical stats and physical stats (for example, 4 strength, or 8 stamina). Not that hot.


Nick Powell, 17 age, MC, St and AM RLC. Worth 600k and making 575 a week. Our young star

Highlights includes jumping of 13, first touch of 14 passing of 13, work rate of 13 and more solid 13s and 12s in good places (determination, flair, off the ball, stamina.) Average finishing – 10. Pac 11 and acceleration of 8. Lowest physical stats are still 7s – balance and strength.


That’s it for key players


Powell


http://theparrotleak.com/wp-content/uploads/Nick-Powell-008.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

First Team


Steve Phillips – GK, 33 years old, 1.2k weekly given and 18k value

Here are his goalkeeping stats I really care about – 7 aerial ability, 10 handling, 9 one on ones, 12 reflexes. 8 kicking and 9 throwing lead to adequate ball movement. Jumping of 13, agility of 13 and balance of 13.


David Artell ,DC, 30 of age. 10k value, 850k weekly

Best stats include 14 jumping, 14 strength, 14 bravery, 15 determination and 13 in influence and work rate. Passing is just a 5. Marking 11, tackling 11, and heading 10 – a bit weak for what I want from my DC.


Adam Douglas, DC and DR – 23, 16k value, 750/week

9 tackling, 6 passing, 11 markings, and 11 heading. 11 jumping, 13 strength. 13 bravery, 11 in position ning, aggression, anticipation and teamwork.


Shaun Miller, ST, 23 and worth 40k, 750 a week in salary

Only two technical stats are in the double digits – finishing and technique, both at ten. Acceleration and Pace both 13. Just three mental attributes in double digits – anticipation, at 10, determinion at 12 and work rate at 15. Not that good.


Byron Moore, 22 age, 20k and 800/week, AMR and ML.

No technical attribute is in double digits. In fact, none is higher than 7 except for the 8 in penalty taking – just three mentals in double digits – bravery, determination and flair. Pace 13, Acc 13 and Fitness 14. That’s it for physicals in double digits too.


Matt Tootle, 20, DR and DL, 75k value, 800/week

Just 10 dribbling is at double digits in technical attributes. 13 Fitness, 10 pace and 11 stamina in physical ones. Not high quality


Ajay Leitch-Smith – 21, ST, AM RL, 6k value, 450 weekly.

Other than 10 crossing, no technical stat at 10 or more. Just pace 12, agility 10 and acc 11 in physicals, and just 13 determiation, 11 flair and 10 work rate in mentals.


That’s it for first teamers


Rotation – There are none

[Abe Sargent]

Backups on Senior Squad –

Lee Bell – 28, MC, DM, 30k 925/week

Looks better than many above – passing 12, tackling 12, marking 11, 9 and 10 accel and pace, 15 work rate, 10 teamwork, 13 positioning and influence, 10 determination, etc. 15 stamina. Not bad at all.


Alan Martin, Scottish, 22 years, 10k and 800/week, GK

Clearly a backup GK. No need for stats


Danny Shelley – DR, MRC, 20 years, 35k and 700/week

8s in pace and accel, just three stats in 10s or more in technical, all three are set pieces. Mental just has four stats, none are that important for his role.


Luke Murphy – MC, 21, 30k, 925/week

Average at best – no stat higher than 11, and many 10s or 9s including passing,, tackling, technique,pace, acceleration, teamwork, work rate, concentration, composure, anticipation, decisions, and more. A decent stopgap for now.


Harry Davis – DC, 19, 40k, 700/week. Jumping 14 is his best stat. heading of 9, passing of 10, mark of 9 and tack the same. Just two 10s in mental, no other that high. Just 5 strength for a defender, and lower bravery and aggression stats.


Ben Garratt – GK, 18k, 450/week, 17 years of age

Another backup GK. Nothing more to see here


Carl Martin – D RC, 24, 14k, 575/wk

No technical stats over 7 save for 9 in heading, solid physicals and mentals with 12 jump, 13 stamina, and fitness too, 13 work rate and bravery, 11 teamwork. But very weak stats in tacking (just 6), marking (7) and such.


Jordan Connerton – 21, ST, 2.5 k and 575 weekly

Just 6 stats at ten or higher, and half are tens and two are 11s. Not quality

[Abe Sargent]

At this point, any player of quality I pick up can start. It’s more about ability than position.

I take a quick look at my reserves and youth to see if anyone has it.


I move George Ray to my starting squad. He’s 17, n a hot prospect contract. He already has 10 each in marking heading and tackling, 12 acceleration, 6 strength, 14 jumping, 13 aggresssion and more and plays the DC position.

I have a striker, Max Clayton, at 16 in the U18 club everyone is telling me is great. I bump him up for friendly matches upcoming to see what he has

I also bump up 16 year old Irish D LC Joe Gorman and Striker I like 16 year old Liam Wilson. None of the rest here appeal to me

[Poli]

Good luck, I'll follow along.

[Abe Sargent]

Good luck, I'll follow along.

thanks

[Abe Sargent]

Based on my current squad, I change our formation


My current squad is 6 players who can play DC, 2 who can only play DR or DRL, five who can play MC, three who can player both AM or M R and L and one who can play MR, six who an play strikers. This is with the youth players here. For example, I have just one player other than youth Joe Gorman who can pay DL and that;s Matt Tootle. I have no wingbacks at all, so that’s not a possibility. Our current 4-3-3 has no one playing on the outside int eh middle and using fairly weak fullbacks. We need a new plan.

I decide to move to a 3-5-2. I have the DCs for it, and I have the middies for it. I also don’t have the strikers for a 3 strong field. I’ll come back later for more detailed tactics, but that is where my squad is leaning.


Now that I know that, I can approach my player acquisition


I suspect I’ll play our star Nick Powell on the wing. He can use either foot and play either wing, so let’s see if I can find a good winger for the other side


I order some scouting of some prospects.

I make an offer for 18 year old unattached DC Stephen Edward for a youth contract. Other youth contracts I offer include 18 year old Lee Collins, ST; 17 year old DR Ben Mongomery; 15 year old DC Alex Rowland; 15 year old DMC Luke Warrington


I ask my board for a Trial Day and they agree to hold one soon

Okay, let’s stop looking at youth players

[Abe Sargent]

I offer a trial to 41 year old ST Nigel Jemson. I can’t see everything, but that 16 finishign is tempting; I also offer a trial for 20 yar old Scott Ginty with his 14 finishing – trails will give me their stats when they arrive. I can’t scout 31 year old Jamaican Fabian Taylor, so I offer him, a AMR and St a trial as well


I make a miracle offer for Eric Addo but he has interest from a ton of clubs, many higher than us. I doubt that will come to fruition. That’d be a huge deal


I make a few miracle loan offers to players really high above our paygrade, just to see what happens.


I have a ton of scouting projects on various players. We’ll see who comes out


Miracle news. Eric Addo has agreed to join us! This is huge news – he comes in as our best player. We’ll look at him more in a bit. I’m paying a good chunk of change, so I need to look and see if there is salary I can trim – I mutually terminate my other physio and pay less for Peter Heady

I place adverts for GK Coach and Scout


Now I advance time a bit more

The fans have reacted to the Addo signing and love it.


Eric Addo – 32, DC and DM – I could play him at either place. Every mental stat save Off the Ball is in double digits. Every physical stat is in double digits. He also features 12 passing, 14 marking, 14 tackling and 13 heading

We are paying him 1.8k a week. He has a contract through just this year – it was a requirement. If things go well, who knows! It protects him and us both, and I’m happy for that.

I may make a DMC position for him or just play him at DC


My budget is right up against the cap – I fire Dario Gradi with a mutual term


I attend the first press conference on the next day


Addo


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Eric_Addo.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Today I am attend the Trial Game.


There are some nice plays in the first half. A cross headed perfectly into the next opens the second half. We also have TWO own goals. And five yellow cards. The best play is a powerful strke from long rane by a player in blck. I’ll look in a bit.

Helio Andre was player of the gamewith the great goal. He doesn’t look like he has the goods though. I look through the players who came out.

There is a really good player, 29 year old Herita Ilunga, who pays DL and WB L. If I signed him, I could go back to the 4 defenders, because he is that good. He’s fairly cheap, but I don’t have the cash right yet, so I toss him on my shortlist for later, just in case. Ben Davisson was a decent cross that was headed in, and is okay. 10 crossing, 10 passing, 19 years old. I sign him to a 120 weekly salary because he was 4 of 4 on his crosses on the day.


Now the Addo press conference arrives

I place Matt Tootle on the transfer list. Byron Moore is placed there too

Our staff signed have joined us, save or Huw Lloyd. We have arranged a match vs the reserve squad for tomorrow

Several of my youth players are coming. I hand the friendly tomorrow to my Asst m


Ajay is sprained his ankle in the match which ended 0-0


Davisson


http://cafc.digital-ink.co.uk/uploads/charlton4663match1.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

On the 8th, som of my trialists arrive and Davisson joins us

I don’t like Jamaican Fabian Taylor enough for a full contract, nor do I like Nigel Jemson enough

Scott Ginty maybe, we’ll hold onto him for a bit


It’s the 10th, and none of my loan offers came through

We crushed our friendly 5-0 – I forgot to put myself back in charge so I do that now


I have offered a few extraneous players. We’ll see if any get picked up

15 July – I attend the Trial for English Players

I get a few scouting reports on some of the attendees

We have signed Joe McKee to the tem for year long loan


Joe McKee – 18, paid nothing, worth 825k. MC and AM C. Admittedly slow – 6 acc and 10 pace. 20 free kick and penalty, so I have a nice set piece man. He’s from Burnley and admitted that he might like to see if the loan could be made permanent later. 11 passing, 13 technique, 14 long shots, 13 first touch, 12 each to dribbling and corners, and even 15 finishing. This guy’s a nice talent in this league. Mental stats of quality include 16 composure, 14 flair, 14 influence, 13 determination. Weaknesses include 6 work rate, 7 team work, 4 each jumping and heading, and so forth. He’s a good attacking MC choice for us this year


Due to Addo’s ability, I decide to create another tactic to work on, a 3-1-4-2 with Addo in a DMC role – it’s a backup tactic only.

I pay a friendly vs Luton Town


McKee

http://images.clicklancashire.com/admin/article/articleimages/1342090190-joe_mcKee.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

I’m playing Addo as a Ball Playing Defender with the Stopper role. He has two other DCs around to back him up. Joe McKee is given an attack central middie role. My wingers have a wide midfielder role on automatic. The other two middies are on support duties as a central middie. I really haven’t sussed out my strikers yet, because they are pretty weak.


We need a striker badly. A good one. For example, the highest finishing of any striker available for loan is 12. I released a few of my reserve players on a free to clear up some salary space.

I make a couple of loan offers and move to the friendly


The game is underway – we are in black, and they in orange-red. About fifteen minutes in and everything is fine, but they’ve pushed forward more than we have, since this is their place, that’s to be expected I told my lads to relax and work on fitness and playing together – Luton barely misses gol at the 15:14 mark with a kick just off the right post of our goal

We move the bal off the break and Powell tries a cross, it goes out for a corner after being headed away. I’ve already noticed Miller taking some long shots. Addo gets under a Goal kick and knocks is down and kicks it downfield to Miller, who takes a crack and their GK gets to it. Nicely done though. At the 29th minute, they get a great throw in deep and its headed into goal and they go up 1-0. Half time arrives.

I tell them they can still win this and only Mckee looked to have gaining confidence

Wilson kicks the ball into the keeper and ne of their players tries to head it away, fail, and scores an Own Goal in the 46th minute of the game. Luton have a marvelous attacking run but it stops at my keeper I the 48th Wilson finds Miller who gets a long distance one on one chanc at the edge of the box vs the keeper but can’t connect and we get a corner out of it. We foul them on the kick. I put in four subs at the 59th minute. Wilson is doing well, and I was hoping he’d be my star, the 16 year old who isn’t as huge a as two other 16 year old strikers, but he’s out there and pushing. Addo collects the ball quickly from a throw in and dumps it high to Wilson. Wilson finds the subbed in Clayton who kicks the ball from thirty yards away over the GK’s head and into the net for a goal for our team. I switch in three more players post goal. They kick a cross which is woefully off target but makes it into the goal on luck. Score is 2-2 at the 73rd minute. That’s the game. I praise them after wards and they are mostly delighted. Good result

[Abe Sargent]

I reduce the size of my pitch to the smallest size – 101 by 64

It’s announced that we sold 1728 season tickets thus far, and are expecting another 500 to be sold.


July 18 – Meet our newest loanee – 19 year old Colombian Christian Montano, worth 1.8 mill from West Ham. Plays ST and AM L. Actually he’s a good player for this level, but not that great. He has two 13s – teamwork and tackling. He has a bunch of 12s – acceleration, pace, finishing, dribbling, crossing, work rate, agility and aggression. Just a 9 in passing. This is about his level. He comes in, and he could start n my left end or in my striker role. He is currently playing international ball with the U20 squad

I make an offer to a GK oach who responded to my advert named Geoff Crudgington

We move Danny Shelley to Macclesfield for no money, just to reduce the salary wage. He wasn’t close to starting for us. I make an offer to Herita Llunga with the money we just saved.


Time to play the Tottenham reserves, a game which we should lose badly.

We are playing defensive, and Miller scores in the 2nd minutes of the game! Cross from Powell headed into the lower right corner. Miller gets a goal kick, dribble past a defender up the right flank, fight Wilson, but Wilson is wildly off target great play by Miller to set it up. Adam Dougdale has a slight injury, and I pull him in the 38th minute. Howell crosses to Wilson who kicks but it rebounds hard off the top crossbar and away. 1-0 us at the half. I calmly encourage my folsk to keep it up and they look inspired. The spurs reserve wins a corner early in the second half. Nothing happens. Ten minutes later a pass by Wilson to Miller results in a weak, on target sot easily gathered. Artell throws the ball to Wilson, who crosses it t Powell and Powell blasts it into the net. 2-0 us. I pull some players. I pull both strikers at the 66th minute. Nothing happens and we win. Nick Powell was man of the match. I assertively tell them it was a good game and they look good for the start of the season, and they respond appreciably. Another good result.

[Abe Sargent]

21st – The GK coach joined us. I make an offer to one more coach, Mark Bonner, for 450/week

The Scout advert is done in the 23rd and I make an offer to a solid guy, one Paul Molesworth for 400/week

Herita Ilunga is joining us!

Let’s take a look at why I signed him.

I have too many defenders at the club right now, but what I am missing are quality ones. Here is Herita Ilunga

29 years old, D L WB L (can play DC competantly). Worth 14k, paying him 875 weekly

Every physical stat is at least 12. Including 12 strength, 16 stamina, 12 pace and acceleration, and 12 jumping. Technical stats of note – 11 heading, 12 marking, just an 8 in passing, 13 tackling, as well as good outside stats such as 10 crossing, 10 dribbling, and so forth. Mental stats of worth include 14s in determination, aggression and bravery, 12s in teamwork, work rate, composure and decisions and 11 in influence, anticipation, concentration and 10 in position. This is a solid guy for this level, no question. He comes in as my second best DC behind my Belgium/Ghanaian signing of Eric Addo. Now I can move him to a starting DC roles, and try to find homes for my many DCs.


I decide to move starter Adam Dugdale from my team. I offer him for free. My new Coach arrives and I fix up my training schedules. Two offers come in and I accept both. I also get my 3rd scout on board

I now have a full staff.


Its the 24th and we host West Brom for fun.

In retrospect, I probably should have cancelled it and put someone else here after the win vs the Spurs. I tell them to relax and enjoy the match We are playing Defensive. They start out very strong and we are under some serious pressure. They’ve had four corners in 13 minutes. OH MY GOD. Here’s what happened. End result was a long range Wilson score. Throw in by Davisson to Wilson deep, bounced out by West Brom to Miller. Under pressure, Miller back passes to Westwood at the half line. Westwood under pressure slides the ball over to Miller ho comes back and finds McKree and moves back into an attacking position. McKee feeds it back to Miller, Miler under pressure from two West Borm players finds Wilson about ten yards behind the penalty box, who kicks it right in. A corner by them at 36 bounces dangerously in the box before Ilunga can clear it away. A one on one break is knocked away by my Gk at the 39th. Corner kick for them t the 44th. Goes nowhere. I assertively inform them I’m happy with their performance thus far, to keep it up. McKee powers a long shot on target bu their Gk manages to grab it - Corner for WB at 54. Headed out for another corner. Headed out by Ilunga. The ball is kicked on target long distance at our goal, our GK grabs it, it rebounds to the ground but he gathers it before anyone could get it. At 62 they get a cross and headed I in to tie the game. I make some subs. I make 5 subs. At the 75th, I make a few more subs. Corner kick fr them at the 87th minute Shot on goal stopped by gk, and cleared by Davis. They counter our drive and get a score at 88. I tell them that I’m pleased with their performance despite the score. Liam Wilson was Player of the Game


Ilunga

http://www.calciomercato.it/imagenes/original/NEWS_1239870834_Ilunga.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

After playing a few matches, I feel like I need one more midfielder in squad rotation sense. I make an offer to a player who will certainly say no, just to see what happens (Fabrice Jau, 32 year old MC). I scout a few players.

Whoah, Fabrice Jau said yes. That’s crazy.

I bring him in. Dario Gradi says this is a good choice for a transfer in the press. Apparently he has no ill will to me cleaning house and letting him go. It was time.


Fabrice Jau, 32, French, MC

Key Player, Paying 1.7k/week I cleaned out some more backups to get him in – value 45k. One year contract as well as Addo.

Good stats – Physical – 12 acc, 15 stamina, 12 str, jump; 11 agility, 13 fitness lowest stat is 9 for pace.
Mental – 15 teamwork, 14 create, 13 work rate, anticipation, 12s in composure, concentration, determinaton, 11s in decisions, position, influe, 10 in flair off ball and bravery.
Technical – 13 passing, heading, technique, 15 long shots, 12 first touch, 11 crossing penalty taking, corners, 10 tack

Not a bad player for this level at all. He immediately starts for me, and is the last major pickup of the offseason.

I pull David Artell as my vice captain. He’s good at it, but nt god enough o make the pitch. I make Eric Addo the Vice.


Jau

http://static.ladepeche.fr/content/photo/biz/2012/01/27/201201271019_w350.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

July 25 Press Conf called for Fabrice Jau - I take it. I make some nice comments and everybody is happy. They ask a stupid question I wish the game wouldn’t ask. Fabrice is French, so they ask if I will bring any other Frnech players in since he is the only French player on my squad. But, my last signing has French as a secondary nationality and speaks French fine. So I have another French player on my squad already.

Let’s play our friendly away at Quorn. We will be playing Control. No one responds to a show me what you can do comment. So here we go. We are black and they red. Beautiful. 6th minute, Addo collects the ball in our box, finds Miller, who runs at the defense and knocks it in. Miller finds Wilson who kicks it just in from just outside the box at the 10th minute. Wilson sets up Miller with a nice cross that Miller can’t deliver. Wilson sets up Miller again and gets the 3rd goal at the 17th minute. Addo nails a free kick for a score at the 23d minute off a McKee free kick. 4-0 at the half and I make some halftime subs. I make two changes. I make some more at the 55 mark and 67th. And that’s game. I tell them to play that way when it matter, sand several gained focus. Miller was Game MVP


Post game I release Byron Moore on a free and I need one more squad rotation winger now.

I make an offer for 140k a week to young player Simon Johnson.


27 July – Here Ye go, Simon Johnson, on the cheap

20 years old, plays M RLC.

Passing 10, Cross 13, Acc 14, Pace 2, Fitness 11, Drib 10, ff the Ball 13, Flair 12, Determin 12 and that’s all of the double digit scores - a decent rotation level player for me.



Okay, I feel ready now


I offer normal league but high cup bonus


28 Jul – Dugdale has been offically moved


I call a press conference for Simon

The 1st Rnd of the League Cup Draw has arrived. We will be traveling to League 1 team Huddersfield on Aug 9th


Johnson

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Simon_Johnson.jpg/470px-Simon_Johnson.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

30th July – Our final friendly has arrived – away at Nantwich

It’s past my bed time so let’s do this quick. Only major highlights. After some close calls, Miller rushes the GK one on one and gets behind him for a score. Assist by Wilson. Powell crosses to Miller who slides into it for goal a few yards off the line for a 2-0 score at the 37th mark. Halftime. Just back and forth in second half - 2-0 at the end of the game. Man of the Match is Miller


I accept a loan offer to Matt Tootle for Wrexham for six months since they will pay his wages. He moves there on Aug 1.

[Abe Sargent]

Our starting 11:

GK Steve Phillips – Never found anyone better, but a couple were close. I make an offer to a backup Gk much better than my current backup guy before the game starts


DC Eric Addo – Awesome for this level. Just finishing long stint at various teams in the Dutch Top League, although last year he was on a team in the next league down. With 45 caps for Ghana, chances are he could be called up for international duty – but I doubt it would happen often. Ball Playing DC with Support role


DC Herita Ilunga – Another African national, with 19 caps and 2 goals for Dem. Rep of Congo. Toulouse paid 2 million for him in 2007 and West Ham paid 3 million in 2009. He’s had 62 appearances for West Ham in three years. Then he got let go, and now he’s playing for us. Discovered in a Trial Day match where he scored from the fullback position. Defending Central Defender

DC Harry Davis – The current winner of the “who will step into the 3rd spot” sweepstakes. He notched it due to friendly play, where he was fairly decent. Can the 19 year old keep it?


ML and MR – I have three players who can play this position – Ben Davisson who had it during friendlies, Simon Johnson who I just signed, or my star Nick Powell could move over from the right. It comes down to Simon vs Davisson for the start.

Why Simon – 4 better acceleration, 3 better crossing, 2 better pace, 5 better off the ball, 5 better tackling

Why Ben – 3 better technique, 3 better teamwork, 3 better work rate, 1 better decisions and determination, 2 better anticipation

Same stamina and passing


If I want to start Simon, I’ll switch his and Nick’s spot on the pith. Nick can use either foot, but Simon is right footed. It looks like Simon is getting the nod. So He is moving to MR and Nick Powell is ML. Davisson was another Trial Day signing, and he was adequate in the friendlies. Both have automatic wide middle roles


MC Joe Mckee – A loanee starting in the middle with an attack role.

MC Fabrice Jau – Another recent signing, Fabrice is a support role player with a lot of talent. No one has ever paid for him, he’s always been picked up on free transfers. He has played in both Ligue I and 2. Last year, for the first time, he was in a regional division and so this is a lateral transition for him in some sense, and Crewe is a good spot for him to land for several reasons.

MC Lee Bell Our captain. Both him and Jau are in support roles at the MC place. The 28 year old is good enough to get the starting nod


ST Cristian Montano – Currently playing in the U20 Colombian squad for their World Cup Qualifiers which he just finished yesterday He starts for them and has 4 goals in five U20 caps. This loanee will hopefully get a chance to see what he can do.


ST Liam Wilson - Again, while told that he was not my best prospect by far, he looks it, did well in the friendlies including a Man of the Match award against West Ham. Had 2 goals and 4 assists in 4 starts. That includes some chumps and some good. With a 12 finish and dribbling, and 13 heading, we have a place to build. 12 Acc and 8 pace isn’t super great. 13 Flair, 15 fitness, etc. He’s just 16, and we’ll not lean on him too heavily, giving him lots of breaks. But he’s my guy.


Important backups –

ST Shaun Miller, currently GK Alan Martin, M L Ben Davisson, M C Luke Murphy, and DC Joe Gorman.

Next level MC Ashley Westwood, ST Max Clayton, DC David Artell


In real life, Crewe finished 7th this season, and then won playoffs to get promoted. We are predicted to finish 8th. Can we do a little better and equal what happened in real life? I feel really good about Addo, Jau, Ilunga, and my two loanees. Despite signing two 32 and a 29 yea old, my starters are: 33, 32, 29, 19, 20, 32, 18, 28, 17, 16 and 19. It’s still a youth movement here at Alexandra

[Abe Sargent]

We will be starting Miller for Game 1, home vs Accrington.


We start with a control tactic. We are predicted to win, and this is our place, but I don’t want to be too timid or too brave. Control seems just right.

The Season has begun

Simon Johnson injures one of their players at minute 7 and he is pulled for another. They respond in the 12th by tripping Johnson hard and get a yellow card. Beautiful interception by Ilunga who gets it to Wilson, plays it to Miller about five yards past the box, strike is on target but stopped by their Gk. At the 23rd minute, MeKee kicks a corner kick, headed out, Miller grabs the ball, passes to the umarked McKee who is way out there just inside the corner, the defense and GK are out of position, s McKee tries a long shot, on target, and we are up 1-0 and McKee looks nice. It was a brilliant goal. Goal in the 46th minute of first half, by Wilson. His first goal in his first game for us and hi first game as a professional. It’s a bit difficult to explain. Basically Lee Bell ends a passing group by hoofing the ball over the defense and to an onsides Miller. Miller runs forward, but the ball is tackled right at the penalty box area line. Wilson outruns their defense to get on it about two yards away from the circle where people take penalty kicks from, and has a one on one shot with the GK. The GK guesses wrong in which way to dive and it’s a goal. 2-0 at the half.

I tell the lads to keep their performance up in the 2nd half. They look ok. Accrington are under a lot of pressure this game. Lee Bell takes a powerful on target long shot that is deflected and scooped up by their GK Now in the 55-59 minute, Accrington are putting the pressure on us. I make a sub at 65. I pull Johnson for in the in match form Davisson, and switch their roles on the pitch with Powell. Miller gets a score on the 71st minute after being set up by Davisson. We passed the ball around a lot, and then 25 yards out, boom from Miller. I make my next sub. My next game is in three days. I pull Joe McKee for Joe Gorman and then swap Addo into McGee’s role. I make my final change at the 79th minute. I pull Liam Wilson for Max Clayton.

And that’s game! We win 3-0. Joe McKee is Man of the Match. I tell them I’m happy with that performance. Press Conference time. Ilunga was 7.7 rating and very nice. I say nice things about my boys. Assists by Miller and Davisson, goals by Miller, Wilson and McKee. 7.5 rating for Davis, 7.2 for Addo, 7.1 for Bell, 8.3 for McKee, 8.2 for Miller, 7.7 Wilson. It’s a good start to the season.

By the way, at the age of 16 years and 309 days, Wilson is both the youngest player to appear in the League 2, but also the youngest to score.

[Abe Sargent]

Ag 8 – Press Conference for Huddersfild match begins and I attend . I get Addo, Phillips and Ilunga happy after my comments that I think we have a shot at beating Huddersfield. I really do. We are a strong D2 side and they are a D1 side.

Joe McKee is named in the Team of the Week

I have agreed to sign a Canadian player, and now a work permit is being applied for. He’s 20, and been capped at the U20 level for Canada. Will tht be enough? I doubt it, but let’s find out, shall we?


Max Clayton signs a contract for professional now that he’s 17. It was already in the books when I arrived. A bit pricey at 700/week, but we have the budget for it after I released a few extraneous players


I will be starting Ben Davisson today and bring Simon Johnson n, because he’s not match fit. Here we go!

We will begin with a counter set up. I tell them assertively that there’s no pressure. The Ghana national boss is in the stands, looking at Addo. We are under some pressure ad have given away three corners in 20 minutes and then one shot rebounds off the crossbar - After another five minutes of this, Huddersfield are looking downright dangerous. Another corner for them at the 41. All tied at the half mark. I tell them once again no one is expecting anything. Addo and Davis are 7.1, No one else is that high.

2nd half. Wilson under pressure takes a shot, GK pushes it out. Corner. Ilunga gets a yellow in the box, and turns the ball over. They are much faster than us and are quaffing any chance of a counter or break. Phillips grabs the shot off a corner. I go to tactic and move to defensive. My first sub is to pull Ilunga at the 61st minute for Gorman. I don’t want a 2nd yellow to screw this over. They foul Powell when he has a one on one opportunity in the box and he is given us a penalty kick! McKee’s 20 penalty kicking is tested, and he responds with a goal 1-0 at the 69th minute. At the 75 mark I pull Davisson for Johnson. I pull out Jau for Murphy in the 82nd minute. Lots of pressure in the next few minutes. Tough defense for us and we win! I tell them that was really special. Many react well. Addo was man of the match with 8.2 rating. Powell is credited with the assist since he was fouled in the box. Let’s not forget our team. They had 10 shots on goal, five on target, two stooped by our Gk and three blocked by defenders. Hopefully this will impress the Ghanaian HC.

Their manager is pissed at the penalty and came out firing in his press conference. Now its our turn. I’m positive for our side and dodge the penalty question. Addo, Bell and Davisson are pleased with my post game comments.

[Abe Sargent]

We are hosting Bolton for the next round of the League Cup. That’s not going to be good. We were one of only three L2 teams to advance to round two, but that’s not an inspiring match up.

11 Aug – We appeal the decision to turn down the work permit by GK Adam Street, who would be a good backup to Phillips and a future starter if he gets better.

Aug 13 – We draw Walsall in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Anther match vs a League 1 team in a cup. To be played away as well.

We are away vs Bristol today. After making it out of Group Stage at the U20 World Cup, Colombia won a 2nd Round vs Nigeria. Now they pay Egypt in the quarterfinal tomorrow. So Christian is not back yet, and understandably so. Bristol is a heavy, ad predicted to be 2nd in the league. The next game is Hereford, expected to be 23rd, in their place. So if I can beat Bristol in their place, it’s very good for us. If I can tie them, it’s good long term for us. I need to keep all of my players up. Therefore, Simon Johnson will start for Davisson, and Powell is back on the Left side.

We will start with a Counter set up. It’s rainy. They find a long shot on the 9th minute into our net, and things look poor from the get go. Powell takes a long shot which becomes a corner, but we can’t convert. Mckee follows with a nasty long shot, turned aside, corner. We have a good long shot team, so I don’t mind them. Both have been on target. Bristol wastes a corner. Miller injures on f their players and he has to come off. Phillips stops a one on one shot by them brilliantly at the 42 mark 0-1 at the half. I tell them assertively to show me something else in the second half. They look fired up, save for Powell who look stressed. I tell him he wasn;t that bad, but I want improvement, and he looks happy.

We get a goal in the 54th minute oddly. Ilunga throws the ball to McKee who under pressure knocks it back to Ilunga. Ilunga has the ball, unmarked, just outside of the area. He looks for someone to pass the ball too, but everyone is covered. He dribbles it left to the center just inside the area, and everyone is covered and the defense is tightening, so he takes a crack and sinks it. 1-1. Miller fouls a player in a dangerous free kick spot. Luckily, nothing happens with it. I pull McGee for Murphy, and then swap Murphy with Jau, so Jau can be the attacker. Murphy isn’t at that level of play. McGee is just too tired. Addo takes a long shot, on target, gathered by the GK. Bristol is upset when a 69th minute goal is disallowed for offsides. At 72, I pull Miller for Clayton. At 77 Davis is in pain, and I pull him for Gorman. I move defensive in the 80s. Wilson gets a yellow card at 88. And that’s time. I will take a tie here. Man of the Match is Ilunga with a 7.5 rating and a score. McKee had an assist on that. I tell them well done is dodging opinion and avoiding defeat, and they are mostly pleased. We gave up an early goal and didn’t let that faze us. Nicely done.

On the 14th, on penalty kicks, Colombian U20 squad defeated Egypt and now face the Spainish U 20 side I the semis on the 17th. On the 15th the work permit is not appealed and we are unable to bring him in. Ah well

[Abe Sargent]

The 16th is here and we host Hereford. A few lineup changes. Max Clayton is starting for Wilson. Ben Davisson is starting for Nick Powell. This will rest my 16 and 17 year olds.

The game has begun. They say McKee fouled them and they get a penalty kick in the 1:30 mark. They make it. Davison nets a yellow later. Both team are putting pressure on the other. Phillips has had several saves. Nothing else massive in the half occurs. We in a corner in 56th minute. Addo jumps unfairly and we give the ball away. I swap Murphy fr Johnson in the 62. Clayton manages to find the net in the 67th minute. It was lobbed to him by Davisson, and the he dribbled for a bit and launched I from just inside the white circle. I yank a poorly playing McKee for Westwood. I put Jau in that spot. Bell received a yellow card. At the 78th minute, another stop by my GK on close shot on target. I order my team to move to a more attacking style in the last ten minutes. I pull Lee Bell for Gorman, and switch it with Addo. Then I rotate Addo and Jau. Beautiful play by Westwood and Davisson. Westwood dribbles down the right flank and gets past a player. Davisson moves in fro the left flank to support him and instead of crossing it to Clayton, who had two people on him, he cross o Davisson, who finds the net. Goal – 2-1. Beautiful by both Westwood and Davisson. I move back to Control. Jau is injured in the 86th minute and has to come off, but I’ve used all of my subs. I make some changes on the pitch. I move Ilunga to DR and Gorman to DL. I drop Addo down to DC. I drop Miller to midfield. This gives me a 4-4-1. I then move to defensive. We manage to play keep away long enough to win. 2-1 us! I tell them well done. Ben Davisson, with both an assist and goal in MoM. Clayton looked good. Despite conceding a penalty, Phillips was a 7.7 on the match. I tell Davisson he made it happen and he’s happy. McKee was a 5.3, so I tell him that Im not pleased with what I saw and he’s fired up for the next match.

Once again, we came back from an early goal, and this time we won. McKee’s concession of a penalty just made it interesting.


We have Burton on he 20th in their place, and then Bolton on the 23rd. Aldershot at home follows on the 27th, and Away at Walsall on the 30th.

Davisson has been producing. Johnson has not. Colombia beat the Spanish 3-1 in extra time. Now they face Brazil in the finals of the U20 World Cup. While I wish didn’t have my loaner out all of this time, I have to admit it’s been interesting. The Finals are tomorrow on the 20th.

On the 20th, our U18 squad crushes the Man U U18 squad 4 to 1. That’s awesome lads. Crewe is a youth team, that’s our identity, and you saw it today.

[Abe Sargent]

Burton is predicted to be 20th. We are at their place. Wilson and Powell are back in the starting lineup. Davisson stays in since he’s the hot leg, over Johnson. I’m not even going to try and keep my lads fresh for the Bolton game. The league is my focus now. Our 7 points in three games is tied with Gillingham, Plymouth and Port Vale for the same, with no team at 9. I want to get to a strong start. And no team is at 0. Everyone has at least one tie at the top or bottom.


Miller finds the net from 30 yards out. Nice pass by Bell to find him about seven yards from a defender. He dribbles a bit and shoots. Davisson scores at the 15th minute mark. Ilunga threw it in to Murphy, starting for a slightly injured Jau. Murphy crosses to Davisson, who finds the net. 2-0 us. I move to Counter. Addo gets a yellow card. We give away a corner off a header fro a cross in the 29th minute. Then Wilson trips their guy but they can’t connect with the direct free kick. Miller gets a yellow just before half. Back to Standard for the 2nd half. We have been under a lot of pressure since about the 30th minute through now, the 53rd. I pull Liam Wilson for Clayton at 62 Miller injures one fo their players and they have to go off at the 64. At the 72 I pull McKee for Westwood and Davisson for Johnson. I switch Johnson and Powell. Save by Phillips at 84 turns into a Burton corner headed away by Addo. Game ends 2-0. I tell them well done. MOM is GK Steve Phillip with an 8.4 rating. Here’s how he won the game for us. 10 shots, 4 blocked, two on target. Several greats saves. Was in control the whole game. Nicely done Phillips!

Their manager praises us in the news, so I praise him back. At the Press Conf, I am asked questions about resting players such as Jau and how Ilunga is off a good start here.

Colombia defeated Brazil on penalty kicks in the Finals of the U20 World Cup. Christian Montano got the lone goal on Colombia’s side as the starting striker. Nicely done! Now he comes back to us, and we’ll rest him for the Bolton game. Phillips and Davisson are named in the Team of the Week.


Okay, heading into the Bolton game. Changes to roster. Jau is back in. Montano is 71% and needs a break. Clayton is starting for Miller. I wish I could start him for Wilson, because I don’t want the young guy against Bolton, but Miller is tired at 88%. League is more important. Johnson starts over Davisson. Youth 16 year old Gorman is coming in for Davis, because he’s faster.

To the game. I tell my team no pressure. We go defensive. They score in the 4th minute after a rebound of Phillips’s stop of their first shot. Not as much pressure as you might have thought until the 30s, when they make a long shot from 30 yards out. I remind them at the half there’s no pressure. Gorman give them an OG at the 60th minute mark. I pull him for Artell and Powell for Murphy. I pull McKee for Westwood in the 76th. Clayton with an OG in the 83rd minute. Game ends.

[Abe Sargent]

Today I want to crush Aldershot to give us our mojo back. Montano is started for Wilson. Miller is in for Clayton. Powell needs a rest for Johnson and Davisson are playing at the wings. If we can hammer our foe badly, Everybody will be forgetting that 0-4 drubbing against Bolton.

All of the players with 7 points won last time, so we are still in 2nd. I start out with a Control set up. MeKee nails a direct free kick for a goal in the 3rd minute. Right in the upper right corner. They are handing a penalty kick to our foes at the 5 ark and they reciprocate. They said Ilunga gave it away. Not much happening in the meantime. In the 67th, I pull Ilunga for Gorman and Murphy for Johnson. A the 73rd, I pull Jau for Westwood. I push us to attacking. At the 88th minute, they get a red card, and I go overload . At the 91st minute, we score! I pull my men back to Standard. Montano was dribbling down the left side. He crosses to Miller who heads it in but it bounces off the post and Miller puts in the rebound. We win, 2-1. I them them I was happy, there were some positives. I tell Ilunga to step it up and he seems motivated. Joe McKee is MOM. It wasn’t the win I wanted, but it wa a win. After fve games, we are in 1st, because all of the other teams just got ties at the top. We have 13 points, and three teams have 11.


Addo and Ilunga have been called up for international duty on early Sept. I choose to set no instructions. Our match against Rotherham has been moved to the 21st from the 3rd as a result. I praise the Walsall boss prior to our Cup match

McKee needs to rest. Because of the moved match, we don’t have a game until Sept 10 after this, so I’ma play him. I move Wilson in for Miller and Powell back in. I tell my lads no pressure, were the underdogs. I begin with a Counter set up. Not a lot in the early going. McKee injures one of their guys at 14. Davis collects a yellow. At the 35th minute, I move us to Standard. Even at the half. They don’t respond to my grab a goal to get this win comment. As of right now, no one has a shot on target, 5/0 for them and 3/0 for us. Montano scores after dribbling past a defender at the 53rd mark. Back to Counter. Assist by Wilson. At 64, I pull Johnson for Davisson. They say Addo fouled Walsall in the penalty area. He also collects yellow card. They score. Bell gets a yellow. I don’t make any more subs, in case we go to extra time. They get a nice cross and a header over Davis to get a goal. I make two subs and move to control. Miller for Wilson, Murphy for Bell. We think it could have been offsides. Game over, we lose 1-2. I tell them I can’t fault their effort, they are pleased. We have a lot of tired players, so it’s good they get a break now. Except for Addo and Ilunga, of course

[Abe Sargent]

Joe McKee’s goal against Accrington was Goal of the Month for League 2. I get the Manager of the Month award. I sign Joe Gorman to a professional contract for three years at 150/week. Matches for September:

10th – Swindon at our place
13th – Gillingham away
17th – Barnet home
21st – Rotherham away
24th – AFC Wimbledon away

Of these five matches, The first two are against the teams in 5th and 6th. The Dons are 21t, Barnet 11th and Rotherham 17th. I need to get through the first two matches well, and we’l look good for the rest.

I make no changes to my starting lineup, save for Powell, who is out with a facial gash suffered in training. We begin with a standard set up. Swindon currently have low morale. The game is afoot. Nice long shot by Mckee turned aside for corner, but it does naught. At 22nd minute I move to Control. Even at the half. I pull Wilson for Miller at the 60th. McKee feeds Miller the ball beautifully an we score in the 68th minute. I move us back to Standard. I pull Addo for Gorman at the 71st. Montano scores in the 71st just after the sub is made. Jau lobbed the ball in front of him and he took a shot just inside the box. I pull Jau for Murphy after the score. 2-0 is a nice win! Montano is MOM. It’s a good win for us in the standings

Montano needs rest and is on the bench. McKee needs it as well. To accommodate, I am moving Addo to his role, and starting Gorman . Every team we’ve played in League 2 is a 4-4-2 thus far, inclduign Gillingham today. I think that might be part of our success. We begin with a defense set up, just to warm up. Jau steals the ball, shoots it, pushed aside for corner in the first minute - nothing happens from it. Wilson grabs the open ball from a lob, and manages to get a one on one, he shoots pushed aside by GK and another corner here at the 6th minute nothing happens with it either. Jau has another power long shot on target, rebounds and cleared. Because we’ve had good offense, I’ma stay in my defense set up for now, rather than moving out in the 20s like my original intent had been. In the 35th, Johnson has picked up a knock, we’ll take him to the half. Half time, all nil. I put Murphy on for Johnson. We draw a corner in the 59th minute. Poorly hit by Bell. At th 71 I pull Bell for Westwood and I move us to Standard. I pull Davis for Artell at the 78th minute. They have a corner at 90:26. Nothing to it, end of game. 0-0 draw. Ilunga is MOM and I tell them I am disappointed, and tey are fired up. I tell ilunga as happy and he becomes so as well.

[Abe Sargent]

We are heavily favored for the Barnet match. Montano is back in the starting lineup for Wilson. McKee is back. Powell is still recovering and will come back for the next match. I don’t want to risk him at 82%.


Since we are at home, I will begin Standard and get a feel for the game. We get the ball and drive down. We drive, push and cross, and they give us a gift of an Own Goal by Dean Brill at the 1:31 mark. At the 12th minute, Miller grabs a nice goal in the to left corner from inside the arc past the box. He was set up by Bell. Not much more happens, and we are up 2-0 at the half! Let’s head back out. Davisson gets a bit banged up from a collision. I pull him for Westwood at the 55th mark. In the 70s, I yank Jau for Murphy and Montano or Clayton. Addo gets a yellow in the 82nd minute. No changes to the scoreline in the second half, and we win. MOM is Ilunga. We had 12 shots, 6 on target. They had 8 and one on target.

Phillips is asked about in the Press Conference, since it’s been 274 minutes since he conceded a goal. Ilunga is named in the Team of the Week.

Today we have our make up game vs Rotherham. It’s very important. We are a game behind the rest of the conference, but with 2 points ahead of Port Vale and Plymouth. If we win this game, we are five points out in front. Even if we tie we are a full win in front. It’s free points, if you will. Powell is starting for Johnson. I bench a few players for the game we have in three days. I bench Montano for Clayton, and I have McKee out for Gorman with him swapping Addo up.

I begin with a counter alignment, because we are away. An offsides goal by them is called off at the 4th minute. I move to a Standard set up in the 30s. They score just before the half. I come out against them in the half. Rotherham have been pushing all game. Clayton finds Miller I the 56th minute right in front of the keeper and we bring it tie. I swap Jau for Addo, and drop him to a DMC role and I pull Davisson for Johnson. I put in Westwod for Jau in the 72nd minute. I pull Powell for Murphy at the 81st minute. In the 83rd minute, my GK kicks the ball downfield, it is headed back and their striker has a one on one and puts it away. I order my team to attack. And that’s game. I tell my lads ‘m far from pleased and it lights a fire under a few.

[Abe Sargent]

Our away game vs Wimbledon is about to commence. McKee and Monano are back into the line up. We begin Standard. Jau gets the ball from Montano, shoots it long and hits the crossbar, and Miller is there to finish it. 5 minutes in, we are up. In the 19th minute, we again score when Jau gets a cross from Montano right into the net. Offsides goal by Wimbledon called back at the 29th minute. Corner for us at 41 does nothing. Good first half. I tell them I’m pleased, keep it up. Counter has been good for us so I’m not pulling off. Bell gets yellow card. Davis gets one too. I pull Miller for Wilson at the 64th. I yank Davis for Gorman and Bell for Murphy. I have no desire for yellows to accumulate and give me a red. Montano gets open after juking past a defender on the left side. The last defender moves to him, leaving Wilson open, He drives,passes to Wilson, who puts it away. Beautiful break. And that’s the game, 3-0 for us. MOM is Montano with two assists. Montano was injured late in the game and has a three week gashed leg. Not much interesting at the press conference .

Montano named in Team of the Week

October has arrived. Matches for this month:

Oct 1st – Dag and Red at home
Oct 8th – Macclesfield away
Oct 15th – Cheltenham home
Oct 22nd – Torquay away
Oct 25th – Bradford home
Oct 29th – Port Vale away


Here’s the D&R game, get ready


We begin control at home. They net a free direct kick for a score in the 2nd minute. I move to attacking at the 25th minute, and then a penalty is awarded to us at the 28th. McKee does not disappoint and gives us our equalizer. Bell nails a long shot after Miller grabs an assist for him. Miller had the ball ad rushed down the flanks and found Mckee who knocks it ahead to Bell about 20 yards from the goal. 2-1 at the half. Wilson find Miller who has a 1:1 shot but can’t bring it down. I pull McKee for Murphy at the 62. Addo leaves for Gorman at 71. D&R get level off an indirect free kick headed in. 2-2. They get an Own Goal off of Bell’s Corner at the 93:42 mark. We win barely.

Our match for the 8th has been moved to the 12th due to international call ups. I hand Liam Wilson his first professional contract on his 17th birthday.

The 12th has arrived with a game vs Macclesfield. Apparently I screwed up and only brought in Montano for three months. I make an offer to extend it by three months. We are first in the league and again, have a game in hand today M-field are at 14th. Let’s see what we can do, but right now we’re 1 point in from of Rotherham, 2 in front of Bradford and 3 in front of Northhampton.

[Abe Sargent]

McKee is traveling back from the U20 Scotland team, so he cannot play today. Jau is in his position and Murphy is in Jau’s spot. Alons-y! We begin with Counter. I slide to Standard after twenty. Now the momentum is moving our way. No goals, but we are moving and getting shots. Miller gets a goal off a Wilson assist get a goal just before half and put it at 1-0. I tell them Ito keep going. Early in the second half, Powell gets a red card, and I go to a Defensive role. I hole up. They score in the 85th minute to tie it up, but gcan’t get another, so we finish 1-1. They are happy and I tell Powell I’m not happy with hi. All things considered, not a bad result.


I can’t extend Montano because we exceeded our short term loan limit. McKee and Montano are playing for us again, and Davisson is in for Powell. I begin with attacking. I want t shoot out of the gate for a bit. Wilson notches us a score before the game gets more than two minutes long. Assist from Miller. It looks like I forgot to put Montano it. Whoops. It worked out though. I slide to Control at the 10 minute mark. Pressure on both sides coms to nothing, and 1-0 at half. Miller gets a beautiful pass behind the defense by Davis and scores in the 48th minute. David gets a yellow a few minutes later. I yank McKee for Murphy at 61. Miller comes out for Clayton at 68. I FINISH BY PUTTING IN Montano for Davisson. (Sorry CAPS) . It finishes 2-0 and I tell the lads well done. Davis was MOM.

Montano;s loan is over Davis is in Team of Week. I look to see if I can find a good striker for loan. I can’t do more than three months outside of the transfer window. I make an offer to a guy who could contribute.

16 Oct see Artell tell me he wants more first team play and I agree to give him some. Powell was suspended for an additional two weeks.

Say hello to my new loanee

Akwasi Asante, Dutch and Ghanaian. 1 9years old, 1.5m value. Plays ST. 12 Finish, 13 and 14 acceler and pace, 12 first touch, etc. I move him to my starting position. Asante bangs his shin on the first day of practice with us and can; tpay the next game.

[Abe Sargent]

Today we play at Torquay. I come out aggressive with Control. Miller nabs a score in the 7th from the side after getting a pass from Johnson an dribbled with the ball a bit. Indirect Free Kick by McKee upgrades into corner after header on target by Addo. We do nothing with the corner though. I drop to Standard in the 23rd minute. 1-0 at half. I tell them to guard against complacency and get them fired up. Torquay score a goal at 58 from a cross over my GK and behind a defender. Davisson nets a yellow. Wilson hits Johnson for a score and he takes advantage to give us a 2-1 score. I put Artell in for Davis at the 63 mark. McKee has a dangerous free kick, takes it, it rebounds off the crossbar and comes down into eh box, and as it does, we are fouled and a penalty is awarded. McKee nails it. 3-1. I pull McKee for Westwood and Davisson for Murphy. Addo nets a yellow, and will sit next game, too many yellows. Nothing else, so we win 3-1. Apparently Johnson got angered after I told him I was happy with his MoM performance. I don’t know why. Press Conference was normal.


We will start Artell today and I moved Ilunga to Addo’s normal place. Asante will be ready next match. I begin with a standard set up vs Bradford. Lee Bell is injured early and must be replaced. I send out Murphy for him. Ilunga nails a McKee corner for a score at the 18th minute. Miller picks up a yellow. Ilunga gets a card too. Jau picks up one before the half, and Artell does as well. A 1:1 opportunity comes Bradford’s way at the 60. 1-1 Westwood joins the spot for Johnson. I tell my lads to go Control. Jau feeds McKee who puts it away from 15 yards out at the 68th minute. I pull Artell for Gorman in the 70s. Game over. MOM is McKee Bell is out for four weeks with a strained groin.


Artell is not getting another shot, he did horribly there. He let the goal through. Big match now against our rival, Port Vale. This is an away match, and its against a solid team. Asante is starting for us. I predictably begin with Counter set up. After some time, McKee sets up Asante at the 33rd minute and Asante finds the back of the net. Port Vale score a few minutes later on a corner. 1-1 at the half. I pull Jau for Westwood and Miller for Clayton. Powell gives away an OG off a Corner in the 69th. I move to attacking but it does no good, and we lose 1-2 on the road.

[Abe Sargent]

Games in November:

5th – Northampton away
19th – Shrewsbury home
26th – Morecambe away

We are now second in the League 2 one point behind Rotherham.

We get Swindon Town in the FA Cup for Nov 12.

Game time. I begin standard and neutral. 0-0at the half. Miller nails it just after the half. Jau crossed it to Davisson who was tackled and free and Miller grabbed it for the score. I move Powell to McKee position, slide McKee, just to move things a bit on the pitch. Asante is out for Wilson. Davisson ut for Johnson at the 72. McKee out for Westwood. We win. MOM is Ilunga

Phillips is in Team of the Week.

Cup Match Time

I start Artell in Ilunga’s place, who is internationaling right now. I begin Control, since we are in my place. We open with a Luke Murphy goal in the long shot that sinks. David Artell gets the second goal off a Corner Kick and kicks it in after the ball bounces around a bit. 2-0 at the half. A Davisson score is called back for Offsides. Davisson gets them back with a Assante assist that powers through and into the GK and into the net. I pull McKee for Westwood. Goal for Swindon Town with a individual effort by a guy who dribbles past and through me. Johnson for Davisson and Miller for Wilson Davis is MOM with two assists and 8.5 ratings. 3-1 Cup victory


The Press Conference for it is fine. Just three question, typical. We draw Wimbledon for the next Cup match on Dec 3. The Loan transfer deadline has passed, no more loans for my squad.


We host #6 Shrewsbury. Ilunga is back and starts. Bell is too. I come out attacking, just for a bit Shrewsbury get a goal in the 7th minute. Addo opens the second half with a Corner Kick header from McKee to bring us back. Powell grabs a yellow card. Powell is knocked around a bit too so I pull him for Simon Johnson. Miller goes out for Wilson at the 71 Murphy goes in for a poorly performing Bell at the late 70s. We hold on after a lot of pressure in the last twenty, tie 1-1. Addo is MOM.


I played out the Morecambe game while I was on the phone with someone from school, so I didn’t take notes. It was CRAZY. We score quickly off McKee. Then nothing for a while, and Asante is tossed off for two yellows five minutes before the half. But we manage to score with just ten on the pitch right befor half by Miller, playing alone at the Striker position. Then we score as we open the half by another McKee wonder. Ten Morecambe comes back with a score but it’s too late and we win 3-1.. McKee is obviously MoM. Asante suspended for a match.

[Abe Sargent]

McKee named in Team of Week.

McKee’s Goal in Goal of the Month an Millers goal is 2nd in the Morecambe match. I view the goals again, thigns of beauty. Miller’s strike a lob over the keeper. Mckee’s an assist via Asante for a score at the top half from long range. Both beautiful. I have weak strikers, sure, but great long shot midfielders to make up for it.

December Matches:

4th – Cup Match at Wimbledn
10th – Home at Crawley
17th – Away at Oxford
26th – Home at Plymouth
31st – Away to Southend

And that’s the halfway mark of the season.


Cup Match vs Wimbledon

The winner of this match plays Stoke in the next round. Who gets slaughtered?

We begin Counter. I want to win any game I’m playing, and I have my full roster out, but if I lose, it’s not a big deal. The winner has to face an EPL team next. Offsides scores called back for AFC W at 18. Miller with a beautiful shot turned aside. Rainy day ends 0-0 at the half. My first sub is in the early 70s still with no score. Johnson heads in for Davisson. McKee breaks the stalemate with a score on the 75th minute. Powell hit Murphy who knocked it back to McKee for the score from range. I swap a tired Davis for Artell. I leave one sub in case of extra time or injury. And that’s game. 1-0 is fine. Ilunga is MOM.

Number of L2 teams left in 3rd round include Crawley, Oxford, Northampton and us.

Our game vs Crawley is today. I start Artell after some good games, and Asante is pairing with Miller. I begin with a Standard play. We are at home. I try giving Asante a poacher role to see how it goes. Crawley opens with a goal in the 13th Jau grabs a yellow card. Halftime and we are down. I move to attacking in the second half. I pull 5.9 Artell for Gorman. He’s back to the bench. Asante brings us back to even with a pass by Jau. Crawley strikes back immediately, catching Phillips off balance. Pull Davisson for Johnson at the 70. Bell for Murphy is final swap. Asante finds the net in the 89h minute from deep. Murphy found him. 2-2 tie to end it. Asante is MOM.


Asante named in Team of Week. Murphy is injured in training and will be out for a few weeks with concussion.

[Abe Sargent]

Our next game is at Oxford. I begin with a counter philosophy. Oxford is doing well his year too thus far. Miller scores in the first minute after shooting, and collecting the rebound from the GK and shooting again. Later, Davisson gets a cross to Miller and he puts it away in the 31st minute. 2-0 at the half. Back to action, second half. McKee nails direct free kick for a goal in the 56th minute. He aslo collected a yellow card. Ilunga joins him. At the 60 I pull Mckee for Westwwood and rotate the spot with Powell. I don’t want yellow card issues. Westwod crosses in and the ball bounces hit a defender, is loose, Astate stabs it and puts it in and we are 4-0 in Oxford before the 67th minute has arrived I pull Iunga for Gorman. Oxford manage a Corner kick goal at the 69th minute to prevent a clean sheet. Addo gets a yellow. I put in Clayton for the last 15 minutes. We finish 4-1 MOM Is Miller We have two game let, and then we’ll take a look at the table halfway through.


Mckee and Miller are both in the Team of the Week.

Dec 26 arrives. I make no changes to my squad prior to our game vs. Plymouth. We initiate a control strategy. The match is snowing. We have a lot of strong set pieces, direct free kicks and corners, but nothing dangerous from them yet at the 20 - I hit up attacking in the 30s. Powell crosses to Asante who puts it in Goal at the 38 mark. 1-0 at the half. I pull back to Control I pull McKee and Miller for Westwod and Wilson. Addo gets a yellow card I swap him for Gorman. It was close. Plymouth really wanted it and tied hard, but in the end we won 1-0. MoM was Asante. One more game before halftime

[Abe Sargent]

I will be starting Gorman over Davis this week. Ilunga is Week of the Team.

The following contracts expire in six months – Addo, Jau, Bell, Phillips, Harry Davis, Artell, Clayton. Addo isn’t interested in renewing his deal. Jau is. I offer Jau a one year extension to bump his salary to 1900. I have no interest in resigning anyone else right now

Final Match of 2011. We are traveling to Southend. A few matches are postponed due to heavy snow – ours is not one. We begin with the Counter. Ilunga gets a yellow early. We suffer heavy pressure early, but survive. Everyone has had chances, and its still 0-0 at the half. Asante grabs a yellow just before the half. I pull Miller for Wilson at the 64 mark. I’ve been doing all of my tricks to shake things loose, flip my wingers, switch my strikers everything. At 73 I swap Davisson for Johnson. Maybe new legs will help. I move McKee to an AMC role. I toss in Westwood for Powell late. A draw. MOM was Addo. Ilunga misses next match due to too many yellows

[Abe Sargent]

The League

Despite this annoying draw, we are in first with 51 points. In our first 23 games, we went 15, 6 and 2. We have a GD of +25. Rotherham is 2nd with 49 points, and Bradford 3rd with 44.

Player stats:

Shaun Miller 3rd in league in goals with 14, his 53% shots on target ties for 7th best. 10 shutouts for Phillips, 3rd in league behind two guys with 11. Addo in 5th for most key headers per game. Davis in 8th. Ilunga leads the league in interceptions with 169. Addo is in 8th.


Okay, is there anyone whose contract is expiring I want to pick up for next year?

I order some scouting. I begin by scouting a bunch of GKs. I make an offer to a nice 29 year old DC. Let’s see if he agrees. Okay, I’m good for now. Let’s see what my scouts uncover.

The deal goes through, and we have signed Nasser Daineche to be my 3rd DC next year. Or my 2nd one if Addo doesn’t resign. He’ll join us July 1. He’s Algerian and French.


Jan 1 – Scouting reports begin to arrive Cesc Fabregas won Player of the year for the World an World Golden Ball. Three GK targets stick out to me. Irish Aaron McCarey, Greek Dean Bouzanis and English Adam McHugh. Make a Hot Prospect offer to McHugh for 750 weekly. Now, of the other two, which am I interested in? I go for the more developed McCarey. But I can’t too young for a Bozema. I make an inquiry for Bouzanis instead .I have 7.7k in transfer money and he’s valued at 2k



Matches for Jan

2nd Accrington away
7th – CUP - Stoke away
11th – Bristol home
14th – Hereford away
21st – Burton home
28th – Aldershot away

[Abe Sargent]

Charlton have made a transfer offer for Addo. They offer me 50k over 36 months, 6k immediately, 500 per game after he notches 30 games, so 15k bonus. Now Addo is a rock for my team. I try to make him another offer, and no deal. This is rough offer. If he doesn’t come back, I might as well get something from him. He could sign a Bozeman at any time. He would finish the year with me, though. I have Daineche coming in, and I’m confident I could find another DC by next Aug, but can I find one now? Basically here’s the deal. If I can make it without him, I take it. If I don’t, I ride him for the next 23 league games. I scout some defenders and find nothing. Do manage to make an offer for Bouzanis, their enquiry was nothing.

Let’s play Addo tomorrow and then figure things out from there.

Jau has clinched a new deal, extending his stay by a year


We travel to Accrington today. Ilunga is out so Davis and Gorman are back there. We’ll begin Standard. I move to control after a quiet start by both teams in the early 20s. At the 30, Accrington have been piling pressure, so I move to Counter. A quiet half for us, because our offense did little. Bell passes the ball to Asante, he slips past a defender for a second, take a shot and sinks it. Goal at the 51st minute. Bell got a yellow, so I pull him for Murphy. Also going in are Johnson for Davisson and Westwood for Jau. We suffer a assault in the last 15, but we emerge victorious. 1-0. MOM was Harry Davis. That was Murphy’s 100 performance for the squad.


I rejected the Addo offer. I hate not getting full value for him. But I’m not going to mess with this run right now. I’m not going to be able to agree with terms to Bouzanis, because he wants to much money for a backup or squad rotation player. We just are too far away financially. Adam McHugh does join us in July though. That’s good news.

[Abe Sargent]

Alright, woodshed time by Stoke (who are also our rival)

I have pulled McKee for Murphy, Jau for Westwood and Gorman for Ilunga and Powell for Johnson. I want to rest tired players. We are on the road vs a team currently 11th in the EPL. I’m going to focus on what we can. The league. We’ll be playing defensive. I drop Bell to a DMC role and make Murphy a support player They score two minutes in, eighteen minutes in, twenty-two minutes in, halftime. They score 48th minute, 54th minute, I pull some tired folk for not tired folk. They score in the 79th minute. We lose 0-6. Very woodshed-y.


Akwasi Asante extends his deal with Birmingham. Nottm Forest make an inquiry for Ilunga, which I reject. Time for our next game. My players are back – Powell, McKee and Jau. We are hosting Bristol, a team in 21st place. I open with control. We’re applying some nice pressure early, so I stick with Control. Addo collects yellow. Halftime is 0-0. In the open,McKee gest a penalty kick at the 50th minute to put it at 1-0 us. Then McKee gets a long bal into the net at the 76th minute to make it 2-0. We get a third score by Bell with an Asante assist in extra time to finish 30. Asante had 2 assists, and McKee is MOM.


We head away to Hereford, a team that is 23rd in the division. We start with a Counter set up, just to throw them off. They probably expect us to come out firing. They score in the first minute with a direct free kick. Asante answers in the 13th. They reciprocate in the 22nd. Miller hits them back in the 37th. Half time. No one scores in the second half, and we finish 2-2.

Asante’s loan is about up, so I make an offer for another striker. Asante had 13 apps, 7 goals, 5 assts, and 7.1 rating. Montano has been placed on the transfer list and West Ham offer him to us for 108k. There’s no way we could afford that. Asante publicly is sad to leave us, and learned a lot he claims.

[Abe Sargent]

Game today. We host Burton. Wilson is back in the starting line up. I begin attacking. They are getting a huge push, so I move to Counter. 0-0 at the half. They score in the 59th minute, I move back to attacking. Nothing doing, but they gift us an OG in the 89s for a 1-1 tie. During the match Liam Wilson is out with a strained knee ligament and will be out for months

I make an offer to a youth striker to join my club. I miss out on a loan target, he rejects coming to us. I sign a youth stirker, 21 year old Shaun Goodhall, with a 12 acc, 11 pace, 12 finishing, 17 flair, but 6 stamina, 5 heading, 4 jumping, et. HE’s a backup for us, along with Clayton. I need a starter, so I look for another loan possibility.

Here’s our new starter –

17 year old ST Karim Rossi, Swiss, worth 1.5m and making 275 a week from Everton.

Physical Stats – 12, 13, 12, 10, 13, 13, 10, 11 (In order from acceleration to strength)
Mental – Main ones are 12 OTB, determ, 11 work, brav, comp, flair, 10 acti, agg, decis, team
Technical – 13 Fin, dribb, 10 technique first touch

He’ll start for us in the Montano/Asante spot

[Abe Sargent]

Game begins, we are on the road vs Aldershot. I begin with a Counter set up. It’s 0-0 at the half. To open the game, Rossi scores a header from a Corner kick, and puts us up. They respond seconds later. Miller nails a goal at 83rd minute for the win. Miller is MOM.


30 Jan – I reject an offer for Addo from Leyton Orient.


February Games

4th – Rotherham home
11th – Swindon away
14th – Gillingham home
18th – AFC Wimbledon away
25th – Barnet away


Rotherham is the big game, #1 us vs #2 them. They beat us last time. Who will emerge victorious now?


Let’s find out shall we? I make a modest change. I bench Miller, play Powel in his role, and have both Johnson and Davisson on the edges. I begin with a Standard layout. It’s snowing today. They’ve been pressuring us a lot. An offsides goal of there is called back in the 18th minute. I use this to move to Control. Let’s see what happens with that - nothing. I slide to Counter for the last minutes of the half. Jau finds Powell I the middle and Powell runs and scores. 1-0 us at the half. We’ll stick with counter for now. Bell grabs a yellow in the start of the 2nd. I pull a poorly playing Davisson for Murphy at the 63 mark. Bell leaves for Westwood beeause I don’t want to risk a double yellow. An indirect free kick falls to Rossi, who kicks, blocked by the keeper, and Powell grabs the rebound for a score at 75. I pull an injured Jau for Miller, and then I swap Miller and Powell. Rotherham grab a goal at the 81 mark. They change to a 4-2-4. We manage to rub down time with a bunch of corners for us. But then they score in the 92nd minute. Miracle for them, and it’s a tie game 2-2. MOM was Powell.

I swapped in Powell to mix things up. He’s a better midfielder than a striker. It was fun to play around with that, Miller will be back next game. Powell was in the Team of the Week. That goal at the end may have kept Rotherham in the hunt for the top. We would have opened a 11 point lead over them (but they have one game less than us played). Rotherham won their game and are now five back. The next are three teams thirteen back.

[Abe Sargent]

We travel to #18 today, Swindon. We’ll begin normal and move from there. I never move off. We win 2-0. We get a penalty kick by McKee which is controversial (they all are) He also notched a long shot from the edge of the box for a MOM game. McKee gets Team of Week as well.


We host the #7 team, Gillingham. This will be a bit tougher. I begin with a Control set up. Their GK has been injured. I push the pressure Rossi comes in, the ball is tackled by a defender toward goal and an OG by them at the 24th minute. Bell with a yellow. Half I pull Johnson for Murphy. McKee get a card. I pull McKee and Jau. Ilunga gets a card. I move to Counter in the 81 spot. Miller is injured badly at the 87th minute. No sub possible. Davis got a knock too. A lot of injury time added. They get a red for a professional foul on Rossi in the 94th minute. 1-0. Bad match, but we win. Addo was MOM. Bell can’t play next match, too many yellows.


For the Wimbledon game, a few changes. Davisson starts over Powell He needs a rest. I put Gorman in for Davis. And of course, Murphy is in for Bell. It’s 0-0 at the half, with Davsso and McKee with cards. I move to Control, and we open the game up. Rossi gets a an assist n a Davisson goal hard. Then McKee assists Rossi. Finally, Rossi assist Miller. By the end of the match, we have a convincing 3-0 victory. Rossi is MOM with a goal and two assists.

[Abe Sargent]

Right now, we have opened up the table. Rotherham have lost and we are now really far out in front. Any lead can crumble, as football fans know. But right now we have 12 points on Rotherham and 16 on Bradford. Rossi Is Team of the Week entry. Joe Gorman is called up for the U19 Irish squad. Ilunga has been called up too.


Our away match at #12 Barnet has arrived. Bell is still suspended. Powell comes in for Johnson. Davis is back in the lineup. I begin on Counter. It’s raining, and I ike Barnet’s orange and black kits, they look sharp. I move to standard at 25. Ilunga gives away an Own Goal at the 43rd minute. Live by the Own Goal, die by the Own Goal. Rossi steals the ball and gets a nice goal at the 67th minute. I put on new signing Shaun Goodhall for Miller to see what he can bring. Westwood swaps for Powell. Addo gets a yellow. An indirect free kick by them is headed in at the 73rd minute. I pull Davis, who is banged up a bit for Artell. And that’s game we lost 1-2. That’s our first loss in a while.


March is here. Games this month

3rd – Dag and Red away
6th – Macclesfield here
10th – Cheltenham away
17th – Torquay here
20th – Bradford away
24th – Port Vale here
31st – Northampton here

So a big month of matches. Rotherham won so they are nine points back now.

[Abe Sargent]

D&R game is here. I move Jau to McKee’s spot and bench him. He’s tired. We begin with Standard. Addo gives Rossi an indirect free kick header for a goal in the 3rd minute. I move to counter. Goal in the 5th minute fo us as well. Powell had the ball, and under pressure, he passed to Bell, who immediately fed the ball to Rossi who was onsides behind their defense. He puts it in the bottom left corner past the keeper. Rossi gets his hat trick at the 6:29 mark of the game!! Bell finds him, and he has three defenders in front. He dribbles past one and splits the other two just long enough to squeeze off a shot at the upper right corner. They notch a goal at the 27 mark. 3-1 at the half. Rossi scores in the 49th minute. Davisson led him into the box and he got the ball first before the defender did. Rossi has a slight injury, and replace him with Goodhall. I pull Powell for Westwood and Addo for Artell. D&R get a nice goal at the 83rd mark. We win 4-2. Rossi was obviously MOM. However, he got a sprained ankle, and will be out for about two months.

So, once again, I need a striker. I begin by doing a little scouting. Okay, I get another loaner


Cauley Woodrow, 17, Fulham, English, 625k and 575/week.

Physical 12 acc, 14 balanc, 10 stamina
Tech – 13 finish, 14 dribb, technique, 11 first touh, heading,
Mental – 11 Comp, 13 Work, 10 Deter, Flair, OTB

Not nearl y as good, but there are not a lot o f options left.

Bell and Rossi both in Team of the Week


Today’s game is hosting #10 Macclesfield. Woodrow will start. Control is our guiding light. They get a nice score at the 19th minute. Addo nets another yellow. Miller scres at the 26t minute. A nice flowing move gave Woodrow the ball just outside the box, but it was tackled, fell to Miller and Miller put it away. 1-1. Bell with a beautiful pass to Woodrow, who dances behind their defense, rushes past a GK that came out to challenge him and puts it away . They claim he was offsides but their protests account to naught. 2-1 at the half. We stay with Control. McKee gets a yellow card post halftime. Ilunga gets one too. MField are putting on pressure. . I yank Addo for Gorman. One of their guys gets a red card at the 64th minute. I tell my crew to tackle light. They change to a 5-1-2-1. Woodrow get a score. Off a throw in, the ball is given short to Davis. Davis crosses to Woodrow, who has a defender on him about 5 yards from goal. Woodrow runs forward and manages to shoot the ball without turning and gets it past the defender and into the goal. I rotate in two middies. Bell takes a long shot, its on target, and it goes in. Despite me telling them to tackle light, Ilunga foul sand gets a second yellow, and he’s off too. I move to playing counter and drop Bell to a DMC role. They get a long shot over our keeper and its 4-2 at the 83rd minute. They even get a goal in extra time, 93rd minute. And we win 4-3. Woodrow is MOM

I make some offers to some youth players

[Abe Sargent]

The next match has arrived, away at #21 Cheltenham. Gorman is starting for Ilunga, I begin standard. We have some chances early, so I stick with it. McKee is injured. I pull him for Murphy, and slide Jau over. 0-0 at the half. I slide to Counter. I swap Miller and Powell on the pitch, and then pull Miller for Johnson. Davis gets a yellow. Westwood for Jau in the 80s. 0-0 draw Addo is out next game with too many cards.


Our new youth arrives. I take a look to see who interests. Bell named in Team of Week. I make offers to about 2/3s of my new youth players.


Today we host Torquay I am making a few changes. First of all, Ilunga is back Secondly, starting is Goegre Ray at the DC. We’ll see how he does. I also take brand new player Justin Taylor, one of our best new signees. I’ll get him some play as well. I move Max Clayton to the U18 squad, I have a new youth option. Liam Wilson is healed. I put him on my sub list for Goodhall. We begin controlling. Torquay score early in the 6th minute. Then Miller crosses the ball, it bounces off the back of a player and goes in their goal it’s an OG technically. Tied at the 12th minute. Woodrow gets a booking. Ray was injured at the end of the first half, and I pull him for Gorman. Cross by Bell to McKee who heads it in. Goal at the 47. I pull Jau for Taylor at the 70. They foul Woodrow in the box and it’s a penalty. Swap Woodrow for Liam Wilson. McKee sinks the penalty kick. Torquay score an odd goal, with a cross that off target but catches Phillips out of position at the 89th minute. We still win 3-2. McKee is MOM. Taylor finished 6.7 and Ray, taken out early, was just 6.5.


Gorman is in for Addo. Taylor is the youngest player ever in the league. McKee in Team of Week.


Johnson starts for Powell and Murphy for McKee. We are traveling to #7 Bradford. I will begin defensive. I want to get warmed up, and it’s just three days since the last match. 30 minutes in, time to go Counter. 0-0 at half. Gorman was injured and picked up a knock, so in goes Ray. The reverse sub from last game, at the same time for the same reason. Bell with card. Davisson is too tired, so I pull him for Westwood. 0-0 draw. Davis was MOM.

A lot of managers have been talking me up in the pres. Even Bradford just said I was a good team.

[GoldenEagle]

Why couldn't you renew Asante's loan?

Do you plan on buying Montano if you can get him for like 50k and you promote?

[Abe Sargent]

Rivalry Time.

We host #5 Port Vale. We lost to them earlier. Addo is back. Mckee and Powell do a well. I put Powell at Miller’s spot. We begin attacking. Let’s see if we can push our rivals. With a win today, we secure a playoff spot at the least. Port Vale get a nice goal in the 13th minute, and that does not bode well. McKee finds Powell for a score to equalize at the 3st, and I back to control. One of their guys comes off injured. Powell collects a yellow. 1-1 at the half. I tell the guys to keep it up. They look pleased to a man. Bell with a yellow. I pull a very tired Johnson for Murphy. Liam Wilson goes in for Woodrow at the 75. Taylor in for Bell in the 82. They get a miracle goal in the 93rd minute, and thoughts of offsides abound. We have lost 1-2.


So this year we took no points from Port Vale and just one from Rotherham. I move Taylor down to youth squad. The deadline for loans and signings has passed.


We host #14 Northampton. I make no changes to the squad. Addo agrees to a one year extension. I begin control. I don’t like their red and yellow kits. Johnson with a beautiful cross to Woodrow who gets behind their defense and scores easily at the 10th minute. Phillips drop a catch and Northhampton put it away at the 21st. Total GK error. 1-1 at the half. Johnson a yellow. Davis one too. Woodow gest a beautiful McKee pass for another sore – 62nd minute. I pull the yellow carders for Gorman and Westwood. I slide to counter for the last ten. We win 2-1. Woodrow is obviously MM.

[Abe Sargent]

Why couldn't you renew Asante's loan?

Do you plan on buying Montano if you can get him for like 50k and you promote?



It wouldn't let me. I can't recall what rule was stopping me.

Montano would be doable if I could get him cheap. He's dropped in value a lot, but he's still too more for my club. I'll take a looksee in the offseason though.

[Abe Sargent]

April has arrived. Matches:


7th – Morecambe home
9th – Shrewsbury away
14th – Crawly away
21st 0 Oxford home
28th – Plymouth away
May 5th – Souhend home

Six games left and we are 14 in front of Rotherham and 15 for Southend. Shrewsbury is in 7th, and Oxford 8th, and Southend 3rd. We close hard. Even Plymouth is 9th. Lots of teams trying to win really hard

Addo has officially inked a new deal for a year. 1.9k a week for him. I move Ray back to the reserves for now. I put Shaun Miler back into the starting lineup and move Powell to Johnson, and slide him to bench Davisson.


Morecambe arrives. We initiate a control strategy. Bell launches a powerful long shot at the 7th minute for goal. After a lot of pressure, I drop to Standard at the 20. 1-0 at the half is ended when they score a header off a cross in the extra time. So instead it’s 1-1. Bell has a yellow. I move attacking in the last 15. 1-1 tie.


We have been officially promoted with that point. No matter what happens, we are in League 1 next year. I’d like to win, but if we have an epic collapse, we still win.

[Abe Sargent]

We are traveling to Shrewsbury. Since this game was two days after the Morecambe game, I start defensive. I also rest Powell for Davisson. If we win, we win the division. Not a lot at first. 30 minutes gone and not much happening That’s good. We allow a goal at the 43rd minute that just snakes inside the goal 0-1 at the half. I move to counter. I pull Johnson for Murphy at the 63. They get a goal off a corner kick that bounces around at the 67. Woodrow gets injured, so I toss Wilson in. They get a header off another corner for a score at 81. We lose 0-3. Woodrow is out for 2-3 weeks, with a damaged elbow. That’s actually disappointing Rossi is getting off his injury, and I was hoping to try both of my loanees out together.


Wilson will start today for Woodrow. Powell is back in the line up for Johnson. We are at Crawley. We begin with the counter set up. To make a long story short, we win 2-0 on the road. Davis was MOM. Clayton got a goal subbing in and McKee notched a penalty. It was pretty boring. We have won the League 2.


Rossi starts for Wilson. Oxford time. I won’t highlight these games too much. Rossi gets a goal at the 17. Powell finds Johnson for a score at the 47th minute. Halftime. They fire a long shot from deep into the net at 55. McKee gets a goal bouncing around. Subs are made. We win 3-1. Powell MOM with 2 assists.

Rotherham have been officially promoted. McKee in Team of Week. Rossi loan ends. He is sad to leave Crewe.

The next game is vs. Plymouth. Fun game, we win 4-3. Ilunga, Clayton and Powell all had goals. Liam

Wilson has a massive hip injury during training, and I send him to a specialist. We beat the Man U U18 squad 6-2.

Final game of the year - Woodrow is back in the lineup I come out attacking. They score on a rebound off my GK when he lets the ball all and they scoop it up. Johnson finds Miller for a goal at the 13th minute. 1-1 tie. I fade to control. They get another goal in the 31st. 1-2 at the half. Woodrow is injured, and I put Goodhall in. Gorman replaces Ilunga. Davisson in for Powell final sub. I order attacking in the final 15. McKee heads the ball to Miller, who scores the equalizer. They return the favor in the 89th goal. The ball was kicked, Phillips deflects, the ball was on the ground and scored. 2-3 loss. Miller was MOM in the loss.

[Abe Sargent]

Final results:

We won. Rotherham came in second. Shrewsbury came in 3rd. These teams are in the playoffs – Southend, Gillingham, Bradford and Port Vale.

Relegated are Hereford and Accrington.

We won with 96 points.


Stats:

We had 86 goals, the most. We allowed 46 goals the fewest. That’s a +40 GD. With 20 goals, Shaun Miller was tied for 5th most. The leader had 25. At 16, Joe McKee was tied for 11th in most goals. With 12 assists, Lee Bell was tied for 6th. With 11, McKee was tied for 10th. Bell had 11 yellows, Addo 9, both a high number in the league. With 7, McKee was tied for 2nd for the most MOM awards. With 18, Phillips led the league in shut outs. Addo was 3rd in key headers, Ilunga was 10th. With 348, Ilunga le the league with the most interceptions. Davis was tied for 8th, and Addo tied for 12th.

We led the league in goals from Direct Free Kicks, we had 6 Corner kick goals. We had the 20th lowest salary in the league.


Why did we win so well this season? I have a few answers. In real life, Crewe finished 7th and won the playoffs. It was predicted 8th, so you take the 7th or 8th team in the league, and then add players such as Addo, McKee, Ilunga and our rotational strikers from loan. Then give us a 3-5-2 ,good against the heavy play of 442s running around. The combination of a good team with great players and good strategy makes for a winning season.

[Abe Sargent]

Who is leaving


GK Steve Phillips – Started strong, ended very poorly, not a good quality GK for the next level.

DC Harry Davis – He’s not a bad option. He played well, but I have a good DC coming in off a Bozeman and I managed to resign Addo, and he’s not next level quality.

MC Lee Bell I may resign our captain, but I hope to loan McKee again while bringing in a better middie. He’s solid, but unspetctacular. Could be reupped later if it works out.

GK Alan Martin –Not a good backup, and pricey.


All of my reserve players, save for George Ray, Matt Tootle and a youth player. That includes DC David Artell. Just two youth players are leaving, I have a huge youth squad.



Players go on holiday for the summer.

[Abe Sargent]

Gillingham and Port Vale make it out of the semis to the playoff.

Our initial budget for the new year is in and it’s a huge improvement. But, Addo has a match highest earner clause for this year. I need to watch for that. Gillingham won the playoff game 3-0. They are joining us, Shrewsbury and Rotherham next year.

Colchester, Hartlepool, Exeter ad Bury were relegated from L1, and Charlton, Sheff Utd and Notts Co were promoted to Champonship.

In the Championship, Portsmouth, Coventry and Doncaster are heading to L1 while West Ham, Birmingham and Blackpool are up to the EPL.

Man City won the EPL, just as they did in real life. Relegated are Norwich, Wigan and Aston Villa. Going to Champions League are Man U, Arsenal and Chelsea. Going to Euro Cup are Tottenham, Wolves, Stoke, Everton and West Ham. Swansea avoided relegation by one point, Bolton, Blackburn and Sunderland by four each.

Cambridge and York got promoted to League 2.


I want a new GK. I’m bringing in a youth backup GK in July. I want a new one. I can’t find a new GK immediately, we’ll see what falls our way later

I won Manager of the Year. Eric Addo and Joe McKee were named Team of the Year for D2.

[Abe Sargent]

Time to see what my new salary can do

I find a few interesting youthers I pick them up on faith, because I can only see some of their profile and they are too far away to scout.

I find a good MR for my team and make him an offer. For 4k a week, I get him. This will jump Addo salary for the year, so he’s really 6k, but I think he’s worth it. He’s really funny too, I’ll show you how when he arrives.

I see myself sliding Powell to Bell’s spot and finding a good ML. Neither Davisson nor Johnson are good enough for this level. I look to see what sort of ML I can find. I find an interesting Brazillian and I make an inquiry to WIgan, since I can’t get him on a bosman.

What about Striker? I can’t find a good one, but I walk into my next GK who is currently without a contract. I make him an offer.

I get a news item about how I’m targeting some guy. I’m not, but I take a quick look and he’s interesting, so I order a scout to see more.

The scout comes back, and this guy is solid. He plays ML too. English fellow named Matty Done, but he’s not up for a year. I’m not making a contract play.

Our new sponsorship arrives, 8k per year for two years.

I have signed my Right Middie on a bosman I have also signed my GK, and he’s a keeper for a while. Literally.

I can’t get my Brazilian to match my offer. He wants 5500 a week, and I can; give more than 4300 for a key player. I have to walk away and find someone else, sadly. He was 35 and still amazing. So I make an offer to my next choice, another old guy, who can come in for one year and help us out. The agent leaves after one rejected offer.

[Abe Sargent]

On June 2, a bunch of youth players are released in England. I spend the day looking for a few diamonds. I come back and make an offer to my old left middle, and he agrees to a 2900 salary.


I find a youth player let go by Arsenal and I make an offer . He is offered a rotation salary at 1600 a week

My old guy agrees to terms. My youth guy, ex-Arsenal player agrees on the 7th.

Jun 9th arrives and with it the beginning of the new transfer window.

Our three major new signings, one accidental, to major


Alban Bunjaku, 18, ex-Arsenal player, English and Albanian, 10 and 11 for speeds7 ans 89 for pasing stuff, but much better other stats than Davisson or Johnson. He’s my backup for now. He can play AML, M C and AM C and ST. Finishing of 12, so he has some potential to be a backup there too. Just anice, well rounded but not amazing player.

I picked up a few youth players, and got one of mention. 18 year old Mindaugas Dunsauskas, ST, with 13 finishing, 11 and 13 speeds, 12 head, 11 dribbling, 11 stam, 17 deter, 15 brav but some lower stats too – just 8 tehnique, 8 first touch, 6 jumping etc. A good free pickup though

Say hello to my new GK. Carlos, is a Angolan, Portuguese and Congolese player, 32. We are paying him 750 a week. He was in the Turkish league and then let go. Physical stats – 12, 9, 13, 15, 11, 11, 10, and 14 Gk ones – 12 aerial, command, 13 rush, 10 communic, punch, 16 throw, 18 ecc, 15 one on one, 17 kicking, 14 reflexes. Mentals includes 18 aggression, 16 bravery, 10 anti 12 determination, 11 position and teamwork 12 wok rate. For this level, he’s incredible. I signed him for two years. He wouldn’t let me do more

I found Carlos while looking for Strikers from African nations. I saw this Gk was not on any clubs, but was an Angolan National. I checked him out, and saw what I liked.


Bunjaku

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbw2gxX2o31qcodk4o1_500.jpg


Carlos


http://nimg.sulekha.com/sports/original700/carlos-2010-1-18-15-55-14.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

While I have been signing some older players, let no one forget that I am Crewe. I am a youth club. This is our identity. Right now I have more than 30 players on our U18 team. There some good youthers, but they want 1400-2200 each to play, such as Jamaal Lascelles, Jack Dunn or Graeme MacGregor. They were released by English clubs, but are too pricey for me. I grab a few more youth though. I’ll let you know if any sign that are worth mentioning

I do make an offer to a 17 year old Angolan/English guy to come in to help Carlos out. Named Laste Dombaxe. He was just released by Tottenham. I sign a Lithuanian backup to a cheap contract to be here for Dunsauskas. Dombaxe joins me.

I’m still having striker problems, but I’ll wait until teams dump players to see who I can find. I reject a bid for Addo. I can have more coaches, so lets see who I can find.

I go to the board to ask or increased scouting range and they turn me down. Sad. I sign a Fitness Coach, Jimmy Hendry, a second GK coach named Martin Taylor (who once played for Crewe for a short spell), John Murtough as a Youth Coach and Andrew Cole as a Senior Squad Coach. Yes, that Andrew Cole.

England was knocked out of the Euro Group Stage where Montenegro and Turkey qualify.

I decide to sign Harry Davis to a two year extension for 1000/week

[Abe Sargent]

Our Player of the Year for the Fans was Herita Ilunga . We are given 510k for TV rights this season. I am expected to have a mid-table finish, with which I agree.

The 25th of June arrives, and players come with it. I set up my friendlies. We are given 10-1 odds for promotion. That puts us tied for 5th with Gillingham. The media prediction is 15th though.

McKee’s team, Burnley, want a 30k loan price to get McKee on loan again. McKee was a rock for me. I have no transfer budget. They also want me to pay his salary, which I would willingly do. Mckee is my foundation, but 30k for a player at this level, without getting him for more than a year? That’s rough. McKee’s contract is up this year. I was hoping to extend his loan, and then pick him up I try just an offer to pay him 100% by us. Maybe they feel nice. Burnley say no. Okay, I make a 20k offer. Normally I wouldn’t, but he knows the team, he fits in perfectly, and I can adjust the money to make it work, I hope.

People that are leaving:

Alan Martin, gone. Kelvin Mellor, Harry Clayton, Michael Koral, Jason Oswell. I finalize a deal for more money for myself. Also gone are Lee Bell, David Artell, Steve Phillips.

Time to sift through the rubbage and see what turns up Can I finally unlock that striker? I find a good one, but he wants too much money. I have it in my budget, but my max for a key player is around 4k. I can dicker him t 6, but not better. Ah well Neil Mellor. Who else? I find an older guy. James Beattie, 34, just a one year contract to get me what I need at the spot.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to July

New players coming of Bosman:

DC Nasser Daineche – Algerian, Frenchwe pay 1800/week, 30 years. Acc/speed 12/8. 16 str, jump, balance, 13 stam, fitness. Heading, 15, mark 12, pas 7, tack 10. Mental 18 agg, determ, 15 teamwork, 14 work rate, 13 bravery, 12 anticip, 11 concent

MR, AM R, Kamel Larbi – Algerian, French – paid 4k/week. 27 years old. Acc/pace is 13/16. 10 stam, 13 agi, 12 bal. 10 pass, cross, corner 12 dribb, penalt, first touch, head, 14 technique. 14 determin, 12 otb, 11 anticipation, creative, flair, work rate, 10 concetration, composure

I thought it was funny that I’d bring in two Algerians. It almost looks like I started my African dynasty here, with Addo, Ilunga, Carlos, Larbi and Daineche all starting for me!

ML, MC Cristian Gonzalez – 37 years old, one year deal just to help out. Spanish and Argentinian, with 56 caps and 10 goals for Argentina. Mental stats out of the roof. Great technical ones, inc 13 pass, 14 cross,etc. Physical stats are declining, with just 8/8 acc and pace ,and 10 stamina. But he’s worth it for a year.

GK Adam McHugh – 20 years old, English, primary backup for us. 11 aerial, command, 10 handlings, kicking, 13 commun, stats include 18 agi, 16 balance, 13 jumping, etc.

McKee extended his contract with his club.


Larbi

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EHwNmccpmpU/TUKhMXxHZAI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/Ks_IRGntPhs/s320/larbi.JPG


Gonzalez


http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/935925-mar-2001-cristian-gonzalez-of-argentina-in-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=OCUJ5gVf7YdJQI2Xhkc2QBbpxPkEDoli6U1639dao%2FnhsJ%2BbBYorWgiI76bg5w9ypGOKNE%2BYmWVuL66ZaU0B8g%3D%3D


Daineche


http://sports.20minutes.fr/football/images/photosjoueurs/daineche-nasser-10530.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

We play a friendly on th 6th. We win -0 on the road vs Nantwich.

Joe McKee has joined us

I move Liam Wilson to the U18 squad. On the 7th we get good news. That older striker joins us, and it’s the last piece of the puzzle:

James Beattie, 34, one year deal. ST 8/9 speed. 14 jump, 14 head. 14 Finishing. Just one mental stat not in double digits. Technique 13, first touch 12. He will absolutely start for us. Big money has been paid for him before, including 9.5 mill by Everton in 2004, 5.75 mill in 2007 by Sheff Utd and 4.4 mill in 2008 by Stoke. Now he joins us. For free


Beattie


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/James_Beattie.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Denmark won the Euro

My starting 11

Gk Carlos

DC Eric Addo

DC Hurita Ilunga

DC Nasser Daineche

MC Joe McKee

MC Simon Powell

MC Fabrice Jau

MR Kamel Larbi

ML Cristian Gonzalez

ST Shaun Miller

ST James Beattie


I don’t like a lot of loans, and this team doesn’t need it. We used cash in my salaries to upgrade the team. The only question I have is Miller’s spot. But we can rotate in Powell, Bunjaku and Dunauskas and maybe even Goodhall Liam Wilson or other youth prospects to get some leg there.

Salary is 35,686. Budget is 42,133


This is actually a common Abe strategy for FM. Pick up good cheap old players to get you where you want to go, and then pick up young good players later to keep you there.

Players in the last year of their deal of note:


Eric Addo; Herita Ilunga; James Beattie; Fabrice Jau; Cristian Gonzalez; Shaun Miller; Luke Murphy; Shaun Goodhall; 3rd GK Ben Garratt; Joe McKee technically; and a few youthers


Shaun Miller


http://static.givemefootball.com/gmf/files/09/091ed7d2-0af5-4d66-8290-87798c7db548_be350e54-7dfd-42b6-b1dd-3154cee2dbfa.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

I ask my board for another trial day. The last one gave me Ben Davisson and Herita Ilunga. They agree.

We have a friendly on the 10th, so I order up my players and we head out. My friendlies all make sure that we are playing our affiliates at their place. Today is Quorn, one of those folks. People who scored for us in this game include, in order, Addo, Gonzalez, Beattie, Beattie, Jau, Halftime, sub in new players, and I replace everyone but Powell and Carlos at the break. Davis scores off a Murphy indirect free kick, game. 6-0

We have championship outfit Wigan in the League Cup.

The trial game is about to commence.

I look at every single player on both teams to see if there are any I like. I sign three to youth contracts. I also make an offer to Ahmad Benali. He was let go from Man City. I keep my small pitch.

Jul 15 – Friendly vs Millwall at home. Gonzalez gets two yellows and is kicked off. I rotate my players save for Beattie, and Carlos. 0-0 tie

Ahmad Benali joins for 950/week on a hot prospect – 20, Libyan international (11 pro caps already at age 20) and English nationality, was for Man City. Came in with 500k value. AMC and MC. 10 pass, mark, tack, long shots; 12 first touch, 11 finish. 11 acc, 11 ace, 12 balanc 13 stregth, fitness, 10 agi, stam; 12 teamwork, work rate, brav, 10 otb, anticipation

Compared to:

Westwood – Ahmad Benali is clearly better
Murphy – Murphy s better mentally, Benali is better physically and technically. Benali is thus better.
Bunjaku – Benali better physically, Bunjaku better mentally, Both are better technicially (Benali is better defensively, Bunjaku is better attacking)


benali


http://mlbpark.donga.com/mbs/fileUpload/201109/1315038746.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Fiscal Value – Which players are worth the most?

1.1mill – Joe McKee doesn’t really count
1 mill – Nick Powell
575k – Adam McHugh
500k – Ahmad Benali
475k – Harry Davis
400k – Alban Bunjaku

Youth

400k Max Clayton
220k Ryan Colclough
170k Justin Taylor

I pair up some tutors and mentors, such Justin Taylor with Fabrice Jau. Joe Gorman with Eric Addo, etc. Some pairings might bear fruit and others won’t.


I look at the English Trial Day. Many f these players were at my Trial, but many were not. I scout a few.

An offer for Luke Murphy has arrived from Notts Co, and I accept.

We are about to face the Man City Reserves in our place for a friendly. These are the reserves of the best team in English football last year. The score is 1-1 at the half, we have a penalty kick by McKee and they a normal score, off a cross. I make subs a few at a time. They score at the 57th. They score again at 77. We lose 1-3.


We win 4-0 in a friendly on the 25th. I sign a new scout Ian Bowyer and demote Shaun Miller to squad rotation from first team

[GoldenEagle]

How did you work the deal to get McKee back?

Beattie has had some significant Premier League experience. He should be a good pick-up for you. If I remember correctly, he scores buckets of goals at the lower levels but has never performed at the top. But you should be able to get two quality years out of him.

I think Gonzalez played some in MLS, I am thinking with DC United.

Any interest from bigger clubs in Nick Powell yet?

[Abe Sargent]

Murphy is now at Notts Co – a Championship club. They are paying him twice as much money for a backup role. I play our youth team on the 29th in a friendly. Bunjaku scored on a direct free kick and assisted a Gorman header for a goal on a corner kick. McKee scored a penalty kick, so three of our goals were on all three set pieces. We win 3-1.

I make Ilunga my captain and leave Addo as vice captain. Matt Tootle is loaned for 5 months. Our final friendly is on 8/3/12. We are playing against fellow League 1 team Brentford. We are crushing them 28 minutes in the game 3-0, with scores by Gonzalez, McKee and Miller, and three assists by Larbi. I wanted my final friendly to get us up to speed on League 1 play. They score in the 30th, header off a corner. Later, after we’ve sent out the B team and they’ve made changes, we score twice more and they once. 5-2 final score. Larbi was MOM

I move George Ray to Stalybridge on a loan



2012-13


Our first game is away at Yeovil Town. I used to play as Yeovil once, and I took them to the top ten in League 1 (now Championship). It’ll be fun to go up against them with my new team. I set up with a counter playand we have a crazy game. Addo is given a red card in the 9th minute of the game. I pull Miller for Davis and move him to Addo’s spot. McKee kicks the ball to our lone striker, Beattie, who gets a goal at the 23rd minute. Awesome. I pull into a defensive shell, and then in the 44th minute, Beattie gets a pass from Powell to free him and he scores from just outside the box on the right corner. 2-0 at the half. In the second half, Beattie gets injured, and I’m forced to pull him. I put Powell in his position and toss Simon Johnson into Powell’s spot. We manage to keep Yeovil from scoring 2-0 victory. We won one man down for the entire game and Beattie is MM in his debut. It was both a great win and a bad win, becauae of Addo’s red. I hand Addo a warning, which he accepts. This was Miller’s 175th appearance for Crewe Alexandra

[Abe Sargent]

How did you work the deal to get McKee back?

Beattie has had some significant Premier League experience. He should be a good pick-up for you. If I remember correctly, he scores buckets of goals at the lower levels but has never performed at the top. But you should be able to get two quality years out of him.

I think Gonzalez played some in MLS, I am thinking with DC United.

Any interest from bigger clubs in Nick Powell yet?

No interest yet for Powell. That's okay, it'll come. Mckee was let go, and then I made an offer to loan him again. Again he wanted to come and they wanted to send someone to a place with good training facilities that'll give him 1st team experience

[Abe Sargent]

I place Davis into the starting lineup again and move Gorman to a sub role. We sold 3301 season tickets. Last year we sold 2100. Beattie is Team of the Week. I get an offer to loan Gorman out to a Conference Team and feel the first team would be good, so I accept it.

Today we have a major match, Home vs Wigan, in the EPL for the League Cup. I begin counter. They tackle hard Beattie in a dangerous direct free kick spot, and McKee sinks it. 1-0 us at the 14th minute. We keep it in hold, 1-0 at the half. Gonzalez is tired from the first game, so I pull him for Simon Johnson. We are under a massive amount of pressure Johnson injures one of hei and forces them to get subbed. I make a sub too – McKee for Ahmad Benali. I then swap Benali with Powell. My final pull is tough. I have a ton of players in the 60s and 70s I put in Gorman for Miller - I move to a 4-5-1 strategy. Daineche gets a yellow at 83. Beattie gets one too. We win! We got very lucky. They had a shot bounce off the crossbar and a long shot with my GK out of position off target. We were under a lot pressure. MOM is McKee.


Gorman has been loaned out. We host another EPL side, QPR, for the 2nd round of the League Cup. Carlos, Addo, Benali and Ilunga are called up for the 22nd. Our match vs Gillingham was moved. Addo has been suspended for two additional matches due to his tackles. We draw Rochdale in a Paint Trophy match.

We host MK Dons today, and we are favored to win. With Addo out, Davis is in the lineup, and a youth player on my bench to come in with Gorman and Ray on loan. We begin with Control, because MK Dons were predicted to finish 3rd, and I want to be cautious. A quiet first half. MK Dons gest on the board right after the half with a header off a cross at the 48. I pull Larbi for Johnson and Gonzalez for Benali who swaps with Powell. I pull 6.0 Davis for youth player Richard Butcher. Johnson gets a goal in the 88th minute called back for Offsides. Miller gets a yellow card. As doe Butcher. And that’s game, we lose 0-1. Jau was MOM

Ashley Westwood is injured in a Reserve match and is out for around a month. Jau in Team of Week. Did you know? Joe Mckee lists me as his favorite personnel? Others include Shaun Miller, Harry Davis, Ben Davisson, Simon Johnson, Liam Wilson, and Joe Gorman. Only Herita Ilunga has made Crewe his favorite club in the last year.

[Abe Sargent]

We now host the best team in the league, Sheff Wed. A team with four times the value of mine. I begin standard. They score quickly, and we reciprocate with a Miller assist to Bettie. Near the end of the first half, they get a red card and Beattie is injured. I push to Control and move Dunsauskas in. We open the 2nd half, and I progressively get more and more attacking. They take advantage in the 83rd minute with a couter attack, and are up 2-1. Then Powell finds Larbi off a rebound from the GK and Larbi kicks a goal in the late 80s to tie it, and the game ends 2-2. Beattie bruised his rib and will be out from 9 to 12 days with it. I’ll move Dunsauskas to start there next game.


Now we host QPR. We will be playing defensive. Without Beattie, I’ve lost a lot of firepower. Addo is back today. I’ll skip the highlights. Miller scores for us in the 70s. The game ends 1-3 and a loss – no surprise.


Sept has arrived, and with it the end of the transfer window. Powell, Gorman and Dunsauskas are called up for international duty in a bit.

Sept Games:

1st – Away Scunthorpe
4th – Away Rochdale CUP
8th – Home Coventry
12th – Away Gillingham
15th – Away Bournemouth
18th – Home Leyton Orient
22nd - Away Rochdale
29th – Home Carlisle

A very busy schedule needs to have a lot of people rotating into various positions. Expect to see different middies, strikers, and DCs in there.

Today we travel to Scunthorpe. I begin counter. The first half s quiet, but as the 2nd opens, McKee gets a corner to Addo’s head which hits the net. 1-0 us. I pull Miller for Wilson and Larbi for Johnson. Benali comes in for Jau at the 79 mark. We win! Addo is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

Benali and Ilunga are called up as well for international duty. Changes to my squad for the away Cup match includes: Bunjaku starting for McKee Davisson starting for Gonzalez, here we go! We are predicted to win, but I begin Counter. Miller gets the first goal of the day at the 30th minute - Powell off a long range indirect free kick gave to his foot. We take it to the half - 2nd half begins. I pull Powell for Benali. They skip a ball past Carlos and into the net in the 64th minute. We injure their player in the 75th, and they have used all of their subs, so I push hard. I move to Control and I up the tempo. A BEAUTIFUL goal by Dunsauskas is scored as he dribbles down, gets past defense, and scores. 2-1 us. I pull Addo for Richard Butcher, and trade with Ilunga Finally I swap Larbi for Johnson. We win and Dunauskas is MOM. MAcclesfield is the next round for us.


Now we host Coventry. I begin Standard. Beattie is back and back into the lineup. We have a lot of internationals out for this game. No McKee, Davis is in for Ilunga no Belai, no Powell, and so forth . We even start McHugh. We tie 1-1. Beattie scored first in the 34th but they responded a few minutes later.

McKee is back, but Carlos, Benali and others are still gone. McHugh gets another start. We are traveling to Gillingham. We begin with a counter set up against our fellow promotees from L2 last year. They get a cross goal connection in the 8th minute to start things. They get another goal three minutes later. In the second half, Miller crosses to Beattie who scores at the 56th minute Then tey get a yellow card fouling Beattie in the box and McKee gets the penalty kick at the 59th minute. 2-2. Daineche is injured and I throw in Richard Butcher. I put Davisson and Johnson in for Gonzalez and Bunjaku. We had about four shots that were decent in the last five minutes, but none were on target, tie game. Davis’s mistakes led to both goals. MOM is Beattie with a goal and assist. Daineche will be out for 4-5 weeks with a fractured arm.

I make an offer for a backup. I will bring him in until the end of the year, and he can start if needed. He arrives the day of our game, and I move him into the starting lineup to replace our injured Daineche. Sam Sodje, Nigerian and English. He played for Notts CO the last two years. 33 years old, worth 8k, paid 550/week with backup role. 15 heading, 11 tackling. 19 jumping, 10 acc and pace, 12 strength, 18 agg, 16 bravery, 10 for a bunch of other mental stats. Ilunga just got back in time, so Sodje is starting for the very bad form Davis. His signing removes Butcher getting some play, so I toss Butcher back onto the youth team. Dunuaskas is in for a tired Miller and a tired Gonzalez rests for Bunjaku on the left. Carlos is back as well.

[Abe Sargent]

Today, we play Bournemouth away. They are currently 1st in the league. We begin Counter. Addo collects a yellow at the 23rd minute. At the 40th, McKee gets a long shot into the goal. Powell sprung him lose behind their line and way off the right, and he took a shot from outside the corner with the GK slightly out of position., from long range. 0-1 at the half but they’ve been close. A knocked away shot on goal rebounded t a AFC B player, but he hit side netting, and another header off a corner was in, but they ruled the shooter fouled the defender. 0-1 really favors us. I tell my lads not to get complacent and they seem fired up. More pressure comes. I swap Harry Davis for Dunauskas and go to a 4-5-1. I also move McKee to an AMC position to support a tired Beattie, and I drop Jau to a DMC position. So it’s like a 4-1-3-1-1. They get a header off a corner before my changes are officially made. I move Jau back up and hop Powell to an AMC role too. Actually, I pull Bunjaku, put Powell on the left and toss Ahmad Benali on the AMC. Sodje gets a yellow. My final swap is Johnson for Larbi. They score long shot that rattled off the top of the cross bar down into goal at the 77th minute. And they win. It was close for a bit

The 18th is here and we host Leyton Orient, a game we are favored to win. Davis starts for a tired Sodje who is not match fit yet. Gonzalez is back for Bunjaku. Jau sits for Benali. Miller is back from being benched as well. I begin Control. Larbi injures one of their players and forces him to leave at the 13th. I edge back to standard at the 36. 0-0 at the half, and unlike my asst manager’s recommendation , I express my displeasure. My guys seem fired up and motivated Gonzalez a goal after the half, but then they equalize. 1-1 at the 53rd minute. After a bit of wrangling, Bunjaku finds the goal after coming in fr a tired McKee at the 83rd minute. But then Shaun Miller drops a third goal in the 91st minute to confirm a 3-1 victory for us after their defender missed a tackle on Miller to get him a 1:1 opportunity. Gonzalez is MOM, and later I get confirmation that his is the oldest scorer in L1 at the age of 38 and 45 days.

For today’s away match vs Rochdale, Johnson is starting for a tired Larbi, Powell is benched for Benali and Jau is back. Bunjaku is starting for Gonzalez . We beat Rochdale in their place for the Cup match, can we do it again for the league match? They are 7th after 8 matches and we are 8th. We begin countering them, and hope for success. In early going, Mckee kinds Beattie alone with one defender on him and Bettie scores at the 2nd minute. Then Mckee himself knocks down a direct free kick at the 9th minute. They score at the 25th, and finally Beattie gets an Ilnga header off a indirect free kicker by Rochdale, tackels the solr defender, and rushes down the field. As he does, defenders and the keeper close, so he knocks the ball to Miller who has an easy put in for a goal at the 41. 3-1 us at the half. They have three yellows to our zero so far at the 55 mark. I swap ou Beattie for Dunauskas at the 63d, because I want to keep him fresh for the next game. Bunjaku grabs a yellow. I pull him for Davisson at the 69. My final sub is McKee for Westwood at the 79. Jau kicks a beautiful long shot for a goal at the 88th minute. Jau crosses for Dunauskas who scores at the 91st minute 5-1 us. Total domination away from home. Jau ended up MOM. ZANG!

[Abe Sargent]

Jau is in Team of Week. Another former team of mine is on line today with a game vs Carlisle We are hosting them. Changes to my lineup for this game include: Gonzalez back for Bunjaku, Larbi back from Johnson, Powell back for Benali – our full 11 start today. I’ve been coming across more tactical formations here in L1. We try to control the game, since its in our place. I was watching Judge Judy during the game and paid little attention. Sorry. We won 2-1, Kamel Larbi was MOM with a score in the 2nd minute and Beattie nailed a score in the 18th minute. In the 70th, they climbed one back, but couldn’t better it, and we won 2-1.

A good September by us. October has arrived. Jau’s goal was 3rd best in L1 for the month. Larbi was in Team of Week


October Games:

6th – Away vs Rotherham
9th – Home vs Macclesfield, PAINT TROPHY
13th – Home vs Huddersfield, whose manager just won Manager of Month for September
20th – Away vs Wycombe
27th – Home vs Chesterfield
30th – Away vs Stevenage


Powell, Dunauskas and Gorman are called up for later.(Powell plays for the English U19, Dunauskas for the Lithuanian U19 and Gorman for Irish U19).


As a reminder, Rotherham got second last year behind us, and beat us once and tied us once, so we came away with just one point. Can we beat them away from Alexandra Stadium this year? We are on a three game winning streak. We ‘e starting our first 11, with Davis still for the injury to Daineche. I begin counter wise. Ilunga picks up a yellow. In the 11th minute, Ilunga tossed the ball to Mckee, who kicked it to Beattie who scored very powerfully. I have to pull out Gonzalez due to an injury in the 221t minute, and Bunjaku heads in for him. A bit of pressure by them for the rest of the half, but it’s not too bad heading into halftime 1-0 us. We stay with Counter. Powell is injured. He’s down to 65% so I pull him for Benali. One of their players goes down too. A bloody game this has been. More pressure arrives in the 60s. I pull yellow carded Ilunga for Sodje in the 79th minute. A lot of pressure by both sides, and the game finishes 1-0, and a win by us. No last minute heroics by them this time. MOM is Addo. Gonzalez however, is a problem. He will be out for 4 or 5 MONTHS with a torn calf muscle. I signed a guy with a history of injury, and it bit me today.

[Abe Sargent]

Now, I can play Bunjaku out there, this was a reason I picked him up. I can play Powell over there and start Benali. But I lose a lot of depth by doing so. My major middies left for subbing are Davisson, Johnson, and Westwood – none of which are good enough to start. I cannot transfer someone in – we have not enough cash. I could loan someone to cover though. Let’s see who is out there

I’m having difficutly finding a legit loanee, but…I almost come to terms with Adil Auassar, but we were about 500 apart from my max amount to come in for us. I looked at a few teams and found a Lithuanian who was a good ML, and was willing to come in, but I needed to give him roughly 5k to do it. There are several really good players still unattached right now. I make an offer to a guy on my radar from my French scout. Let’s see what happens, I have made him n offer.


I have some call ups later this month, from my African internationals.


Meet our new player

I hand him #8 jersey

Erwan Quintin, 28, MC, L; paid 3.9k an worth 170k. Physical stats in order – 15, 13, 13, 10, 13, 12, 15, 12. Mental in order, just for fun, 8, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 11, 14, 12, 12, 11, 11, 12, 15. Technical in order, again for fun – 7, 12, 12, 8, 11, 7, 10, 10, 10, 8, 12, 14, 9, 13; The reason I did this was to emphasize how well rounded he is, which is really important for my wideouts, since I have no fullbacks in a 3-5-2 formation. I play him today against Macclesfield to get him in


Quintin

http://www.ouest-france.fr/photos/2011/05/27/110527221803702_36_000_apx_470_.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Starting today are McHugh for Carlos, Addo, Sodje, Davis, Johnson, Jau, Bunjaku, Benali, Quintin, Miller and Beattie. A lot of rotated players are in. I also have some youth players on the bench to rotate them in if I want or need. We begin controlling. It’s raining. One of their players gets a red card in the 16th minute for a nasty tackle on Benali, who is injured. I go to my normal anti-10 players routine, here is is: Press More, Tackle Harder, Tempo to max, width to max, Time wasting to minimum. We put on some pressure, but no scores by the 36th minute as I type this. Halftime. I get pissed at my team. They look fired up. Jau’s corner is up and finds the head of Addo for a score in the 54th minute. They change to a 5-1-2-1. I pull a very tired Beattie for Ryan Colclough, a youther. I pull Ahmad Benali for Justin Taylor, another youther. Finally, I swap in Ayo Obileye, youther, for Harry Davis. Closer than I thought it was going to be, but a 1-0 win is still a win. MOM addo

Some of my top targets prior to picking up Quintin, such as Adil Auassar are getting selected now. We draw fellow L1 team Oldham Athletic away in the 3rd round of the Paint Trophy. Our match got pushed back due to too many internationals away.

Today we head to Wycombe - My squad – Daineche is back. All of our 11 starters are back, including Quintin as a starter now. We begin countering. We begin the scoreboard early with Shaun Miller. At the half its us up by one. As the second half begins, Daineche is injured again, and I pull him. I also sub in Benali and Benjaku for tired folk. They score n the 80th and we can’t get back – 1-1 tie. After, Daineche has a gashed leg, and will be out 2- 3 weeks.


Today we host Huddersfield – currently in 6th. Sodje is starting for Daineche. For a tired Quintin, Bunjaku starts. I will start out Standard, and see where things take us. We open eh game with a Shaun Miller goal in the first minute and another score by Bunjaku off a McKee pass But then Addo gets a red card at the 40 mark, and they score once before half. In the second half, they score once, and it ends, 2-2 I fine Addo one week’s salary, which he accepts.

[Abe Sargent]

Chesterfield is coming here today. Davis is starting. McKee is benched for Bunjaku and Quintin is back for the L side. Johnson starts for Larbi. I have to go study, so I resign for a day to quick sim the game. T ends up a 3-3 draw with goals by Miller, Quintin and Quintin. Johnson had a foul for a penalty kick that gave them the game.

We drew Chesterfield in the FA Cup in their place. Quintin named in Team of Week

Today we travel to Stevenage, on Oct 30. McKee is back in the lineup, as is Karbi. Sodje gets injured and I have to pull him ad I have no DCs on the bench so I have a plan. I drop Jau to right fullback and Quintin to the left fullback. I swap out Sodje for Benali. Benali I put in the center, and Powell moved to the left We move to a 4-4-2 awkwardly . I also pull Mullier to Dunsaukas and Powell out for Bunjaku. We have suffered under a potent attack all day long and I don’t want to give up a goal in the last 80. They order Ilunga off in the 88th for a red card, but he was facing the other way and backed into the player. I don’t know how that works but I move to super defensive. Game over, 0-0. It looked like Ilunga deserves the according to my analysis.


Welcome to November

We’re lucky Addo is back as llunga is suspended. With Daineche injured, Bodje knocked down to 40% after the game, and Ilunga suspended, we need Addo back.

November Games

3rd – Home vs Preston
10th – Home v Shrewsbury
13th – Away vs Oldham – PAINT TROPHY
17th -Away vs Chesterfield – FA CUP
24th – Away vs Tranmere


Just three league games this month

Bodje is at 72%, too tired to start. We are starting 18 year old Ayo Oblieye and we have activated youth layer Richard Butcher. I have a ton of players that need a break. We are starting Dunauskas instead of Miller Benali instead of Jau, Bunjaku instead of Quintin. I begin controlling, since we are in my home. Beattie nails a long shot from about ten yards away in the 8th minute for a goal. They grab a goal for themselves in the 11th. McKee hits Addo for a header off a cross and we are up 2-1 at the 31st minute. I pull back to Standard strategy. Powell shoots a nice long shot in the 44th for goal, set up by Benali and unmarked. 3-1 at the half. I stick with Standard for half #2 for now. I pull Dunauskas in the 50s for youth player Victor Zapata-Caicedo, one of my recent youth signees, an English Colombian. Larbi got a knock and drops to the 50s in condition. He comes off in the 65th for Westwood. My final swap is Butcher for Davis. Mckee lofts a nice corner for Oblieye and his header is on target bu the GK just managed to jump up high and catch it. He came that close to a goal. We in, and Powell, with both a goal and assist, is MOM. Good game - it ends our streak of four straight ties in the league.

[Abe Sargent]

We get news that Ilunga is suspended for two more matches. Our match vs Shrewsbury has Doneche and Sodje in the lineup. Powell is feeling rough and we rest him for Benali. Miller is back across from Beattie. Jau is back as well. I initiate the match standard only. This is our last match this month in the Alexandra Stadium, the other matches are all away. They get a score in the 17th minute. I move to attacking in the 27th. Nothing much for the rest of the half, and I move to Control at the half. I chide my team. I pull a poorly playing Benali for Johnson. I also swap Miller for Bunjaku. In the last 15, I move McKee to an AMC position, swap Powell for Jau. I also move to attacking, increase tempo, closing down and tackling, to get the ball in case they try to hold onto it. And we lose 0-1.


Our away match at Oldham begins today - I have to rest both McKee and Beattie. Bunjaku for McKee and Dunauskas for Beattie. I also swap in Powell for Miller, since he’s a bit tired. We will counter at the start. They connect with a header off a corner in the 18th minute. I feel like that’s happening a lot. I make three middie subs putting in Johnson, Davisson and Westwood. They get a second booking. I push my men forward. Can we get two goals in twelve minutes? Its possible. I do. Powell launches a shot for goal and scores at 85. My men are very tired and unable to score more, so its penalties. We win 4-2 in penalties and win the match. MOM is not on my team. Now my team is really tired.


We will host Coventry in the Paint Trophy.

[Abe Sargent]

My starters for today’s away match in the FA Cup vs Chesterfield - Miller, Ilunga, Mekee and Beattie are back in the lineup. Can we counter our way to a victory? A shot by Miller rebounds off the bar in the 3rd. We’re getting good pressure in the first 15. Can we get a score from it, though? The pressure moves their way in the second half of the first half. 0-0 at the half. I swap in Davis for Daineche, due to being tired at the 74. Miller gets a yellow. Powell is injured. McKee finds Ilunga on a corner for a goal. 1-0 at the 77 mark. I make another sub. I swap Powell for Benali. Can we hold out for the rest of the game? I pull a tired Quintin for Bunjaku. LArbi with a beautiful goal. He was dribbling down with Miller and Beattie out but they are covered, so he jukes the defender for a 1:1 opportunity and puts it into the bottom left corner. Then they score when a rebound off Carlos is struck upon by them, so it’s 2-1 at 85. They give a second yellow card for their striker who dived in the penalty box to try and give Ilunga a penalty foul. And we win. Addo is MOM.


We have Accrington in the 2nd Round of the FA Cup. Deadline for loans and frees has passed for a while

Everyone is healthy for today’s away game vs Tranmere. His is the final match of November. Tranmere’s morale is nasty bad. I begin with attacking to fool them. If I can get a goal early, we may demoralize them. It doesn’t happen. Instead we lose 0-2. Not a nice game, I’ll skip the normal

[Abe Sargent]

We have Accrington on the 1t of December, our first game this month. Other starters for this game include GK Adam McHugh, Justin Taylor instead of Powell, Ryan Colclaugh instead of Miller, Bunjaku instead of Beattie, Davisson instead of Quintin, Butcher instead of Daineche, and yet staying in is Larbi Addo, Ilunga, McKee, and Jau. I begin control, despite being on the road vs Accrington. Snow! Bunjaku with a wicked pass to Larbi gets our first goal at the 2nd minute mark. McKee with a long range indirect free kick to Addo for a score in the 7th minute. I tell my guys to tackle soft now. I drop to standard at the 35th minute. They collect four yellows in the first half. I pull Bunjaku for Liam Wilson. Direct Free Kick by McKee about a foot from the box is online and we are up 3-0. I pull Jau for Westwood. Colclaugh gets a yellow. I pull Addo for Bodje. Accrington claw one back when they get a goal in the 85th minute after McHugh came out to collect the ball but was beaten to it by them. We win 3-1, and McKee is MOM.

In round three of the FA Cup, we draw Hereford in our place.

On the 4th of December we host Coventry in the Semi Final of the North Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Larbi is puled for Johnson. Beattie and Mille rare back, as is Carlos. Powell back for Taylor Daineche for Butcher and Quintin back in for Davisson. We begin controlling. It’s back and forth, and 1-1 at the half with a Jau score assisted by Miller vs them. We score in the 5th minute with a McKee pass to Miller who sinks it. They score in the 70h and it heads to Penalties – They make their first one, and McKee steps up. He does too. They make a score. Beattie moves up. Blasts it in there. Thier next guy is up Eastwood. Makes it. Quintin responds, so it’s all tied. Their guy heads to the spot and misses. This is our opening, can Jau exploit it? He does. They must make this one and…CARLOS BLOCKS IT!!! MOM is Miller with goal and assist for Jau’s goal.

Burton defeated Huddersfield and we play them in the North final. AFC Wimbledon and Barnet are in the South Final.

[Abe Sargent]

The 8th has arrived and we host Portsmouth. We have Larbi back and all of our starters lined up and ready. No more Cup matches await this month, just five league ones and this is the first of those. The control is our opening gambit Larbi dribbles the ball beside the goal, swings it to Jau who puts it in for a score in the 14th. Beattie grabs a powerful long range shot as he was closed down by defenders outside the key in the 45th minute. 2-0 us at the half. I move to standard. A McGee indirect Free Kick finds Addo, who’s header is blocked by the GK, but it falls to the ground and Addo kicks it in for a score at the 56th minute. I pull McKee for Bunjaku and Miller for Wilson. Beattie gets hit, so I trade Wilson to his spot, move Bunjaku to Wilson/Millers spot, and put Benali in. Ilunga gives away an own goal on a corner in the 72nd minute. That’s it. MOM is Jau.


The next week on the 15th we are traveling to Oldham - we have no changes to the front 11. My initial strategy is a typical counter. Quintin gets a yellow early. It’s raining. McKee to Addo connection off a set piece continues, with a header in the goal at the 13th minute. Beattie is injured in the 30th and must come off, I replace him with Dunauskas. They’ve had a lot of offside problems I the first half, and we hit halftime. I remind my boys not to get complacent and eight seem motivated or to gain focus. A sore by Oldham in the 52nd is called back for Offsides and they complain. Like I said, many offsides issues this game. They score three minutes later with no hint of offsides at all. Powell gets a yellow. I trade Powell for Bunjaku. Sodje in for Daineche. In the last 10 I move to Control and no time wasting. I want a goal. None comes, and that’s game, 1-1 tie. MOM Addo. Beattie had a dead leg and will be out a week.


Addo is in Team of Week. Several EPL changes his week. Stoke Boss went to West Ham, and now Sunderlund boss to Stoke. A week has passed and we host Doncaster. Bunjaku is starting in Beattie’s spot. I come out of the gates attacking. Doncaster have poor morale, are in a 4-4-2, and are low on the table and away from home. Lets smash. I back to control at the 15 mark. Halftime, I let them have it. I swap Bunjaku with Powell, Powell with Miller, and pull Bunjaku for Westwood. Another Mckee-Addo off a corner gives us a goal at the 66th minute. That is a money play for us this season. I swap Jau for Benali. Jau pulls a yellow just before he switches off. Quintin collides with a player and has to leave the field, so I put in Johnson for him in the 76. Also ease off the gas to Standard. Miller grabs a card. Stoppage time has arrived and they are pushing hard at us. Miller gets pressure off a counter and forces a corner and we keep in their half for the last two minutes, game over, and we win 1-0. Addo MOM again.

Did you know – Addo has 5 league goals, and McKee has 8 league assists?

[Abe Sargent]

Addo named in Team of Week. QPR boss goes to Sunderlund, and another EPL manager has left for another EPL tem. Today’s away game vs Brentford has Beattie back in the lineup. I suspect we’ll live or die by the counter today. Shaun Miller off a breakaway at the 16 gives us a goal. Brentford are denied a penalty in the 31st and get a little upset I remind my lads not to get too carried away. A lot of pressure comes, but we manage to keep it together, and Brentford get a goal called back for offsides in the 86th minute. We win 1-0. The press conference focuses on both the penalty and offsides goal. They had MOM.


We have one more game left and then we have reached the halfway mark. We host Walsall. We’ll look at contracts and such, as well as standings, after the game. Benali and Johnson are starting for Larbi and Powell. We begin with a standard. I don’t want to push too much and tire my guys, we have a game in three days. Nothing happens in the half, so I let them know my displeasure, and they come out firing, and Quintin nails a goal in the 53rd minute. I pull back to counter as Walsll begins to move forward. I pull Dunauskas for Beattie, Davis for Daineche and Bunjaku for McKee. We manage to keep them back and win 1-0 with Quintin MOM.

Standings:

With 23 games behind us, we have played every team once. We are 4th with 41 points and a +13 GD.

1st – Sheff Wed, 48 points
2nd – Bournemouth, 44 points
3rd – Leyton Orient, 41 points, +19 GD
4th – Crewe
5th – Coventry, 39 points
6th – Oldham, 38 points
7th – Huddersfield, 38 points

So, we’re doing pretty well. But it’s close, and we could easily fall. The top two are promoted, and the next four are in a playoff with one more getting the nod.

[Abe Sargent]

My squad’s money stuff – People ith 6 months to go of note:

Sodje, Gonzalez – not doing anything with
Addo, Jau – Not sure
Ilunga, Beattie – Let’s talk
Miller, Johnson – thanks for your time


I make an offer to extend Ilunga by a year. I do the same for Beattie.

Did you know – At the age of 20, Benali has been named the Libyan captain for the senior squad? Bunjaku already lists me as a favorite personnel? As does Dunauskas.

I look for players for next year who I like. I suspect I can find an improved Jau. Maybe not an improved Addo though. I make an offer to Michael Stewart, 31, in the Motherwell Reserves for 2400/week to be my new Jau. I also make an offer to ST and fellow Motherwellian Harrie Gommans, who is 29. I want him to be my new Miller. I also make an offer for a new scout.

Beattie and Ilunga extend their deals by a year each. I have signed scout Robert Wulnikowski, a Polish/German scout. Harrie Gommans sign with us on the 31st.

Jan 1st arrives. My board offer to change my expectations. I slide to Top Half finish and get ‘n extra 5k a week in salary. Someone made a transfer offer for Stewart for 7k and it was accepted, so I offer the same so I can bring in my replacement early.


Jan Games:

1st – Home vs Yeovil
5Th – Home vs Hereford, FA Cup
9th – Away vs MK Dons
12th – home vs Gillingham
19th – Away vs Sheff Wed
22nd – Home vs Burton, Paint Trophy
26th – Home vs Scunthorpe

[Abe Sargent]

For our squad today, we have a few changes. Larbi is back in for Johnson. Benali is siding over for Jau, Powell is back in, Westwood for Powell, Bunjaku for McKee, Dunsauskas for Miller. We have a tired squad, it’s true. I intend to rest some of my players for Hereford. Control is our default set up for today. This is an odd game. At first, Beattie is injured very quickly I move Bunjaku to his position, and put McKee in. I just have to play him. Then Bunjaku gets a goal assited by Benali and we go to the half up 1-0. 52nd minute sees bunjaku pull his second yellow and get booted. Uh oh. I swap Davis for McKee, put Ilunga and Daineche into fullback roles, drop Westwood and Benali, and leave solitary Dunauskas out there by himself. I basically have a 4-2-2-1 setup. We get some pounding, and I swap in Davisson for Quintin. By thi time, I had changed to counter. Daineche finds Davisson making an attacking run from the MR position and hits him. Davisson drills a long shot at the 74 mark. Then Daineche finds Dunauskas in the late 80s for another goal. So we lost my star striker to injury early, and dropped a player to a red card in the 52 minute, and still won 3-0. MOM is Daineche with the two assists. I just hope the injury won’t be bad… It’s not. Just a bruised shin. It’s now 395 minutes since Carlos conceded a goal.


We have signed Michael Stewart. 31, 2.4 per week, just until end of next year, so a quick 18 month contract, Scottish. Plays MC. Physical – 13, 9, 11, 10, 14, 12, 14, 14; Mental; 20, 11, 10, 11, 12, 11, 11, 16, 12, 10, 12, 12, 10, 14; Technical – 10, 11, 11, 13, 13, 11, 8, 12, 2, 11, 12, 15, 10, 12 Again, just another really well rounded player. He should fit very well onto what I’m doing.


Stewart


http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00551/heartsx_280x390_551074a.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

He lacks match fitness, so we’ll start him today. Also starting are McHugh, Davis, Sodje, Benali, Taylor, Westwood, Davisson, Dunauskas and Zapata-Caicedo. I open with standard to get my newbs some time to get settled in. Benali’s corner hits Ilunga head and their net for a score at 1:51. Benali off an indirect free kick to Ilunga does it again at the 10:48. I tell my guys to tackle soft. Westwood gets a card anyway. They knock a 30 yard long shot into the next at 32:42. Dunauskas has a great individual effort driving, dribbling, skipping and scoring at the 39:18 mark. Half time its 3-1. I pull Dunauskas for Clayton in the 53rd minute. Ilunga is given a redfor a nasty tackle. On a day when we didn’t need it, we are up 3-1 and I told my guys not to tackle hard and it was just a goal kick, not anywhere dangerous, he gets a red. Time to send a message about all of these reds my team is getting. Daineche comes in for Benali and gets pulled back. I move to Counter. They get around u for goal at the 88th minute, but they can;t find the other, and we win 3-2. I tell them it was a real jeckal and hyde momnt, and they understand. Despite his red, Ilunga is MOM. In the press conference I go after Ilunga for the tackle after being asked. I even go after him when they said he had a good performance, and I say that he disappointed me. Then I fine him a week. I’m tired of this red card crap from him and Addo. Ilunga accepts the fine. He’s banned for two matches.


Daineche and Dunsauskas in Team of Week.


For today’s MK Dons match, I’m playing Powell with Miller in the striker role, and Stewart and Jau both in as a result. Larbi gets a yellow. We put them under a lot of pressure all half, but they are the ones to score at the 44th minute. I swap a tired Stewart for Johnson. I pull an under performing Davis for Sodje. Dunsauskis for Powell is my last sub. We lose 0-1. Ah well.

We extend Gorman’s loan for another three months. We get news that Ilunga is banned for an additional two matches. I get positive notes from the Jau to Taylor mentor-mentee relationship and the Daineche and Obileye one as well. Carlos is away playing international ball, so we’re starting McHugh for a bit. Beattie is back from his injury


Today we play Gillingham. Miller gets a ball and scores in the first minute. Then nothing happens and its 1-0 at the half. I tell them not to get complacent, and I swap in Jau for Larbi. Then they get a red card at 60:39. I was already in control set up, and up 1-0 on the board, so I make no changes. Then Beattie gets hit and drops in condition, so I pull him off. I put Bunjaku in for him. The pitch looks bad, I wonder if I need to relay it. My final swap is Stewart out for Benali. Quintin with a Daineche assist nets a goal, and Daineche is MOM; goal at the 80th minute.

I get positive news from the Dombaxe-Larbi connection. I extend my contract by a year.

[Abe Sargent]

Sheff Wed just lost last game vs Shrewsbury, and now we travel to their place Can we defeat them? We have drawn Derby for round 4 of the FA Cup. Carlos is still out, because Angola are in the African Nations Cup, Group C. He’s out for January. I’m a bit surprised that lower leagues have so many January games in Britain, because all of the leagues I’ve played the last six or seven years of FM have been upper European leagues with a winter break for internationals, snow and more. I ask to get the field re-laid, but they won’t do it because of money, even though they agree that it needs work.


Time for the Sheff Wed game. If we do well here, it can do wonders for our chances later, as well as hurting theirs. We begin with a counter set up. McKee finds Miller just between two defenders, and he shoots and scores in the in 8th. McHugh gets an Own Goal at the 20th. That’s not good for so many reasons. Halftime. I try to get my lads back to the right place. I pull Stewart and his yellow card for Jau. Benali in for McKee. Just before those swaps occur, Jau lifts the ball to Miller who scores in the 65th minute. Then he comes off. 2-1 us. At the 88 mark I swap Larbi for Bunjaku and pull Jau down to a DMC position. Game Miller is MOM w/ 2 goals - I’m suprised we won on the road like this. Miller is also named to the Team of the Week.



Time for the first leg in the match vs Burton in the Paint Trophy. We are playing most of my normal starters, because I want to get in a good first result to set us up for later. McKee and Powell are benched for Bunjaku and Jau. I begin aggressive to see if we can establish an early goal. I slide to control in the mid 20s after that doesn’t work. Beattie is hit and drops in value but I keep him in. I pull Quintin for a knock. Davisson replaces him. Its 0-0 at the half ad I get pissed. In the second, I pull Miller for Danauskas and then Beattie gets a score in the 72nd minute off a Stewart pass. My final sub is Westwood for Larbi. They get a goal in extra time after we stopped them for most of the game. It ends not as it should, 1-1. Quintin is out for 9-12 days with a bruised rib.

[Abe Sargent]

For our next match, we host Scunthopre, a23rd team in the league, and we are heavily favored. Bunjaku will start for Quintin while he is out . McKee and Powell are back into the lineup, as is Ilunga. Addo nails a goal at the 20th, and then we get a penalty and Mekee makes it in the 24th minute. Hey drive one back at the 47th for goal to set us up 2-1 at the break. The next half begins. No yellows in the first half, but Scunthorpe just got three in the first twenty minutes after the half . I exchange Dunauskas for Miller. McKee injured, Jau takes his place. A horrible goal is allowed by them, the ball bounced around just off their keeper for about eight seconds before Powell pounces. No one stopped it, 3-1 at the 77th minute. I push to standard. I swap Larbi for Benali. Game over, McKee is MOM.


Addo and Mckee in MOM. I send some of my youth on loans to my related clubs. We head to Coventry this week for our match on the 30th of January. Davis is starting for a tired Addo, and Jau is in for Larbi while Benali is in for Powell. We begin countering. Davis gets dinged, but I leave him in. Jau injures one of theirs and they are force to get subbed. They ding Stewart. No score in the first half, but it’s very punchy. McKee to Iunga off a indirect fk for a goal at the 51st. They hit us back in te 60th off a long shot in the corner. I swap Bunjaku for Davisson and Davis for Sodje. We give away a penalty/ 67th minute. They make it, and Benali got a yellow. I pull Denali for Gonzalez. His first match since the injury. Miller feeds the ball to Beattie and he scores in the 77th. 2-2 And that’s game, all tied.

Today was Shaun Miller’s 200th league appearance for Crewe. February arrivs and with it the close to the transfer window.

February –

2nd – Away at Derby, 4th Rnd FA Cup
9th – Home vs Bournemouth
12th – Away at Burton, Paint Trophy
16th – Away at Leyton Orient
19th – Home vs Rochdale
23rd – Away at Carlisle


We are currently 2nd in the league, and Bournemouth is 1st with the same number of points, just a better GD.

[Abe Sargent]

Addo is back in the line. As is Larbi, Powell and Quintin. Counter set up established and we hope for glory! Nothing happens in the first half, and we open the second. Ilunga grabs a yellow. At the 71st minute I make my first sub, Dunsauskas for a tired Miller. The Lithuanian is solid at penalties, if it comes to that. Stewart gets a nice pas from Mckee and hits a long shot for goal at the 79th minute. I make my second sub. I pull a very tired Quintin for Gonzalez – who is also good at penalties. Dunauskas gets a yellow. They get a goal, but it’s called offsides at the 82nd minute. Larbi got a yellow. They get a goal in the 86th minute. Addo is MOM. Now we have to repeat the game later


Nick Powell is out with a virus, I send him home. Several Euro U21 or U19 players are called up. I withdraw Carlos from a friendly in Feb 13th so I can have him for a cup game.

We are the #2 team in the league and we are hosting the #1 team in the league. It could all come down to this. Carlos is back for us. Jau will start for Powell while he is out with a bug. I begin controlling. I move to standard in the 20s. Lots of pressure both way, but we’re at 0-0 at the half. Daineche gets a yellow. The ball rockets off our wall on the direct free kick, falls to one of their players with our GK in a different angle, and they score. They get another goal in the 61st minute. I swap Stewart for Benali and Gonzalez for Quintin, since he has a card. McKee for Bunjaku my final sub. Ilunga with a yellow. And that’s game. We lose 0-2. That loss drops us to 4th. Gonzale I out for a couple of weeks with a bruised thigh.

[Abe Sargent]

Valentine’s Day has arrived. We have the second leg of the match vs. Burton. We are away, they first game was a 1-1 draw in our place. Here we go. I begin with counter set up. Ilunga injures a player and they are sent off. An even half evolves into a 0-0 score at the break. I tell my guys they don’t look like they want to win and they get pumped. I move to Control. Daineche is injured and I toss in Davis. A McKee to Addo corner gets a goal at the 74th minute, and that’s it. Addo is MOM. We win 2-1 aggregate. Afterwards, we find out that Daineche is out for 8 to 11 days with a bruised shin.


We have won the North, and are playing the winner o’ the south – Barnet.


Okay, today, Feb 16, something major happened. Let me give you the background as to who we just signed. In June, this early 30s player was let go by his club and expected to be picked up shortly by a big name. He was not, and in the middle of August, I saw him available and just for fun made an offer, and he was not interested, of course. Then I made five more offers during the year. None were interested, so since December I’ve let him stay. I don’t know if others were interested and turned away or not, because clearly coming to play for us is slumming it. But, a week ago, his agent approached me and asked if I was still interested, and I said yes. After being out of football for more than six months, he was willng to sign with Crewe. I expect him to give us a big push in the final third of the season and to help us get promoted. He will instantly start at the striker position, and I’ll move Beattie to Miller’s spot. The jerseys and tickets we’ll sell is worth is 4000/week salary. Please welcome to the club a 89 time caps for the English team with 40 goals, a man who has started for clubs in the EPL every year since 1997 save for a year in Real Madrid, Michael Owen.


That’s not a typo – he’s just here for the end of the season though. That’s all he wanted.

[Abe Sargent]

I'll give a hearty chuckle if he's injured in the first few minutes of the next game and is out for a year. That's be bad for us and eerily reminiscent of earlier years for Owen.



Owen


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[Abe Sargent]

Are we going to start Michael Owen in today’s away match vs #2 Leyton Orient? Of course we are! We’ll begin cautiously with counter. We are undergoing heavy pressure early. They foul Owen an get a red card for a professional foul – they were scared of him. Impact in the 23rd minute already. I move to attacking. They get a dream goal from long range at the 27th minute - that will really help them. Beattie with a booking. McKee get a kick back from Beattie and gets a score. Tied at the half. I slide to control in the 2nd half. I pull Larbi for Johnson. Stewart comes out for Benali. Bunjaku in for Beattie. McKee and Owen get yellows. Tie game. McKee was MOM.


The 20th has arrived and we host Derby in the replaying of our match earlier. Owen can’t play (Cup Tied) Beattie is to tired, so Bunjaku and Miller are my strikers . Benali for Mckee. I begin standard. 0-0 at the half. 2nd half, here we go. A powerful shot steals past Carlos for a score as the second half opens. I don’t know why, but they sent Benali off with a red card in te 59th minute. I didn’t see a major foul though. I make subs, yadda yadda. Then Jau on an indirect free kick hits Ilunga for a header into gal in the 80th minute and suddenly, life begins again Extra time. Davis gets the first tallow of the match. Half time in extra time. Penalty kick time! They start. They knock it in. I don’t have many of my best PKers, so its Gonzalez for us, their GK saves. They make it. Bunjaku is up. Good. Their next player arrives. He is blocked by Carlos!!! Larbi is up to tie it. In. 2-2 tied. Their 4th player arrives and….misses, by hitting the upright. Jau is up. We can ge the lead with this. We have it. Their last player arrives. He makes it. So we have a shot to win. Here goes Davis. In and we have won. We went from being down both a goal and a man to scoring, surviving extra time, and then winning the PK shootout. Good bye Derby, and hello Chelsea. Benali suspended for a match.

[Alf]

Michael Owen. Geez !

[Abe Sargent]

Okay the 23rd is here, and it’s what I like to call Woodshed time. We are traveling to Chelsea, we re tired from that long match just three days earlier, and we aren’t likely to win. We are the only L1 o lower team still here. Just 4 Championship teams are here as well, after we took Derby down. I’ll come in defensive, and hope for goals off a DFK, Penalty Kick, Corner, IFK or luck. Starters are Carlos, Addo, Ilunga,Daineche, Johnson, Powell, Bunjaku, Stewart, Quintin Beattie and Owen. We lose 4-0.


Benali is suspended for two more matches. Today we have a make up game against Rochdale who are 17th and coming to our place. We are 6th in the league bu we’ve played two fewer games due to cup matches. If we win this game, it rockets us to 4th still with one game back. Larbi is in for Johnson . McKee is back and Beattie is resting for Bunjaku. I open with just standard. Stewart nails it from long range in the 13th minute. Just three minutes later, Quintn gets a nice pass from Bunjaku and gest a score. They hit us for one just before half. I tell my guys not to get complacent. Davis for a knicked Addo. Owen gets his first score from a pass by Bunjaku at the 70th minute. I toss Westwood in for Stewart. MOM is Bunjaku.


March is here.

2nd – Home v Rotherham
6th – Away vs Carlisle
9th – Away vs Huddersfield
12th – Home vs Wycombe
16th – Away vs Chesterfield
23rd - Home vs Stevenage
26th – Away vs Shrewsbury
31st – Neutral v Barnet – Paint Trophy

[Abe Sargent]

Michael Owen. Geez !

I know

[Abe Sargent]

Our first game is here. A few changes to the starting lineup – Gonzalez, Beattie, Bunjaku, Jau are all in for Quintin, Miller, McKee, and Larbi, respectively. Since we are at home and Rotherham is 23rd, I begin control. I’d do more but we have another game soon. They score a goal in the 7th minute off a direct free kick. Then Beattie gets a score with a Jau assist. Beattie nails Addo for a score after a corner bounces around. 2-1 at the half Then beattie gets two goals in the 47th and 51st minute to give him a hat trick and an assist on the day – Westwood and Owen with assists. We win 4-1 and Beattie is obviously MOM. A good match to help our GD later if needed. Beattie obviously gets Team of Week.


Today’s Carlisle match is my 100th game for Crewe. This is the other game I have in hand. Win it, and we move up to 2nd, and are just two points behind the leader, Bournemouth. Tie, and we do the same Lose, and we stay a 3rd tied with Portsmouth and Tranmere with 61 points. I start counter. It’s all tied up. We suffer an onslaught of attacks but at halftime it’s all knotted up. Then Westwood, subbed in, gets a score from Larbi and we are up 1-0. Another onslaught of attacks ensues, but Carlos does a great job stopping them, and just takes over, getting a MOM award. We are now clearly in 2nd.


Huddersfield are in 7th and we are away, so this is a rough match. Back in the lineup are McKee, Miller, Quintin, Larbi, Jau for Powell. I’ma skip a boring game, we lose 0-1. Ah me, sad hours seem long.

[Abe Sargent]

Next we host Wycombe. Benali and Powell are in for McKee and Jau. Westwood for Larbi. Gonzalez for Stewart. I begin controlling. Stewart gets a free kick to Addo who scores to open this up. Daineche gives them an own goal, sigh. Then Powell assists Westwood for a score. 2-1 at the half. They score in the 56th minute. I put Bunjaku in for Owen, Jau for Gonzalez and Benali for Stewart. Powell gets a long shot in the goal on the 72nd minute, and I move back to standard. Finall,Miller is attacked by defender and passes the ball bac tp Quintin for a score. MOM is Powell and we win 4-2.


13 Mar – new youth players arrive, so I take a look. We’ll see their game on the 18th.


The 16th is here - team is Davis, Sodje, Beattie,McKee, Larbi and Jau. We are travelling to Chesterfield, 10th in the league. I have to go watch Dr. Who now, so I quick sim the game by going on vacation. We lose 0-2, and Beattie is injured for a few days with a dead leg.


I sign the good youthers recommended by my ass. Several high potential ones are here, but none good enough to crack my team right now. Some of my youthers are called up.


I’m still watching Dr. Who and its commercial time so another quick sim. We win 3-1, with Ilunga MOM and getting a score, with Owen and Stewart the other scores.

[Abe Sargent]

The next match won’t be quick simmed at all. The end of March has arrived and with it the Final.



Starting 11

GK – Carlos; DC Eric Addo; DC – Nasser Daineche; DC – Herita Ilunga; MR Kamel Larbi; ML Erwan Quintin; MC Joe McKee; MC Michael Stewart; MC Nick Powell; ST Michael Own; ST James Beattie

We are facing Barnet. The Final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has arrived.

Subs are - Ahmad Benali, Adam McHugh, Sam Sodje Fabrice Jau and Alban Bunjaku


Here we go,

I begin controlling. We are playing in Wembley. It’s lively in just the first few minutes Powell misses a long shot. Powell with an assist to Quinti but he;s offsides. They steal the ball from Larbi and foul him, and get a yellow card, first card of match at the 17 mark An indirect free kick by McKee turns into a corner. We feel they fouled us in the box but the ref waves it away. We do nothing with the corner. We get the ball into the box and Beattie’s strike is on target but didn’t have much speed and was easily stopped by their gk.. Owen finds Bunjaku on an attacking run, shot is blocked by GK again. The McKee and Addo connection off a coner comes to fruition in the 33rd minute and we are on the board. They win a corner after Ilunga gave away possession cheaply. Noting happens with it though. Powell takes another long shot, misses. Stewart tries from range as well, nothing. Halftime, up by one. Daineche and Beattie picked up yellows. They shoot and Carlos saves in the 53rd. Owen scores but was offsides. They are putting on some pressure. Beattie has a nice cross to Owen, who missies. Another shot is pushed away by Carlos for a corner. I pull Quintin. I swap Bunjaku to his place. They have a nice drive that Carlos stops in the 75th minute. Benali comes in for Stewart. A cross by Benali is off target by Bunjaku. Jau in for Powell in the 85th minute. E have won the Trophy, and Addo is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

April has arrived. Addo’s goal for Crewe v Rotherham is Goal of the Month.

The Last Matches of 2012-2013 Season

3rd – Home vs Tranmere, 2nd
6th – Away vs Portsmouth, 7th
10th – Away vs Preston, 17th
13th – Home vs Oldham, 6th
17th – Away vs Shrewsbury, 21st,
20th – Away vs Doncaster, 9th
27th – Home vs Brentford, 23rd
May 4th – Away vs Walsall, 14th


It’s important to note that we close with three out of four on the road. We’ve got some rough football in the first half of this eight set, but then things ease off a bit. We are in third right now, with two games in hand. We are four points behind Tranmere and 9 behind Bournemouth. If we beat Tranmere, then we will be just one point behind them with two games in hand.


The question is – can we defeat Tranmere? I want to ensure we don’t have a fallout after the Cup win. We keep the whole gang out there, I have to win. I begin standard. I move to attacking in the 22nd minute. Addo collects a yellow. I drop to standard again. Beautiful run by Owen, who tosses the ball to Larbi who hits Owen who slides and turns that pass into an assist for goal at the 41st minute. We are up at the half. I put in Miller for Beattie in 62. Stewart leaves for Jau. Benali swaps for Larbi in the 81. And that’s game. MOM is Larbi

[Abe Sargent]

This was a major victory for our promotion chances. After the game, we are third. Had we lost, we would have been sixth. Even a tie leaves us 5th. Now we travel to #6 Portsmouth for the biggest game we have left, away at a team in the promotion fight. Jau is starting for Larbi, and Bunjaku for McKee and Benali for Powell. I begin countering. I watched this game. I still don’t believe it. Ilunga with an OG and they scored another and we lost 0-2. It drops us to 5th. Beattie picked up a yellow and is suspended next week for it. Sodje got injured when I subbed him and is out for a month with a calf strain.


For today’s away match, a few changes. Larbi in, Miller in, McKee and Powell in. I begin with a counter tonight as well. Half time all quiet. Stewart got a card in the 1st. I move to Standard. They got some pressure in the 1st and I want to get some in the 2nd. I pull Larbi for Jau in the 66. Then I pull Miller for Bunjaku. Finally Stewart for Benali. 0-0 draw

[Abe Sargent]

Starting for us today vs Oldham is Bunjaku for McKee, Gonzalez for Quintin and Gorman is back from his loan and I put him on our sub list. I begin controlling. They foul Owen in the penalty area and Stewart has to kick since McKee is not here today. He makes it and it s 1-0. I slide back to Standard. A bit of pressure forces Ilunga to pick up a card. Then they score just before the half. I give a nice speech, and Ilunga head it deep for Miller who gets behind their line and scores in the 53rd minute. Then Daineche icks up a yellow and that’s bad. He;s suspended for the next two matches with 10 yellows. I put in Westwood, Benali and Jau for Larbi Owen and Bunjaku. It’s a nice game to win. Oh, and Miller was MOM


Davis will start in Daineche’s spot for the next two games. We have risen to 3rd, and played our game in hand and have just one left. Bournemouth won the league today. Four games left. We have to get eight points in those games to guarantee a playoff spot.

[Abe Sargent]

Our today vs a poor Shrewbury is our game in hand. If we win this, we will tie Tranmere in points and be ahead on GD with one more than them plus the winning difference in this game. If we tie or lose, we stay in 3rd with three games to catch up. This is our extra game, let’s get out here and do it. Owen is rested for Beattie Powell for Jau. McKee and Quintin return. I begin countering. An amazing long shot from about 45 yards away rifles into our net for Shrewsbury in the 4th minute. I move to standard just before half. Half. Davis gets a yellow. Then Beattie nails a goal at the 60th minute. McKee found him just half step behind the defense. Larbi crosses beautifully to Quintin who nails it in the 63rd. Quick double fire. I sub a tired Miller for Bunjaku. MeKee and Stewart grab yellows. I pull Stewart for Benali. Shrewsbury are coming forward. Quintin collects a yellow. I pull Davis for Gorman in the 83rd. The pressure continues. I slide to counter. Carlos does some real yeoman’s work in the last ten minutes. That’s game. Quintin is MOM. We win our game in hand. Nicely done.


With three games to go, we have moved into second. It’s close

2nd – Us, 80 points, +26
3rd – Tranmere, 80, +24
4th – Sheff Wed, 75, +20
5th – Portsmouth, 74, +33
6th – Leyton Orient, 74, +22
7th – Oldham, 74 +12


The playoffs are a real contest.

[Abe Sargent]

Our starters are Owen, Jau, Powell and all of the ones from the last game. This is the last game against any team above 15. I begin countering. McKee hits a penalty kick in the 12th minute, and they are looking wobby, so I move to Standard. In the 30s, Ilunga gets an indirect free kick from McKee for a goal, and its 2-0. They have three yellows, and us, none. Owen gets a beautiful pass from Stewart and scores in the 37th, and that’s the score heading into half. Post half, McKee;s corner hits Iunga who scores again. That’s a score off every set piece. I pull a winged McKee for Benali. Then Beattie swigns a pass to Owen who scores in the 63rd. I slide back to counter, pull both Beattie for Bunjaku and Stewart for Gonzalez, and we protect the 5-0 lead to the end. Ilunga MOM.


There is no chance of being caught on GD now, it’s all about points. Tranmere lost, and we are now three points ahead with two games to go. If we win next week, we will basically get 2nd. Ilunga, Owen and McKee all in Team of Week. One of my best youth prospects from the new class just torn his calf muscle.

[Abe Sargent]

We host an already relegated Brentford - the full 11 are starting, and I’ll begin attacking. Let’s get the penultimate game of the regular season started. McKee nails a direct free kick with 5:43 off the clock. Daineche injures one of their players so badly they are forced to sub them of in the 14th. I edge back to control in the 16th. Beattie steals the ball from a defender, and lobs it over their GK for a beautiful strike. Powell injures another player and thy have to sub out in 24th minute. Ilunga finds Powell off a throw in and Powell rattles a goal home off the crossbar. Our pitch looks so awful in this last game here for the season. Daineche gets a second yellow and is sent off at the 44th minute. I sub Gorman in for Owen and drop him back. I slide to Standard. We injured another of their players in 64th minute and they’ve used all of their subs, so it’s 10 on 10. I swap Stewart for Benali. My final sub is Danauskas for Beattie. Benali nails a long shot off a Gorman assist. Ilunga is MOM.

Because Tranmere won, we are technically having a shot at dropping to three, but with a GD of +35 to +26, I doubt even if we lost and they won we would fall to third. Owen’s goal vs Doncaster is in 2nd place for Goal of Month.

[Abe Sargent]

We arrive at the final match. Here is our squad:

Carlos
Sodje
Addo
Ayo Oblieye
Gonzalez
Jau
McKee
Justin Taylor
Johnson
Miler
Owen

With these people available as subs: Karl Smith – new youth player; Gorman, Dunauskas, Liam Nolan, Laste Dombaxe

Other than Carlos, everyone is about to have their contract end or a youth player.


Here we go!


I begin countering. They get a goal header off a corner kick in the 12th minute. Sodje is injured and I put Gorman in for him at the 26. Halftime. Miller shoots, blocked, gets the rebounds and puts it away the 51st minute. I sub in Karl Smith for Johnson. McKee finds Gonzalez who shoots a long shot for goal in the 68th minute. I yank Taylor for Liam Nolan. It’s fun to watch my youth-ers and good byers. Owen scores after getting behind their defense in our half and dribbling down. Owen is MOM.

Okay I lied. I thought Bournemouth has won automatically, but they had not. I misread the numbers, and they lost the last three games out of four and tied the other, so they ended up second, and we won, with 89 points.

Im shocked I won the 1st league this soon. I know how to do well here, I’ve done it before, but I’m surprised that I did it this soon. Our record was 26 wins, 11 draws and 9 losses. I have never gone from promotion to this league to promotion the next before. I have a few reasons I think it happened this time:

1) Luck. There are often really good Championship teams who get unlucky, relegated, and op right up the next time that you are overpowered by. That did not happen the time.
2) Owen. After I signed him, our offense massively improved. He didn’t have great stats, but he causes penalties, a red card, and my opponents were so focused on man marking him with their defense that the rest of my team was able to get through.
3) Carlos – We’ll see in a second, but I think he was really strong for me this year. I lucked into a good, developed GK who can play hard at this level.
4) More money – My club really invested in this year, and I’m spending more than the salary by thousands.
5) McKee – Getting him back was marvelous. Having a guy who is good enough to start at this level and is also set piece god is just amazing.


Let’s look at the stats for this year.

[bulletsponge]

what a drop for Owens ;)

[Abe Sargent]

League Stats:

We tied Portsmouth for 3rd most goals, 81
We tied Bournemouth and Tranmere for fewest goals allowed, 44
6th highest average attendance.
6th highest salary in league
Tied for 4th most red cards, 5
Tied for 2nd most DFK goals, 3
2nd most IFK goal, 11


Eric Addo was 4th most in form player with 7.24 average; Ilunga was 19th with 7.14; McKee 28th with 7.1
Beattie was tied for 9th with most goals, 16
Miller was tied for21st with 11
Carlos allowed 37 league goals in 40 league appearances; 13 shutouts 11th most
McKee 2nd in league with 19 assists; Beattie tied for 7th with 12 assists, Miller has 9 for 20th.
Larbi 15th with 2.23 dribbles/game.
Addo was 48% accurate with shots, 10th best in league. Miller 15th best with 47%.
McKee, tied for 3rd with 43 key passes.
Daineche, 9th with 72 key headers, Addo tied for 17th with 63
Ilunga 10th most picks at 249


Team, League Stats:

Goals – Addo 8, McKee 7, Quintin 7, Owen 6, Powell and Ilunga 4 each.
Assists – Jau 7, Powell 6, Larbi 5
Rating – Beattie 7.06; Owen, 7.03; Powell, 7.0
GK – McHugh – 6 starts, 7 goals allowed, one clean sheet

[Abe Sargent]

Players Leaving in Two Months of Note:

Addo
Jau
McKee’s loan ends
Owen
Gonzalez
Sodje
Miller
Johnson


I have no idea what my salary will be next year, so I want to hold off on major transfer acquisitions until I know.

Staff with Contracts Up:

Ass Coach John Morling
Scouts N-Timbanzeh, Pjil Sift, Paul Molesworth,
Physio Peter Heady
GK Coach – Geoff Crudgington
Fitness Coach – Andy Franks
Coach – Chris Lucketti, Mark Bonner, Paul Thompson

We are about to have a real overturn of staff, but I offer my French scout, N’T a new deal.

I look at training to see if my leavers have something to hang their hat on in order to return. I’m letting go of Morling, Franks, Thompson, Lucketti, Crudgington, and Bonner for sure.

My three remaining guys, a fitness, 1st team and Gk all have 4 star training in strength, attacking or a gk stat.

[Abe Sargent]

One of the issues we’ll have next year is that I didn’t set myself up for this. Let me see I I can explain. I extended Beattie by a year. Beattie is good for League 1 but Championship is a very large step up. Plus he’s getting year older – now I wish I hadn’t done that. Similarly, I wouldn’t have brought in the striker I signed or Michael Stewart . They were supposed to help me to get out of L1 next year, and then Beattie would have left and I would have a nice hole to replace with a bigger budget.

Well, here we go.

I have my staff roles expanded for next year, so I can go ahead and make some hires there. I make an offer to Andrew Bernal, who is English, Spanish and Australian for a scout. I make an offer for a new Assistant Manager – Ian Woan. Make an offer to a new GK coach named Alec Chamberlain. Mark Chamberlain is made an offer to be a coach for me, as well as Brian Tinnion. That good for now. I want t see what my new staff look ike before I bring in others

Alright, my new staff is here let’s take a look.

Okay, I have four star training in: Tactics (Woan), Strength (Hendry), GK Shot Stopping (Taylor), GK Ball Handling (Chamberlain the First), Attacking (Cole), Ball Control (Chamberlain the Second), Shooting (Tinnion). I still need a coach each for Aerobic, Defending. I make an offer to James Bowker to be a coach. He’s a 4 star tactics guy and I move Woan to 4 star defense.

My players are on break until Jul 1

Movement:

Tranmere beat Plymouth 4-2 and are promoted from League 1 along with us and Bournemouth. Relgated back from L1 to L2 are Yeovil, Rochdale, Brentford and Shrewsbury Man U won the EPL and a Cup and are celebrating the “double” QPR, Birmingham and West Brom are relegated. Rumors are that Birmingham might want me as a coach, but since we’ll be in the same league next year, I publicly announce that I’m not interested. Burnley finished 6th in the Championship but won the playoffs and joins Leicester and Southampton as promoted teams to the EPL. Charlton, Ipswich and Notts Co were relegated down to League 1. Relegated back to the Conference are York and Macclesfield. Promoted are AFC Wimbledon, Colchester, Hartlepool and Crawley.

Michael Owen has announced his retirement in a month. It’s early, at the age of just 33.


All of my players think I should keep Owen. I kind of like the fact that he is leaving by retiring, because then I don’t look bad. Alright, fine. I offer Owen a contract for one more year and a reconsideration of his retirement. My new signing has arrive, Dutch footballer Harrie Gommans. We’ll look at him later.

Gonzalez, Jau and Sodje also announce retirement. I can’t talk Owen out of retirement (yes!).

[Abe Sargent]

We get a new budget. 69k a week and 750k in transfer money. I make an Enquiry to Burnley for McKee. I’d love to sign him permanently, but they want 4 mill, so I withdraw the offer.

I sign Fitness Coach Adie Stovell. 4 and a half stars for aerobic. I make an offer to a physio too.


Addo and McKee named in League 1 Team of the Year

Alex Ferguson retired today

Herita Ilunga was Fans Player of the Year again. My scouting range was upgraded, the club want me to earn from my experience. I feel more and push for mid-table finish. This gives me 1 mill in transfer money and 77k in budget. One of our links was terminated

The new season has begun!


I have arranged to bring our rivals here in pre-season, Wrexham, Port Vale, Stoke are all coming here for friendlies. The odds place us at 20-1 for promotion.

On the 29th, I take one last look at my players leaving. I only have a question about Addo, but I feel its time to part ways with the 34 year old.

The 30th is here. Michael Owen retires. My board offered Owen a role as a coach and he has accepted so we are paying him as a coach. Fabrice Jau has retired at the age of 34. Cristian Gonzalez has retired at the age of 38. Sam Sodje also retires at the age of 34 .

So we have both Ashley Cole and Michel Owen as coaches.

Now we say good bye to players such as Addo, Miller and Johnson.

[Abe Sargent]

Can I find replacements that are quality for this league? Can I find a replacement for McKee and Addo? Maybe a lights out GK or ST? My Polish scout has a solid younger DC on his radar. I make an offer to Bartlomiej Szewczyk. I also find a starter quality DC< 26, named Piscu, off my Spanish scout. I make him an offer for 7250 a week. Okay I’m set defensively.

I make a loan offer for McKee again. I offer to pay 100% of his salary. I can’t find someone that fits my team as well as he. I also want a good rotation middie as well. Powell is good, but he’s not a great starter at the Championship level, so if I can find a Benali or Jau sort of player, I‘ll be thrilled. I make an offer for another aging middie named Rogier Molhoek.

So I have made offers to MC, DC, DC and McKee. There’s no lights out GK, but what about striker? My Spanish scout knows of a great younger striker named Jean-Marie Dongou, so I make an offer. I make him an offer of 9500/week.

Okay, look’s good.

I make a few offers to youth players for my system - I can’t see full stats for many, but they are cheap. The best one should be an English player named Jordan Jones, and we’ll see. 7 youth offers made.

Scouting time

I make an offer to an Austrian scout. I send my scouts across Europe.

[Abe Sargent]

July 1 has arrived

My new scout arrives on the 2nd.

I get an offer for McHugh by Nott Forest It for 95k right now and 30% of profit from any sale. I accept. I can get another backup keeper.

Molhoek agrees to sign with us, as does Szewczyk – I make an offer to a random Polish youth project to give him a Polish playmate. I signed a U21 15 year old Swis guy named Roland Derungs, and he looks nice. He came in as 1.3 mill. He broke out. I signed him due to his spee – 15 acc and 12 pace. Plays M/AM L.

I sign some youthers, and my fans really like Molhoek and Jones

McKee is coming back.

On the 5th, good news – Jean-Marie, a Barcelona cast-off, is joining us. We’ll look at my new adds later, when they are all here.

McHugh officially is gone. I officially get about 100k. I traded a guy who was making 1k a week. I make an offer to a guy for 2k who is a better GK for this level, Sam Johnstone.

I reject an Leisceter inquiry for Ilunga. My board agrees to hold a trial day. Since we’ve found players such as Davisson, Ilunga and Benali from previous trials, it only makes sense to keep it up. Piscu rejects our offer so I need another plan. I can’t get my second choice, Andre Amougou to a price that works for me. Who else is left? Richard Dunne isn’t interested. I send out a few scouts

The 7th has arrived and with it our Wrexham challenge. We win 1-0 off a Gommans goal.



Molhoek


http://u.goal.com/137200/137201hp2.jpg


Gommans

http://i2.goal.com/files/images/stats/goal/player-images/4/17004_186x236.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

After checking in a lot of places, I finally, and I mean finally, got a squad rotation DC named Oliver Roisser. I made him a 2.1k offer.

The trial game was held, so I take a look through the names and faces. There are several I like bu they want too much money. I sign a Welsh DC from the 2nd team, now the first one. There were ten or twelve guys that wanted 1500-3000 for their salaries. Like many Benalis, but none that tweak my radar.

We sign Johnstone as our backup GK

We draw Scunthorpe in the League Cup

Risser has joined us. We have all of our players now. I might get some player who falls through the cracks later, but I have everyone now.

Let’s look at our squad


GK – Carlos, ends 2014, 750/week, 130k value, 33 years old, fairly ambitious, still looks good: GK Sam Johnstone, ends 2016, 2.1k/week, 700k value, 20 years old, fairly ambitious, lots of potential

I ask Carlos to mentor Sam. They both agree. With the same personality, hopefully that’ll work well.

DC – Herita Ilunga, ends 2014, 2.3/week, 250k value, 31 years old, still looks solid; Joe Gorman, 18, ends 2014, 525k value, 1.3k weekly, still a decent prospect; Harry Davis, 21, 100k, 1.3k a week, ends 2014, not bad: Nasser Daineche, 31, 180k, 2.5/week, good starter, ends 2014: Two new signings:

DC Oliver Risser – 32, German and Namibian, 2k/week, 20k value, ends 2015, balanced – plays MC too. Worst is speed – 8 and 9. Bet is 14 head,jump balance, mark, tack, 12 pass. 17 flu, 14 team, 13 work rate, 13 position, 13 strength. A good, flexible rotation DC

DC Bartlomij Szewczyk, 19 years, 2.1k/week, 1.5 mill, ends 2016. Speed is 12 an 11. Jump 17, head of 14, 15 mark, tack, 9 pass, strength; 14 work rate, determination, 13 position, composure, aggression, 12 bravery, stamina. Realist personality – no one else has this. Polish.

I figure I can start either Barty or Olly, whichever I need or is healthy - but Barty is my preference all things considered.

ST – James Beattie, 3.9k/week 30k value 2014 contract, still looks good and capable. Always was slow. Mindaugas Dunauskas, 19 years old, 189/week, 2015, 850k,put out for loan, still a nice youth player with 14 finish, 11/14 speed, and so forth. We have two new strikers:

ST Harrie Gommans, Dutch, 3.2k/week, 130k, 30 years, 2014 contract – just one year, All double digits in phys, but lower ones. 12 Finish, first touch, pass, tech, 15 head, 11 dribbling, long shots; All mental are 10 or above save Aggression and Position 9 and 6.

ST Jean-Marie Dongou, 18, Spanish, 2016, 9.5k/week, 2.4 mill, my star. 17 acceleration and fitness, 14 pace and balane, 15 agi, 12 str, stam. Finishing 15, 14 in head, technique, 13 in long hots, dribbing, pass, 11 in first touch; 16 aggression, 14 flair, 13 work rate, 12 off the ball, 11creativity, 10 decisions, determination, bravery

With a lot of strikers gone, I need to bring in more. Gommans and Dongou both can start for me if needed across from Beattie and vice-versa. Dongou is my pride and joy from the off season


Dongou


http://www.footandball.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1332709177293.jpg


Risser

http://fraserdigbyswashbag.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/oliver-risser-v-reading.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

M LRC – Kamel Larbi, 5k/week, 275k value, 28, Algerian, 2015, still looking good Larbi, but with low passing and crossing. Erwan Quintin, 29, French, 275k, 4.9k/week, 2014, looks nice and sexy. Nick Powell, 1.6 mill, 19, English, 4.1k/week, 2016, stats are week in many areas, such as speed, 9/11. Not starting quality anymore. Ashley Westwood, 45k, English, 23, 1.2k/week, a backup MC/R only. Ben Davisson, 26k, 300/week, 21, English, nother backup. Alban Bunjaku – Can play ST as well, 775k, 2.6k/week, 19 years old, 2015. Looks like some potential to keep getting a bit of play. Ahmad Benali, 2015, 21, Libyan, 1.2k/week 150k value, just a decent backup now. Michael Stewar, 32, Scottish, 2.4/week and 100k, starting quality still, but not that much, an upgrade waiting to happen later. Joe McKee obviously. Our new signees:

Jordan Jones – Expects a bit of play from this youther. 18, English 120/week, 550k value. 11/10 speed, 11 pass, lots of 11 and 12 and lots of 9s and 8s as well. Needs some work.

Rogier Molhoek – Dutch, 31, 6k/week, 275k value, 2014, All physiclas in doubles, but lower 15 passing, 13 dribb, 12 cross, technique, first touch, mark, 10 tack, 11 head; 18 creativity, 15 work rate, influence, 14 concentration, off the ball, decisions, 13 teamwork, 12 aggress, anticip, and 11 or 10 everything else in mentals

He will start in Powells old spot Perhaps I’ll put Jones on the reserve squad.

Players worth 1m or more in the youth and reserve:

1.3 m – Roland Derungs, 15 year old Swiss
1.1 m – Justin Taylor
1 m – Karl Smith, youther

I have too many middies and defenders. Perhaps I need to do something about Davis or Gorman or Westwood or Davisson.


Currently, our salary is at 67k. My budget is 1.2m transfer and 73k right now. I can bump the salary up to 96k. I assign squad numbers, massage my tactics, and other miscellaneous tasks that need to be done in the pre-season. I ask my board to improve youth facilities, but although they would like too, they have not the cash to do it.

[Abe Sargent]

Dongou and Powell are getting youth caps for Spain and England respectively. I stick with my small pitch

We defeat Port Vale 2-0 in our friendly vs them. We lose 0-1 to Stoke. Andre Amougou should be pissed. I was willing to offer 8k for him to start for me, but we wanted 15k as a starting figure. He ended up signing for another team in the league for 4.3k. By demanding too much, he screwed himself. I would have loved having such a pacy defender.

A player sold before my term with a sell on clause will net us 130k over the next 18 months.

It’s August 1, and I take a last look around, to see if anybody has fallen through the cracks. I have budget space for someone awesome. Big names currently on the market include Arjen Robben, Argentian national Fernando Gago, Maxi Rodriguez, and others. Several lesser big names will come, but want 15k or 20k. Internationals or good players such as Juan Manuel Olivera or Granddi Ngoyi. One though begins negotiating at 10k. Maybe we could come to a deal - name of Stef Nijland, Dutch, plays AM C. Just 24. Stef looks pretty nice – physicals stats are 12, 15, 13, 14, 15, 13, 14, 16. Technical has 14 dribb, 12 first touch, 10 finish, 12 head, 11 long shots, 12 pass, 13 technique. Mentals all strong too. He’s better than any of my guys. I could actually put him in an AMC spot. Move McKee to Stewart’s location. This is a strong player. I wonder how much I can get him to. Hold on. 9750k and match highest earner, runs through 2017 Do I finalize the deal? That’s a strong input of talent to my squad. He just plays AMC, but I could start traning him for generic MC and AMR to give him more flexibility. I was not happy with Stewart’s play in L1 last year, and now he’s upgraded. When I signed him, I didn’t expect him to be starting at this level. Let’s do it. I finalize the deal. He agrees. I can cancel the deal if I want to. I don’t.

Say hello to Stef Niljand, my third Dutch signing of the window. I make Molhoek my vice captain this season. Time to massage my tactics again. Now I really have too many middies

I offer Jones for loan, Westwood for transfer, and I move Davisson to a season long loan at an affiliate. Jones is loaned to Shrewsbury, Davisson heads out, and I have accepted offers for Westwood.


Nijland

http://answers.bettor.com/images/Articles/thumbs/extralarge/PSV-Eindhovens-Stef-Nijland-on-Roda-JC-Kerkrade-radar-Dutch-Eredivisie-News-66029.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

August Schedule –

10th – Away at Bristol City
13th – Away at Scunthorpe, League Cup
17th – Home vs Derby
20th – Away vs Millwall
24th – Home vs Aston Villa
31st – Home vs Peterborough

The season opens today. Our first 11 for the first match – Carlos, Daineche, Ilunga, Szewczyk, Larbi, Mlhoek, McKee, Quintin, Nijland, Gommans, and Dongou. Here we go!! I start counter. They have a 4-1-3-2. Alons-y! We have pressure early, and they stop a few shots. They score in the 18th minute. McKee nails a direct free kick in the 39th. Half time and its all tied. 2d half baby – Now Carlos is stopping some shots. An offsides goal is disallowed by Bristol. Larbi finds Dongou on an attacking run for a score at the 53rd. I put in Davis for my Polish youth DC. Carlos stopping many shots in the last five minutes. Dongou rattled, so I slide in Bunjaku and switch him for Gommans. My final swap is I the 82 for Quintin by Powell. That’s game, and we win 2-1 in the road.

I transfer Westwood to Wrexham. I accept a loan offer for Dunauskas. We sold 4576 season tickets, and last year 3301, so that’s nice. Crewe were a fixture in the Championshi for a while, so I’d likek to set up camp for a while. I want a 4t ST option other than Bunjaku. Can I do it with my current youthers, let me see. Liam Wilson? Not well rounded enough . Max Clayton? Not enough Finishing or talent. Zapata-Caicedo? Not developed enough. I try to move Clayton. I don’t like him much, his contract ends in 2014, and he’s worth a lot. I try Clayton at 100k and no offers, and I drop it to 40k and no offers. Dunauskas moves to Accrington for loan.

[Abe Sargent]

Our cup match is here. I have some tired. I rest Quintin (Bunjaku), Nijland (Benali), Molhoek (Powell). Beattie is in for Gommans. I begin standard. It’s raining a lot. McKee grabs a yellow Their GK has stopped four shots by the 30. I move to Counter. Dongou collects a yellow post-half. The corner ball bounces around, Dongou finds it, passes to Ilunga who shoots and scores at the 58th I trade Powell for Bunjaku’s left role and put in Stewart. Larbi is tired, so Molhoek goes in for him. Daineche is dinged so I put in Risser for him. Ilunga throws the ball in, Stewart knocked it back to him, he crosses to Benali on an attacking run, and Benali scores in the 88th minute. With both an assist and goal, Ilunga is obviously MOM.


We have a problem. In the EPL, you have to have a certain number of homegrown players on your team. Your match squad, however, does not need a certain amount. However, in the lower leagues, you apparently need six homegrown players in you squad, inclusive of subs. Well, I didn’t realize the squad aspect of the requirement, and I have too many foreigners starting. I have just McKee as a homegrown player. What I have to so is sign an English starter, because what I have right now is one hg starter and all of my subs are forced to be to cover. Now many of my subs are natural – Powell, Beattie could be a starter, Bunjaku, Benali are hg. Other HG are Stewart Davis,Gorman, and backup GK Johnstone. I can hack a squad from them, start Beattie, have Bunjaku and Benali on bench, etc. But that leaves me with four HG subs and just one other – is my other sub Gommans? Risser? You see the problem.

So what I need is to sign a home grown starter. I feel the best chance of that is a wide midfielder or a lights out GK. No GK is available, so it’s a wide middie, to sub in for Larbi or Quintin or both. Luckily, I have two options. When looking for good middies earlier, I kept two guys, still unsigned, on my shortlist. Here they are:

Michael Tonge, 30, M CRL, will sign for cheaper than other option
Paul Anderso, 25, AM/M RL, more expensive but younger

Comparisons – Tonge is better crossing by one and passing by three, 14/14 to 13/11. Anderson is faster 13/16 to 11/10. Tonge 5 better technique and long shots, 3 better dribbling. Anderson has 3 better finishing. Identical stamina. Both right foot. Tonge three better tackling, Anderson thee better anticipation, virtually equal in tw and wr and otb. Tonge’s better mentally and technically, nderson better physically, and is younger.

Tonge it is. I can play him several postions. I make Tonge an offer for 6k a week and two years.

I just got major injection of cash Southampton are making an offer of 475k and 30 of profit for next sale for Joe Gorman. I accept. We draw West Ham in the League Cup. Tonge has joined us


Tonge


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/11/19/article-1229152-006E37E200000258-691_306x354.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

For today’s match, I start Tonge for Larbi. I will start Risser for Szewczyk. Gommans for Beattie. Okay, let’s see what happens. I begin the Derby match standard. They get a score early in the 5th minute. Halftime and I light a fire under them, hopefully. I move to Control. They give a penalty to Derby in the 51st, nd they…make it. I go back to standard. They give another penalty to Derby in the 61st. They make it too. I pull Daineche for Szewczyk Daineche gives away an OG before he gets pulled. This an apocalyptic meltdown, he gave two penalties AND a own goal. We lose 0-4. I fine Daineche a week.


Today we head to Millwall. I bench Daineche. I begin countering. Millwall score on a pretty long shot from 25 yards out in the 15th. Gommans collects a yellow. Half time. I try to light a fire under my guys. They come out firing. A few attacks are fended off, but then Nijland finds Gonjou for a score in the 58th minute. A few minutes later Nijland finds Gonjou behind their defense again for another goal. I pull back to defense set up. I sub in Powell, Beattie and Davis during the game. Millwall tie it in the 81st, and we hold on for a 2-2 draw. Gonjou is MOM.


I loan Clayton to Burton. Gorman can’t come to terms with either Leicester or Southampton. Sucks, I wanted the cash.

[Abe Sargent]

I bring back Daineche for the Aston Villa game and Beattie gets the start over Gommans. I begin standard. I don’t want to push too much vs Villa. In the first ten minutes, Beattie finds a running Donjou who speed past their defense and has a 1:1 opportunity. He finds the next and we have our first goal in the 9th minute. Then he gets a yellow a few minutes later. Halftime. Post half, McKee crosses to Daineche and he scores at the 49th. They hit us on a counter attack in the 61st. I pull some folks and move to Counter, but we manage to survive their attack and win 2-1. Daineche is MOM That’s a crazy two game swing, from dog to owner.


Where is?

Eric Addo – Still unsigned
Shaun Miller – Still unsigned
Simon Johnson – On trial with Colchester in League 1


Today we host West Ham in the League Cup. Gonjou gets a rest. I begin control. We ge scored on twice in the first 20. Several of my players get yellows, so I move to light tackling, and we still get two. We hold on and lose 0-2. I don’t know what happened to my “Success was never in the card, good job” line at the beginning, half time or end. I had no option o use it. I tell them bad luck and they respond well.


I get an interesting rumor – the Wolves are interested is making an offer for Powell. I offer him for 1 mill, and the Wolves take it. Powell agrees to terms with them, and I get 1 mill.

[Abe Sargent]

Dongou is starting for us again. We host Peterborough. Controlling is our start. Tonge with a deadly cross and it is put back by a defender for an OG in the 7th minute. Dongou is injured so I slide in Beattie. Stewart gets a score in the 29th after the ball bounces and two shots by others were stopped but left on the ground by DC and GK. 2-0 at the half. Barty gets a yellow in the 47h. I put Powell in for TOnge for his last match with us before he heads to play for the Wolves. We win 2-0. Stewart is MOM

Dongou injured his ribs and will be out for a month. Powell is now with the Wolves.

Okay, I need to find an English middie good enough to be a sub. Powell wasn;t that good for this level, so this is an upgrade I get paid for. I also want a backup striker, and I have some transfer kitty now. What is available and who do I want?


I have two targets in mind that are unsigned – ST Luke Moore, 27, and Middie Anthony Wordsworth, 24. Both are English and homegrown.

Now, let’s see if there is a player I can chase on transfer. I don’t see anyone. Both Wordsworth and Moore will cost me in the 5k-6k range. I have the cash . But I’d rather pay it for starters. Let’s see if I can downgrade ability to a cheaper price. I make an offer to striker Marlon Harewood for 4.1k/year and another to DM/MC Emmanuel Frimpong.

Dongou wins the Young Player of the Month. Harewood joins. Frimpong joins us too


Emmanuel Frimpong, Ghanaian, English, 21, 3.1k/week, 1.1 m, DMc, Mc; counts as HG, Adequate physical and technical stats, 12 pass, 11/12 speed, 11 first touch, 12 technique, etc. Good mentals, led by 18 aggress, 16 brave, workrate 13 teamwork, 12 otb, 11 position, compuure, etc. Just solid

Marlon Harewod, English, 34, 65k value, 4.k/week, HG, AM R, ST, still has good physicals such as 12/10 speed, 14 strength, stamina. 13 finishing, 15 penalties, yadda yadda. Just a good solid rotation guy for us.


Frimpong

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/article6398808.ece/ALTERNATES/w620/Emmanuel+Frimpong


Harewood


http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01489/marlon-harewood_1489185c.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Sept Games:

14th – Away vs Tranmere
21st – Home vs Barnsley
28th – Away vs Cardiff

We have a lot of internationals, 9 players, called up in early Sept.

Transfer deadline passes


Alban Bunjaku is now Albanian on his screen, since he is now capped by their team during this window.

We head to the road to face fellow promote Tranmere. Risser plays for us today. We lose 0-1 against them, it was quiet most of the day and they got a nice cross that slipped through two defenders for a score off a a leg. I was hoping to get points from my fellow promotee, but that was not to be the case.


Barnsley has arrived at our stadium. I have Szewczyk back in the lineup I begin controlling. A McKee corner is headed by Ilunga on target and blocked by their GK, but a DC puts the ball into the net for us as it falls. Nijland drives, finds Quintin who scores in the 20th minute. Then McKee hits Daineche off an indirect free kick for a shot in the 25th minute, and we are up 3-0. I tell my guys to start tackling lighter. I slide to standard in the 30s as they start putting some pressure on and Daineche gets a yellow before the half. We stick with standard for the 2nd half. I’ll make some early subs if the score is the same. A the 50, I pull Gommans for Marlon Harewood to give him some playing time. At 58 I pull Molhoek for Frimpong. I’ll keep my last one for a while in case of injury - I end up pulling Daineche for Risser in the 75th minute They get a score in the 81st with a nice individual effort. Carlo has turned aside many shots and I was hoping he’d get a clean sheet, he deserved it. Then they get another goal at the 87th minute and it’s crazy. We hold onto the pressure for the last few minutes, getting corners and throw ins from them and we win 3-2 . I let them know it was a jeckyll and hyde performance.


We agree to move Ayo Obileye to Hereford on a loan. Daineche is in Team of Week. I get a one month loan offer for Justin Taylor by Cheltenham and I accept.

[Abe Sargent]

Dongou is back from injury. Today Tonge will replace Quintin and Larbi is back in the lineup. We are travelling to Cardiff who are not doing well. They are currently 20th. Let’s see what we can do. I begin countering. They score in the 4th minute off a cross to a hoof. Dongou wins us a corner. Ilunga gets a yellow. Our defense lets one of their men slip past and he scores in the 9th minute. We have some attacking, but nothing comes of in. Gommans is injured and I put in Beattie. Half time. Iluna and BArty got yellows. Dongou opens the second half with a McKee pass behind the defense and we score, 45:45 in the game. I pull Daineche for Risser in the 64th minute. My final sub is Benali in for Molhoek. We weren’t able to gt the win, but we responded well. 1-2 loss.


I’m swapping Gommans for Beattie. Gommans has played 8 games, with no goals and one assist. That’s not good enough.


October has arrived:


1st – Home vs QPR, best team in the league
5th – Away vs Wigan
19th – Home vs West Brom
22nd – Away vs Middlesbrough
26th – Home vs Sheff Utd


I like to call this month, teams with extensive stretches in the EPL month. QPR was in the EPL and just got relegated a few months ago, West Brom Albion has had a real ping-pong relationship with the Championship and the EPL. Wigan and Middlesbrough were just there too. So I need to do well to get points in October. Let’s begin by hosting the #1 team in the Championship, a team who has not lost. We have 13 points in eight games, and are doing fine.

[Abe Sargent]

Let’s see how it goes. I begin countering, because, you know. We keep them off for a while and Carlos gets things started with a goal kick to Beattie, who drops the all and finds Nijland, who finds space in the defense. He slides the ball past the defense to Dongou who is behind everyone. He muscles off a defender that catches up and shoots and scores. 35th minute first score We go into halftime 1-0. Right after half, Nijland again gets a backpass from Beattie and again hunts and finds Dongou and again scores, at the 46:12 mark. I order us to Defense They sore in the 58th minute and I ease back to counter. Molhoek is injured a the 62 and I sub in Stewart. Nijland is injured a few minutes later and I put in Benali. Finally, pull a tired Beattie for Gommans. We hold on, and win 2-1. That is an impressive win by my boys. MOM is Dongou. Nijland is out for 2-3 weeks with a thigh strain and Molhoek is fine.


Dongou is incredible. We were really lucky to have gotten him for a free. My scouting has really brought forth some nice players. A French scout knew of Quintin, a Spanish scout of Dongou, a Polish scout of Barty, and so forth. Do you think that Barty would be on my team without a Polish/German scout who tell me of him? Nope. Good stuff!

For Nijland’s injury, we’ll be starting McKee. My players are constantly being called up for various duty, friendlies, U21 clubs matches and so forth. I’ma going to stop mentioning it at this time, unless someone major isn’t available.

[Abe Sargent]

Larbi and Tonge are too tired. I put in Quintin and Molhoek. Frimpong and Stewart are starting in the middle for me. Away to Wigan, yuck. Counter established. Beattie gest an injury three minutes in so I yank him for Harewood. Molhoek goes down in pain at the 8th minute. It’s going to be one of those games. One of their guys tackles us hard again at the 10th minute and is red carded. So that should stop. I move into my anti-10 people formations. I also move to control. I move back to stanrd in te 20s after a lot of pressure comes my way. 0-0 at the half. In the 2nd, Harewood injures one of theirs, so ha. I put Benali in for Molhoek in the 53rd minute. A corner kick by them rattles in the box and eventually goes in and they score 1-0, in the 56th minute. A cross gets a score n the 63rd minute I swap McKee for Bunjaku. We lost 0-2, just like we won last year against lesser competition with one less man, they did the same.


Beattie is out for three months with a torn hamstring. Dang. Injury bug is bad this year so far, Dongou out for a month, Beattie with a major injury, Nijlan out for a few weeks, etc. Can I go three months with just Harewood, Gommans, Dongou, Bunjaku and the occasional youth striker? I take a look at loanees. I order some scouts to investigate some of the top loanees. Scout reports are back, let’ see what I can unlock. The only one I liked I can;t get for 100% of his salary, which is what the wolves want. He’s Welsh striker Sam Vokes. I can get him for 90% and I offered some cash, but they won’t accept, and no one else interests me. During our break, Michael Stewart injures his leg for a couple of weeks in training.


Norway fired their coach, and I wanted the job, (remember, half Welsh, half Norweigan, but they gave it to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer). An agent offers an Italian striker to me, so I offer him a trial. He’s not bad. But he wants too much money. If he wanted 2-3k I would have signed him. Niljand is back.Larbi and Tonge on the ends, Mckee and Molhoek in the middle. Home vs West Brom. I begin countering. They score in the 28th minute. We lose 1-3. I don’t want to talk too much, Dongou with our lone score on the day. We are very tired

[Abe Sargent]

20 Oct – I get an unusual offer today. The USA have offered to make me their national coach. Now, if I were doing this dynasty in Portland or Vancouver in the MLS, this makes sense. But the US, now? I’m not American in this dynasty. I’m Welsh and Norwegian. Why would they make me an offer?

The US just lost out on qualifying for the World Cup to Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada and Honduras is in the playoff. That’s clearly unacceptable. I did the USA once before. I was an Americna coach in my Carlisle dynasty. They made me an offer, and I did both for a while Then Kaiserslautern offered me a role, and I took it and I brought Oguchi to my club as my first signing. I also picked up another couple of Americans for my side. I had more fun in that dynasty than I had ever had in FM, so the next time I played in the Ukraine, and had even more fun then, and I never returned to English league. For mu Ukraine dynasty, I was asked to be the Ukrainian head coach an American, and I accepted. I managed to take Ukraine to the World Cup, we finished second to Brazil in our group, made it to the semi finals and lost to France, Brazil lost to Germany. Then we beat Brazil in the 3rd place game and finished third with Ukraine, led by Shevchenko. Fun dynasty! After that, I began to make myself African in every subsequent dynasty and played as African sides. Senegal, Zimbabwe, Egypt and more were mine. I had never played a European nation save as Ukraine (and once as France for a short period until bad results in WC got me fired in less than a year) so I figured this time I would make myself two European nations and see if I could move myself into coaching a national side here. But now the US is calling and I feel a certain familiarity with Carlisle in this division in my last go around. Okay, let’s do it. I look briefly at the team, and then head back to Crewe. I’m sad. I guess I remember the US being better than this. It’s like a wrinkles convention. We need youth and vigor.


My Crewe team have arrived. We are away at Middlesbrough. I make minor changes to my team, Larbi is out, and Quintin back in. I begin with a counter established. In th 18th minute, they come in heavily, and Barty goes to knock the ball out and scores an OG instead for our foe. Gasp. Then the 30 minute arrives. What does it bring? Beauty. They foul at about the half way line and Nijland takes the free kick. He finds McKee, who slides it to Barty who is coming up. Barty searches out a now unmarked Nijland in their defense and finds him. He serves Dongou, and he I onside and past their defender. He scurries to the left to dodge their keeper and puts it in 1-1. That’s the score a the half. Then we have the most boring half ever, and that’s the final score That’s a great result.


After the game, Cardiff fires their coach, and I am the hot name to replace him, so I publicly announce I’m not interested - I extend a few loans, such as Taylor . I understand why – Cardiff is Welsh, I’m Welsh.

[Abe Sargent]

Our final match of October has arrived. We host Sheff Utd. I begin standard. They score off a cross in the 4th minute. I don’t know why, we had defenders there, they just got lucky. Then in the 13th minute, Ilunga throws the ball to Dongou, who cross to Nijland and he nets his first goal for us. 1-1 at the 13. They have some dangerous attacking and then score in the 26th as a result. Passing and bodies are too fast. Half time. I swap Gorman for Barty in the 64th minute. Gommans is injured so Bunjaku replaces. I sub Benali in, Molhoek in. I move to attacking in the 78th minute We can’t get the win. This sucks, because it was a winnable match. At the beginning of the season and this month you circle this game as winnable, but it wasn’t to be. Barty had a mistake that led to the second goal, so Ima bench him for a bit off that and the OG. Would have won the previous game and tied this one. Risser will be in there instead.


Welcome to November. Dongou won Young Player of Month. He has 11 league appearances, 9 goals and 2 assists. Incredible. He’s a great player for us and him and Nijland have a real thing going

[Abe Sargent]

November:

2nd – Away v Crystal Palace
5th – Home v Birmingham
9th – Home v Nottm Forest
23rd – Away v Hull
30th - Away v Leeds


16th Friendly vs Puerto Rico
20th Friendly vs Portugal



I begin today’s away match defensive, and then I’ll open up later. In the first minute, we score. Gommans found Dongou who lobbed the keeper for a score at the 1:19 mark. Will this be one of those days when an underdog away team come in an trounce someone inexplicably? Nope – 1-0 at the half. I keep defensive, and Dongou gets a yellow in the opening minutes of the next half. I ut in Gorman, Harewood and Tonge for various players. Are we going to escape with a win? Nope, they score in the 83rd minute. We keep it to a tie though, and I will absolutely take that. We had one shot on target all day out of six. They had 18 shots and just four on target.


I have my first meeting. I tell the lads that we have the ability to change their fortunes. I call on Ilunga. He’s calm and wants to buck our ideas up. I talk to the room, and then one player goes after another, and I dial it back and we are done. Everybody’s morale has gone up.

[Abe Sargent]

Now we host a team that was in the EPL last season and just got relegated. Birmingham are 2nd in the league and looking to pound us. I am officially moving Harewood to the other striker spot for Gommans for now. Stewart in for Molhoek and Tonge in for Larbi. I also begin work on something tactically. I begin attacking for a bit just to shake things up, but it’s too risky, and I pull back to counter in the 13h minute. Birmingham score in the 39th, just before the half. I light a fire under my team. Then the magic begins. Tongue finds Nijland who puts the ball to Dongou onsides through their defense, score at the 60th minute. I make some replacements. 1-1 in extra time, and then Molhoek, subbed in for McKee, crosses to Dongou who scores at 92:12 to put us up 2-1 and we win. MOM is Dongou. No yellows for my team, just good play. They had 26 shots, 7 on target, and scored one, We had 10, 7 on target, and scored twice. I’m shocked Carlos had just a 6.6 rating after that. The press conference is nice too.

So we have the quality to beat both the #1 and #2 teams in the league, but not many others. Weird. I ask the Crewe board to expand the stadium, and they agree with the idea, but lack the funding. I just got them a million from Powell. Our average attendance is 10014. Our max stadium size is 10109. It’s time to fix that. I’d be willing to drop my salary by 20,000 a week this year to help pay, but that’s not an option. That’s 80k a month and easily an extra 750k for the year.


I begin by USA career by keeping the exact same team my predecessor had, to see how they do.

[Abe Sargent]

We are favored for our home game vs Notm Forest, the 24h team in the league with 9 points in 15 games - let’s try and take them out. I start attacking. They call off Dongou goal for offsides in the 3rd. After pressure, they are forced to tackle Quintin out wide on a foul. McKee takes the indirect free kick and connects with Ilunga for a goal in the 7th minute. I pull back to Control. More pressure, here’s a corner, there’s a shot on goal but pushed aside, etc. We have a lot of pressure, but no more goals to join the first. Halftime 1-0. I remind my lads not to get complacent. Half 2. I switch the sides my strikers are on. They are focusing a lot on Dongou. They injure Molhoek, and I sub in Frimpong for him in the 57th. Both teams have an offsides goal called off within three minutes of each other – them by Ishmael Miller and us by Dongou. I put Larbi in for Tonge after they knock him around too. Daineche nails a yellow card. Larbi crosses to Dongou and he scores in the 75th minute. Wait, they are calling it an OG. Hold on. It hit the upright and rebounded away, and then the GK knocked it into his own goal. Final sub – Harewood for Bunjaku here in the 82nd. Now Dongou finds the net. Quintin crosses and hits him in the 83rd. We win 3-0 and Ilunga is MOM. We hit the post 5 times in this game, it’s mentioned in the presser. Dongou Team of Week.


USA - I pull Steve Cherundolo off my squad, he is retiring at the end of the year. I keep Bocanegra as captain and Donovan as vice. Okay, let’s choose my first 11.


Tim Howard, Carlos Bocanegra, Edgar Castillo, Timothy Chandler, Oguchi Onyewu (Zak Whitbread is injured), Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey at striker (Jozy is injured), DaMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu, Bradley Johnson, Maurice Edu. I tried to find a few good younger folks on the team. More looks later This is just a friendly to suss things out. I begin controlling. Donovan feeds Dempsey for a score in the 27th minute, after a lot of pressure does lttle. The US playing Puerto Rico is like France playing Reunion. Halftime. I told them they have played well but there is room for improvement. Just one is good and one responded badly. That would light up Crewe. I have to figure these folks out. I start putting in subs. Bradley in for Edu. Convey in for Beasley. Bradley finds Donovan and he scores in the 60th. Spector in for Chandler, Bedoya in for Johnson, Fabian Johnson in for Adu. Bradley finds Dempsey for a score in the 70th. I put in Findlay for Dempsey. Bradley feeds Donovan a goal at the 83rd. 4-0 victory. Donovan is MOM. Tim Howard has been pulled after a red card and massive media attention, but the media and fans believe that is behind him with my start of the lad.


Landon Donovan announced his retirement from international football, so I had a talk with him and he agrees to come back.

[Abe Sargent]

I move Bradley in for Edu, Zak Whitbread for Oguchi, and we’ll move to the Portuguese game away. Let’s play! I begin counter. Howard has already saved four Ronaldo strikes for goal in the first 25 minutes. They get a long shot to sink in the 30th. They get another long shot four minutes later. Half time. I pull Dempsey for Davies. I put in Woodson for Whitbread, Bocanegra for Spector. F Johnson for Beasley. They get a cross and goal for 85th minute 3-0 score. That’s the final score


USA – The Wrinklies Reunion

GK Tim Howard – 34
DC/L Captain Carlos Bocanegra – 34
ST, AM C Edson Buddle, 32
ML DaMarcus Beasley, 31
DC Clarence Goodson – 31
DC Oguchi Onyewu – 31
M, Am RLC St Landon Donovan – 31
AM RC ST Clint Dempsey – 30
Dl, Ml Bobby Convey – 30


How much longer can these guys continue to be a national team level?

I need to focus on and develop younger players. Guys like Jozy Altidore and Edgar Castillo are already doing well and younger. I need more of them . I don’t have good defenders, so I put in 3-5-2 as a backup tactic to begin working. With a 3-5-2 I could focus on our better, younger midfielders. Guys like Chandler on the right wing, Bradley Johnson, and Michael Bradley would operate well, and many international clubs are rocking a simple 4-4-2 set up


I scout a few American youth in Europe for my Crewe team, and if they are good enough, will add ot the pool for our youth team.

[GoldenEagle]

I had to look up and see who Bradley Johnson was.

[Abe Sargent]

The deadline for loans and free signings has passed


Today we play Hull in their place. I begin countering. They score in lightning fashion getting the ball, and marching down field and scoring in less than thirty seconds. Uh oh. Michael Tonge is booked a few minutes later. As we discussed before, Harewood is starting for Gommans for now. In the 27th minute he scores. Molhoek kicks the ball to him, and the Gk comes to to get the ball, but Harewoods head arrives just a second before and it hit goal. 1-1 Then they score in the 34th minute and then the 40th minute. 3-1 Hull at the half. I tell my lads to pick it up. In the 48th minute Nijland gets a goal. He hit a long shot off an assist by Harewood. I move to standard and they come forward to much so I quickly slideback to counter. When that happens, I begin to make some subs. I put in Frimpong and Larbi. At the 78th minute, we get our final goal Quintin finds Dongou, and he finds goal . I move to defensive and we manage to keep them from getting a 4th goal and we tie them 3-3 on the road.

[Abe Sargent]

I had to look up and see who Bradley Johnson was.

LOL!

In real life, he's playing for a EPL team as a middie last year and so far this year. That's not bad. You'll also note that he wants to play for USA in real life, so capping him, getting him some play is nice. He's not the best player for my future, I need to find the right combination of youth and experience. He's good though.

[Abe Sargent]

We draw Reading in the FA Cup in January 4.

I host Reading for the Championship league today. I wanted the game, and now I’m back to simming stuff myself. We begin attacking, just to push. We score in the 10th minute off Dongou, I slide to control. They score back in the 23rd minute. Risser injured in the 31st, Barty in for him. They score again in the 40th after Daineche gave up a penalty and we are down at the half . We come out and Molhoek fires a long shot and ties it back up in the 51st. Tonge grabs a yellow. I swap in Bunjaku and Stewart. Molhoek grabs a final goal and I back into stanadrad at the 78th minute It holds, and we win 3-2 and a nice comeback. Molhoek is MOM. Assists by McKee, Molhoek, and Niljand. Risser with a minor injury dead leg.


Molhoek in Team of Week. The 21st is here. Bournemouth are 15th in the league, but we are in their place. It could go either way really. I begin countering. They have low confidence. They score quickly and again. I manage a score late by sub Bunjaku, but it’s not enough. I’m tired of this and its time for a change, so a small write up. We lose 2-1.

I’ve been working on a new tactic I want to try out.

Since my striker has been sucking, I move to 4-3-3. It’s not technically a 4-3-3 like you ould think of it. I have Riser, Ilunga, Barty Szewcyk and Daineche back as DCs and fullbacks. Then I have three players in the middle, McKee, Molhoek and Tonge or Stewart or whatever. I flank players into an AMR and AML position. Then I finish with Dongou as my solitary striker. It’s really more of a 4-3-2-1 or a variant of a 4-5-1, but it is called a 4-3-3. Wiil it work? Since my other strikers aren’t doing anything anyway, let’s try it out. We’ve been letting too many goals through, so this is an attempt to stop the sieve back there by moving a striker back to a defender and emphasizing my party’s star, Dongou.

[Abe Sargent]

Our first game with the new strategy goes not well. It wasthe Watford in our plaee game. Dongou and McKee scored, but we allowed five goals outselves. Yuck. Then I heard that Bolton didn’t want me after all. Ah well. The next game was at Derby, an we went with my new formation. Quintin sored a goal and we won 1-0 there. That’s a much beter display for football. So et’s see what happens on Dec 31st for the last game of 2013


Contracts coming up in six months – Carlos, Molhoek, Harewood, Gomman, Ilunga, Daineche, Beattie, Quintin, Stewart, Gorman, Davis, and players such as George Ray, Ben Davisson, Liam Wilson and a few others. That’s a lot of my team. All three of my non-Dongou strikers, and much of my defense are u for grabs. I need to see who to keep and who to let go. Letting go allows me to refresh the position with players better suited for the Championship. Of these players, who has a value more than 100k? Gorman and Quintin. Quintin is 110k and Gorman 300. I’m going to let Daineche go I think. He’s sitting at 6/55 rating in 24 games. That’s way too low for my starting DCs. I expect 6.8, 6.9 or higher. Last year he was 6.94. Risser is sucking at a 6.3, Barty is fine at a 6.76 and Ilunga leads the pace with 6.86. I have no ties to Harewood, Beattie or Gomman wth how they’ve peformed for me so far this year. Last year, Shaun Miller got 12 or 14 goals from that position, also the others in there, and they can’t get more than two in half a season? That’s horrible. That’s one of the main reasons I shifted my team to a different formation and pulled a striker. Our match vs Bristol was postponed to to heavy snow in our place. So let’s look at the table instead

[Abe Sargent]

With 24 games in folks’ belts:

1. West Brom – 52 points
2. Wigan – 48
3. Birmingham – 47
4. QPR – 46, +22
5. Crystal Palace – 46, +19
6. Bristol City - 41
7. Norwich – 38
8. Aston Villa – 35
9. Reading – 33
10. Crewe – 32, -6
11. Bournemouth – 32, -7

A bunch of other teams

If we finish my first season in the #10 spot I will be thrilled. We have a record of 9 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses. We have wins against the top five and losses to the bottom five. Watford, who just thumped us 5-2 is in 21st.

End of 2013


A new transfer window has opened. Dongou only got 3rd this month.


Games:

4th – Home vs Reading, FA Cup
11th – Home vs Millwall
15th – Home vs Bristol City
18th – Away vs Aston Villa
25th – Away vs Peterborough

[Abe Sargent]

I send out some scouts for folks to see if I want to make any offers for people leaving on a Bosman. Okay, I have found my GK of the future, a youth player, 21, for Arsenal reserves whose contract runes out in 2014, and named Damian Martinez, who has 24 U21 caps for Argentina. The problem is that major teams want him too at the end of his contract. If I can make an offer for him, I can bring him in now and begin to reap the rewards with a player who can slide into my system. He’s worth 1.6 mill and Arsenal have him on the transfer list for that amount. He’s not a wunderkid like fellow Arsenal GK Wojciech Szczesny, but he’s pretty good everywhere that matters and many places that don’t. I massage my finances a bit and consider making an offer. I make an offer for 450k now, and 900k over the next 18 months. They accept my offer, and I sign Damian Martinez through 2017, we’ll see if he accepts. I also make an offer to a DR Polish unsigned to bring him in in case I keep the 4 defenders.

[Abe Sargent]

Games time vs Reading. I begin standarding. In the 2nd minute, a cross by Stewart (McKee is resting) connects with Dongou who gets the score us. Molhoek grabs a yellow. Daineche earns one as well. Dongou pushes several times and earns a few corners. Then he is injured and I put in Beattie. Half time. I pull a tired Stewart for Frimpong. Final sub is Quintin for Bunjaku. We hold on and win 1-0. MOM is Dongou. But what about Dongou? He was fine – whew!


We got 350k from the game, a gate receipts high – we travel to Wolverhamton for the next round of the FA Cup. Yuck.

[Abe Sargent]

Martinez move delayed due to work permit – seems odd, he is already playing in the country for Arsenal, but whatever. I’m sure that a 21 year old Argentinian with 24 youth caps can come play for me. I move a few youth players, or extend their loan. The initial application was turned down, so I appeal. Come on. I make an offer to another guy. There is a lot of competition for him, so I double the agent fee and increase his asking salary.

I went ahead to see if I get my guy. I play the Millwall game and sim the next two. Millwall was a win by us 2-1, with scores by Tonge and Stewart, and MOM was Tonge. Then we went on the road to Aston Villa and held to a 1-0 win because they scored an OG and we holed up. Finally we were scoreless in a 0-0 tie against Bristol City.

[Abe Sargent]

Then my guy signed with us, for 400k and 8000/week. I checked and this guy is better than four of the five starting keeper for the top five teams in the league. Let’s take a look. I will have his stats on the left next to Carlos’s stats on the right.

Joris Delle/Carlos

Physical

Acc – 12/10
Agi – 14/8
Balance – 17/13
Jump – 16/15
Fitness – 13/11
Pace – 10/11
Stam – 14/9
Str – 17/14

Age – 23/34

GK

Aerial – 16/12
Command of Area – 13/12
Communication – 11/11
Eccentricity – 6/18
First Touch 8/2
Free Kick – 10/10
Handling – 14/3
Kicking – 10/17
1:1 – 14/15
Penalty – 2/1
Reflexes – 15/14
Rush Out – 10/13
Tend. Punch – 10/10
Throw – 10/16


Mental


Aggres – 10/18
Anticip – 14/11
Brave – 14/16
Composure – 13/9
Concentration – 13/9
Creativity – 9/6
Decisions – 13/6
Determin – 15/13
Flair – 6/10
Influence – 10/3
Positioning – 11/13
Teamwork – 12/11
Work Rate – 9/12


As you can see, Joris Delle is just flat out better. This is a major improvement for my squad. In technical stats, Carlos is better at one thing – distributing the ball both by throwing it and kicking it. Delle is better in everything else that matters. Physcialy, Delle dominate Carlos in virtually every stat. Mentally, Delle is better too, although a few lean Carlos, such as Bravery and Aggression and Work Rate, most are still in Delle’s corner. The Frenchman is in a better class of keeper. Once again, I paid 400k for Delle, and I am paying him 8k a week. He wanted 6.5k, and I bumped it up due to competition from two Spanish clubs, a Dutch club, and about four French clubs. I also doubled the agent fee. I felt he was worth the extra money, because I’m set at GK for as long as I’m in the Championship. Again, Delle is better, at least on paper, then four of the five starters in the top five teams. The only one better is a loanee from a Premiership club, btw. I have signed Joris Delle until 2017, so he’ll bee here for three and a half years. This was a valuable signing, and I expect to bring him into my lineup soon and replace Carlos permanently. I moved my 3rd GK to hot prospect. He only speaks French, and we’ll need to work on that. He is Resolute in personalty and and reserved. My assistant manager has Delle as a 4.5 star GK, Carlos as 2.5 and Johnstone and 2. This makes my team much better. Hopefully, we can get good enough in defense that I can slide out of my four Defenders into my three roles again. I can move the extra person to the midfield, where my team is strongest.


Delle

http://www.football365.fr/medias/foot/Football365_664x376/bleus/100397_FRANCE_DELLE_121010.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

For fun I went back and added images for the important players that i sign who exist in real life barty is not areal player, but a newgen.

[Abe Sargent]

The Polish DR went elsewhere. Let me see if I can find someone else - it’s hard to find good English that you trust in the DC role. I make a few offers and trials to youth. I make an offer to a youth backup whos really good, not in a job, and 18. I tried hard to find good Englishers, but they aren’t out there. Ilunga is banned for two matches for a red card two matches ago.

I won’t be starting Delle today away at Peterborough. Gorman is in at DL, and I move Risser to DC to cover Ilunga. Tonge is tired so I bench him for Benali. I come out firing in an attacking manner. They foul Dongou in the box at the 19th minute and we get a penalty kick. Here goes McKee….He sinks it and I drop to Control. After ten more minutes, I slide to counter. Peterborough were having bad morale, so I wanted to come out swinging, and we hit – time to back off a bit. They get a cross and score in the 35th minte. Risser was by the defender and didn’t get the ball and Carlos allowed it to score. Both were at fault. Peterborough get a counter before the half and score and its’ 1-2. I pull Gorman for Davis and drop Risser back to the fullback role he normally has. My next sub is Benali for Frimpong. I also move stanrd at the 70. My final move I to pull Risser for Beattie, and move to my old formation. I slide to attacking, press more and tackle harder. Michael Stewart gets a goal in the 89th minute, assist by Beattie, who passes over to him. Game, 2-2 tie. MOM is Stewart with goal.

[Abe Sargent]

I extend Ilunga by a year. I sign my target 18 year old Mehdi Avci, a Turkish/German player. I also bought a French player here on trial, let me look. He’s solid, but wants too much money to sign full time. Anyway, here’s my new guy.

Avci is a Newgen, my second real one. I am paying him 1.7k/week for a hot prospect contract until 2016, 700k value. Physicals are 15, 14, 13, 8, 14, 13, 11, 11 – Technical – 4, 9, 11, 5, 10, 5, 11, 5, 12, 10, 14, 10, 11, 8 – Highlight 14 passing ,lowlght 9 crossing. Mental – 7, 3, 14, 12, 8, 12, 10, 10, 7, 9, 8, 11, 6, 9. Mentals are his weakest flaw. He plays DR and DL. He goes in for Risser right now. Speaks German and Turkish. Fairly Ambitious. People think he could be the next Gokhan Gonul.

Budget – 96k, current – 94k – All of my additions were able to slide in under budget. Expect to see both Jelle and Avci getting some playing time soon. Avci will be out there while we still run the 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3 as a nice fullback option. I offer Joe Gorman a one year extension for 100/week increase in salary. I offer a bunch of my youth players for various loans to get them some experience. I accept all offers that want first team importance, not coverage. I move seven players. I have become one of Crewe’s favored personnel.

February has arrived- Tonge’s goal vs Millwall is Goal of the Month


Games:


1st – Away vs Wolves, FA Cup
4th – Home vs Tranmere
8th – Away vs Barnsley
15th – Home vs Cardiff
18th – Away vs QPR
22nd – Home vs Wigan

[Abe Sargent]

Avci will start in the DL position. We’ll bring in Jelle next game. Tonge back in for Benali. We will play Counter and hope, but expect a major thumping. Wolves are in the EPL, as a reminder. Not a lot happens early, but a lot of pressure in the 30s comes our way. We manage to get to the half. I tell my lads to keep it up. Half the second. Daineche is hit. That sucks, because my backups are Risser and Davis. I swap Avci over to Daineche’s Dr slot, and put in Risser, who can play fullback on the DL well, but he’s limited. I slide Michael Stwart back to DMC in order to help out. So now it’ 4-1-2-2-1. In the 67th minute, Gorman has not been playing well. I want to swap him for Davis. That leaves me no Defenders though, in case of injury. I’m thinking about subbing in Davis for Nijland, swapping TOnge to the right for Davis, and then then putting Tonge and Quintin to the MR/ML spots and add Davis to the DCs. Let’s do it. So I have 5, 1, 3, 1 – I keep McKee in for the chance of a DFK, PK, IFK or CK. We almost score n the 79th when Dongou crosses to Quintin who shoots, on target, bounced way by their keeper, but before Quintin can kick again a defender clears it. I put in Frimpong for Stewart after that. McKee lofts a corner in the 84th minute and Risser is there and heads it in!!! Can we keep them scoreless? And that’s game. McKee is MOM. Top quality. We got 114k for the win too! We had 8 shots, 2 on target. They had 16 shots, 5 on target. Avci looked good with a 7.3 rating

Any other wins over an EPL team by a lower one? West Brom beat Newcastle at home, Crystal Palace beat Swansea at home,Derby beat Southhampton at home and that’s it. We we the only team to win on the road. Next round sees seven Championship clubs make it. We draw Brighton away for thenext round.


Now that I have three Gks, my 20 year ol Sam Johnstone is put out for a loan. I have 5 offers. I accept Burton and Walsall, who want him for a starting role. I decline Barnsley, Charlton and Doncaster. He accepts Walsall and heads there. Gorman accounces that there was a bad air in the club room and Johnstone was responsible.

[Abe Sargent]

We are 4-1 favorites to win this week vs Tranmere. Ilunga is back and Delle starts this week. Avci is tired and I swap him for Gorman – not fully match fit. Tranmere are woeful, I begin attacking. Corner by McKee headed by Barty on target, bounced away by GK and defense to Mckee who crosses and Barty swings, blocked but put back by their GK for an OG rather than collected. 11th minute. Quintin is injured and I swap in Larbi and switch Larbi with Nijland. Dongou get a yellow at the 29th minue. Dongou gets a good run at the defense and scores from range at the 31st minute. Delle gets a nice save at the 44th minute. Halftime. I slide to control. Gorman and Barty collect yellows. I order my team to tackle softly. In the 63rd, I make my first swap – Gorman, with a yellow for Avci. An Indirect fre kick by McKee hits Ilunga who nails a score in the 74th minute. I make my 3rd sub. Tonge for Bunjaku. I change to a 4-4-2 for Bunjaku to be at striker. I hop to Standard. Daineche with a booking. Game. Delle is 7.1 in his debut and a clean sheet. Ilunga is MOM. We had 8 shots, 2 on target, they had 13 and 3.

Quintin tore a calf muscle and will be out for 4 months. What do I do?

I will slide back to my 3-5-2 arrangement so Tonge can play out there, and Larbi on the other side.

[Abe Sargent]

Today we travel to #21 Barnsley. We are favored here as well. Harewood is starting for me. I initiate a standard set up. At first, Barnsly pushes forward in nasty manners. But we push them back without any scores - it’s quiet until the extra time in the first half. A throw in by Ilunga finds Dongou, but their DC clears it out of the box, he kicks it out to Tonge who nails a long range shot. Halftime. Barty collects a card. Stewart is inujured at the 56th minute and I replace him with Frimpong. In the 64th Larbi is ou too, and in goes Bunjaku and I move my people a round a bit. They score in the 71st minute Later, Frimpong is fed the ball by Nijalnd, finds a running Dongou, and hits him behind the defense, and he slips trough and nails a shot. 2-1 us. I slide to counter and pull Benali for Harewood and move Bunjaku to that spot. We win. Tonge s MOM. Afterwards, we find out that Tonge is out for a just a few days and Larbi too. Whew.


We are on a good run of form, with 5 wins and two losses in the Championship, but we’ve barely moved on the charts. We are 7th with 46 points. Aston Villa is 8th with 44. Bristol is 6th with 49, Crystal Palace 5th with 53, so we aren’t close to cracking anyone ahead of us, especially as we approach a tough stretch of games coming up. I extend my contract by a year.

Cardiff is #24 in the league and they are in our place. Let’s just say they are NOT favored. After this game, we have #3 away, #4 at home, #1 away, for a very tough three game streak. This is the last soft game for a bit. I begin attacking. At the 13th, pull back into control I do. We are playing again in 3 days. - don’t want to get too tired. One offside’s rule I don’t like is how if a shot is on goal by a player, such as McKee’s shot from range just now and it rebounds, when Dongou pounces for a score, it’s called offsides. 17th minute. Stewart nails a long shot in the 40th, and Harewood finds the net in the 44th. I tell the lads well done and hole up. I want to rest. We finish the game 2-0 and win. Stewart is MOM and in Team of Week.

[Abe Sargent]

We travel to QPR> Stewart is tired and Frimpong starts. I begin defensive and want to open up later. Djibril Cisse scores two goals in the first 25 minutes. We hit the half down. Then coming out Frimpong nails a long ambitious shot and its 1-2. They score a third time at the 52nd. Then Dongou gets a cross for a score in the 67th minute and I hope. They get a red ard in the 75th for a professional foul on Dongou. I push forward a bit, but no change on the score. We lose 3-2. Not surprising result. They had 11 shots on goal and23 shots total. We had 12 and 7 on target, and I wish just one more of those had gotten behind their keeper.


Next up is the Brighton FA Cup match. Molhoek is back from injury and will head in for Frimpong. I begin counter since we are on the road. One offsides goal for each team is blown away in the first ten minutes. Daineche with a yellow. Halftime. Afterwards, Larbi collects a yellow. I put in Bunjaku for Larbi. Molhoek out for Benali. Daineche gets an indirect free kick from McKee and putsit in and grabs that goal in the 80th minute. We win 1-0. Daineche is MOM. We won 228k.


For the 6th round, with 8 teams left, we play, on the road, the winner of the Charlton vs Tottenham rematch. Tottenham win. We are traveling to Tottenham – unlikely to win. The Wolves were 16th in the EPL, so there was a chance of stealing a win. Tottenham are 8th.

USA – We’ve had a lot of recent injuries to players, and I need to select a squad soon for friendlies.

[Abe Sargent]

For today’s Wigan game, Daineche is too tired and benched for Gorman. Stewart in for Molhoek. I begin standard. We get things started with a McKee Penalty kick in the 5th minute. Then he scores a long shot in the 11th minute off a nice back pass from Larbi. They score back in the 21st minute and its 2-1. Larbi is injured, so I pull him for Bunjaku an swap sides with Tonge. The McKee gets a yellow, and kicks an indirect free kick to Ilunga, who puts it away. Finally, McKee finishes the first half with a hat trick on a pass by Dongou for a goal. They score off a cross and counter in the extra time. Crazy Half!!! What happens in the second half is anyone’s guess. Wigan makes a sub at the half. Tonge crosses to Bunjaku who sinks it in the 50th minute. They make another sub right after and then their third sub in the 57th minute. If we can injure someone, we make ourselves a man up. They are a 4-4-2, and today they are losing to their nightmare 3-5-2. I make a sub in the 63. Nijland off for Benali. I have one left I’ll hold onto for a few more minutes. Ilunga gets a yellow card. I tell my guys to tackle lightly. My last su is a tired Tonge for Frimpong. They power a goal in the 82nd minute. Barty is injured and has to come off in the 88th minute. I pull my people back formation wise. Game MOM is not McKee because they had hat trick too. Larbi has a pulled groin and will be out for a month. That we need to do something about, let me see what though. Looks like we’ll start Bunjaku on the left and Tonge on the right.

[Abe Sargent]

USA time

Beasley, Guzan, Robles, Fabian Johnsn and Carlos Bocanegra are out with injuries. Time to begin refreshing my team. I also pull off a few players such as Jermaine Jones and Chris Rolfe. If you are 30 and not starting or a star other option, it’s time to go. We need to move to the youth, and these freindlies are a good chance to do just that.

I call up – Mikkel Diskerud, 9 caps, wasn’t on previous squad, 23 years old
DM D RL, MCDaniel Williams, 24 years of age, 3 caps, 1 goal
MC Sacha Kljestan, 28, 35 caps and 4 goals
DC Andy Iro, 29, Derby player, uncapped


Iro will start, since I have an injured a bit Whitbread, and Clarence Goodson in the other starting role, I want a faster DC to be back there, and Iro should suffice.

Starting squad for friindlies – Howard, Chandler, Goodson, Iro, Castillo, Adu, Bradley, Donovon, Convey, Dempsey, Altidore

As every player on my team players abroad, I get some criticism from the press.

[Abe Sargent]

Crewe – I have a ton of international call ups.

Because West Brom hasn’t won a game in 6 tries, we are favorites even though we’re in their place.


March Games:

1st – West Brom away
8th – Middlesbrough home
11th – Sheff Utd away
15th – Crystal Palace home
19th – Birmingham away
22nd – Tottenham away, FA Cup
25th – Hull home
29th – Nottm Forest away

A ton of games this month.

USA

5th – USA vs Paraguay, home, friendly

McKee named young player of the month for February, Dongou second


Daineche in for Barty for today’s West Brom match. We are lucky to catch them on a losing streak. We have some difficult games coming up (2nd, 14th, 10th, 4th and Tottonhem) and to have caught one of the more difficult games of the year, the #2 team in their place, in bad sorts is lucky. Can we do something with that luck? We’ll find out today. I want to get to the USA game so I’ma fast sim in. We tie 0-0. Mikkel Diskerud broke his ankle, and I replace him on the USA squad. I call up Benny Feilhaber. Edu is out too and in goes 21 year old Sebastian Lletget.

[Abe Sargent]

USA v Paraguay

I begin controlling, since we are home. Paraguay scores on the 27th minute after Donovan fails to intercept a cross, and the header is on target on goal. They foul Adu just outside of the box and a dfk is on target but blocked. Convey scores in the 40h. Chandler with a nice cross from the outside line finds him. We’re looking better in the last part of this half. Until they say Clarence Goodson tripped someone in the penalty box in extra time. Paraguay makes it. 1-2 half. Next half underway. I make a few changes in the mid 50s. I pull Adu, swap Dempsey to his place, put Donovan as a striker with Jozy, and Jose Francisco Torres goes in the middle for Adu. Convey picks up an injury in the 57th minute and I swap Heath Pearce for him. They get a counter in the 62nd minute and a third goal off it . I pull Goodson for Oguchi. Daniel Williams in for Castillo. Sacha Kljestan for Bradley, Feilhaber for Dempsey. A corner kick bounces in the area, and Iro finds it and scores. He has scored on his debut, as a DC, and in the 76th minute given us a shot back in this. I slide to attacking. Game.

[Abe Sargent]

Barty in for Daineche today for Middlesbrough match. Another quick sim, and then I’ll get back to the good stuff. We win 1-0 and scored off Mohoek,and Barty was MOM. Daineche is rested and back in the lineup, replacing Gorman. Whle Sheff Utd was doing well, iit hs lost two of the last three games and tied the other. I begin attacking to try and get some pressure early in the face of their down morale. It works - in the 9th minute, Dongou gets the ball after Molhoek tackles a defender and kicks it to him, no defenders on him, he goes on to score. I back into standard Bunjaku grabs a yellow. We continue pressure, and then, in the final minutes of the half, Dongou strikes again. McKee has an indirect free kick he puts short to Molhoek, who passes to Bunjkau, who finds Dongou who scores. Halftime. I move to counter. Dongou grab a yellow post-half. I sub Stewart for McKee, Risser for Bunjaku and swap them. They get a score in the 75th minute. I swap Frimpong for Tonge. Then Nijland grabs one in the 87th off a Dongou tackle, he has the ball and was bringing it in when they tackled him, Nijland pounced and scored. MOM is Dongou, duh.

Our new youthers arrive, and I take a looksee. I have a few solid propects. 15 year old Dan Martin is a striker with a 13 finishin, 11 dribbling, 12 heading and 12 jumping, 10/7 speed, 14 flair, 13 work rate. He’s a good guy. Middie, 16 year old Goerge Collymore can play ML, MC, AML and has some good stats. But the best is 15 year old GK Nathan Williaims, with 13 agility, balance, 11 jumping, 10 aerial ability, 12 reflexes, etc.

[Abe Sargent]

I replace Molhoek for Stewart, since he’s tired. Today we host #5 Crystal Palace, and I’ll begin standard. They score quickly, in the 8th minute. Too much ball movement and my defenders couldn’t keep up. We score right back in the 11th when McKee sets up Nijland with a nice long shot for goal. Harewood finds Dongou with a lot of space but pushed aside for a corner by the GK. A corner header is just off target by Ilunga and they hit us on the counter from 25 yards out in the 26th minute. Dongou has a few good runs and a 1:1 shot blocked. Half time. The next one opens. They injure Harewood in the 60th minute, and I sub in Benali and swap him for Nijland. Stef can play striker too. Ilunga grabs a yellow card I toss in Frimpong for Tonge in the 68. I pull Ilunga for Avci in the 75th. McKee injured one of theirs. We score back right after the sub is made. Benali is running with the ball. He feeds it to Nijland running it. Stef is disposed by three defenders who converge on the ball and him. It falls loose to Benali, who kicks into an open goal. Now it’s 2-2 and it’s anybody’s game. They tackle in a dangerous place for a dfk, and here goes McKee in the 89th minute. His shot on target, but their GK grabs it. Game. tied. MOM is Nijland. Harewood is injured for a month with a strained ligament – we move Gommans in. Nijland gets Team of Week.

[Abe Sargent]

Can we beat Birmngham on the road? We’ll found out today! I start countering. They score in the 15th and 35 minute. I try to head up, and then we get some hope, Nijland gifts Dongou with a run behind their defense and he converts. Halftime, 1-2. We move into the secnd half and it’s very quiet. Twenty minutes roll off in a few seconds I sub in Gorman for a underwhelming Daineche, Stewart for McKee and Frimpong for Molhoek. We get some pressure, but nothing. They get some, and nothing. We lose 1-2


Next up is the woodshed game in Tottenham’s court. Larbi is back and will start for a tired Tonge. I fast sim it, it’s a boring game. We lose 1-2, with Barty getting a header off a ifk for a score in the 89th minute. Gommans is injured for 10-12 days. Beattie is back. I move Dan Martin to my subs to give him some match experience with this loss to my striker corps.

[Abe Sargent]

I bench McKee for Stewart. Gorman is up for Barty. Let’s head to the match. I begin with a control set up. Today is raining hard. They score in the 5th minute. Dongou reciprocates with a long header by Ilunga that springs him free for a score in the 21st. After the half, Molhoek is injured, and I pull him for Frimpong. Risser heads in for Daineche, and Ilunga gets a header off a Stewart corner kick and scores in the 77th minute. We swap in Martin for Beattie, and keep the win. 2-1. MOM is Ilunga


I move Martin to the starting spot and pull Beattie. Barty in for Daineche. McKee back in, Tonge in for Bunjaku. We are away in Nottm Forest and I start countering. They get a nice assist down the center for an assist in the 13th Dongou slips on the wet grass, recovers, grabs the ball and scores fromteh corner of the box on the 25th minute. Half. Gorman grabs a card They tackle Dongou in the penalty box hard and it’s a penalty - KcKee scores and we are up in the 55th minute. I pull a tired Larbi for Bunjaku. In the 72nd, I pull carded Gorman for Avci. Martin has a nie shot on goal, on target, blocked by gk. Final sub – Nijland for Benali. Game. Dongou is MOM.


You can tell I’m building around youth with older players in temporary gaps. Who is leaving in three months?

Molhoek – 32. Carlos – 34. Harewood – 34. Dainehe – 31. Gommans – 31 Quintin – 30. Beattie, - 36. Stewart – 33. Davis – 22. You can see me removing the older players and getting younger. I want to replace Daineche in the DC, find a new middie to star in the middle, get better on the edge and improve massively in strikers.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to April – Ilunga and Dongou in Team of Week, Dongou Young Player of Month,


5th – Leeds, home
12th – Norwich, away
19th – Brighton, home
22nd – Reading, away
26th – Bournemouth, home
May 5th – Watford, away

We are currently in 6th place. Our remaining schedule pits us against the 11th 12th 13th, 9th, 14th and 18th teams in that order. We have a chance to remain in 6th and have a playoff slot. We are two wins above Middlesbrough in 7th. We got lucky catching some better teams at the right time, and we got very very lucky with Dongou, plus Delle is allowing fewer goals per game than a Carlos did – Carlos was 46 goals in 28 games, Delle is 14 goals in 12 games. Delle has 4 clean sheets, Carlos has 5. So the combination of Delle and Dongou have been really good, and sinc ewe signed Delle we moved from 10th to 6th in the league charts. That’s not an accident. The team still needs a lot of improvement to get promoted, but we are in a good place with core younger players such as Barty, Nijland and those guys.


Jordan Jones has returned from a long loan. I give him a spot to get some play. I move back to the 4-3-3
and drop Dan Martin back to the youth squad. We have starting Bunjaku, Avci, Daineche, Barty, Ilunga, Delle, McKee, Tonge, Molhoek, Nijland and Dongou. I give Jones the #40 jersey. We begin controlling. A lot of aggressive ball by both sides early. A few shots on target by both teams. By the 30th minute we’ve had four shots on target be stopped by their GK. A corner kick is kicked out to Dongou in front on the goal who tries to head it in. It falls to Barty who kicks it in 36th minite. Nijland gets a great cross to Dongou, who with a diving header nails in into the back right corner of the net in the 38th minute. Avci is injured jut before the half, in goes Gorman. Half. Bunjaku gets a card and Barty does as well. They power a goal past both Delle and Gorman for a goal in the 63rd. I sub Jones in for Molhoek. My final sub in the 82nd minute is Dongou out for Gommans. He’s very tired and I need to pull him to reserve him for the next game. Game. Barty is MOM and in Game of Week.

[Abe Sargent]

I bring in a nice trialist from Iran, 19, plays DC and DR, but he’s to slow and wants too much, so I won’t be keeping him around. He’s solid though. West Brom and Birmingham has guaranteed a playoff spot and we’ve moved to 5th.

Back to a 3-5-2for today’s match vs Norwich. Back in is Larbi, and Nijand as striker alongside Dongou and Bunjaku in his spot. Let’s see how this works. Since we are away, I begin counter set up. Tonge is dinged in the first few minutes but we’ll keep him in. Tonge wth a vicious cross off a counter to Nijland, who finishes in the 5th minute. Now Larbi is injured but will stay on in the 24th They are pressuring us now. Bunjaku is injured and is pulled for Benali in the 45:21 spot. Half. I remind them of complaceny and send them out for another half. Larbi is dinged a second time, so I decide to pull him in the 51st minute. In goes Jordan Jones. Delle stops a 1:1 shot from going in in the 57th minute they had gotten off a counter. Massive pressure ensues. I mean massive. In the 74th I sub in Gorman for Nijland, who s tired, and I pull him back. I move to a 4-5-1. I pull back Benali from the AMC role, move Molhoek to the DMC slot, and lt’s see what we can do with that. I tell my lds to pass sshort and tackle hard – no yellows in the match so far in the 81st minute. Ilunga is injured. I move back to a three defender set. I pull Dongou to AMC and my wide guys to WB roles. Can we survive a few more minutes? 3 minutes of added time. Game. I have no idea why Delle doesn’t have a higher rating. 6.3? They had 8 shots on target and he stopped every one. How is that not better than that? Ilunga has a torn calf muscle and will be out for 4 months. Ouch.

[Abe Sargent]

Harewood is back, and I will start Avci this week. Avci hs switched to German first and Turkish second and he has now deemed the new Stefan Reuter. I open here vs Brighton with control. We have some pressure early and another dose late, but can’t’ connect with the net - we need to improve in the 2nd half. Swaps – Molhoek for Stewart, Bunjaku for Larbi, an then we finaly break through in the 77th minute. McKee took a shot, blocked, Nijland put away the rebound. My final swap – Frimpong for McKee. They score right back on a counter attack after an interception of a Bunjaku pass. Tie game. I tell me lads we shoulda won. Nijland is MOM and in Team of Week.


QPR won a playoff slot. We play Reading and its quick and painful – 1-0 loss on the road – it was one of those games that is over in two minutes and you wonder what actually happened in the game

[Abe Sargent]

Our final home match has arrived, vs Bournemouth. Molhoek is benched for Stewart. Avci, tired, will make way for Davis in his last home match for the fans. I begin controlling. Stewart gets banged up in the first minutes. Harewod scores in the 15th minute. Larbi was driving up the right flank, tackled, the ball continued, Harewood grabbed it and put it away. Pressure by us commences. We harvest nothing from it. McKee lofts an indirect free kick to Nijland, behin everyone, and he shoots and scores in the 41st minute. Half. Dongou gets a beautiful long shot that powers through eh GK and sinks in the 53rd minute. Set up by Harewood. I make my first sub. Stewart leaves for Benali. Dongou gets another goal in the 56th minute after getting free from an assist by Nijland after he had headed down a pass an lofted to Dongou. 2nd sub. Mckee out, Frimpong in. Tonge is knocked a bit in the 60s, we keep him in. My final sub at the 75 is Bunjaku for Tonge. I had wanted to bring in Beattie for one last match, but Tonge is down. That was a dominant win. Nijland is MOM, but Dongou was 8.8, Harewood 8.1, lot of great play.

[Abe Sargent]

West Brom won the Championship. We have guaranteed a playoff spot. We are hot right now, and if we manage to win the playoffs, this would be an unheard of group of three years. From League 2 to EPL in three years. We likely won’t be 4th. Wigan is three points ahead and +13 on GD beyond us. We can’t fall to 6th, so we are basically guaranteed 5th. I have never gotten promoted to th EPL – often I get tired with my dynastes before I get too many years in the Championship, and I’e never even finished in the playoffs before. Nijland in Team of Week.

[Abe Sargent]

Because the Watford match doesn’t matter,we’ll just quick sim it and move on. I’m also cooking Manwich, so I need to watch it. We win 3-2, MOM is Dongou with two goals and Nijland with one. Dongou in Team of Week.


We finish 5th, with 79 points and a +13 GD. Bournemouth won, Birmingham was 2nd and is promote to the EPl as well. The Playoffs are 3rd place QPR, 4th place Wigan, 5th place us and 6th place Crystal Palace

So we play Wigan The first leg of two is in our house on the 10th. CP beat QPR in their place 2-0 in thir semi final first leg. The Crewe U18s win the league, with U18 clubs such as Man City, Man U, Liverpool and Wigan in the league, we still managed to win – we are about youth.

[Abe Sargent]

Here it goes. The playoffs begin. This is where we put our mark on destiny. We move Gorman and Molhoek to the starting roster. I begin standard. They cross and score past Daineche in the 7th minute. That;s not the start I was hoping for. We get some set pieces, to no avail. It’s raining today. They get a second score in the 16th minute. They get header off a corner in the 23rd minute. McKee crosses to Daineche on a corner to get a score in the 27th minute. Half time. Several shots on goal pushed away by Wigan. I sub in Stewart for Molhoek in the 61st. I move to control, and sub in Bunjaku for Harewood. Larbi and Daineche get yellows. Game. That was not what I expected, we lose 1-3.

[Abe Sargent]

The next game is 13th in their home. We need a hail mary. Crystal Palace lost 3-2 on the road to QPR but defeated them in aggregate. That’s going to annoy QPR a lot. They were favs to jump back up. Can we get a miracle vs Wigan in their home? I begin standard. Dongou is injured and I replace him with Gommans. They get a cross and score in the 14th minute. We feel it was an uncalled offsides. Tonge picks up a knock in the 32nd minute. I leave him in for now. Half time. Larbi with a booking. In the mid 50s, I pull Tonge for Bunjaku. I push forward to control. McKee is injured and has to come, in goes Benali. All of my subs for injuries. Barty collects yellow. They score again in the 86th minute. Not the result I was hoping for. Ah well. Next year.


My squad go on break I need to find some talent. Can I unearth another Dongou? A Barty, Delle or Nijland will work too.

[Abe Sargent]

Stats –

Dongou was 2nd in league with 31 goals. McKee leads league in 4 penalty kicks. Mckee tied for 3rd with 14 assists. Nijland had ten and was tied for 18th Dongou was 11th in dribbles per game. He was 3rd with a 56% on target. McKee’s cross completion ratio was 12th with 37%. Nijland was 5th with 46 key passes. Barty was first with 116 key headers Ilunga and Daineche tied for 10th with 82 each. Daineche 14th tie for picks at 232, Barty in 17th wit 226, Ilunga in 26th wth 209. Dongou has the 4th best ratio with 7.35

We had 24 sellouts out of 24 home games. We had the 3rd lowest salary. The most, Aston Villa, had six times the salary we had. We finished 5th, they finished 13th. Tied for 2nd in goals from IFKs with 12, Tied for 5th in DFKs with 2. 13th wth 8 corners. Scored 79 goals 5th most. Allowed 70, 14th best.


I need new DC for Daineche, new MCs for McKee and Stewart/Molhoek’s spot, new strikers, and new wideouts, at least one. This is a chane to invest in next year. I take a look to see what is out there right now. Maybe I can find a gem that’s not with a contract. I doubt it, but you never know and it doesn’t hurt to look.

[Abe Sargent]

I actually find someone to make an offer to. I know of a DC named Tor Marius Gromstad, and I like him. He’s not a stud but he’ll work. I also search and add a ton of people to the USA squad. There are few more I like but not enough to make an offer to right now . Gromstad is joining us.

Crystal Palace bow out Wigan 3-0 and win the playoffs. We are given 2.5 mill for playing and give out 500k in squad payments.

I’m surprised that Dongou does not win young player of the year, the striker who won had a 7.15 average and just 24 goals. Lower goals, and lower rating significantly.

Championship – Win, Aut, Playoff – West Brom, Birminham Crystal Palace; Relgated 3rd worst, 2nd rowst, 1st worst – Cardiff, Tranmere, Barnsley

EPL – Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea – Relegated – Bolton, Leicester, Wolves

L1 – Huddersfield, Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe – Relegated Rotherham, Coventry, Stevenage, Carlisle

L2 – Port Vale, Brentford, Yeovil, Shrewsbury – Relegated, Morecambe, Wrexham

[Abe Sargent]

Michael Owen is signed as a first team coach by CPalace and we get an amount of change. My U20 manager for the USA was hired for Vancouver. I kick my USA ass man to the curb, he wasn; that good. I offer it to the now retried Steven Cherundolo. He accepts.

I extend my coaches who are expiring this year, because I like all of my guys.I resign a scout and look for a replacement scout for the other guy. I make an offer to an Argentinian and a Serbian.

Youth players are released today in England, so I look to see if any attract me. Initial budget set for next year, not a lot of change.

[Abe Sargent]

I have to choose my USA set up, so let me look at all of my discoveries to see if I can find my new slate of players


My defense is too slow, I make some changes. Good bye Clarence Goodson. Good bye Andy Iro. Good Bye Benny Feilhaber. Bye Sacha Kjestan – I’m also pulling Beasley.


GK – Tim Howard, Brad Guzman, Sean Johnson
DC – Jalil Anibaba (25, uncapped), Oguchi Onyewu, Zak Whitbread, Jonathan Spector
DR – Daniel Williams, Jalil Anibaba, Timothy Chandler, Jonathan Spector
DL – Daniel Williams, Edgar Castillo, Heath Pearce, Gavin Tavernese, (25, uncapped)
MC – Landon Donovan, Jonathan Spector, Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Jose Francisco Torres, Daniel Williams Alejandro Bedoya, Joe Corona (uncapped, 23)
ML – Freddy Adu, Heath Pearce, Joe Corona, Landon Donovan, Brek Shea (24, uncapped)
MR - Timothy Chandler, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Joe Corona, Freddy Adu, Jose Francisco Torres
ST – Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Bobby Shou Wood (21 uncapped), Isaac Acuna, (24, uncapped)




Carlos Bocanegra is injured, as is Bobby Convey,


We will get some youth players some play, and I expect to play Acuna, Wood, Shea, Coruna, Anibaba and Tavernese this year. We need to move to the next gen.


Some of the younger players I expect to tap who have a future


Isaac Acuna

http://www.terra.com/fotos/resize_gallery?p=/addon/img/deportes/6cac5a-isaac-acuna-619p.jpg&res_vert=301x464&res_hor=619x464


Bobby Shou Wood

http://www.ussoccer.com/~/media/B4C54621A05949559303190C26560021.ashx?w=400&h=263



Brek Shea

http://u.goal.com/140500/140533hp2.jpg


Daniel Williams


http://associationfootball.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/25110742-h-450.jpg


mega-star Timothy Chandler, who you may already know


http://www.soccerbyives.net/.a/6a00e54ef2975b88330147e3622261970b-450wi

[Abe Sargent]

Starting Squad for our game today vs Scotland


Tim Howard, Timothy Chandler, Edgar Castillo,Jalil Anibaba, Oguchi Onyewu, Brek Shea, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore, Isaac Acuna

This gives some players I have high hopes for – Acuna, Shea, and maybe Anibaba a starting opportunity. I suspect Acuna will be the future striking twin for Altidore. I begin standard. Shea with a nasty cross to Altidor and the header just turned aside in the 4th minute. They score on a counter attack from that. Again, Onyewu is just too slow. We need speed. They score again in the 10th. Their guy gets a hat trick in the 43rd minute. Half. Jozy collects a card. I pull Altidore and move Dempsey in and place in Torres. I also pull Gooch for Spector. In the 60s I pull Bradley for Adu, Castillo for Tavernese. In the mid 70s, I pull Acuna for Daniel Williams, and Shea for Pearce. They sneak a score in the 76th minute. Adu nails Jonathan Spector on an indirect free kick for a score in the 88th minute.

[Abe Sargent]

I sign my new scouts. Michael Stewart has announced he is retiring.


My new player – Tor Marius Gromstrad. DC, DM, MC, 24, 3.2k, 85k value. 12/11 speed, 14 jump, 15 head, 16 tack, 13 tack, 15 agg, 17 brav, 16 str, 17 inf, 16 determ 14 composure, 15 team work, 14 rk rate, etc. Norwegian. Speaks English, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish, Fairly Determined. I imagine him as my 4th DC if I can find someone better. I make an offer to Bobby Shou Wood for Crewe, and I hope I can slip him past the permits. I doubt it, but I’m taking a shot.

Risser announces his retirement. Beattie does as well. I offer a few trials. I have one I really like, 18 year old newgen German/Albanian Striker, AMR named Erjon Salku. I hope I can sign him. I release some of my players early, free up some salary, and make an offer to Salku.

Dongou wins Player of the Year by the fans. We're given 3.7 mill for the TV Stuff. My board demands hitting the playoffs again as their expectations. I confirm that. We have officially signed Erjon Salku


Erjon Salku, coming really nice. I'll show a pic of him in a bit He’s a good 3rd or occasional starter in my ST position.



Gromstad


http://fotball.aftenposten.no/multimedia/archive/00164/sy56e93e_164053x.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Since Barty is a newgen, I thought I'd take a pick for ya. This is not from when I first picked him up, but the end of season 3.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg337/scaled.php?server=337&filename=barty.jpg&res=landing


And here's Salku


http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg84/scaled.php?server=84&filename=erjonsalku.jpg&res=landing

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to the most important day of the year, June 30th.


Stewart retires.

Ben Davisson is gone – several loans finish. Players gone include McKee returning, Molhoek, Beattie, Clayton.

Now I take a look and see who else is running around available on a free. Can I find a stud DC, ST and MC/MR/ML? Famous people currently without a club include Joe Cole, Miroslav Klose and Harry Kewell. I make an offer to David Murphy, who is 30, English, and worth two year deal to start on the left wing. I also offer to a Belgium defender for 3k contract to be another body in defense, since I’m not finding a stud.

I like McKee, but he’s a bit slow. He’s gotten better for us while playing. For example, his passing is now 16. His rating was a 6.88 and that’s inflated by penalty kicks, ,dfks, and other set pieces. As a non-set piece middie, he just didn’t have the gas. It’s time to let him go. But, Mckee counted as a Homegrown player, and that was nice. I make an offer to an older, 31 year old Dean Hammond, English, to play some middle for me. Not a stud starter, and not really a starter, just another Frimpong that I can rely on.

We have signed ST Bobby Shou Wood for an 18k transfer fee from Germany. David Murphy signs on the 3rd. I also sign some youth players. Some major upsets in the World Cup, and I’ll tell you all about it in bit once it’s all over. Hammond signs. The team that upset England in the round of 16 just upset France in the Quarters. Wood is injured for a few weeks in training. Craziest World Cup of all time, no joke. It’s a shame the US isn’t in it. If they were I wouldn;t have their manager job, but still

After considering a lot of other offers, Pieter Mbemba signs with us. Our first friendly is today, the 10th of July, vs Port Vale. Salku, Avci, Dongou, Ilunga and Wood are either in international play or injured. I have my ass man take care of it, since many of my guys are gone and it’s a friendly. We lose 1-2. We draw Hartlepool in the League Cup, 1 rnd .



Wood Again:


http://www.sport1.de/dynamic/datencenter/gfx/person/m/180377.jpg


Mbemba


http://img.haberler.com/haber/708/sivasspor-pieter-mbemba-yi-renklerine-bagladi_o.jpg


Murphy


http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/birmmail/feb2012/1/8/david-murphy-777817909.jpg



Hammond


http://e1.365dm.com/11/09/660x350/Dean-Hammond_2656107.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

I look over my youth and reserve youth. I have picked up a lot of players over the last few years. My budget is tight, and maybe I can move a few for some cash. Here are my reserve players, at least 18, with value

ST Ryan Colclaugh, 1 mill
MR Per Jall, 975k
MCRL Jordan Jones, 900k
DC Jiri Papuga, 800k
D/WB R Gunther Mayer, 750k
MC Luke Woodland, 725k
DC Richard Butcher, 575k
DC Declan Dalley, 550k
DC/MC Liam Nolan, 525k
MC/DM Akis Loukinas, 450k
D RL Alex Nicholson, 450k

Liam Wilson is out for 5-6 months with a broken leg and only worth 26k. Everyone else is worth much less. I ask for a trial day. Several of those youth players came from trials. We are Crewe, we are youth. These guys have a lot of value, and if I can move a few, it will really help. My first target for the move is Colclough.

Trial Day time.

[Abe Sargent]

Okay, World Cup 2014, was just won, and you are not going to believe what happened.


From group A, Brazil and Poland qualified. Group B had Croatia and Colombia qualify over Germany. C was Argentina and Belgium over Mexico. Spain and Nigeria qualified from D. In E, the Swiss lost and Cameroon and Ecuador got out. France and Chile were qualified over the Dutch in F. G has England and Italy come out and the final one saw Russia and South Africa qualify.

In the Round of 16, here are the matches:

Brazil vs Colombia
Poland vs Croatia
Argentia vs Nigeria
Spain vs Belgium
Cameroon vs Chile
France vs Ecuador
South Africa vs England
Italy vs Russia

Several powerful clubs are not here, Dutch, Portuguese, Mexican. No Asian club got out of the group stage, not Australia, Japan or South Korea. Figure out who you think wins each match. I’ll even help you, we have three upsets of significance.

[Abe Sargent]

Our winners are:

Colombia, 1-0 over Brazil
Poland 3-1 over Croatia
Argentina 2-0 over Nigeria
Spain 1-0 over Belgium
Cameroon 4-2 over Chile in extra time
France 3-1 over Ecuador
South Africa 1-1 over England, penalty kicks
Russia over Italy 3-1


So Italy, England and Brazil all fall in the first knockout round.

The Quarterfinals:


Colombia vs Spain
Poland vs Argentina
Cameroon vs Russia
France vs South Africa

[Abe Sargent]

Now I want you to imagine who is the underdog and who is the goliath in these four matches. So far a, a few losses in the previous round are odd, but this is where everything spins out of control. Who are the underdogs? Colombia is a massive one, right? They win 3-1. Poland is a massive one too, right? They win 1-1 in penalty kicks. Cameroon is likely one, but not as much, and they win 1-1 in penalties. Finally, France is clearly favored vs South Africa, and they lose as well, 2-1.

That leaves s with South Africa, Cameroon, Poland and Colombia. All four teams which have never won a World Cup. In a quarter final marked by upset, we have an incredible story unfolding

Semis:

Colombia vs South Africa
Poland vs Cameroon

Who will win? At this point, it could be anyone’s game!

[Abe Sargent]

South Africa wins 2-0. Cameroon wins 2-0.

That sets up an all African World Cup final.
















South Africa wins, 2-1. Colombia beats Poland in the 3rd place game 2-1.

1st South Africa
2nd – Cameroon
3rd – Colombia
4th – Poland

Incredible!

[Abe Sargent]

I sign a few youthers from the trial day.

I only get 150k for Colclough and the other youth I tried to unload, Luke Woodland, has no one really interested. I sign a backup Striker, and you’re going to LAUGH when I tell you who. Colclough goes to Brighton. I keep my smaller pitch.

If you remember, my first year in Crewe I loaned various strikers to play the point. Well, one of those was released, is now 22, and expects a backup contract after being let go by MK Dons. He had been with West Ham, then he played adequately for Dons, but not super well. He comes in worth just 100k and being paid 2.4k a week, Say hello to Cristian Montano.

Colombian, English, ML or ST, 12/13 sped, 12 finish, dribb, 13 cross, 9 pass, 10 head, 12 tck, technique, 9 stam, etc. Not great anymore. I felt I needed a 4th ST to go behind Wood, Dongou and Salku. He can play M LR as a backup too, so he;s our 4th ST and maybe our 3rd ish M and MR. Balanced. Speaks Spanish and English



Montano

http://foreverwestham.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Cristian-Montano.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

I haven’t told you my other singings yet, so let’s do that now:


Bobby Shou Wood – AM R, ST, 21 years old, American, 5.75k a week, 18k value. 14/13 speed, 11 jump, 8 stam, 9 strength. 14 finish, 16 head, 14 cross, 11 dribb, 12 first touch, 10 mark long shots, 13 pass, 10 tack, 12 technique;13 flair, 15 off the ball, composure, 13 antiipation, 12 creativity, work rate, team work, 11 positioning, 10 determin, aggression, concentration. He also has 11 corners, 16 penalty taking, and 12 free kick. Fairly Professional, speaks English, German, and a bit of Spanish - born in Hawaii

Why Bobby? I like for a few reasons. First of all, he can play on my flank. He’s competent on the MR. Secondly, he can be my new penalty kicker, and he’s useful at other set pieces not named long throws. When I play someone on my flank in a 3-5-2, I want them to have good ball-winning skills, and he does. When I throw him out there, he’ll okay. Now, take a look at his stats again. How often do you see a young striker with double digit scores in tackling and marking? I might try him as a ball winning forward to see what happens, across from Dongou. That could be a nice combo. He has great stats, and I have no idea why his value is so low.


David Murphy – D, WB, M L, 30, English, Determined, 9k/week, 325k overall. Started for Birmingham for 5 of six years with them, good stats (For example, 37 starts, 7.09 rating, in 2011-2012 season for them with 13 assists in the Championship). Naturally a DL, but I like him in the ML role a lot.. I’ve discussed what I want from my wide middies just now. He is my major pickup salary wise. Every technical stat is double digit save for set pieces. Every physical stat and mental stat is a double digit, save for 9 in creativity. His best is 18 in determination, and features 15 teamwork, 14 marking, 13 tackling, 12/13 speed, 14 stamina so I don’t have to replace him every game, because he’s tired, etc. I suspect he’ll slide right in nice and neatly. He was elated to join us and get back to stating in football after a stint with the Wolves last year that had him play virtually not at all.

[Abe Sargent]

A few more


Pieter Mbemba – DC, DM, Belgium, Congolese (DR). Speaks French, Dutch, German, basic English, Balanced, 3k weekly, 100k overall. I wanted some speed in my DC area – 14/13 gets it He is very strong – 19. Jumping of 15 and heading of 15 I good stuff. Add in 15 marking, but a low tackling of 9. Lots of 11s – pass, dribb, cross, long shots, first touch, penalties, decisions, anticipation, stamina, fitness. 15 wor rate, 14 bravery, determin, 13 teamwork, 10 aggression, influence. I see him and Tor battling for my other DC spot along Ilunga and Barty. They both could start, and both are being paid lower. I can also bring him in the middle if needed occasionally.


Dean Hammond – MC 31, English, Fairly Professional, 3.5k/week, 85k overall. Just a rotation/backup guy to do the Benali/Frimpong role. 10s in speed. 13 pass, mark, tack, techn, 12 first touch, 11 head, 10 drib; 13 jump, 15 stam, 14 strength, 18 influence, 16 team work 14 aggress, concentration, work rate, 13 position, determin, decisions, 12 composure, off the ball. So, good mentals, adequate technicals and physicals.

[Abe Sargent]

GK – Delle, Johnstone *
Defenders – Ilunga, Avci, Gorman *, Barty, Mbemba, Gromstad
Strikers – Dongou, Wood, Montano *, Salku, Dunauskas, Bunjaku*
MR – Larbi, Tonge *, Wood, Montano *,
ML - Murphy *, Tonge *, Montano *, Bunjaku *,
MC – Tonge *, Frimpong *, Benali *, Hammond *, Larbi, Nijland, Gromstad, Mbemba
AMC – Nijland, Benali *, Bunjaku *

I believe that’s a balanced roster now. I have a lot of training Avci for DC, Bunjaku for MC, Hammond for DMC, etc. Players with Asterisks are HG.


Budget – With no transfer money, it’s 105k, and I’m spending 96k. With max transfer budget its 99k vs 86k with a budget of 285000.

I still feel like we could really use a very sexy MC. Tonge will be playing MR, Larbi/Benali/Hammond aren’t super good, Mbemba and Gromstad are defenders who can sub in in an emergency and Nijland is up in the AMC role. That leaves Frimpong as a starter and who else??? I could really benefit by one more MC of massive significance. Let start by looking at the free folks. I actually find someone I like and make an offer.

My guy signs in the 26th.


Rodrigo Battaglia, Argentian and Italian. 23. Plays DM, MC. 5.7/week, 625k salary. 13/14 speed, 13 marking, passing, long shots, 12 tack, 14 technique, 15 first touch, 12 dribb; 13 str, 16 stamina, 13 jump, 15 agi, 12 balance; every mental stat at ten. 14s in work rate, team, creativity. Balanced, speaks Spanish and Italian.


Battaglia

http://www.ole.com.ar/edicion-impresa/Rodrigo-Battaglia-juega-Huracan_OLEIMA20110209_0010_22.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

He will start in my MC role. Ilunga is back from injury. Ilunga speaks Spanish, Montano Spanish, Wood a bit of Spanish,Dongou both, and yet I was asked if I was worried that only Dongou spoke Italian at the presser. Many of my players speak the other Battaglia language though.

Tactics time

Battaglia is given a deep-lying playmaker, support role. Frimpong is given Ball-Winning Midfielder , support role. Barty is in the middle and given a Cover role. The other DCs keep their defend roles. Nijland is moved back to an attacking middle role, on attack.


Tactics done.

[Abe Sargent]

I hand out jerseys and squad numbers to my new guys. My budget is just 3k under. Very nicely done.

This team is better than last year’s in several ways. First of all, Daineche disappointed, and I have two new guys to play there, to find my new guy. Second of all, we’ll begin the year with Delle, and have him a whole year. Thirdly, Battaglia is a huge improvement in the middle over Molhoek, Stewart or McKee. Fourth, I should have real strikers his year, instead of it being the Dongou show alone. Fifthly, Murphy is an improvement on the outside. Lastly, younger players such as Dongou and Delle and Barty have gotten better. For example, last year Dongou’s acceleration was 17 and now its 18, his finishing rose to 16 from 15 his creativity rose to 12, and more. Let’s look at Barty. In the last year, his positioning rose 2, his marking rose 1 to a 16, his strength rose three, and so forth. The only negative I see is the loss of McKee’s set piece styles cloud result in fewer DRK and IRK goals. We have someone with the same corners, and 16 pk is really good on Wood. FK is where we have a hole. Otherwise, this team is younger, faster, and stronger.

Tutoring – Ilunga is mentoring Avci.
Dean Hammond on 16 year old Roland Derungs
Michael Tonge on Jordan Jones
David Murphy on Alban Bunjaku
Kamel Larbi on Erjon Salku
Pieter Mbemba on Joe Gorman
Tor Marius Gromstad on Justin Taylor

[Abe Sargent]

Before I move into the season, who is leaving at the end of this year, and how much can I expect to get in my salary?

Larbi, 5k
Ilunga, 2k
Tonge, 6k
Hammond, 3.5k
Benali, 1.3k
Bunjaku, 2.8k
Gorman, 1.5k
Dunauskas, 190

None are irreplaceable

I loan Obileye to Bury for 6 months. Salku is injured for a month with a training injury.

High cup bonus, normal league bonus. I loan a few more players . A rumor is circulating that Crystal Palace is interested in paying up to 775k for Frimpong. Southampton came in and made an offer for Derungs, for 575k plus 30% profit. I negotiate it to 800k and 40% of next sale and accept the offer.

Hammond is my vice-captain.

We are 8-1 favs for promotion

It’s tough to get out of the Championship, because each year, heavies the EPL come down and ruin your day. Take Bolton. They are expected to get just 3rd. Half of their squad is worth at least 1 mill. Their salary is unreal. The media is predicting 4th for us. The Wolves are predicted 2nd . They also have a ton of players and money thrown at winning. Leicester is expected to head back up at 1st in the league. Again, tons of money and talent across the board. Don’t forget teams like QPR and Middlesbrough breathing down our necks, predicted to be 5th an 6th.


Derungs has officially left for 800k to Southampton. Vancouver just signed Clint Dempsey. I pull Gooch from the USA squad and replace him with 24 year old uncapped Matt Hedges.


The season begins today, August 9. Crystal Palace has made an inquiry for Frimpong. I offer back 850k and 30% sell on. He’s worth about 400k, but we have a pricetag of 1 mill on him.

[Abe Sargent]

Opening Day Roster –

Joris Delle, Herita Ilunga, Bartlemiej Szewczyk, Tor Marius Gromstad, David Murphy, Michael Tonge, Rodrigo Battaglia, Emmanuel Frimpong, Stef Wijland, Bobby Shou Wood, Jean-Marie Dongou. I move Wood to a defensive forward, because I want to see how that goes.


We are favored today on the road vs Wigan. Vengeance time for our spanking last year. I begin countering. A lot of pressure in the 30s. Half time. Next one. No real attacks of note by us in the that half. At the 55 mark I move to standard - I pull a tired and not match fit Battaglia for Benali in the 63rd. My next sub is a tired David Murphy for Bunjaku. Dongou gets the ball and scores in the 78. I pull back to defensive. Let’s hold on! But it’s not to be s they score, not once, but twice in the 80s. Wood gets a yellow in extra time. We lose 1-2


For today’s Hartlepool match, we have a few changes based on internationals. Starting are Montano, Mbemba for Ilunga and Wood, I skip the game since it shouldn’t be that much. We win 3-2, with scores by Barty, Dongou and Battaglia.


I sell Frimpong for 600k plus 30% sell on fee. He was just a body, so I look to see who else I can bring in. I have some extra dough after these two sales. Maybe I can find an MC on the unsigned roster, maybe I’ll buy one or maybe I’ll just loan one. I find loanee I really like playing for West Ham and I make him an offer. Newgen Ben Ide, homegrown, worth 2.2 mill, so let’s hope he joins me.

[Abe Sargent]

USA vs Canada, Friendly

I have put in Carlos Bocanegra and Matt Hedges in the DC spot. Donovan replaces Acuna alongside Altidore and Daniel Williams is starting in the middle. Here we go. I begin controlling. We push for a while, and then we get a score n the 32nd minute. Corner kick by Dempsey fidns Bocanegra’s head for a score. Shea sets up Dempsey beautifully and Dempsey scores in the 38th. Shea’s second start for us, and first assist. Halftime. I’ve given Jozy a target man role, and he’s fed Donovan twice and Bradley once, and all three have their shots blocked. Altidore feeds Donovan after getting a header from Bradley and Donovan scores in the 53rd minute. I think I like Jozy as a target man, he’s been doing really well with it. First sub – Acuna in for Donovan. Canadia gets a header off a corner in the 58th minute to sink. Subs n the 60s – Joe Corona for Williams in the center, Adu for Shea on the left, Heath Pearce for Castillo in the DL. At the 70, I pull Altidore for Wood, my player. Wood has a crack on target, stopped by GK. That would have been awesome. Final sub, Torres for Bradley in the middle. They get a score on an indirect free kick knocked in the in 88th minute. Adu pushes forward and gets a corner in extra time to keep the ball on their side and we win 3-2. Dempsey is MOM. Several of my news players, such as Shea and Hedges, looked good. He had a 6.9 rating. By the way, I am now Bobby Shou Wood’s favorite personnel.

[Abe Sargent]

We draw Huddersfield in our place for Rnd 2 of the League Cup. My middie decides not to come to us. Try another plus I send out a few scouts to other possibilities.


Today we host Bournemouth. Ilunga, Wood, are in. I begin controlling. They are coming forward a lot so I slide to counter. Lots of pressure continues against us. Dongou collects a yellow. Half time. Tonge’s corner finds Gromstad for a score in the 51st minute. They score back in the 54th minute on a rebound shot off the crossbar. Battaglia scores in the 73d minute. In indirect free kick from the half way mark bounces past the GK and in. I make some changes. Dongou for Saiku and Montano for Tonge. I pull Hammond for Gorman, and then swap him for Gromstad. We hold them off and win. 2-1. Battaglia is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

We may have a problem, hold on. I don’t now why but Hammond is not HG. He’s English, and he started in English leagues. His entire career he’s been at English teams – Brighton, Aldershot, Leyton Orient, Colchester, Norwich and Southampton. How is a native English guy who’s played his whole career in England NOT homegown? In fact, he was with Brighton for his first six years until 21 or 22, with Aldershot and LO just loans. Is there some quirk I don’t get, or is the game flawed? This is bad because I was relying on his HG-ness to work. I move Hammond to squad rotation status. My next loan offer was to a Danish guy, but that won’t work. What HG players can I acquire for my middle spot?

No loaners are here. What about the transfer market? I make a few offers and I make an offer, very expensively, for a guy on a free, just in case. My first offer, accepted by Chelsea, is for an aging Frank Lampard, but he’s not interested in coming down. I admit that was a long shot. I have to walk away from David Jones, 29 year old guy who’s solid, cheap to transfer, but wants too much money.


We start Salku for the 3rd game, vs Middlesbrough and Mbemba - I begin counters. A corner hits Barty, the ball rebounds off the top and falls to Gromstad who puts it in for a score. Salku picks up a knock in the 12th minute. I replace him with Wood. Tonge get a yellow. Some pressure in the 30s. Delle stops a few shots. They get a cross and their guy with a diving header puts it in in the 40th. Half. A long shot from Nijland gives us the lead. We keep it and win 2-1 on the road.

Well, we have the guy off a free, and he’s overpriced ,but he’ll work.

Henri Lansbury, M RCL, 10k/week, 2.1 mill, 23, signed until 2019, I couldn’t get him down. 13/15 speed, 14 passing, crossing, 15 drib, first touch, technique, creativity, 14 flair, finishing, otb, 13 determin, 12 stamina, fitness, tackling, anticipation, composure, decisions, etc Fairly Ambitious – last year ha 40 starts for Nttm Forest with a 6.97 rating.


Lansbury -


http://u.goal.com/112900/112976hp2.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Delle gets injured during training and is out for about two weeks, Sam Johnstone will start instead. We host Sheff Utd. I begin controlling. We have a lot of pressure early, but nothing too fancy. Then they tackle Dongou outside of the box to the side. Here comes an indirect free kick. Salku is taking it and its up, and it find Barty’s diving header on the far side for a score in the 44th minute. Half time. They score right after half in the 48th minute on a counter attack. Nijland feeds Salku who scores to put us up. I begin to make subs, but before they are in, Lansbury finds Tonge in the box who puts it in for a goal. I sub in Mbemba, Wood and Hammond. We move to counter and hold them off, and win 3-1. MOM is Nijland. Good win with a backup GK. On his debut, Lansbury has an assist and a 7.0 rating. Nijland is in Team of Week.


League Cup arrives. We host Huddersfield. I begin attacking and we get a goal in the 19th minute by Salku, so I pull back to control. Dongou set him up. Then in the 24th minute, Murphy finds Tonge for a score. Finally, in the 39th minute, Murphy hits Dongou on an indirect free kick, and Dongou moves to goal and scores. Half time. I pull back to standard. I swap some people, Wood, Hammond and Larbi head in. Murphy is MVP.

[Abe Sargent]

We draw Wigan in the 3rd round in their place. League Cup. We travel to Nottm Forest today. I begin controlling. Barty grabs a yellow and a soft half. I tell them I’m not happy with what I saw and they look fired up. I slide to standard. I was hoping to get a goal or two in the attack. They get a score in the 53rd minute off a rebound allowed by Johnstone. I sub in Larbi for Lansbury. Dongou collects a yellow. In the 75th, I pull Murphy for Bunjaku. I move us to attacking and pull Tonge for Mbemba. Nope, no goals. 1-0 loss.

[Abe Sargent]

September has arrived. No more transfers. Barty gets 3rd for young player of month.


Games:

2nd – Aston Villa, home
13th – Leicester, away
20th – QPR, home
23rd – Wigan, away, League Cup
27th – Wolves, away
30th – Bristol, home


USA

6th – Greece, friendly
10th – Peru, friendly


On the last day of transfers, Southhampton have made an offer t me for Richard Butcher for 850k and I accept. He signs. It’s 12:15, and I have an injection of cash to find a transfer kitty if desired. But I’m pleased with the team right now. I go to the board and ask for improved facilities, since I’ve gotten them three major transfers of cash, and they agree that it’s needed, but don’t have the cash. I can have a budget of 130k with no transfer or 110k, leave myself 3k under my salary, and have a million in transfer cash. I take one last look at the transfer folks.

I have been following the pattern of Crewe very closely. Bring in youth, develop them , sell them for money, get more youth. Dongou is our Dean Ashton, I brought in Roland Durangs and sold him, we had Butcher come through our youth academy, developed him and sold him, and we brought in Frimpong for free, gave him about 25 subs and a handful of starts, developed him, and shipped him.

[Abe Sargent]

I haven’t been going through this dynasty lately as much as I’d like, so I’m going to be quick simming a bit more, including the next little bit. I’ll play important matches. I’m looking for talented youth that are cheaply held by another club. Someone who could get me money or starts later. I make offers to two youthers.

I come t a deal with a youther in Bulgaria, and he can’t come because a work permit was denied. But Bulgaria is IN the EU? Why was it denied? I checked and in the game, Bulgaria counts. My other guy wasn’t able to agree on a contract with me. Ah well.



We play Ashton Villa in The Alexandra Stadium. We win 5-2 – MOM is Dongou with two goals. Others were scored by Salku, Nijland and Gromstad. A good match. Players such as Ilunga Wood, and Benali were traveling. Jelle will be back by the next game. Salku is injured for a month in the U21 German team game. Gromstad and Niland in Team of Week

[Abe Sargent]

Time for the USA Matches:


First match vs Greece.

We had two middies injured, Willaims and Torres. I called up others for these two games. Brad Guzan just stubbed his toe, and I call up 23 year old Bill Hamid to replace him. Alejandro Bedoya is starting in the MC. Other starters are identical to the first game – with Hedges and Shea remaining. I begin standard. They get a goal when the shot rifles off the top of the crossbar high into the air, and then head it in back in in the 13th minute. Hedges is injured, and I pull him in the 19th for none, I look at the wound level and he can stay in for now. Half time. We put on some pressure of our own but our shots aren’t on target. I light a fire under three players. Let’s see if my impressions are on track. It’s the 52nd minute. They have 6 shots, all on target. We have 4 all misses. My first sub is Donovan with his 6.2 and 64% self. I bump Dempsey up and put in Adu in the Right. At the 60, I pull Shea for Convey. Then I sub in Spector for Hedges. Next is Acuna for Jozy. We get a goal at the 71st minute off Acuna – Bedoya found him and ran and scored at the GK My final two subs are Wood for Dempsey and Ricardo Clark for Bedoya. Acuna scores again! 75th minute. Bradley with a nice pass. You can see why I liked Acuna. 3 extra minutes – can we hold on? We win! Acuna, with about twenty minutes of play is MOM.

Benali got his first international goal for Libya.

[Abe Sargent]

Peru vs USA


No changes to starters.


I begin controlling. We are attacking hard in the first few minutes, with corners, two shots on target and more. I’ve been disappointed with Dempsey recently – too many bad shots. I pull back to standard in the 30s. Shea’s corner is up, finds Bedoya behind the line and Bedoya shoots and scores in the 40th. Half time. I tell them not to get complacent and the ones who respond are Hedges, Bradley, Shea and Donovan. Alons-y! Another corner by Shea finds Hedges, who’s header is on target, but pushed aside for a corner in the 46th minute. I make a sub in the 56th – Bradley out, Joe Corona in At the 63, I swap Acuna for Donovan and Zak Whitbread for Bocanegra. Dempsey gets a knock a minute later, so he is pulled for Adu. Acuna gets a yellow. I pull my lowest rated player, 6.9 Castillo for Convey and Spector for Chandler. They score in the 77th minute. We have suspicions of offsides, but what goal doesn’t? Adu launches a corner kick, and it is headed back to him, so he drops it, and crosses to Acuna, who scores in the 82nd minute. I slide to counter. Can we hold on? The wins vs Canada and Greece are good, and if we can get this one too, that’s some good friendlies. They change to a 4-3-3. Here comes their GK for a corner kick in the overload. No good. We win! MOM is not on our team.

[Abe Sargent]

Next up is a big game vs Leicester. We are on the road. A win would be fascinating, a draw really amazing, and a close loss surprising. Wood is starting with the injury to Salku. Joris Delle is back as well. Again, this is just a fast sim. I’ve been playing this game for eight hours and I’m not even half way done with September yet. We lose 3-2, but Henri Lansbury is MOM and our shots were Dongou and Wood.


Did you know I am one of only 8 managers described as “very secure?”


Next is QPR in our place. Can we manage to win? No changes to the starting lineup. Last year the QPR win was really the beginning of our rise, it made a statement. We win 4-2. Barty is MoM. They had 2 OGs from their team, and we scored with Wood, Barty.

[Abe Sargent]

This is the League Cup game vs Wigan in their place. I play this one. We begin with counter. We’re underdogs and Wigan have had our number a lot recently. Murphy is driving, jukes the GK and scores in the 13th minute. Beautiful pass by Nijland to set up that goal. A wigan goal is called off for offsides in the 37th. We had the momentum early, they have taken it later. Nijland finds Wood who sneaks in a score off a counter attack in the 42nd minute. Half time. Here we go. They injure Murphy. I put in Larbi, and swap with Tonge. Dongou with an amazing assist from Battaglia that freed him past the defense and charged30 yards for the goal. 64th minute we are 3-0 in Wigan. I sub Ilunga for Mbemba. I make my final sub in the 76th minute – Hammond for Lansbury. Larbi gets a yellow. Wigan with some pressure. Dongou has 91st minute goal called off for offsides. That was a dominating performance. Gromstad is MOM.


We draw Bolton in the League Cup, in their place.

[Abe Sargent]

League game today – away vs Wolves. Rough match - I’ve had a rough schedule. Aston Villa, Leicester, QR and Wolves all in a row. Can we do something away vs Wolverhampton? Yes we can, we crush them 3-1. MOM is Dongou with a hat trick. He is also Team of Week


We are significant favorites for the Bristol City match today on the 30th. We win 1-0 with Barty scoring and MOM.


Welcome to October – Dongou wins Young Player of Month, Barty comes in 2nd.

Games:

4th – Away vs Millwall
18th – Home vs Leeds
21st – Away vs Hull
25th – Home vs Huddersfield
29th – Away vs Bolton – League Cup 4th Round


USA

11th – Morocco, friendly


Bed time, nap time has arrived.

[Abe Sargent]

I have players called up for the following U19 or U21 squads – Spain, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, N. Ireland, Turkey. Many you can guess – Dongou for Spain, Dunauskas for Lithuania, Barty for Poland, Avci for Turkey. Jordan Jones is N Irish, and some youthers are the rest.


For today’s Millwall match, Tonge is pulled for Larbi. I begin countering. Dongou collides with their keeper in the 5th minute and injures him, he has to get pulled. I move to standard, expecting them to pull back after that. We get some chances, and in the 36th minute, the first chance converts. Nijland finds Wood, and he runs at the defense, slides it to Dongou who puts it in. Halftime. In the second half, Dongou returns the favor, feeding the ball to Wood after the defense moves to him Wood lobs the keeper and puts it in. 2-0 us in the 56th minute. I pull back to counter, and subs begins – Montano for Murphy, Hammond for Lansbury. Finally, in the 81st minute, an indirect free kick from Larbi hits Barty’s leg and the goal is scored for us. I order my lads for light tackling, we have no yellows and I hope to keep it. A tired Larbi is pulled for Benali. We do and win 3-0, with Dongou the MOM. Barty is in Team of Week


It’s obvious that Barty, Delle, and Dongou are still the power of this team with players such as Nijland, Murphy, Battaglia and Lansbury behind.

[Abe Sargent]

USA – I pull Ricardo Clark for Torres. I put Guzan back on the squad for Bill Hamid. I also pul Heath Pearce for Daniel Williams. Convey and Pearce are basically the same player and can only plat the same positions. With Shea in as ML right now, and Castillo locked in at DL, I can’t afford o players who play the DL/ML only on my roster. Why no Fabian Johnson, the 26 year old DR worth 4 mill who has many caps already the world wants to know? First of all, Chandler, my DR is one of my best players. Castillo is locked in the DL as well. This guy has 10 passing, 9 mark, 11 tack, 6 head, 10 cross This is not an international player.


USA vs Morocco

I begin controlling. I start Williams in Bedoya’s spot alongside Bradley in the MC role. Starters are otherwise the same as before, Hedges, Shea and Williams are the new ones. Castillo, Chandler, Bocanegra, Howard, Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore and Bradley the others. This is the 30th cap for Castillo, 110th for Dempsey. Bradley injured in 1st minute. I keep him on. I move to standard after a few runs get past my D. They are very quick in the front. We injure one of theirs. We’ve had a few weak shots on target, but nothing threatening. Half. I light fires under 6.1 Dempsey and Donovan. Will it matter? We score in the 45:21 by Donovan. Altidore finds Bradley finds Donovan. My first subs – Dempsey out for Adu, Altidore for Acuna. Williams out for Bedoya. Shea for Convey. Chandler for Spector. My final sub at the 79th minute is Whitbread for Carlos B. And that’s game. MOM is Bradley.

[Abe Sargent]

One of my youth players is having difficulty settling, in a Czech youther named Papuga. I agree to bring in someone to help. He’s 18 and 825k value – so he’s worth it. I make an offer to a guy in their U18 international squad who’s stats I can’t see. Maybe we’ll get lucky and hit a homerun. He’s signed with us and….wow. Came in at 1.1 mil and made my fans happy. Thanks Papuga! I offer him a full time contract for 275 a week until 2018, with a bump to 1100 after 20 games.


USA – Drawn for Group B of Copa America. Our group includes Argentina, Ecuador and Peru. My expectations are to reach the QF and get out of the group stage.


Mbemba starts today for Gromstad vs Leeds. Tonge back in for Larbi. We are heavily favored, and I quick sim it. We crush them 4-0. Dongou is MOM with two goals, Wood and Hammond also score. We have moved into 1st place in the league. We’ve had good early form in the first 12 games. Bolton were crushed in their home 4-0 by Wigan. I slide Bunjaku to a hot prospect from a squad rotation. Ilunga is Team of Week

[Abe Sargent]

Today we travel to Hull and we are favored significantly. We still have to do a professional job though. No changes to the roster save for Avci coming in to the Mbemba/Gromstad spot. We’ll probably lose just as soon as we take the top spot. We do lose, 2-0. Leicester have fired their HC and I am the favorite to replace him, so I deny rumors.


Our next game is today vs Huddersfield, which we are heavy favorites for. I pull a tired Ilunga for both Gromstad and Mbemba. Salku is back from injury and I put him on our squad, replacing Montano. We win 2-1, Dongou is MOM with both goals. Gromstad picks up an injury for a week.


Today is the league Cup game vs Bolton away, and this I will play myself. If we win this, we are in the quarter finals. Barnet in L2 is still in, they are woodshed time v Blackburn. We are in, and Bolton is in from the Championship. Assuming Barnet loses, the winner of our match is the only non EPL team to make the QFs Let’s see what happens. Ilunga is in for Gromstad. I begin countering. We are underdogs. Bolton have bad morale though, maybe that will play a factor. Definitely some Bolton pressure early. They get a goal kick in the 7th minute, intercepted by Murphy. It makes it t Dongou who heads it to Wood who charges the goal. They foul him as he is close. Free kick, they bounce it back out to Ilunga who feeds Nijland, who feeds Dongou, who feeds the goal. Score. A lot of rain today Half time. We weathered some attacks well, and managed a goal while doing it. 2nd half, can we make it to the QF? In the 58th minute, they come within a shot bouncing off the inner cross bar and back out from scoring. I have some seriously tired playes at the 73 mark when I go to make my first sub. Seven are in the 60s. I pull Tonge for Larbi (Larbi is better at PKs, in case it goes that far). Larbi dribbles it hard to the corner, passes back to Lansbury, who has a lane to Wood, who shoots and scores in the 77th minute. Subs come in. 59% Mbemba pull for Avci – sad because he’ playing at a 7.3 level. And I pull David Murphy, with his mighty 1 in Penalties for Bunjaku with his 11. Nijland grabs a yellow at the 81st minute. Bolton falls before the Crewe-Juggernaut. MOM is Dongou. Well, Bolton will have even worse morale problems now.

[Abe Sargent]

November Arrives – Dongou is 2nd in Player of the Month, and wins Young Player of the Month. Barty in 3rd for Young Player Hammmond’s goal vs Leeds is 2nd place goal.

League Cup Quarter Finals:

Crewe host Blackburn
Burnley host Arsenal
Sunderland host Newcastle
Fulham host Swansea



Games for Novmeber

1st – Away vs Watford
4th – Home vs Scunthorpe
8th – Away vs Derby
22nd – Home vs Brighton
26th – Home vs Norwich
29th – Away vs Reading


USA


15th – Friendly, Croatia
19th – Friendly, Ivory Coast

[Abe Sargent]

For the Game today, I rest Wood – Salku starts, Hammond for Battaglia, Benali for Lansbury, Bunjaku for Nijland. This is an easier schedule opponent wise for the month. We should do fairly well, but you never know. Anyway, we win 1-0, Barty is MOM and Dongou got the only goal but Hammond missed a penalty shot in the 93rd minute. You never saw McKee miss shots. Luckily, it didn’t matter, we won anyway.


The value of some of my players has increased. Dongou is 3.1 mill instead of the 2.4 he was all last year and the beginning of this one, Delle is now 1 mill, he was a lot less. Barty has risen to 1.9 mill.

[Abe Sargent]

Scunthorpe arrives. Nijland is back for Bunjaku, Wood back for Salku, Lansbury and Battaglia are back as well. We defeat them 2-0. Henri Lansbury is MOM with a goal, Dongou the other goal. We are on a powerful long range of form. We have won 8 of our last 9 games in the Championship, and are four points in front of the league. Right now Dongou is averaging a 7.59and Barty a 7.47. Lansbury is a 7.15, Wood 7.24, Tonge 7.08, Nijland 7.13. What happens when we start losing?

Why are we doing so well?

Consider this – last year we were the 5th best team. Our best middie of the 4 was Tonge. This year, Tonge is our worst midfielder. Like I said before, Nijland is hot, Daineche isn’t holding us a little back, Ilunga is 6.99, Mbemba the same, and Gromstad 7.11, Delle is here the entire year, Dongou, Barty and other youth have improved and more. In the first 16 games, we have scores 35 and allowed 17. That’s the 3rd fewest goals and the 2nd most goals scored. We managed to get through some rough games and now we have an easier stretch.

[Abe Sargent]

Steven Cherundolo has unearthed a pair of people I bring onto the USA Squad. Edgar Castillo is injured for a few months, Torres the same, and Acuna for a few weeks. Onto my squad goes uncapped 26 year old ST and AM L Declan McCarthy, a newgen player for New York, 25 year old AJ Soares, DC, and uncapped MCR Michael Stephens. Three uncapped players my asst man unearthed – good job.


LOLOL

Fulham just lost their manager, he left for Liverpool. Their communication says “With resumes flooding in from would-be head coaches across the country, Fulham first team coach Ray Lewington is the most likely candidate for the job. Presumably once the Fulham board have got rid of the usual “Football Manager” applications, they can proceed with the view to appointing someone with real-life experience”


HAHAH

We travel to #21 Derby. We are very favored. Gromstad in for a tired Ilunga. No other changes are needed. Watch me lose after I talk about how good we are doing :) Wood is injured for a week. We win 2-1, MOM is Dongou, with both goals. I pull Wood off the USA squad for Chris Pontius.

[Abe Sargent]

USA vs Croatia


Squad – Starting in Castillo’s spot is Gavin Tavernese. No other changes for the starting lineup. I begin controlling. Howard will collect his 100th cap. I slide back to standard in the 28th minute after some pressure ensures from the Croatians. Half time. They manage to get a 1:1 vs Howard and score in the 56th minute. Subs – Bradley out, Donovan out (both have 5.9), Bocanegra out – AJ Soares in, Michael Stephens in, Declan McCarthy in, let’s see what the new guys can do. At the 70, I pull Hedges for Spector and Shea for new Pontius. They get a direct free kick to sink in the 74th minute. They get a long shot from behind the box one minute later. I make my last sub. Chandler is out for Bedoya. We lose 0-3 in our own place. That puts an end to our four game friendly winning streak. Bradley is out for 8 days with an injury . I replace him with Maurice Edu.

[Abe Sargent]

USA vs Ivory Coast


I start Bedoya for Bradley. I pull Altidore, put Dempsey up front with Donovan and start Adu on the right. I also pull Bocanegra for AJ Soares. Okay, let’s roll with this lineup. I begin controlling. Bedoya gets a red in the 24th minute. It looked like a normal tackle, a bit hard, but red? I move to a 4-4-1 and leave Donovan up front, and then I move to counter. They get a score on long shot from 25 yard away in the 44th. Shea has a nasty long shot on target from about 30 yards away and its all their GK can do to turn it aside. Dempsey with a beautiful shot to Shea who sinks it and gest us a goal in the 55th minute. That’s his first goal. I make a cluster of subs at the 65. Edu in for Williams, Spector for Soares, Donovan out, Jozy in. My other subs are in the 77. Stephens in for Dempsey, Adu out for Pontius, and Convey in for Tavernese. I also bump Edu back to a DMC role. We hold off their last assault, and we win. Howard is MOM. I’ll take a tie after a red card in the 25th.

[Abe Sargent]

In a reserves match, Justin Taylor goes down with injury for three months. The deadline for loans and free singings has passed. We are heavy favorites for today’s match vs Brighton, currently 22nd in the league. We have them in our place. Wood is benched. Came back from injury but just is a bit too tired. Erjon Salku is in the spot. Ilunga in for Mbemba. Will we stumble today, or do a professional job vs Brighton? We win 3-2. Lansbury is MOM with a goal, Balku scored as well as Nijland. Ilunga got his 5th yellow and sits the next match.


Today is my 200th game with Crewe - we are favorites vs Norwich, at #18. I keep in Salku for today’s away game, since he was a scorer in the last game. We cruise 3-1, and Nijlad s MOM. He had two goals and Wood one in substitution Wood is out for 2-3 weeks with a twisted knee and Dongou has reached his yellow card max

[Abe Sargent]

Our biggest match in a while arrives, against #6 Reading on the road. Ilunga is back from yellow carding for Mbemba, and Montano and Salku are my strikers. We edge Reading 2-1, Barty is MOM and scored, Lansbury with the other one. Bristol City has fired their manager and rumors are they will come for me, I deny this in the press.


Our 8 wins in a row is a club record. We get West Ham in our place for the FA Cup.

[Abe Sargent]

Dongou is 3rd,


Games:

2nd – Home vs Blackburn, Quarter Final, League Cup
6th – Away vs Peterborough
13th – Home vs Leyton Orient
20th – Home vs Bolton
27th – Home vs Wigan
31st – Away vs Bournemouth

A much tougher month. Bolton is 3rd, Wigan is 7th and often beats us, ad Bournemouth are 6th. Now, Leyton is last and Peterborough 20th. A few easier games are here. Plus we have Blackburn to open stuff.

Okay, our game is here, and I’m not quick simming it. Dongou and Salku are in. This is a major game. If we can upend them in our place, we have a semi final appearance in the League Cup, and that’s just incredible. Then we are one upset from the final. Right now Blackburn are 14th in the EPL. They have some serious morale issues. I come out control, and hope to push enough early. I slide to standard at the 10. Cross to their striker scores in the 13th minute. Half time. Next one. Larbi is in in the 67th for Tonge. 75th is Bunjaku for Murphy. My final sub is Hammond for a tired Lansbury. We push forward a bit in the last 80s. A Larbi goal is called offsides in the 89th minute. Bunjaku injures one of their guys in the 91:34 mark and earns a corner, hopefully we can push up a man. Nope, we lose 0-1. We were the underdogs, and we played hard. No shame in this loss.

[Abe Sargent]

I move Lansbury to the MR and Hammond to his slot to rest Tonge. We get a 0-0 tie away. Ah well, I was hoping to get a few more points. Rumors are that Getafe are chasing Dongou. I set his transfer price at 7.5 mill. He’s 3.2 and 19 and incredible for us. We are 3-1 favs vs Leyton Orient. We win 2-0, with Nijland MOM and a goal as well as Balku getting one. I drop Lansbury to first team and he is concerned and we hash it out.

Today we have a match against my real life favorite team, Bolton. We are 1st, and they are 3rd. No quick sim for this game. Wood back in for Salku, Mbemba for Ilunga. I begin standarding. We’ve had some good pressure in the first 15. Murphy collects a yellow card. Half time. We injury two of their players in the 52nd and 54th minutes. We had a great shot by Nijland rifle off the crossbar - Lansbury’s beautifully on target long shot is blocked by their keeper. They stop a shot by Wood fed by Dongou. In the 60th minute, we have had 11 shots, 6 on target. We are so close. They rub Wood in an injury and put in Salku. I also put in Montano for Murphy and his yellow. Tonge finds Battaglia at the corner of the box and he finds goal in the 68th minute. The rain is coming down harder as the game progresses. My final sub at the 78 mark, Bunjaku in for Tonge, and I trade him with Montano They get a red card at the 81st minute for a nasty foul on Dongou. We hold on and win 1-0. MOM is Barty. Important win for us

[Abe Sargent]

Murphy has reached his 5 yellows, Hammond will start with Lansbury on the flank.

Everyone is now half way through the season with 23 games. Table:


1. Crewe – 55 points
2. QPR – 47 pts
3. Wigan – 41 points
4. Bolton – 40 points
5. Wolves – 39 points, +14
6. Middlesbrough – 39 points, +8
7. Reading – 37

Three teams at 36, inc Bournemouth

We are clearly in front. No one is touching us with that win over Bolton. Even had we lost we’d still have 8 points on them and 5 on QPR. We have scored 48 goals, 2nd most, and allowed 22, 3rd fewest

West Ham United have fired their manager, are in 18th in the EPL, and we are the favorite to get the seat. I don’t say anything this time, I just want to see what they would offer. They do not come my way. They hire the Blackpool manager instead. There is a lot of EPL cross pollination, with managers moving from team to team constantly.


A big match arrives, we host Wigan, a team that has really owned us a lot until we crushed them on the road in the Cup match. Benali injured for a bit. They spank us 2-0 and we have lost. We started both halves of the season with a loss vs Wigan.

[Abe Sargent]

The 29th is here. Contract stuff to look at.

Expiring folks of note, reminder – Ilunga, we’ll let go; Larbi, we’ll let go; Benali; we’ll let go; Tonge, probably let go; Hammond, we’ll let go; Bunjaku, we’ll let go likely;

Lots of staff up for it. I’ll keep them up in case I get promoted and can afford coaches with 4.5 or even 5 star training. I have the money if I want to make a play for someone. But I’m comfortable with this team. We have no major injuries, and no concerns.


We travel to Bournemouth for the last game of 2014. Murphy is back. Dongou gets a goal but we just tie, 1-1.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to January –


I don’t change our expectations. Barty gets 3rd for Young layer of Month.

3rd – West Ham, home, FA Cup
10th – Middlesbrough, home
17th – Sheff Utd, away
24th – Nottm Forest, home

Time to look for some players. You never know when a player in Scandinavia or America is let loose around now, or you can find another gem for little money that refused to sign with you earlier, such as my Michael Owen. I make an offer on a 16 year old an 17 year old youth I really like and five youth out of work. On U19 national clubs of merit. It worked for that Czech guy I signed, and I’m happy to continue that trend. When you see a guy with a U19 French team and not of a club, you sign him. I just got Jean-Jacque Casanova off a free, striker and am r. Came in with 1.3 mill value.


Today is our Cup game vs West Ham. Starters – Ilunga, Delle, Barty, G.0romstad, Tonge, Lansbury, Battaglia, Murphy, Nijland, Wood and Dongou. We lose 1-3. That’s good in part, because I get fewer games now to concentrate on promotion and fewer match fitness issues while I chase it.

[Abe Sargent]

I sign four more youhters off a free, and one, Ronald Fritz, comes in with a 1.3 mill value. QPR makes an offer for Wood, who has gone from 20k to 250k. I reject it and raise his price to 1.5 mill. One of my youthers went to Man City Came in with a with of 4 mill, inflated obviously due to EPL prices, but still. I came that close. My offer for a Greek 16 year old stymies when he is not interested in signing with me.

Something amazing just happened. I just got an offer for 8 million for Dongou by Malaga. Can I go the distance with Balku, Wood, Montano and whoever I pick up with this bounty? I think I can. I have a lot of points in hand, and this would immediately allow us to expand the stadium, youth facilities, etc. At least I hope so. I cannot not accept this. This is twice what Crewe got for Dean Ashton. I’m shock the board hasn’t auto accepted it. Well, it’s not a pure 8 mill now that I look at it. 7 mill, arrange a friendly, 975k when 10 league goals scored. Don’t care about the friendly, I pull it off. I add 20% of next sale instead. Let’s see if we can hack that. Dongou was a player released by Barcelona and no one grabbed him and my Spanish scout knew of him. Malaga sends back a counter at 8.5 mil and 975k 10 goals and friendly. I accept. I get a 2.6 mill offer for Barty from West Brom. That one we won’t do. I reject it and bump him to 7.5 mill asking. They want a new deal for Barty, and I oblige. I triple his salary, extend him through 2018, and pull off promotion increase or yearly increase.

[GoldenEagle]

I hope that doesn't come back to haunt you.

[Abe Sargent]

I hope that doesn't come back to haunt you.

I know, but I've played this game before. Great young striker, playing above the level, big huge team comes wafting for him, and if you don;t let him leave, he really gets irritated and you have no shot at keeping him long term anyway. I might as well move him when I'm up, in a very strong position, and have Wood and Salku able to fill in the gap, you know?

[Abe Sargent]

We host Middlesborough in the middle of all this crazy. We win 1-0 Ilunga I OM with them giving us an OG. This might have been Dongou’s final game for us.

Okay, I just made a ballsy play, Dongou has left and I got a pot of money to play with. I head to my board, which suddenly has a windfall of money. We’ve sold out every game last year and they year in the league, and we need to expand the stadium. They feel it too early to do so, but they do agree to improve our youth facilities. They also declined to expand our scouting range.

I have a ton of transfer money to pick up a striker. Maybe I can find a new Dongou, or perhaps I just find a guy to develop while I play Wood and Salku. My Norwegian side knows of a guy I like. I make an offer for the 22 year old. I make him an offer. Barty signs or 6.5k a week through 2018 – he was making 2.5. It’s a good upgrade, and locks him in for a while. I extend some loans and make some. I sign my new guy.


Say hello to the “new” Dongou. I paid 350k to sign him from Club Brugge, who were disappointed after paying 2.5m mill for him from Rosenberg. I am paying him 8.75k a week.

Mushaga Bakenga, 22, Norway – Speaks English, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish – Balanced, 2 pro caps already

18/17 speed, 15 jumping, 14 stam, balance – 15 finishing, 13 tech, first touch, drib, 10 head, pass, cross – 16 OTB, 13 flair decisions, 12 teamwork, determination, composure, 11 work rate, bravery, anticip. He’s quick, has good jumps, and solid mentals. We can work on his technical He comes in playing the same role, poacher, that Dongou had. I hand him jersey #8. With him, Wood and Balku, we are in a good place I suspect after having moved Dongou for 8.5 mill now and 975k soon.


I throw Bakenga into today’s game. I will run this one myself, to see how he does. NM. I can’t play him. Hes played for his old club plus a loan, so he can’t play for a third club. Crap. The loan in the summer for MLS counted as this year, and I thought it counted for last one. Let’s see how we do with Wood and Salku. I still think we can do well with just those two. We still have one of the best defenses. MM is Barty with a 1-0 win on the road vs Sheffield United. Wood got the sole goal.


Mushaga Bakenga

http://fusballwunderkinder.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/1265748701866_602.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Salku gained a little from Larbi; Avci was delighted with Ilunga; Gorman and Mbemba did very well; Bunjaku and Murphy did very well too. Our youth facilities will be improved in Oct 7, 2015.

USA – We are in Group C of the Gold Cup Group Stage, along with Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago. USA Change. I pull Bocanegra as our captain and off the team. He turns 36 in a few months, he’s aging badly, and it’s time to let him go. I bump Donovan to captain and make Michael Bradley my vice.

Today we host #18 N Forest. Ilunga is pulled. Mbemba is starting or the rest of the season in his spot. We slice them 3-0. MOM is Tonge wit a goal. Wood and Lansbury the other two. I sign a friend of my Czech guy who still was a bit lonely sight unseen, this 15 year old guy came over and it looking really strong. I mean really, this Cezch guy has gotten me two major youth by whining . The new guy is 15 year old Michal Licka. We paid 55k to Brno to sign him away from them. Totally worth it. I’ve been moving and extending loans. Karl Smith returned from Coventry having been made 3rd best young player of the month for that division twice, and had a 7.08 rating in 27 appearance, including 13 goals and 3 assists. I move him to the senior squad. Let’s get him some matches. Not many, maybe two or three subs.

[Abe Sargent]

February is here – Barty Young Player of Month


3rd – Aston Villa, Away – 9th
7th – Leicester, Home – 7th
14th – QPR, Away – 2nd
17th – Bristol City, Away – 16th
21st – Wolves, Home – 3rd
28th – Millwall, Home – 17th


USA

11th – Friendly, Zimbabwe

I put the position of our foes next to them in the league. This month is rough, and I’ll play most of the games without a fast sim, starting with the one vs Aston Villa. Gorman is injured in practice and out for a few weeks with a chest injury. The transfer window is over.

I don’t change my starters. I will begin countering. Wood gets off a shot in the second minute but its blocked by their GK. Lansbury gets a yellow in the 12th minute. Mbembe picks up a knock in the 27th and I pull him for Avci. They score off a cross in the 35th minute They countered the counter. They get another score a few minutes later in the 39th. Nijland scores in the 44th after Salku took a shot and it canonned off the GK and fell to him. They get a goal in the 47th minute before the half. I swap Lansburty for Karl Smith, and trade him with Tonge and Wood They knock Nijland around and I pull him for Bunjaku. That was a major loss. Not how I wanted to begin February. Mbemba is out for about a month with a twisted ankle, so Ilunga is back in the starting lineup

[Abe Sargent]

The 7th is here and with it the Leicester game, in our place. I begin standard, because I don’t want to push too much. Unfortunately, they score in the 6th minute off a nice direct free kick. Wood got a yellow card for that foul that led to the DFK. Luckily, things start to turn our way in the 21st minute, Nijland charges the defense, shoots the ball falls to Murphy in a tight lane but he manages to squeeze it in for a score. Back to even! But not for long. In the 26th minute, Tonge just steals the ball on the sideline, and passes to Nijland, who finds Wood who has a lane open to Salku. Salku shoots, hits the bar, rebounds to him, shoots again and scores. 2-1 us. I pull back to counter. Half time. I tell the lads not to get complacent and they look fired up. We sub in Karl Smith for Salku in the 66th minute. They have little pressure, really. I’m surprised. In the 70s, I pull Tonge for Hammond. Then they start moving forward again. We manage to keep them off and win 2-1. Any win is important, but that was a good one.

Larbi is going to the press about not getting selected. A poll was done by the local paper, and 89% of people say yes. That’s an awesome feature

[Abe Sargent]

USA vs Zimbabwe

Starters include Castillo back from injury, Convey on left for Shea, and everyone else normal. So, Soares and Hedges in DC. I begin controlling. Bradley feeds the ball to Donovan in the 19th minute and he scores. Then a soppy half ensues with little to mention. Half time. 2nd Half. Bradley is injured in the first minute so I put in Torres for him. Subs in the 60s – Acuna for Dempsey, Pontius for Adu, Stepehns for Williams. A Convery goa assisted by Torres in the 69th is called offsides. Last subs in the 76. Spector for Convey, swap with Pontius and Chandler to put Spector in DR, Chandler in MR and Pontius at ML; Altidore for Donovan. In the 89th minute, Altidore runs at goal from the half way line and scores. We wi 2-0, Jozy is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

I get a new contract.


Today we travel to QPR, which is dangerouse. All of the usuals are here. I begin countering. Wood is injured early and I sub in Montano for him. Some pressure from Djibril Cisse, but QPR aren’t able to convert to goals Half time. I tell my lads they did kay but they can improve. Well I looks like they listened. In the 49th, after Battaglia gets a yellow card, he tries to make up for it by a nice pass to Montano, who scorse. Then Cisse scores 7 minutes later. In the 59th minute, Nijland responds. They drop Montano to the ground, so Nijland runs into the space he vacated, gets a pass from Lansbury and is through on goal with the score. Then in the 64th minute, an indirect free kick by Tonge is delivered t the back of the net by Barty. I sub in Bunjaku and Hammond for Tonge and Salku. We hold them off. Despite our dominance, they had MOM. Barty in Team of Week

Frankly, this win makes it very unlikely we will not be promoted this year - we are in front of QPR by 11 and Bolton 12. Even if we fall and get caught, I doubt we are falling out of the 1 or 2 spot. Sure, we still have 15 games and yadda yadda. But barring a collapse of form, which certainly and has happened, I don’t see it, not now that we’ve gotten past most of the difficult games in the second leg. If we can upend Wolves then things will be really set.

[Abe Sargent]

Today we arrive at Bristol City. Fast sim. Barty is MOM, and we win 1-0, with a goal by Wood. The Wolves have fallen up to 4th. I begin standard, and they get a penalty kick off of Gromstad in the 17th minute. Then Ilunga gets a header off a corner in the 35th by Tonge. Half time. Right after the half, Nijland drives and scores after being set up by Murphy off the edge. Their striker counters us and scores in the 59th minute. Then we are upset because we feel we should have gotten a penalty, but we didn’t/ Nijland gets a yellow for arguing with the ref over it. I sub in my usuals, but no more scores an it’s a tie, 2-2. We gave that game away with a penalty kick MOM is Ilunga.

Larbi misses a training day and I issue him a warning. He accepts. The last day of February has arrived and with it the Millwall game. Fast sim. No major alterations to the roster. Just a few massages to the backups. We win 1-0. MOM is Nijland, with Salku scoring. Their coach announces to the press that we should move away from the pack and easily win after playing us. Perhaps with Dongou this would have been 2-0 or 3-0. Selling him didn’t hurt our strong defense. Dongou is being paid 36k a week through 2019. I wouldn’t have been able to keep him through next year even in the EPL, someone would have made an offer to poach him.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to March

7th – Away vs Leeds, 19th
10th – Home vs Hull, 9th
14th – Away vs Huddersfield, 16th
21st – Home vs Watford, 13th
24th – Away vs Scunthorpe, 23rd

USA

28th – Away vs Iran, friendly

Our other matches this year are the Gold Cup ones in June vs Panama, Honduras and T&T, July 1st vs Egypt, July 4th vs North Korea, and the Copa America beginning July 9th with games vs Ecuador, Peru and Argentina. The Iran friendly is the last one before Gold Cup.


Mbemba is back for the Leeds game and starts again in place of Ilunga. We’ll fast sim this one too. This is not exactly a month of powerful teams lined up. We crush them 3-1. MOM is Salku, with two goals. The third was by Nijland. Nijland is in Team of Week

The next match is Hull in our place. The strongest we face in in our place. I loan out some more of my youth to get them some experience. Everybody is talking about us winning, and most are discussing it positivelly Every day I get a chance to respond to some comments, but I usually don’t. I’m not going to personally sim for the 9th team in our place. We crush them 3-0, with Murphy MOM and grabbing a goal. Wood and Nijland the others. Gromstad is out for two weeks and Ilunga is back into the starting lineup.

[Poli]

Enjoying it. Keep it up.

I like the monthly previews. I'm going to try and work that in on mine, if you don't mind.

[Abe Sargent]

Enjoying it. Keep it up.

I like the monthly previews. I'm going to try and work that in on mine, if you don't mind.

Go right ahead!!! Glad you like it

[Abe Sargent]

My new youthers have arrived and I take a look. I get two good strikers. We’ll talk about them later after I sign my other folkses. Today we play away at Huddersfield. We crush them 2-0, Nijland is MM with a goal along with Salku. We have now guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. Murphy, Barty and Nijland are all in Team of Week

I sign those two strikers before the youth game, and my team really liked them and comments publicly. They are Thomas Bates and Dave Lowing. Dave is 16/12 speed 14 finishing, 19 determin, 13 drib, 13 work rate, otb, even a 16 penalty taking. Bates is slower at 9/13, 12 finish, 16 penalty taking as well, 13 drib 14 flair, 15 flu, 11 work rate 15 fitness and balance etc. I sign the recommended players from the game. Six players in total join us. A few days later, I deny interest in the Leeds job.


The Watford match has arrived. We crush them 5-0. Mbemba is MOM with two goals. Others come from Battaglia, Nijland and a penalty from Nijland. It’s nice to score that many goals, but this is what is more important to me. We have conceded one goal in the last five games. That defense is still there. Delle, Mbemba Barty and Battaglia all in Team of Weak

[Abe Sargent]

USA Squad Changes –

I pull Edu. Adu, Bradlye, and Hedges are injured and pulled. I replace them with DC Omar Gonzalez, Middle Brad Davis, who I like because of his great set pieces, and Fabian Johnson. Let’s give Johnson anther go. Spector is withdrawn, so I call up Heath Pearce. I’m still trying to get a D I can rely on – it’s plug and play for now . Actually Pearce rejected my call. Tim Ream is called up instead.


The last game for Crewe for March has arrived. We have many people gone with internationals. Gromstad is back from injury, he subs in for Barty. Salku replaced by Montano. We’re still favored. But it’s a 2-2 tie. Montano is MOM with both goals. Battaglia gave away a penalty. Deadline for loans and free signings passes.

[Abe Sargent]

USA vs Iran


Starters – I put Omar Gonzalez in the space opened up by Hedges’ injury. I drop Dempsey to the right side and put Acuna in the starting role across from Donovan. Bedoya starting for injured Bradley. I wanted Iran and North Korea on the 4th of July to represent the best of us. Maybe I’ll do Cuba for a friendly later. Here we go. I begin controlling away from US soil. They score in the 4th minute when a shot ricochet’s off Howard and into goal. I slide to standard. We start putting on some pressure in the 15th minute. It ends around the 22nd, and it’s back to square. They are tackling our attackers very quickly and efficiently. They score on the counter in the 32nd minute. They score again in the 43rd minute. I come after my guys in the half. Our passes and crosses are off target, we are missing shots badly, and they are tackling the crap out of us, not hard, but quickly and efficiently. In the 60, I pull Gonzalez for Ream, Chandler for Johnson, Soares for Torres and I swap Williams back, and Donovan for Altidore. Now all of my sub-6 rated players are out. At the71, I pull Bedoya for Davis and Convey for Shea. We’ve had some good play in the box in the last ten minutes, but nothing resulted. My worst loss for any USA friendly.

[Abe Sargent]

End o March – Nijland is 3rd place for Player of Month


4th – Away v Brighton, 22nd
6th – Home v Derby, 20th
11th – Home v Reading, 10th
18th – Away v Norwich, 14th
21st – Home v Peterborough, 11th
25th – Away vs Leyton Orient, 4th
May 2nd – Away vs Bolton, 4th


Chart:

Crewe, 91 points
Wolves, 73 points
QPR, 72, +23
Bolton, 72, +18
Wigan, 65

As you can see, not really a contest With seven games left, we are 18 points in front. The liklihood that we will not win is incredible. If we beat Brighton an the Wolves lose or tie, then we win the league. If they win, we just have to win Derby and we win because they run out of space to catch up to us. For this game, Barty is back from international play, as is Salku. Just a 0-0 draw. Larbi is once again absent from training, and I fine him. He accepts it. Oh, and we are guaranteed promotion from the week, so the only question is whether or not we win.

[Abe Sargent]

Derby is coming to our place and crush us 0-2. I think my guys are getting jittery. We’ll smash-hammer Reading and finish this thing. Okay here we go. Time to win and in. We are 14 points up. If we win, even if they do, with just four games left, there is not enough points to matter. We win 3-1, and MOM is Erjon Salku, with two goals. The 3rd by Wood. We have officially won. Okay good job. Very professional. Now we have four games of just fun. I bring in some youth players.

Young talent you can expect to see includes:

ST Dan Martin, 17 years old
ST/AMR Jean-Jacques Casanova, 18 years old
DC, DMC, MC Justin Taylor, 18 years old
DC Declan Dalley, 20 years old
M RL Bjorn Niedrig, 19 years old

These 5 players will be my subs They are English, French, English, Welsh and German, in order. I have 5 players in need of a long rest. By the time my next game starts, if any need more, I will sub them out for youth and activate more of my youth for the backup roles.


I wish I could start singing people now as if I were already in the EPL. In real life, you could.

[Abe Sargent]

Some of my players are coming back from loans. I move Jiri Papuga to the spot where Mbemba is. Per Jall is back from loan and I place him in Tonge’s spot. Players such as Tonge are leaving at the end of the year. Why bother giving him more starts now? He won’t develop. We won’t need to win. Lansbury and Salku in Team of Week. I get news that Lansbsury was injured in the weight room. I pull him from my starting roster and place Taylor in it. I recall Stephen Cooney from his loan and put him in as a sub.

All of these youth have valuable contracts and loads of potential. They are worth Taylor – 1.3 mill; Papuga – 1.3 mill; Jall – 1.2 mill; Dalley – 850k; Niedrig – 1.5 mill; Casanova – 1.4 mill; Cooney – 1.3 mill; Martin – 1.2 mill. Let’s get them some play!


Our match vs Norwich is here. Since three of these games are against weaker foes, hope my youthers can do well. We draw 2-2 on the road. Dan Martin scores, and Wood gets a penalty for another goal. Good result for them. The next game is home vs Peterborough. I move Taylor to the wing and pull Murphy. I put Cooney in for him. I also pull Nijland and place in Casanova. I promote Hadun Baagci and Soren Schneider for the top squad. I also put in Declan Dalley for Gromstad and promote Karl Smith. 0-0 tie, Papuga is MOM I make no changes to the squad for the Leyton Orient game. The team that won already vs the team that lost already. We win 2-1 ad I don’t know why my assi manager moved Montano in, but he got a goal and was MOM. Wood with the other goal I move off my youthers for the last game vs Bolton.

[Abe Sargent]

May has arrived – Barty is Young Player of Month

I pulled my youths. Two players, Dan Martin and Jiri Papuga will remain subs. Bolton is the last match of the year. It’s a 3-3 tie with Wood netting twice and Nijland once. Stats time!


With 87, we had the most goals. With 43, we allowed the fewest. We were 17th in goals from corners, 4th with 10 in goals from IFKs, 15th tie with 1 dfk. 20th lowest salary in league. With 17, even though he was traded in January Dongou was tied for 9th most. Our next best were Wood and Nijland, tied at 14 each, tied at 23rd - With 16, Nijland was 2nd in league in assiss. Tonge was tied for 7th with 13, Wood had 12. With 8, Barty led the league with the most MOM. Dongou was tied for 5rd with 6. Delle had 19 shut outs, leading the league. With 54 Nijland was 2nd in key passes. Lansbury tied for 14th with 33. With 144, Barty led, by far, for most key headers. Second place was 102. With 289, Barty had the most interception. Barty was 5th in overall rating, Dongou tied for 7th, Nijland was 13th Salku finished with 11 goals, 8 assists, Wood with 14 and 12, Lansbury 4 and 9, Battaglia with 3 and 5 (played a more defensive role, if you’ll recall), Tonge 2 and 13, and even Delle had an assist. Wood finished w a7.11 rating, Lansbury with a 7.10, Mbemba with a 7.04, Salku and Ilunga with 7.00

Well done lads.

[Abe Sargent]

Why did we crush the Championship this year? I have some thoughts


One – Delle had 19 shut outs out of 46 games. Even when my offense wasn’t clicking, we were keeping things close. Delle is arguably the best GK in the league, and when you have that, things start to happen. His value has risen to 1.6 mill and I had to put his price at 5 mill to scare off some Italian clubs that put him on their short list.

Two – Real strikers besides Dongou. Last year, we got 5th with Dongou leading our scoring. This year, even before selling him, I was getting production from Wood and Salku, and we were able to keep that going post-Dongou. A real emphasis on spreading goals out worked, not only to increase our scoring but to give us a foundation

Three – No major injuries Last year we had serious injury concerns but nothing major this time. That was a serious contributing factor.

Four – Real Middies – I’ve said it before, my three new guys really stepped up and played well.

Five – Our facilities. If you’ll recall, one of the reasons that I chose Crewe was top class training facilities. We really saw that with the growth of my players. For example, Joe Mckee began with an 11 passing, and by the time he left he had a 16. Dongou got faster and more accurate, Delle has improved, Barty has improved, Nijland has improved, and so forth. Our training facilities have enabled my team to become nasty.

Six – Juggernaut capability. Sometimes in sports you notice a team overachieve a bit or a lot from the beginning, and their morale is up and they keep on winning until they’ve won everything and you wonder, looking back, how they ever did it. That happened to us this year in a way it didn’t happen when we won the league in years 1 or 2. I have never won a league before this dynasty, I had been promoted via playoffs or a promotion spot outside of them. I had never gotten to the EPL. This year I did all of these things, but again, all were believable The #8 team adds talent such as McKee, Jau, Ilunga, Addo and powerful striker loanees and wins. Ilunga managed two good seasons in the Championship, so you can see what he did in L1 or L2. The next year, add in some more powerful signings, such as Larbi, Carlos, Quintin, and other players, and you have the remedy for doing well and winning. Then get promoted, sign an amazing talent such as Dongou who was let go by Barcelona, sign older patches and younger talent such as Delle, Nijland and Barty. Get 5th. Then take the 5th best team, add a bunch more youth and improve in almost every way and you have a Juggernaut.

I was ruthless. You can’t be sentimental. I considered extended Addo into year three, but I stayed the course. I thought about bringing Ilunga back for next year, but I am staying the course. We’ll have a bunch of new starters next year, and probably some older patches again. I’ll keep Barty, Delle and maybe Nijland for sure. Everything else is up for bid. We have to be ruthless.

By the way, Bobby Shou Wood has gone up to 2 mill.


My board announce an expansion of the stadium to meet the EPL demands. They scrap our youth facilities expansion to do it though. It should be complete in roughly 5 months and add 2500 seats.

[Abe Sargent]

USA Time – I have to choose my final squad for the Gold Cup

Zak Whitbread is injured, therefore pulled – Spector is injured still and cannot be brought in.

I pull Tim Ream, and add Heath Pearce, despite his orneriness

Matt Hedges is back in

I pull Michael Stephens. I add Freddy Adu to replace him

Bobby Convey vs Brek Shea – Convey +2 crossing +5 corners, -2 first touch, -4 finishing, -4 heading, -3 long shots, +3 marking, +1 passing, -5 penalty taking, +1 tacking -3 technique

A very confused technical list. Each has strength and weaknesses.

Shea is -1 accel, +5 pace, -2 agi, -4 bal, +7 jump, -1 fitnes, +4 str

Again, very confused list

Convey is -9 aggression, -1 concentration, -2 determination, +1 flair, -1 off the ball, -4 teamork, +1 work rate

So mentally, Shea is better.

Castillo to Convey – Castillo is faster, worse as a jumper, better technique passing, worse crossing, first touch, better long shots, mark, tack, better mentally almost across the board – aggression, anticip, brave, composure, concentration, creativity, flair, otb, position, team work, but less work rate Castillo is better mentally, and roughly equal physically and a bit worse technically. Castillo is the better player.

Shea and Castillo will be my starters on the left. I’m bringing back Pearce because he can sub in the DC without a loss of speed. Fabian Johnson is here since J Spector is not, to give me a sub for Chandler at the DR spot, but he can also sub in for Castillo if needed. With three players who can start at DL, plus Williams in the MC who can do so as well, Convey is superfluous there. Then add middies such as Adu and Davis to and Convey isn’t on the left side either. If he had beaten out Shea, Shea would have been cut and he’s be on. Since he doesn’t, he’s pulled.

Bradley is injured and cannot be chosen. Maurice Edu is brought up in his place, as I value experience right now.

[Abe Sargent]

Each player and why:



GK Tim Howard - Starter
GK Brad Guzan – The only backup really worth it
GK Sean Johnson – The best of a bad situation

Daniel Williams – Start in the middle, but can also play all D slots and DMC.
Omar Gonzalez – To have someone with skill and speed in my DC
AJ Soares – Another with some degree of speed and skill as a DC
Matt Hedges – Yet another with the same
Edgar Castillo – Starting DL
Timothy Chandler –Starting DR
Fabian Johnson – Sub as DR/DL as needed
Heath Pearce – Can sub as DL, DC, and ML.
Jose Fernando Torres – One of my best MCs. Not great, but better than many – can also play MR
Maurice Edu – Plays DM or MC, wanted experience of the man
Landon Donovan – Plays in every spot on the field outside of D, but starts at ST
Alejandro Bedoya – Like Torres, a good solid MC
Clint Dempsey – Love right wing, also plays well as ST. Starts as MR
Chris Pontius – Backup MR/ML and ST
Brad Davis – Backup MC an ML who is great at set pieces – best American in the pool
Brek Shea – Starts at ML
Freddy Adu – Plays MR or Ml solidly. 2nd best set piecer
Jozy Altidore – Will start at ST
Isaac Acuna – 3rd Striker option for when you want a true striker


That’s as good as I can make it – my changes are here, Acuna, Shea, Hedges, plus Davis and Gonzalez.

[Abe Sargent]

Man U won four trophies this year

Pontius suffers a dead leg but it should be okay.

We pay out 1.4 mill in bonuses to my folks

Arsene Wenger retires. I am in the hot list and I do NOT deny that rumor.

Despite a mid year trade, Dongou won Young Player of the Year. Barty and Nijland were in 1st Eleven for Championship.

Our initial budget is 160k/week and 28m in transfer kitty.

[Abe Sargent]

Arsenal have offer me the head coach role. I have a 51m transfer budget, 2.3 mill salary a week, with just 1.84 m being used right now

I have to consider this seriously. What do I want to do with this dynasty. This makes sense. A Welsh manager takes a L2 team to EPL in four years, you take notice. This is an amazing offer

Players on the Arsenal team include Robin van Persie, Andre Ayew, Leandro Damiao, and many more.

Is this dynasty about Crewe? Or it is about just playing, and accepting the challenge of moving to an EPL club near the top and trying to push them over?

I have saved the game in the same slot I saved when Addo was made an offer for an incredible amount of money, and I had to ponder it for a bit. The save’s name is “The Choice”

Am I tired of Crewe? Am I tired of this dynasty?

I need some thinking time.

Discussion

Why to take it:

Transfer Kitty + salary = room to shape the club in any direction I want! I can move to different players, styles, tactics and more. This is a team that needs a new GK, and we can sign one of the best is the game. It’s like a Christmas list!

It’s faster. I can fast forward to Europe and winning Cups or contention for the league. I don’t have to wait a few years building my team up. Frankly I may not even play more than one year. I’ve only played more than five year twice before, and one occasion I went to six and once to five. I’d be surprised if I keep this past next year. I might, one never knows after all. But taking Arsenal speeds us up, and that is quite important.

It makes sense. No one turns down Arsenal unless they have a team of equal esteem and resources. Imagine Dario Gradia for Crewe. The best he got was top ten in the Championship during the Dean Ashton years. Suppose they kept Ashton and qualified for the EPL that year. Now imagine if Everton had offered Dario the manager spot. No matter how loyal he was to Crewe or how many years he had been there, he’s jumping ship. Arsenal is a plumb EPL club. You say yes to Man U, Liverpool, and Arsenal. It just makes sense.

I don’t like losing. For the first time in this dynasty I will have a year where I lose with Crewe. Taking Arsenal skips past that issue.

Arsenal is likely quicker. I don’t have to find as many signings or take as much time pouring over scout reports. It’s largely on auto pilot in real senses.



Why to stick with Crewe:

This dynasty has been overwhelmingly easy. I’ve gotten lucky to find the right people. My Spanish scout knew Dongou, my Polish one Dongou. I’ve been lucky to have signings such as Carlos, Michael Owen, Eric Addo, Herita Ilunga and many more. We found top talent for our league, and got them to sign. Having this go up in difficutly is not a bad thing

I’d love to keep Crewe in the EPL. We all know that if I hope to Arsenal, Crewe is likely to fall back down. Not necessarily, but likely.

The last four years need to matter If I hop to Arsenal, then it’s like starting a dynasty, playing four years without a job, and then taking the Arsenal job. It’s like my four years at Crewe don’t even matter.

[GoldenEagle]

I say stick with Crewe. If this dynasty was about moving up, you could have done that already. While you are ruthless, I think you are attached to the players and have been formulating a long-term plan.

Basically, you have the choice of trying to win the league or being in a regulation fight.

Plus you have 28m to spend with Crewe. I think you can do a lot of good with that.

[Abe Sargent]

Press Conference, June 2, 2015


“Hello, and thank you very much for joining me today. As you know, I have been offered the manager role at Arsenal to replace Arsene Wenger. It’s humbling to know that a team as significant as Arsenal wants you, and doubly so to follow such as icon. Today I have come to announce my decision. After sleepless nights, I have decided to stay at Crewe Alexandra, and to decline the Arsenal offer. Yes Jacob?

Well, I had an intention to bring Crewe to the strongest league in football, and I did. My team and staff performed wonderfully and we were promoted here faster than I thought we would be. This is exhilarating. But my mission is not yet complete. I mean to buy some land, then shop for supplies. Once that’s happened, we begin building, do some marketing and hiring staff, and then, after everything is done, set up shop here. Jane?

You are right, many managers have wanted to stay in the Premiership for perpetuity. Almost all have failed. So how do I know we will succeed? I don’t. That’s what makes it so breathtakingly interesting. Yes Brian?

What does my analogy mean? I have several stages. The first, buying land, is to stay here long enough to get the money from this league and become financially secure. Buying materials is picking up young players who can develop while we are building our club’s training and stadium. Once that’s done, we’ve built the shop with this development, and then we just finish things, and reap the rewards. That’s my plan to stay here long term. I expect Crewe’s name alongside of the best and brightest this great nation has. Thank you for your time”

[Abe Sargent]

I say stick with Crewe. If this dynasty was about moving up, you could have done that already. While you are ruthless, I think you are attached to the players and have been formulating a long-term plan.

Basically, you have the choice of trying to win the league or being in a regulation fight.

Plus you have 28m to spend with Crewe. I think you can do a lot of good with that.

Yeah, me too

[Abe Sargent]

Crewe have been invited to a Welsh Tour due to our popularity there, probably due to me. I accept. We are playing Carmarthen, Port Talbot and Bala.

A lot of English youth players are released, so I take a look to see if I can find some diamonds in the rough. Maybe there’s a Dongou here. I find no major youth prospects available. Sad. I add some folks to my shortlist and begin scouting interesting youth players. I begin with a pair of ST and about six DCs. No insult to Mbemba or Gromstad or Balku or Wood or my other new guy, but I can’t hold steady. Alright, let’s focus on the Gold Cup, then I can come back to transfers.


Arsenal appointed the Everton manager to their spot, and rumors are that Everton want me. I deny them in the press. Sunderland’s manager goes to Everton, and rumors are I’m their top option, again I decline. Offers has been made for Sam Johnstone, and I accept.


Who was promoted, and who demoted?

Championship Crewe, Wolves, Bolton – Relegated – Brighton, Scunthrope Leyton Orient
EPL – Relegated Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Burnley
1st League – Promoted Barnsley, Tranmere, Sheff Wed – Relegated Oldham, Preston, Doncaster, Brentford
2nd League – Plymouth, Coventry, Swindon, Carlisle – Relegated Aldershot, Bury

[Abe Sargent]

Gold Cup


The expectations of our Gold Cup Venture is to make the finals

The first game arrives. We are playing Panama. Here we go. I begin standard. This is our first on-friendly match. We have pressure in the first 15. No goals, but it should come. I move to control. Too many wasted possessions, and I take a look at that in the half. I have them pass more directly and other the middies to take less long shots. We head into the second half. Dempsey is playing awful, where is he trying to cross to, Egypt? I pull Altidore in the 63rd after he gets a knock and swap in Acuna. I then move to attacking. Next sub is Dempsey for Pearce, and I swap Pearce ad Chandler. Next sub is Gonzalez for Hedges. I move to Overload in the 82nd minute. Nothing, 0-0 tie. I tell my boys that was not good enough. The other game was a tie too.

[Abe Sargent]

Next up is the Honduras game. No changes to my starters. I begin standard again. Not much early, but on the counter, Donovan finds Jozy who rushes and scores a goal at the 36th minute. I remind them at the half not to get complacent, and 6 seem motived or fired. Donovan nails a direct free kick in the top right corner at the 47th minute. Firsts sub – Bedoya out, Torres in. They score in the 62nd minute. They ran a guy behind Hedges and Castillo. Sub #2 – Fabian Johnson in for Castillo. 3rd sub in the 82nd – Williams out for Davis. I move to Counter. Game, we win 2-1. T&T ad Panama tied, so we have 4 points, they each have 2 and Honduras 1.


(Sunderland hire Wolves coach, Wolves are rumored to want me, I rejects those)

[Abe Sargent]

Today we play Trinidad and Tobago, and if we win or tie, we get out. If we lose, and the other game ties, we are out. No changes to squad. I begin controlling. Shea is injured in the 22nd I pull him for Davis. Half time, with us just not able to break the cherry. I express my displeasure. Donovan fids Altidore running behind their line onsides, and him Jozy for a score. 59th minute. Next sub – Bedoya for Pontius, swaps with Dempsey to put him inside and Pontius out. Davis has had IFKs and corners in good places, we just haven’t had people on the other side to deliver. At the 83 I make my last sub – pull Donovan for Acuna. I slide to counter. We win. AJ Soares is MOM. I tell them we got away with that but it’s nto good enough later, and they seem to get it.

Quarterfinals

Granada vs Jamaica
Canada vs Honduras
Mexico vs El Salvador
Costa Rica vs USA

[Abe Sargent]

I get a chance to add someone to my team, and Bradley is now healthy, so I add him.

Our game arrives vs Costa Rica. I move Bradley to my starting role. I begin standard. Jozy gets a yellow in the 14th minute. We get a goal just a few moments later when Dempsey hoofs a ball to Donovan on a run behind their defense. He sinks the 1:1 Goal opportunity . Altidore steals the ball from a defender, and solos a goal against their GK in the 40th minute. Half time. I pull a tired Bradley for Adu. 2nd sub is Dempsey out, Fabian Johnson in. He gets a yellow before he leaves. Williams grabs one too. Torres for Chandler final swap. Chandler gets a goal just before the swap after Donovan’s shot is deflected by a defender. We win 3-0. Chandler is MOM. This was Chanlder’s first goal


Semi:

Honduras vs Jamaica
Mexico vs USA

[Abe Sargent]

Jamaica beat Honduras in the Semis. Bradley is too tired and I put Bedoya back in. If we win this game vs Mexico, then we are in a good place to win. If not, that’s okay. We were expected to make the final, and we make the semi final and lose to the best team. That’d be okay. I begin counter. Mexico on a counter lob Tim Howard and score in the 4th minute. Donovan gets a yellow. Altidore goes down hard at the 14th, so I put in Acuna. Shea collects a yellow. Half. Alright, second half. They get a 1:1 opportunity vs Howard and sink it in the 53rd. Next sub is Donovan out, swapping with Dempsey, and then putting in Torres. I have very tired folks, so I sub my other guy here at 63, Fabian Johnson in for Shea. They score again in the 71st but it’s called off due to a foul. They score in the 81st and its not called off. Game. We lost. Well, we are out of the Gold Cup.

Back to Crewe.

[Abe Sargent]

Today is the 24th of June. The first thing I want to do is look at staff. I can get more.


I reup my Australian scout for two years, my Austrian one for the same, my French scout I’ve had with me since L2, .

I make an offer to an Ivorian scout, Gilles Yapi Yapo, with 61 caps. I also make an offer to Mancini, a Brazilian and Italian scout. Finally I offer Junior Agogo, a Ghanaian scout.

I have these coaches up in a week:

Fitness Coach Jimmy Hendry
Coach Mark Chamerlain
Coach Brian Tinnion
Physio Paul Hunter
Coach James Bowker

I need a GK, Fitness, Ball Control, Tactics, and Shooting. Can I get better than 4 for these guys?

I find a GK Coach. I can’t find a better Tactics, so I offer Bowker to stay for two years. I make an offer to a coach for ball control. I also find a guy who’s better as a shooting coach. I make them offers. I hire a new Physio and extend mine as well. There is a Fitness coach I love but he wants 1200, so I try to open my salary. It works, and I make an offer to Carlo Nicolini.

Staff is done.

[Abe Sargent]

Players leaving of note:

Ilunga, Hammond, Tonge, Larbi, Benali, Bunjaku, Gorman

I make an offer to extend Alban Bunjaku as a hot prospect. They want backup instead. I stay with that. I make an offer of 4.1k./week

I make an offer to extend Gorman’s deal. We make an offer of 2k/week and hot prospect deal.

The rest will be allowed to leave - I’ll move both to my reserves.

We are left with just these players on my first team:

GK Joris Delle, Sam Johnstone about to be sold
DC Bartlomiej Szewczyk, Tor Marius Gromstad, Pieter Mbemba
ST Mushaga Bakenga, Erjon Salku, Bobby Shou Wood, Cristian Montano
MR
ML David Murphy
MC Rodrigo Battaglia, Henri Lansbury
AMC Stef Nijland


So we need to pick up some folks.

I focus first on MR. I do some scouting. My Austrian scout knows of a guy I like, so I make an offer. I wait on everyone else. I want to get to June 30 before I get too transfer crazy.