Level 23: Keymer & Hassocks (FM 16)

[Izulde]

Thanks to Greyfriars, I hunted down the Level 23 English mod. There's only one team available at the lowest level, a 9 team league called the Mid Sussex Football League Division 10. So, say hello to Keymer & Hassocks. It took me a while to figure out the staff search function's location, and my scout sucks ass, so I literally went out and signed the tallest players I could. The shortest guy on the roster is 6'4.

Goalkeepers
Tahj Bell (24) - 2.5/4 - Bermuda - 2 caps, 3 U20 caps
Melvin Minter (20) - 3.5/4
Nathan Dennis (19) - 1.5/4

Defender Left
Lee Thomas (24) - 0.5/1.5
Callum Richings (19) - 1/4

Defender Center
Miguel Pascal-Johnson (19) 4/4
Philip Ojapah (26) - 4/4
Liam Francis (25) - 3/3
Chris Abbott (20) - 2/4

Defender Right
Lee Close (22) - 4/5
Luke Murden (20) - 4/4
Jordan Browne (21) - 2.5/4.5
Richings - 1/4

Defensive Midfielder
Ojapah - 2.5/2.5
Pascal-Johnson - 2/4
Browne - 0.5/2

Left Midfielder
Michael Martin (19) - 2/4
Thomas - 0.5/0.5
Jack Colley (22) - 0.5/2

Center Midfielder
Mark Bell (25) - 2/2
Abbott - 1.5/4
Richings - 1/4
Martin - 2.5 silver/4

Right Midfielder
Greg Hackett (19) - 3.5/4
Bell - 1.5/1.5
Colley - 0.5/1

Attacking Midfield Left
Martin - 3/4
Thomas - 0.5/0.5
Colley - 0.5/2

Attacking Midfield Center
N/A

Attacking Midfield Right
Andrew Osei-Siribour (23) - 3.5/5
Bell - 2/2
Hackett - 2/4
Johnathan Woolf (26) - 1.5/1.5
Colley - 0.5/0.5

Striker
Osei-Siribour - 2.5/5
Josh Tennant (21) - 1.5/4
Craig Hughes (27) - 1.5/1.5
Colley - 0.5/0.5
Hackett - 2.5 silver/1

So we're weak at DL, MC, and ST, and can use a variety of possible tactics. I have a vanilla 4-4-2 right now, but change to a 4-1-2-3 DM Wide to see how that does, and take advantage of the powerhouse AML/AMR pairing of Martin and Osei-Siribour.

I'm also going with Bell over Martin in the net, based on the idea that international experience matters.

I very stupidly forgot to put in subs for our last friendly, and Tahj Bell went down for 6-7 weeks. More disastrously, I had to put an outfield player in goal, and we went from 1-0 lead to 1-2 loss as a result. Oops.

We sell a grand total of 5 season tickets! 5! Must be the friends and family of like 5 players. All three of our goalies are now injured after Melvin Minter goes out 5 weeks. Ridiculous.

Transfer In - DL Sam Gore - 26
Transfer In - DL Marcel McKie - 30
These two guys represent massive upgrades on one of the weakest areas of our team. McKie is a better player physically, so he'll get the start, but he can also slot over to DC if need be.

Transfer In - DM Danny Leonard (19)
Fantastic upgrade at the DM spot, and one that allows us to move Pascal-Johnson to his more suited DC position. Not an area of huge need by any means, but any time you can upgrade your talent level, you go for it.

Transfer In - MC Michael Phillips (32)
Our first really old guy, but the improvement in talent was simply too much to ignore. Well, 30 year old McKie is older too, but yeah, you get the general idea.

Transfer In - ST Bode Anidgube (19)
Leaps and bounds above everyone else on the roster as a striker with a fabulous for this level 12 finishing. He'll fit in beautifully in the Poacher role our setup calls for, I think.

Transfer In - MC Karl Beckford (30)
We're starting to get a nice mix of youth and veteran savvy on the squad now, and Beckford will pair with Phillips to fix our last major, gaping hole in terms of talent on the roster.

Well, suddenly our DR and our two wingers don't look so great in comparison, but we'll keep rolling with it for now. Lee Close is now considered our worst starter at 2*, which I can live with.

Marcel McKie goes out 4-5 weeks shortly before our first real match. And oh, neat! My assman makes team instruction suggestions before the game. I take a couple, ignore the rest.

We lost $294 our first month. Lovely. How the hell are we supposed to make money?!

Worse yet, we're expecting a grand total of 10 people in our 1,000 seat stadium for the Tester Challenge Cup.

Oh, which reminds me!

Finances: Okay
Value: $20k
Stadium: Adastra Park
Capacity: 1,000
Training facilities: Poor
Youth facilities: Basic
Junior coaching: Minimal
Youth recruitment: Limited

Coaching Attributes: All 5, save 1 in Technical and 11 Working with Youngsters
Mental Attributes: Adaptability 5, Determination 8, Player Knowledge 1, Youngster Knowledge 1, Man Management 4, Level of Discipline 2, Motivating 11

[law90026]

Can't wait for another Izulde FM dynasty.

[Izulde]

vs Hartlefield II (Tester Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Bode Anidugbe

These guys won their first league match 7-2! Going to be a real tester all right. Har har!

10 - Osei-Siribour deflects a pass, snags the rebound, and charges all the way down the right flank before crossing to Anidugbe. The shot's deflected, but the rebound sinks home, and HELLO HOT START!!! 1-0

48 - Brilliant interception by Close, and the pass is on to Osei-Siribour. Against like three defenders, he launches a long ball to Anidugbe. No magic this time, but there's a corner, and Beckford hits it right on Ojapah's head for the insurance!!! 2-0

57 - Richings and Browne replace Gore and Close respectively at the fullback spots.

Phillip Ojapah wins PotM with a sensational 8.0 showing. Not only did he garner the goal, but he dominated in the air. 7.5 for Karl Beckford and 7.2 for Michael Phillips - not to mention the 7.1 for Bode Anidugbe.

But it's a costly win, as Andrew Osei-Siribour, the architect of much of our success in that game, goes out 4-5 weeks with a chest injury.

@ Stones II
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

We're the only team who has yet to play a single game in the league, so here's our debut. Stones II drew their first and only contest.

14 - Hackett has the ball on the right side of the box and centers to Andigube, the defense swarming our striker. He lays off to Martin, who niftly pirouettes around the defender and fires it home! The announcers rave about Andigube's setup of the strike. 1-0

27 - Phillips backtracks to fetch a loose ball and sends it to Gore. The cross to Anidugbe, and the sliding shot sinks in! 2-0

29 - Hackett grabs an intercepted ball and crosses to Martin, who traps, dribbles, and goes to cross, but we get the fluke goal instead! 3-0

47 - Gore is beat out for a ball, and there's nothing we could do about that one. 3-1

61 - Richings is in for Gore, who has stunk. Pascal-Johnson slides up to DM, and Abbott comes in at DC, replacing the tired Leonard.

82 - Midfield play caps off with Beckford firing it out to Close on the far right wing. Then there's a cross behind the defense, and no one's paying attention as Andigube sneaks up and puts it away, the goalie never even looking in his direction. DI-ZAMN! 4-1

9.0 for Michael Phillips, 7.9 for Greg Hackett, 8.8 for Michael Martin, and 9.2 for PotM Bode Andigube, who has been exactly the type of poacher I hoped he would be!

Now of course we'll probably lose our next five games. :p Oh, and we didn't get any money for that cup win we had, I don't think. Boo.

[Izulde]

Can't wait for another Izulde FM dynasty.

Thanks! :) As much as I bitch about the hell of amateur clubs and the annual summer raids, it's pretty damn cool to try and build up the ranks. And at this level, I'll imagine I'll deal with it for a while. :D It's like playing D-League in DDS games. I just hope some of these guys will stick around for a few seasons.

Mark Bell is out for 7-9 weeks. Not a big deal. He's a backup.

Transfer In - DR Szymon Sidorowicz (27)
Yeah, I'm always addicted to non-native players. Say hello to this Polish vet, who pretty much is instantly one of the best players on the squad, and our third non-English guy (Bermudan goalie obvs, and Michael Martin, our AML starter, is Northern Irish).

A decent crowd is now 10 people. Cute.

vs Fairwarp II (5th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

4 - We're playing way soft, Tai. 0-1

14 - Beautiful rainbow by Hackett, and it's picked up by Andigube. Defense is toast, and Andigube puts on that heat! 1-1

18 - Lousy defense on that corner kick 1-2

57 - Close in for our disappointing Pole, Abbott for Ojapah

90 - Hackett gets the ball deep in our half, and it's shot out far down the right line to Close. The cross to Martin, but the center to Anidgube is intercepted. No problem, as Martin gets it right back and hits the late equalizer himself. 2-2

FUUUUUUUCK!!!! BODE ANIDGUBE IS OUT 5-6 WEEKS WITH A HAMSTRING INJURY!!!!!!

Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!!!!

Transfer In - DC Chris Saunders (27)
A Welshman this time, who can play several different positions. For now, he'll get a crack at starting at DC, though he's also our first backup option at MC.

We made $27 last month. Yay.

@ Scaynes Hills II (6th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Andrew Osei-Siribour

The one good thing about our hero's injury is that it allows us to delay the decision over who should be our starting AMR. Hackett has been balla as fuck in replacement of Osei-Siribour, who is great himself.

60 - Ojapah in for a tired Saunders.

72 - Abbott goes on for an injured Phillips

90 - After a long buildup down the middle of the pitch, (and just our second highlight of the game), Osei-Siribour sprays it to Hackett on the right side of the box. A cross to Martin later, we have yet more late game heroics! 1-0

It's the kind of game where Tahj Bell's 7.1 wins PotM. Matching 7.1s come for Sam Gore and Gene Hackett, with Michael Martin just under at 7.0.

Michael Phillips is out 4-5 weeks. There's like 4 teams who have 7 points now, including us, but we have a game in hand on most of them. The 2nd place team (we're technically in 1st) also has a game in hand. BTW, the top 2 teams in the league promote. Just so you know.

Transfer In - ST Jesse Darko (22)
The Austrian kid isn't quite at Bode's level, but his ceiling is higher (3.5/5). Also much more a target man than a poacher, but whatever. He'll slot in as the starter for the time being.

Transfer In - MC Ryan Richefond (19)
Not only is he a young kid rather than our old dudes, he's immediately our best midfielder. *Very* jazzed to get him, and he'll step into our ever-shifting lineup as well.

vs Hartlefield II (6th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

I decided it's best to ride the hot hand, similar to how Gore took over for McKie and hasn't really looked back. We're expecting 20 people to show up to this one, which is a damn banner crowd. Funny what winning does.

49 - Osei-Siribour on for the injured Darko. Can't keep strikers healthy. It's been a boring game, by the way.

61 - McKie on for the terrible Gore

89 - Hackett has had a rough game so far, but the opponents make the curious decision to head back out of the goal box. Hackett intercepts, the long ball goes to Osei-Siribour, and with just one defender between him and the keeper, he nails it! Yet another miracle late goal. 1-0

Nice debut for Ryan Richefond, quietly picking up PotM with 7.4 on his debut as he controlled the midfield. 7.3 for Danny Leonard, who never shows up in highlights ever. 7.2 for Miguel Pascal-Johnson, 7.0s for Szymon Sidorowicz and Andrew Osei-Siribour.

Minor injury for Jesse Darko - out 9-12 days.

Nutley II passes up for first with their own game in hand, but we're both 3 points up on 3rd place, so I don't really mind it. Actually, scratch that. Three teams with 10 points each, but 1st and 2nd both have games in hand.

We lost $969 last month. Fans love the Michael Martin signing, but hate on Sam Gore. Guess we need to stop scouting players and go with what we have available to us.

25% of the way through the season. I really want to promote, in hopes that we'll start getting bigger crowds.

[Izulde]

@ Ringmer III (9th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

This team has a big fat 0 points in 4 games, so we need to win here.

23 - McKie with the throw-in to Anidugbe in the box, who passes it right back. The high ball to Hackett, and the header just manages to find the net! 1-0

A little disappointing to only be up by 1 at the break, as we've been getting a lot of good looks at the net.

57 - Osei-Siribour in for the injured again Anidugbe. Ugh.

61 - 20 million clearances, but we never get the ball back, and finally one goes in. 1-1

66 - Ojapah on for the ineffectual Saunders

70 - Sidorowicz receives the pass on the right wing, and the long cross to the far post finds Osei-Siribour's head for the go-ahead goal. 2-1

79 - Interception of an interception by Richefond, and the immediate pass to Osei-Siribour. Two defenders on him, and he very calmly kicks it past both and into the net!!! 3-1

7.9 for Szymon Sidorowicz, 7.6s from Marcel McKie and Danny Leonard, 8.9 for PotM Ryan Richefond, 8.0 for Greg Hackett, and 8.6 for supersub Andrew Osei-Siribour. Exactly the kind of win we needed.

Average attendance at our games has been 16 people, 6th best in the league out of 9 teams.

vs Nutley II (3rd)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

Our most important match of the year to date. Win this one, and we've got ourselves a great cushion on the promotion places. Lose, and it's back into the dogfight.

6 - Richefond intercepts a header to start a counter-move that culminates in Martin receiving a long cross, then crossing in turn to Hackett for the easy-breezy score. I love how my attacking wingers are working in this setup. 1-0

6 - And they immediately answer 1-1

9 - Fucking awful defending on that free kick 1-2

41 - Bell goes down, giving Dennis his first crack.

43 - Anidugbe has it on the left wing and backpasses to Martin. A booming kick to a wide open Hackett sees a just before half tying header score. 2-2

51 - Osei-Siribour jumps on for the exhausted Anidugbe

60 - All alone is Beckford in their half. The pass to Hackett, and he threads it through FOUR defenders, the needle finding the unmarked Osei-Siribour for the go-ahead goal!!! 3-2

62 - McKie throws it in to Martin and has an immediate giveback. Near post cross to Osei-Siribour, and here's a little more insurance! 4-2

Ryan Richefond grabs a 7.5, Greg Hackett a PotM 9.1, Michael Martin a cool 7.7, and a dazzling 8.6 off the bench for Andrew Osei-Siribour.

We lose Tahj Bell for 3 months to a dislocated shoulder. I think I like Nathan Dennis better than Melvin Minter, because Minter's handling is a negative, and that always scares me.

vs Crawley Cobras II (Tester Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Jesse Darko

We decided to give some starters a rest today to ensure they stay fresh down the stretch in league play.

18 - Osei-Siribour and Sidorowicz play give and go on the right side of the pitch before our Polish right defender crosses to Martin. The shot clangs off the bar, but the Northern Irishman is there for his own rebound, and this goes in. 1-0

61 - Tennant in for Darko; Francis for Pascal-Johnson. We really need to give Martin a break too, but I have no AML players on the bench.

80 - Osei-Siribour passes into the box for Tennant. Shot is blocked, but Osei-Siribour gets the deflection and plays a pristine pass into space, allowing Tennant to virtually walk it in! 2-0

81 - Phillips slides down to DM, allowing Richings to take over at MC. Leonard is not only tired, he has a yellow card.

85 - Well that was just stupid, sloppy work on Dennis's part. 2-1

7.1 for Szymon Sidorowicz, 7.5 for Karl Beckford, 7.4 for Andrew Osei-Siribour and 7.6 for PotM Michael Martin.

We continue to bleed money even though we're literally not paying anyone. $450 in the red.

@ Rotherfield III (4th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Anidugbe is out with a cold, so Darko gets the call again. Close has been bitching about lack of PT, and he's one of the highest potential guys, so I give him a start to shut him up.

3 - Great job directing traffic by Beckford, the temporary captain for the game. He laterals to Richefond for the forward pass to Martin. A seamless feed into the box sees Darko just beat the defense for the Austrian's first goal for us. 1-0

7 - [b]Hackett[b] burns past everyone on the right wing, and I thought his cross to Darko meant the striker's second score, but nope! Fluke goal. Lulz. 2-0

48 - Just before half, Richefond is knocked out, requiring us to move Saunders up to MC and Pascal-Johnson in at DC.

Second half is whatever. Lot of low 7s here, with the only standout being Greg Hackett's 7.7 for PotM.

We lose Ryan Richefond for 3 months with a torn groin muscle. Ouch on so many levels.

The hits just keep coming. Michael Martin and Andrew Osei-Siribour will miss our next game with the flu, and Bode Anidugbe strains his thigh, missing a month at least.

On the plus side, we're up 6 points on 2nd and 3rd place heading into the halfway game of the year.

[Izulde]

vs Ashurst Wood III (3rd)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Jack Colley/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Note: Nathan Dennis has been starting these last several games in net - I just keep forgetting to change that in the copy/paste. Oops.

51 - We're playing like ass until Phillips intercepts, shoots it out to Hackett for the long, long right wing run. The center to Darko, and we finally look a little alive out there. 1-0

53 - Amazing interception work by Close to start a counter that sees Hackett backpass to Beckford, and there's the boomer sooner down the middle of the pitch. Darko has everyone beat, and the goal is easy. 2-0

54 - Thomas on for Colley; Richings for McKie.

58 - Complete left side meltdown. 2-1

77 - Tennant relieves an exhausted, amazeballs Darko.

7.4 for Greg Hackett and 8.8 for PotM Jesse Darko. We really didn't play that well at all.

Our first good training report as Austrian striker Jesse Darko had a great month.

Yay, we made $156 last month, our biggest profit to date, I think?

Interesting. Brackley Town, a semi-pro team in Vanarama National League North (think Conf North/South), fired their manager, and I'm on the shortlist of candidates. That's literally a 14 league jump! I'm nowhere near ready for that - besides I like what I'm building here.

That doesn't stop from my being mentioned as the odds-on favorite to get the Concord Rangers job in the South.

vs Stones II (6th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Chris Saunders/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Michael Phillips is out with a sports hernia - hence the shiftings.

34 - Lollygagging we are, but here Close has the throw-in to Hackett for the center to a Darko score. Incidentally, Anidugbe is fully cleared to play, but I don't trust his injury-proneness, and Darko has been on fire for us lately. 1-0

71 - Leonard winning the ball like he's supposed to, and a short pass to Saunders later, a moonshot finds Darko for the scissors strike and relaxing second goal. Pascal-Johnson moves up to DM, with Abbott hopping in at DC after the score. 2-0

A bevy of 7s, standouts being Lee Close (7.3), Chris Saunders (8.7), Greg Hackett (7.2), and PotM Jesse Darko (8.8).

LOL! Sam Gore calls my man management skills dreadful. Sorry, dude. But you sucked ass when I gave you a shot, and Marcel McKie has you beat.

A bunch of bench players are pissed. Chris Abbott in particular is furious. Whatever, man. You just earned yourself a demotion in this team meeting of six guys. Tahj Bell, who will be back in the nets next game, says he has my back, though, even if he wasn't part of the discussions.

vs Scaynes Hills II (2nd)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Chris Saunders/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

7 and 9 point leads respectively over this team and the 3rd place one, plus I have a game in hand.

59 - Ojapah for Pascal-Johnson; Anidugbe for Darko; Richings for Saunders. It's been a boring as hell game.

That ends our winning streak, and I tell the team off for their shoddy play. Not a single damn highlight all game.

@ Heath Rangers (Tester Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Szymon Sidorowicz/Luke Murden
DM: Miguel Pascal-Johnson
M: Mark Bell/Karl Beckford
AM: Lee Thomas/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Bode Anidugbe

Massive lineup changes due to health optimization, including a couple guys getting debuts for us. Heath Rangers is a level ahead of us, so this will be a good barometer for next season.

4 - Beckford on the corner, and Pascal-Johnson's header is deflected. Keeper is still on the ground, so Sidorowicz puts in the rebound, giving our Polish defender his first ever goal for us! 1-0

26 - Recovering his own cleared corner is Beckford, kickstarting a fabulous team move that ends with Osei-Siribour kicking back to Murden for the perfect jump shot to Anidugbe, and with only the keeper to beat, it's easy. 2-0

33 - 3 defenders on a guy and a deflection, and Murden can't get there fast enough to clear the rebound. 2-1

41 - Poor Murden. His debut and he gets hurt, so on comes Richings.

55 - Richings moves to DL; Sidorowicz to DR; Pascal-Johnson to DC, and Leonard comes in at DM, because McKie is just stinking out there.

83 - Beckford with the perfect corner to Ojapah[b] for the kick-in, and we've got this wrapped up. [b]3-1

Ton of 7s, most notable of which are PotM Phillip Ojapah's 7.6, Mark Bell's 7.5, and Andrew Osei-Siribour's 7.4. I feel like Karl Beckford's 7.3 is criminally underrated here.

Luke Murden is out 3-4 months, which really sucks for him.

@ Fairwarp II (7th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

We're very closely to having promotion wrapped up, so we're going full-strength lineup here.

24 - Martin makes an exceptional interception and hoofs it down the pitch into the box. The defense gets there first, but the keeper is too slow getting out of the box to get the backpass, and Anidugbe laughs as he scores. 1-0

62 - Saunders to MC for the tired Richefond and Pascal-Johnson jumps in as the DC.

Lee Close wins PotM with a 7.6, followed by 7.2 for Marcel McKie and 7.1 for Greg Hackett. Just another quiet, solid win.

Jordan Browne, Lee Thomas, Jack Colley, and Josh Tennant all show improved potential. Showing a decline in potential is Callum Richings. Things to note for the future.

So Marcel McKie and Josh Tennant thinks there's a lack of squad harmony. Whatever. Blow it out your asses. Hilariously enough, McKie thinks his main rival, Sam Gore, doesn't deserve a spot on the team.

In response, Marcel McKie skips a training session, and accepts the subsequent warning. What is it with my DL players all being prima donnas?

@ Hartlefield II (4th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Lee Thomas/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

The Thomas start is a fuck you to McKie and Gore. That also earns me a tunnel interview where the reporter rides my ass about Thomas starting.

7 - Terrible pass by Leonard gives it away, and the score came on the left side. Oops. 0-1

[b]38/b] - Gorgeous interception courtesy of Close, who is then on the receiving end of a long pass on the wing via Richefond. Cross to Anidugbe later, and we're tied. 1-1

50 - [b]Pascal-Johnson[/b takes over at DM; Richings at DL, because I'm sick of shit play.

72 - Anidugbe hurt again. Darko in.

What a complete assbag of a second half.

Nonetheless, we manage to win the championship!

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/BasketballStuff2/lvl23win_zpsuxdjpm16.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/BasketballStuff2/lvl23win_zpsuxdjpm16.jpg.html)

Honestly, I don't think it was down to me despite all the praise I'm getting. I really think it was the fact that our talent level is just too strong here.

@ Stones II (Tester Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Lee Thomas/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Our top striker is of course hurt again, so we fight on for cup glory with our Austrian.

54 - Osei-Siribour for the mistaken-prone Hackett.

62 - Pascal-Johnson in for Leonard, who is going to lose his starting spot next game. That's two straight horrid games.

70 - Beckford sends it out to Martin for the cool cross to Darko as we finally snap free. 1-0

It's the kind of game where we have clusters of 7s, and the only notable standout is Jesse Darko's 7.4. Regardless, we're through to the championship, and that's what matters.

[Izulde]

Youth Intake
Our youth players are all hot garbage, with only one player who looks like he might be even remotely quality when he develops, so I sign him, Carl Gill, a DR, and leave the rest alone.

vs Ringmer III (9th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Lee Thomas/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

A bore draw. No highlights. We played well enough to win, too.

Nathan Dennis, Greg Hackett, and Josh Tennant all get potential upgrades.

@ Nutley II
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Markel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Lee Francis/Jordan Browne
DM: Miguel Pascal-Johnson
M: Chris Abbott/Mark Bell
AM: Jack Colley/Jonathan Woolf
ST: Josh Tennant

We play these guys again for the Tester Challenge Cup soon, so I decide to go with a shits and giggles B team lineup.

27 - Ojapah nails them in the box, and they convert the first PK of the year. 0-1

35 - Injuries mean Osei-Sibiour at AMR and Richings replacing Francis

43 - Abbott sends it to Colley just outside the box, and the volley shot goes in. 1-1

46 - These guys suck at corner defense. 1-2

61 - Browne with the beautiful far post cross to Colley, and it's in. 2-2 Backline shuffles with Leonard at DM, Pascal-Johnson and McKie at DC, Richings at DL. All to sit down Ojapah's asstacular 5.8 rating, the worst by far of anyone this season.

74 - [b]Bell] to Leonard to Abbott, and the howitzer long strike of the last sizzles home! 3-2

9.0 for PotM Chris Abbott and 8.8 for Jack Colley, two of the biggest members of Team Anti-Izulde. Good for them. I think I'll stick with this B lineup the rest of the season, just to give these dudes chances to show they deserve to challenge for starting spots next year.

We made a whopping profit of $2.03k last month! Daaaamn!

@ Ashurst Wood III (5th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Markel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Liam Francis/Jordan Browne
DM: Miguel Pascal-Johnson
M: Chris Abbott/Mark Bell
AM: Jack Colley/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Josh Tennant

3 - Colley and McKie with the give and go before the latter's far post cross to Osei-Siribour, starting for the lost for the season Woolf. It's like candy. 1-0

18 - Ojapah will never play another game for us. 1-1

27 - Neither will Tennant after flubbing a wide open shot.

36 - Another sitter Tennant missed.

44 - McKie with the longer header into the box. Colley wins the race and crosses to Osei-Siribour for a late first half score. Colley is making it really difficult for us, and of course, we love O-S. 2-1

53 - Oh look, another Tennant stinker.

54 - Osei-Siribour out to Browne. Center to Colley and boom town! 3-1 Let's go ahead and put in Darko and Leonard, pulling Pascal-Johnson back to DC. I can't stand watching Tennant and Ojapah anymore.

73 - Leonard on the corner. Pascal-Johnson's diving shot is pushed away, but Bell rings in the finish. 4-1

76 - Beautiful interception and rainbow pass by Browne, and damn sure Darko isn't going to flub like Tennant. 5-1

9.0 for Jordan Browne, 7.9 for Miguel Pascal-Johnson, 8.2 for Marcel McKie, 8.1 for Mark Bell, 8.5 for Chris Abbott, 9.0 for Andrew Osei-Siribour, 9.1 for PotM Jack Colley.

vs Rotherfield III (4th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richeford/Karl Beckford
AM: Jack Colley/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Jesse Darko

We'll go with this lineup for the last game of the regular season and the championship match.

2 - After losing the ball, Osei-Siribour gets it back and crosses to Colley, who dribbles and rifles the shot in. 1-0

32 - Leonard to Richefond, and the latter's pass into the box has Darko beating everyone, because that's what the Austrian does. 2-0

8.1 for Ryan Richefond, 7.6 for Andrew Osei-Siribour, and 8.2 for PotM Jack Colley. We're great at AML between him and Michael Martin.

Another potential increase for Nathan Dennis.

vs Nutley II (Tester Challenge Cup Final
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richeford/Karl Beckford
AM: Jack Colley/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Jesse Darko

LET'S GO GET THE DOUBLE AND MY FIRST EVER CUP WIN!!!!

27 - We just got flat out outjumped on that one. :( 0-1

53 - Martin at AML; Anidugbe at ST.

Unbelievable. Our only loss of the year, and it costs me my first ever cup trophy. :(

[Izulde]

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/awards_zpssvirev67.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/awards_zpssvirev67.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/stats_zpsyx3ndy4q.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/stats_zpsyx3ndy4q.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/standings_zpsvzhcwf6v.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/standings_zpsvzhcwf6v.jpg.html)

I've never dominated a league like I have this one. Pretty cool to see, though as I said before, it's down to talent level being way overpowered for the 23rd level.

Summer raiding time begins now.

Team meeting goes great, with only Marcel McKie and Bode Anidugbe unhappy that I'm shooting for a mid-table finish next season. I'm not planning on replacing any of these guys, either. I want to see how they go.

Our new jersey sponsor is worth $1.1k a year, a slight uptick from last season's $1.05k a season.

Transfer Out
Lee Thomas - Non-contract
Miguel Pascal-Johnson - $8.5k
Jonathan Woolf - $3.5k
Sam Gore - $10k
Luke Murden - $4.8k
Melvin Minter - $3.5k
Liam Francis - $9.5k
Chris Abbott - $9.5k
Josh Tennant - $5.5k
Craig Hughes - $6.5k
Bode Anidugbe - $12k
Jack Colley - Non-contract
Jordan Browne - Non-contract
Callum Richings - $6k
Michael Phillips - $20k! :eek:

Transfer In - GK Bojan Tetek - 18 (Serbian)
Major upgrade in the net over Bell both in terms of current and in terms of potential. In fact, the battle for backup keeper is going to be very interesting to watch between the Bermudan and Nathan Dennis. No question Tetek outclasses them both, however.

Transfer In - AML/AMR/ST James Tricks (23)
Strictly a depth signing so we have a body at AML to back up our Northern Irishman. Will be our third striker as of right now too, after all the defections.

Goalies
Bojan Tetek - 3.5/4
Tahj Bell - 2/2
Nathan Dennis - 1/4

Defenders Left
Marcel McKie - 1.5/1.5
Ryan Richefond - 4.5 silver/2.5

Defenders Center
Chris Saunders - 4/4
Szymon Sidorowicz - 2.5/2.5
Phillip Ojapah - 2.5/2.5
McKie - 0.5/0.5

Defenders Right
Sidorowicz - 4/4
Lee Close - 4/5
Richefond - 2.5/4
Saunders - 1/1

Defensive Midfielders
Danny Leonard - 4/4
Richefond - 2/4
Saunders - 2/2
Ojapah - 1.5/1.5
Karl Beckford - 1/1

Central Midfielders
Richefond - 4.5/4.5
Beckford - 3.5/3.5
Saunders - 2/2
Mark Bell - 0.5/0.5
Michael Martin - 1.5 silver/1.5

Attacking Midfielder Left
Martin - 2/4
James Tricks - 0.5/2

Attacking Midfielder Right
Andrew Osei-Siribour - 2.5/4.5
Greg Hackett - 1.5/3.5
Bell - 1/1
Tricks - 0.5/2

Strikers
Jesse Darko - 4/5
Osei-Siribour - 2/4.5
Tricks - 0.5/2
Hackett - 2.5 silver/0.5

We come back to win our first friendly, but then lose Phillip Ojapah for 2 months with a broken collarbone, and Lee Close signs an $8.5k deal. Karl Beckford also shows decreased ability as age starts catching up to him.

Tahj Bell gets a $5k deal, Marcel McKie $13.75k. Mark Bell goes off for $11k, Danny Leonard for $16.25k. Also leaving is Andrew Osei-Siribour on a $15k contract, and suddenly gray guys are flooding our roster again.

Need to stop and think of what to do next. This is killing me, Smalls.

[Izulde]

We lose our second friendly 1-2, having to play gray guys.

Transfer In - DLCR Greg Tindle (27)
A 1.5/1.5 at DC, his best position, he's kind of a garbage player, but I'll stick him at DL just to get rid of the ghost player there.

Even with our mangled roster, we're with a bunch of other teams at 5000-1 and projected to finish 3rd behind the two clear-cut favorites. And then Szymon Sidorowicz takes $16.25k and leaves.

Two friendlies later, Chris Saunders gets $11.25k and leaves town.

Transfer In - MC Billy Wales (23)
Raw, but very promising young player who already has great passing skills for this level. He'll immediately step in as a starting central midfielder because we can't get a damned DM in here for the life of us, requiring Richefond to play there.

Transfer In - DC Adie Hawes (28)
We desperately need a starting DC thanks to Ojapah's injury and all the defections. Hawes isn't great, but he's serviceable, and that's good enough for our crying need for bodies.

Transfer In - DC Tom Roberts (27)
Will be a backup once Ojapah gets back, but now, he's a starter, allowing us to shift Tindle over to DL and finally clear out all of our ghost players. Again, serviceable.

Transfer In - MRC George Zuerner (27) Thai
He stinks. He really does. But he can half-ass play on the wings, so for now he'll see a lot of PT playing different roles as a reserve - including striker.

...And out goes Karl Beckford on a $16k contract.

Transfer In - DL Sam Fisk (27)
He's literally a hair better than Tindle at DL, so he's the starter. Not much to say other than that.

Transfer In - DL/ST Adam Murray (27)
Weird player, but one whom becomes our backup striker by default. Jesse Darko didn't score at all during friendly season, by the way.

The board expects us to win everything. That means I'm probably going to be fucked over by expectations as per usual with these types of mod setups.

On the other hand, we experience an astronomical leap in ticket sales, going from 5 last season to 24 this year. THE HASSOCKS HYPE IS REAL, YO!!!!

Greg Hackett takes a $12k contract out of nowhere, and the scotch tape project continues. Michael Martin gets a sports hernia and is out 6-7 weeks. FML.

Ryan Richefond gets a last minute $16k deal and I have to completely junk our preferred formation now.

@ Handcross Village III
G: Bojan Telek
D: Sam Fisk/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
M: Jamie Tricks/George Zuerner/Billy Wales/Ghost Player
S: Jesse Darko/Adam Murray

Yep, a flat 4-4-2.

26 - We're awarded a PK, and I flip the fuck out when ghost player Milo John is selected to take it. He converts, however, and if we win, I need to sign his ass. 1-0

45 - Darko passes to Tricks in the far left of the box. The keeper is tricked by Tricks into coming out, and the cross to OMFG GHOST PLAYER JOHN AND THE SHOT IN THE OPEN NET IS GOOD! 2-0

9.1 for ghost hero of the game Milo John, 8.0 for Billy Wales, and 8.2 for Jesse Darko, as we pull the win out of our ass the first time ever playing the 4-4-2. AND WITH A FRIGGING GHOST GUY!

Transfer In - DR/DM Robert Evans (26)
He's as vanilla as his name, but he can play a lot of different positions - DR/DC/MR/DM. In fact, he's rated as our top DR guy right now, but I'd rather play and develop Gill, thanks.

Transfer In - ST Luke Barlone (28)
Our second best striker, and since we're probably changing to the 4-4-2 for the foreseeable future, he's a great defensive forward, which is what we have next to Darko as the Target Man.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Joakim Ehui (24) (France)
Raw, but sky-high potential according to my best rater of talent. Although on the other hand, he's a bit old at 24, so that may be false scouting. Who knows? Anyway, he'll play.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Niko Muir (27)
Depth signing.

New sponsorship deal! Worth a whole $60 a year for two years!

$500 profit. Jesse Darko gets signed away on a $31.5k deal. Damn. Phillip Ojapah leaves, too, for a much more modest $8.5k.

@ Itfield Galaxy III (Parsons Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Sam Fisk/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: George Zuerner/Billy Wales
AM: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
S: Luke Barlone

Note that with this raiding, the only guys on the team who were last year are Nathan Dennis and Michael Martin. Oh, and Carl Gill, who was our lone youth pull worth anything.

4 - Fucking shot barrage. 0-1

60 - Tindle for Hawes; Murray for Barlone.

70 - Ehui with the cross to Tricks and it's in!!!! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN, YOU COCKSNIFFING BUTTMUNCHER?! THAT SHIT WAS NOT FUCKING OFFSIDES!!!!!!

Fucking bullshit. Now the board is going to fucking ride my ass because we were supposed to win this fucking pissant cup, and we got knocked out in the first round.

[Izulde]

I brought in a striker, but he stinks, so I'm not going to report on him.

80 tickets expected for the next match. That's what a level jump gets you.

vs Scaynes Hill II (7th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Sam Fisk/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: George Zuerner/Billy Wales
AM: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
S: Luke Barlone

20 - Ehui picks up a cleared header and crosses near post to Barlone, and the shot whistles in. Maybe we can salvage something out of this season yet. 1-0

Both our central midfielders are already wiped at half, so we switch to a 4-4-2 Diamond with Muir as the AMC advanced playmaker, and Murray as a Defensive Forward.

69 - Interesting note that they've been pushed back and have abandoned their attacking shape. Have we found ourselves a new formation?

73 - Gill with the throw-in to Muir, who lofts a ball in the middle of the box for Murray to score! 2-0

Matching 7.4s for Nico Muir and Joakim Ehui, but PotM goes to 8.0 Carl Gill.

Transfer In - DL Dan Okoije - 19 (Nigerian)
Can't tackle worth shit (5), but my staff thinks he's a major upgrade over Sam Fisk at the slot.

Transfer In - DR/MR/AMR Jordan Lymn (18)
Plays all along the right side, and at DR, he'd be one of our top players. But I think I might try him at MR instead in our 4-4-2 Diamond, because he likes to Get Forward Whenever Possible, and I just see that spelling disaster if he's on defense.

Transfer In - MC/AMC/DM Jordan Neild (24)
A rockstar as a central midfielder and good at DM too. AMC he's kind of meh, so I'm thinking of flipping back to the 4-4-2. That allows us to get Wales back in too, and our strongest overall lineup.

Transfer In - ST/AMCLR Alando Lewis (24)
We tried to get this kid before, but he finally inks with us this time. A phenomenal defensive forward in any two striker setup we decide to use. It's a tough choice between 4-4-2 and the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide for our next match. Alternatively, he can be our new AMR in the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide setup.

Tom Roberts is out 4 weeks with a foot injury.

Transfer In - ST/AMC Owen Kabodi (23)
Say hello to our new starting poacher striker. He's not a great finisher compared to some of the guys we've had in the past, but he's younger and loads better overall than Luke Barlone.

@ Crawley Cobras II (1st)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okoije/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

Great to get Michael Martin back from injury finally. Obviously this is going to be a huge early season match, and I'd really like us to win this. We probably won't though, given how many new starters we have. But we'll see.

Tricks replaces the tired Martin after a dull first half.

58 - Murray replaces the lackluster and tiring Kabodi

59 - Phenomenal impact by Okoije as he finds Hawes' head for the score on a corner! 1-0

75 - Gill makes a booming clearance to Murray, who passes back to Evans given how many opponents are around. The short pass to Neild and right back to Evans for the popper in the box that's so beautifully placed, it's *just* enough for Murray to beat the keeper and hit the insurance! 2-0

81 - Evans with the spray to Lewis on the wing, and then there's a long, far post cross to Wales, and BAMTOWN! 3-0

So many phenomenal performances. Of the 7.5+ variety we have 8.3 by PotM Adie Hawes, 7.5 by Dan Okojie, 8.2 by Robert Evans and Billy Wales.

We made $815 last month, and for the first time, the report is that our finances are stable, rather than expected to drop. Very, very cool. I'm Very Secure, even though they're mad about the Cup loss.

Carl Gill is showing an increased ability, which isn't surprising. He's been consistently outperforming his scouted assessment, which is why I'm comfortable just leaving him there.

[Izulde]

vs Cuckfield Rangers D'ment (5th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

3 - Lewis's free kick to Kabodi ends up bouncing around. Tindle gets it from Lewis in the scrum. Shot's blocked and the ball continues to bounce. Finally it pops out, and Tindle slots it in! 1-0

46 - Okojie throws it in to Martin, who short passes to Wales. Then a center to Gill in the half-circle, and the audacious shot goes home! That's two goals by two defenders, neither one of which is a header. 2-0

54 - They missed the wide-open shot. Wow! Tricks hops in for Martin

8.2 for PotM Carl Gill, 7.8 for Greg Tindle, and 8.1 for Billy Wales.

vs AFC Bolnore (10th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okoije/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

59 - We switch to the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide. Murray in for Hawes, who just got a yellow, and Barlone replaces Lewis at striker. Neild drops to DM, and Kabodi takes over at MC.

73 - I push for an Overload. We can not be drawing to this shit a team at home.

82 - Kabodi fetches a clearance and passes it to Neild. The 30 yard strike sinks into the net! 1-0

85 - That was bullshit. Fucker was offsides. 1-1

vs Crawley United (Mid Sussex Junior Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okoije/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
AM: Nico Muir
S: Luke Barlone/Alando Lewis

Lot of tired people today, so we pop out the 4-4-2 Wide Diamond to give folks rest.

4 - They're doing a lot of double and triple-teaming, so Muir sends it back to Evans, who kicks it out to Ehui. It's sent into the box by the Frenchman, and Lewis dribbles a bit before finding his spot and hitting it. 1-0

32 - Muir and Gill play back and forth before the former short passes to Tricks in the half-circle. And here's the magic trick strike for a score! 2-0

51 - Tetek just saved our asses with a comeback grab.

68 - Murray hops in for the injured Lewis, and Tindle spells a tired Okojie

77 - Post robbed them. We're damned lucky not to be tied right now.

8.5 for Robert Evans, 9.0 for PotM Joakim Ehui, 8.2 for Jamie Tricks, and 8.7 for Nico Muir. Glad to see my use of the Diamond pay off.

$2.23k profit last month. Robert Evans is a dude they love, but they're also pissed about the draw from last league match. We're tied for 1st at 13 points, and have a big game coming up next. First two finishers promote BTW.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Nice job with Keymer & Hassocks so far. I figured your team would be pretty well cleaned out during the close season. On the other hand, the coffers should be bursting with cash, so the board won't be on your case for mismanaging the finances.

Good luck in your quest for a second promotion! I'll be following along.

[Izulde]

Nice job with Keymer & Hassocks so far. I figured your team would be pretty well cleaned out during the close season. On the other hand, the coffers should be bursting with cash, so the board won't be on your case for mismanaging the finances.

Good luck in your quest for a second promotion! I'll be following along.

Thanks :) There's not really any finances to mismanage at this level. It's only when you go semi-pro and can actually offer contracts where you get yourself in hot water.

And yeah, summer raiding season is always a thing when you're an amateur side. Like I've said before, it's playing in the D-League in the DDS games.

@ Buxted III (4th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

63 - Tricks in for Martin; Murray for Kabodi

No real highlights to speak of. Just a very dull game. We played great, but we just couldn't crack them open.

Transfer In - AMCL/ML Chris Shephard - 27
Massive upgrade for the AMC in our diamond 4-4-2, and truth be told, he's better right now than Michael Martin in our ML/AML spots. But Martin has more upside and is our longest serving player.

vs Auckfield United U21s (9th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

37 - Rainbow by Wales is ahead of Kabodi, who chases it down, and on his way to the backline, crosses to Lewis, who beats two defenders to kick it right in the net. 1-0

57 - Ehui is in for Lymn; Roberts for Hawes.

71 - Neild short passes to Gill, the latter playing with a damaged foot. Our only youth signing last year shrugs off his injury to crack a vicious long shot. It's pushed away, and Lewis wins the race to the ball and fires in the rebound. 2-0

Great game all around. Our 7.5+ performers - Carl Gill - 7.8, Jordan Neild - 7.5, Billy Wales - 8.1 (he had an 8.4 our draw last game too), and with an 8.8, PotM Alando Lewis, who shredded everyone out there, despite playing a defensive forward role.

Carl Gill's foot injury puts him out for 4 weeks. That's tough, given how great the kid has been for us.

@ Heath Rangers (Tester Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Owen Kabodi/Luke Barlone

Lot of guys need rest - hence the above lineup and the 4-4-2 Diamond.

Tindle goes on for Okojie after a highlightless half.

56 - Murray on for Kabodi

64 - Hawes jacks one from midfield all the way down to the left wing where Tindle snappily crosses to Barlone for the goal we needed. 1-0

It's the kind of game where Joakim Ehui's 7.3 is good for PotM and most people were clustered around the 7 mark.

vs Ixfield Galaxy III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

57 - Tricks slots on for Martin; Kabodi drops to MC and switches spots with Wales, letting Barlone in at ST and sitting the tired Neild

90 - It looked like last second heroics, but Tricks sees his shot deflected, and he was offsides anyway. So on to extra time we go!

96 - Wales sprays back to a fast-charging Tindle, who boots one just far enough away from the keeper for Barlone to bang in what should be the game-winner. 1-0

Solid all-around showings, with Greg Tindle picking up PotM with 7.9 and Robert Evans netting a 7.5 for some masterwork play out of the DMC slot.

We're back to league play with our next game. But it's nice to put together a couple cup wins and keep the board happy that we're on track to meet trophy expectations.

[Izulde]

@ Cuckfield Rangers III (9th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Michael/Joakim Ehui
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

Murray comes on for an exhausted Lewis at half. No highlights.

56 - Muir on for Ehui.

83 - Are you fucking kidding me, Hawes?! Own goal! 0-1

Absolutely ridiculous to lose that game. We're now going to be in a dogfight for our position, and have looked lackluster our last few league games out.

$1.28k profit.

Jordan Neild breaks his arm and is out presumably almost two months.

vs Copthorne IV (Middle Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/George Zuerner
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

2 - Throw-in by Okojie to Wales. The rainbow shot in space for Kabodi to have only the keeper to beat, and he *finally* gets his first goal for us! 1-0

6 - Okojie on the corner. Hawes header crosses it to the feet of Tindle for another fast score. So pretty! 2-0

16 - Kabodi misses two shots he should have destroyed the goalie with. I'm starting to think maybe he's not the one who should be our solo striker.

18 - Perfect cross by Okojie into the box for Lewis, but the score's offsides. Bullshit, but whatever.

21 - A clean booming goal kick by Tetek to Lewis for the dribble and drop pass for Kabodi to sink. 3-0

49 - Just when I thought the Lymn to Lewis to Kabodi connection would result in the first hat trick for my player in this universe, the offside whistle blows.

70 - Murray in for Hawes; Tindle slides to DL and Murray jumps on at DC.

81 - That's not why I put you guys in! Total collapse by the central defense. 3-1

7.8 for Dan Okojie, 8.2 for Adie Hawes, 9.0 for PotM Billy Wales, 8.5 for Alando Lewis, and 8.8 for Owen Kabodi.

2nd vs Handcross Village III (4th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/George Zuerner/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

There's a team with 1 point ahead of us. 2nd and 3rd are both tied, but we're at least making up a game in hand we have on Heath Rangers. If we can beat these guys today, we'll truly make it a 3 team race, as they're presently 5 points back of us for that 4th slot.

2 - Here's Lymn throwing it in to Gill (his first game back BTW), and getting the ball back, then long crossing it to Kabodi for the header goal. 1-0

5 - Gill throws it in to Lewis, gets it back, and just like the previous goal, crosses it, only this time it's Martin whose head finds the score. That's our Northern Irishman's first goal of the year by the by, after banging them in regularly for us last season. 2-0

10 - Gill runs the ball down on the right flank, dribbles into the box and takes a shot. Deflected, but he angles in the rebound shot for another goal! You can't tell it's his first game back. He's been on fire just like he was all season long. 3-0

15 - Stupid play by Tindle allows them to get one back. 3-1

At the half, Tindle moves to DL and Roberts slides in at DC, as Okojie has a yellow.

50 - Bullshit fluke goal.

59 - Gill makes a fantastic interception of a goal kick, and the chain starts up the right flank - header to Lymn, on to Lewis and then the cross to Kabodi, whose shot deflects off the keeper and into the net. 4-2

60 - Tricks in for tired Martin

66 - VERY questionable PK call on Roberts and of course they hit it. 4-3

73 - Lot of chippiness in the middle, and they frankly should have scored, but we did just enough to fight it off.

75 - Zuerner with the short pass to Wales, who feeds it into the box for Lewis. One, two dribble, and bam! 5-3

83 - Tricks ices it with a perfect corner kick to Hawes' head. 6-3

8.2 for Carl Gill, 7.8 for Adie Hawes, 9.0 for PotM Jordan Lymn, 9.0 for Billy Wales, 8.4 for Michael Martin, 9.0 for Alando Lewis, and 8.9 for Owen Kabodi, who seems to have finally snapped out of his slump.

That was also a record-breaking performance for both the team and the league in the amount of goals scored, as you can well imagine.

Transfer In - MC Ash Walker (24)
Is he on the level of Billy Wales and Jordan Neild? Well, he's currently considered equal to Wales, but long-term future, there's no questioning the first two are the best. However, he's so far ahead of George Zuerner it's ridiculous. So Walker will walk his ash right into Neild's spot while the latter is out.

Big match coming up next. Through 9 league games, or the halfway mark, it's:

Us - 20 points
Crawley Cobras II - 20 points
Heath Rangers - 18 points
Handcross Village III - 12 points
AFC Bolnore - 12 points

So big gap between the first three teams and everyone else. This isn't going to be last season, where we had everything wrapped up ridiculously early, unless I miss my guess.

[Northwood_DK]

Fun read.

Not sure I enjoy the complete rebuield every season, but I guess that's the nature of the lower leagues. Would have loved to see the progress of some of the players from the first season.

[Izulde]

Fun read.

Not sure I enjoy the complete rebuield every season, but I guess that's the nature of the lower leagues. Would have loved to see the progress of some of the players from the first season.

Thanks. :) And yep, it's the nature of the beast with an amateur side. Makes getting to semi-pro so much more worth it, however. As for the guys who left, a lot of them are getting a ton of starts on their higher division clubs. The one guy who has been better than average is Lee Close, with a 6.98 rating in league play for Cambridge City in the Southern League Premier Division, a step below Vanarama North/South (Conference North/South for the old name). CC is currently 9th in the league.

A day after complaining about lack of PT, Luke Barlone strains his back and will miss more than a month. Bojan Tetek picks up a sports hernia that will have him out almost two months, so once again, Nathan Dennis is going to get a long run in the net.

vs Heath Rangers (3rd)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Ash Walker/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

Obviously a key match here.

45 - How's that for a debut?! Walker intercepts a pass, dribbles forward, and pops a high ball into the box for Kabodi to kick in! 1-0

56 - Murray on for Tindle, who is having a lousy game.

64 - We'll try Tricks as the poacher; Kabodi the defensive forward, with Lewis catching a break.

68 - Wide open shot for Kabodi that clangs off the upper bar. No excuse for that.

72 - Hawes completely blew that interception. 1-1

77 - Dribbling down the middle of the pitch is Martin, who passes it to Tricks. The feed to Kabodi is clean as can be, and we go back up. 2-1

93 - They damn near scored with seconds left, but Murray made a vital interception and clearance to save us.

7.8 for Ash Walker and 8.9 for PotM Owen Kabodi. 7.2 for both Billy Wales and Michael Martin. Not our prettiest win, but we'll take it, given how critical this one was.

Side note: 111 people showed up for the big game, which is our highest attendance since 239 came to see our friendly vs Southend United U21s, whom we drew 1-1. You know, the League 2 Southend United youth team? Those are also our only two triple digit attendances so far in this universe. Our biggest last season? 25 people. Average attendance to date this year? 79. Our lowest so far? 57 in the Junior Challenge Cup Third Round. Level jumps matter, folks.

$1.84k profit. Still just Very Secure.

@ Scaynes Hill II (10th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

Against our fellow Level 23 promoters. We're in 1st, they're in last. Lovely symmetry. Decided to try something a little different by plugging Neild in at DM.

1 - ...WTF?!

43 - Wow, we're playing like shit. 0-2

53 - Tindle is yanked to DL; Murray in at DC; Lymn on for Gill

58 - Wales to Martin to Kabodi, and the string shot sinks despite a defender in his face. A glimmer of a chance. 1-2

67 - Lymn with the great interception and give to Walker. Out to Lewis, who dribbles into the box, drawing a double-team that makes for an easy dump-off to Kabodi for a picturesque equalizer on the one and one. 2-2

81 - Walker wins the ball at midfield and sends it to Lewis. The pass to Kabodi, and the shot whistles by the defense just inside the box for the hat trick and the monster comeback! 3-2

7.4 for Billy Wales, 8.5 for Alando Lewis, and of course 9.4 for PotM hat-trick hero Owen Kabodi. Major props to Jordan Lymn and Adam Murray for stabilizing the backline off the bench and earning 6.9s, however.

Better still, Crawley Cobras II were stunned at home by AFC Bolnore, and Heath Rangers could only manage a draw hosting AFC Uckfields U21s. The defeat here punches Scaynes Hill II 5 points away from the safe zone, and they're in deep trouble I'd say.

Transfer In - DCR Jack Cook (21)
I haven't been overly thrilled with the play we've been getting out of the backline, and Cook represents a nice upgrade in the middle, where he'll replace Greg Tindle and allow us much more flexibility off the bench.

vs Crawley Cobras II (2nd)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

We're 5 points clear as a result of the second Cobras' loss last game, so this is immaterial in terms of our standings. But salting away more points would be great.

26 - Neild wins the loose ball and absolutely hammers it down the left wing, where Kabodi catches it just prior to the touchline. Keeper's looking at him, so he cooly crosses to Lewis for the pants down score. 1-0

33 - Wales kicks it out to Lymn dancing on the sideline, and another sharp cross sees Martin knocking it in for his second goal of the year. 2-0

54 - Walker on for a tiring Wales

64 - That may have been one of the more insane goals I've seen. Lymn gets the ball back after Gill loses it and shoots a high arcing cross that I swear is going to go out for a goal kick. But Martin just gets to the touchline in time and his counter cross intended for Lewis instead bounces off the bar and goes in! 3-0

79 - Lewis is in the box and he passes it out to Lymn. The center is poorly cleared out by the defense, making it easy for Lewis to snake his way back in for yet another goal by us! 4-0

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/monsterwin_zpss2zhkqcj.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/monsterwin_zpss2zhkqcj.jpg.html)

That's the kind of blowout win you just sit and smile about. Maybe I spoke too soon about an early wrap-up not happening this year? 6 league games left, and we're 7 points ahead of 2nd, 8 ahead of 3rd.

[Izulde]

@ Handcross Village III (Tester Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Owen Kabodi/Jordan Lymn
S: Luke Barlone/Alando Lewis

Coming so soon off our last match, we had to make some adjustments here.

7 - Fantastic takeaway by Kabodi in the position he rarely plays, and the long ball is perfectly placed for Lewis to run by the defense and torch the keeper on the 1 v 1! 1-0

13 - That looked offsides to me. 1-1

26 - Lewis draws the double-team and he wings it out to Lymn, who is completely unmarked. But instead of taking it itself, the right midfielder crosses far post, where Martin pops up out of nowhere to head it in! 2-1

35 - Carted off with another injury is Barlone, and Tricks gets the call.

65 - We've been training Gill at DC, so he moves there and Lymn drops to DR, meaning Hawes is off, and Ehui comes in at MR. Reckless? Fuck yes. Do I care? No.

7.8 for Jordan Lymn, 7.9 for Owen Kabodi, 7.5 for Michael Martin, and PotM honors go to Alando Lewis and his 8.2.

@ Cuckfield Rangers D'ment (7th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

So happy to *finally* have our Serbian goalie and team captain back!

6 - Lots of beautiful passing here that gets started by Cook's exceptional intercepting header. Final series sees Martin kick it out to Okojie on the left wing, and it's a line drive cross to the far post space. Charging past them all is Lewis, and it's in. 1-0

40 - Lewis dribbles down the right flank lalalalala, and then the slow riser that drops in the six yard box. Opposing keeper comes out to get it, but Kabodi beats him to the punch. BAM! 2-0

53 - Tindle for Cook; Evans for Neild

65 - Want to know the difference between Tetek and Dennis? The former just made a diving save the latter never would have gotten to.

83 - The post robbed our opponents there. Should have scored.

8.2 for Dan Okojie, 7.6 for Ash Walker, and 8.4 for PotM Alando Lewis. A lot of 7+ performances up and down the lineup.

vs Crawley Panthers (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

These guys may be a level up, but we're expected to smash them.

13 - Sigh. Just a perfectly placed shot after a DFK 0-1

26 - Our defensive line was way too far up on that one. Time to drop them all the way back, so as not to get caught out (the first non assman change I've made in match btw) 0-2

37 - Okojie to Martin to Kabodi diagonal. Our top scorer dribbles until he finds his spot, takes his shot, and we needed that one a lot. 1-2

52 - I've had about all I can tolerate of this shit backline, so Evans goes in for b]Gill[/b] and Tindle replaces Cook.

85 - Martin on the corner to Wales, and the shot bounces off the keeper and in! 2-2

91 - After a lot of back and forth and movement around the pitch, Kabodi has the perfect setup on a feed from Lewis... and blows the shot.

108 - Total and complete BS penalty call on Neild and they convert. 2-3

119 - Okojie kicks it back to Hawes, who pops it up on the wing to Martin over the DL head. The cross into the six yard box sees Kabodi net the dramatic equalizer!!! 3-3

PK Shootout
Kabodi... BLOCKED! Fuuuuuuck. Our best player misses?! WTF?!

Them... BLOCKED! Is everyone just sucking because they're tired?

Okojie... IN! 1-0 There we go!

Them... IN. 1-1

Tindle... JUST BARELY IN! 2-1 I seriously thought it was blocked.

Them... JUST BARELY IN. 2-2 See Tindle's shot.

Lewis... IN! 3-2

Them.. IN WITH A SHOT JUST ABOVE TETEK'S REACH. 3-3 That shot was just fucking impressive. My begrudging hat tip to them on this one.

Tetek... IN! IN IN IN!!!! 4-3 GOOOOAAAAALLLIEEEEE MAAAAAGGGIIIICCC!!!!

AND TETEK BLOCKS THE FINAL PK TO PUT US THROUGH AFTER SCORING THE GAMEWINNER HIMSELF!!!!! TEAM CAPTAIN! DOING IT BOTH WAYS!!!!!

Basically, the defense assbagged it, and our offense bailed us out - 8.9 for Ash Walker, 7.7 for Billy Wales, 7.8 for Alando Lewis, 9.0 for PotM Michael Martin, and 8.8 for Owen Kabodi.

vs Buxted III (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Owen Kabodi/Joakim Ehui
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

Some changes on the right wing in our flat 4-4-2 today. Ehui really wants some starts, and he's been great whenever we've put him in, and I like the French guy. After Gill stunk it up last game, Lymn will take over for him at DR, rather than play the usual MR.

16 - Rocket shot. 0-1

40 - We got fucking SCREWED there. THE FUCKING DEFENDER SPIKED LEWIS FROM BEHIND AND THEY DIDN'T CALL THE DAMN PK!!!!

47 - Tired of this bullshit, Okojie jams a corner to Hawes' head, the aerial shot *just* staying below the crossbar. 1-1

Neild is having a shit day, so I yank him for Walker, and Martin's probably got a concussion, so Tricks comes in, both at halftime.

87 - Last 10 minutes have been nuts, with both teams going into attack mode to try and get the 3 points. Hawes fucks up the interception, and they make us pay for it. 1-2

Lot of shots we should have made, but it was just janky as hell the way we played today.

4 games left in league play. We're up by 7 and 8 points respectively on 2nd and 3rd - enough of a cushion that we can afford a couple more setbacks, but we really probably should have just played for the draw. Mathematically, we can't finish any worse than 4th.

$1.58k profit last month, still very secure, and they love the Ash Walker signing.

vs Fairwarp II (Tester Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

30 - Lymn gets the ball back after his corner kick is cleared, and he lofts it high in the air. Wales wins the header fight and bangs it in! 1-0

58 - Neild is on for tired Wales and switches places with Walker.

59 - Nevermind! Neild down to DM, Kabodi jumping to MC, and Barlone up at striker after Evans gets a yellow.

Kind of a sluggish game. Jordan Lymn was amazing with his 8.0 PotM outing, but after that we drop to Adie Hawes with 7.2 and Billy Wales with 7.1.

Doesn't matter much, though. We're back in the finals with a shot at redemption for last year's lone loss.

Interestingly enough, our opponents will be the team that required PKs to beat Scayne Hills II, who promoted up with us and is still languishing in last, 4 points out of the safety spot.

[Young Drachma]

Reading you suckers made me get FM16 just so I could play in the lower leagues too.

[Izulde]

Youth Intake
Much better crop this year, and they draw 1-1 against the players already on the squad. The best two players are selfish and/or injury-prone though, so I pass on them. What I do sign - Scott Reed, who has three position versatility up the middle (DC/DMC/MC) and is a natural Ballwinning Midfielder, exactly what we want our DMs to be. He also has the highest upside there of any our guys (3*). He'll probably start at DM the rest of the season.

The other signing, Robert Warrell, has 3* potential at ML, MR, AML, and AMR, and will likely replace Jamie Tricks as our top winger reserve so he can grow into that ability.

There's twin brothers strikers, but of the two, Eddie Claridge is the only one who might possess enough upside to be adequate some day, so he gets the contract.

@ AFC Bolnore (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

4 - A couple shots here by Kabodi fail to sink, and the ensuing corner doesn't work either. But we spend a lot of time building a move deep in their half, and finally Martin hits it near the touchline where a completely alone Okojie makes a brilliant near post cross to Kabodi. This time, there's no stoppage. 1-0

17 - I find Kabodi frustrating sometimes. Misses easy shots, like here where he has a beautiful 1 v 1 on a feed from Lewis.

51 - Tindle replaces the disappointing Lymn at DR, even though Greg kind of sucks there.

59 - Reed drops to DC, Neild to DM, and Walker comes in at MC, because Hawes is sucking ass out there.

78 - Buildup on the right side caps off with Okojie hitting a screamer to Wales in the box. Center to the penalty area, and this time Kabodi isn't shanking it like he's done five or six times this game. 2-0

8.0 for Dan Okojie, 8.3 for Billy Wales, and 9.0 for PotM Owen Kabodi. Just a good, solid win after the substitutions. And we officially clinch promotion to Level 21 as Crawley Cobras II got a draw at home!

@ AFC Uckfield U21s (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
DM: Scott Reed
M: Michael Martin/Robert Warrell
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Owen Kabodi

Getting some PT in to the kids and Shephard, who hasn't gotten much of a chance because of how little we use the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide, and how comfortable we are with Martin. Team meeting before this to get the players hyped to clinch a second straight title bombed. Oh well.

6 - Just shoddy defending there. 0-1

32 - Warrell is facing heavy pressure in the box, so he lays off to Lymn, who hits a cross. Defense jumps up, but mistimes it, and Martin's there on the drop to put it away. 1-1

33 - Reed intercepts with his head on the start of their next possession. End result, Lewis centers and it's cleared, but Shephard is right there 20 yards away. Just outside the half-circle, and the crack tumbles into the net with an assist from the crossbar! First ever goal for us, too. 2-1

60 - Tindle comes on for lacksadasical Cook; Barlone for bleh Kabodi.

66 - Barlone is facing pressure in the box, so he wings it out left where Warrell is unguarded. The cross back to Barlone's head, and he nods it in! 3-1

79 - We let them get too many chances in the penalty box, and paid for it. 3-2

Still, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN OUR SECOND STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH TWO GAMES TO GO!

8.4 each for Scott Reed and Michael Martin, but PotM honors go to Chris Shephard's 9.0 Just missing the 7.5 cutoff is Robert Warrell with a 7.4 debut and impressive assist.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/2ndstraighttitle_zps6ilt3cso.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/2ndstraighttitle_zps6ilt3cso.jpg.html)

The transfer deadline sees a bunch of clubs try to pry away Carl Gill from us and Grant Hudson from Heath Rangers respectively. Both young backline players stayed, though we did try to steal Hudson ourselves, thanks to his off the charts physical attributes.

@ Ardingly II (Mid Sussex Junior Junior Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

5 - Phenomenal intercepting header by Hawes on the free kick, and Lewis takes the ball all the way down the right side of the field. Short kickback to Lymn, and the longball sees Kabodi split two defenders for the score. 1-0

12 - Martin launches a counter by getting on a goal kick and sends it up to Kabodi on the left wing, just outside the box. The cross to Lewis, and the tumbling header is in, Lewis falling into the net himself! 2-0

26 - We're awarded a PK on a handball, and unlike the other Cup match, this one Kabodi isn't going to miss! 3-0

29 - Okojie with the ground pass to Martin. *Very* nifty behind the back pass by the Northern Irishman to Kabodi. I think our star striker is taking the shot, but no! It's actually a layoff to Lewis for another goal! 4-0

54 - By this point, Martin and Neild both have yellow cards, and I don't want to let this squad back in the game, so Warrell and Reed respectively go in.

61 - Okojie throws in to Warrell, gets it back, passes to Wales, and the drop into the box is there for Lewis to firmly hoof in his hat trick!!! 5-0

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

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K_WfJHuz9-o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

So the quality isn't great, but I just *had* to show that amazing goal. Now we're playing for two cups, baby! (though the board also wanted us in on the Pearson).

[Izulde]

Reading you suckers made me get FM16 just so I could play in the lower leagues too.

Welcome. :D Honestly, as much as I bitch about amateur sides sometimes, having to reconstitute the roster during summer raiding season makes for a lot of fun for me, though I do think I end up signing players that are overpowered for this level, and so not really any tactical genius on my part.

Makes just getting to semipro a real accomplishment, and I'm always intrigued to see if I can get players to stick around. I think the only reason Michael Martin has lasted two seasons is because he got a major injury before anyone could sign him. I fully expect he'll be gone next summer.

[Izulde]

Carl Gill and Owen Kabodi get potential boosts; Jordan Lymn a potential decrease.

@ Heath Rangers (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Chris Shephard/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

19 - Shephard on the free kick, and Wales gets just enough ahead to kick it in the corner. 1-0

39 - We're rightly awarded a PK, but Shephard flubs it.

Warrell switches to the left side and Lymn comes in, benching Shephard at the half.

63 - Barlone replaces Lewis, who is having a garbage game.

73 - Meh. Whatever. 1-1

79 - Lymn gets the ball out on the wing and makes a superlative cross that hits the penalty box at the same time as Barone's foot for the go-ahead goal. 2-1

80 - Lymn clears it on a corner. Warrell gets it and screams the laser all the way down the pitch to Kabodi, who crosses far post where the defense never sees Barlone coming. BOOMSHAKALAKA! 3-1

Luke Barlone (8.5 + PotM) and Billy Wales (8.2) really powered the team today, though we had a number of 7+ performances. In spite of the loss, Heath Rangers officially promote up with us.

With one game to go, fellow promotees Scayne Hills II has fought back to 18 points and out of the drop, but Cuckfield Rangers D'Ment, AFC Uckfield U21s, and Handcross Village III are all just behind at 17 points.

Owen Kabodi picks up a heel injury that takes him out of the last, meaningless game of the regular season. Billy Wales has seen his ability increase, as well he should - he's got the best average rating of any player in the league. In fact, the 9 players with the highest average rating in the league are all from Keymer & Hassocks!

vs Cuckfield Rangers III (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Scott Reed
M: Robert Warrell/Joakim Ehui
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Luke Barlone/Alando Lewis

These guys are one of the only teams to beat us, so I want to curbstomp them.

5 - Okojie throws in to Barlone and gets it back. Short lateral to Reed just touching the box. He centers to Shephard and the shot's deflected, but Barlone bangs in the rebound. 1-0

27 - Eh, we just got out-jumped on that corner 1-1

Tindle for Cook; Lymn for Gill at half, as our backline has been a mess outside of Okojie.

75 - Barlone and Warrell play give and go, the former dribbling out to the left box boundary before centering to Lewis for the goal. 2-1

One of those games where you go from PotM Chris Shephard's 8.3 to Luke Barlone's 7.4. It also costs us Alando Lewis for 4 weeks with a foot injury, knocking him out of the Tester Challenge Cup Final.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/fulld9_zpsxhbfxpo6.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/fulld9_zpsxhbfxpo6.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/statsd9_zps3a6xvpje.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/statsd9_zps3a6xvpje.jpg.html)

Just a couple quick snapshots to give you an idea how dominant we were. I won't go extensively into detail with end season review anymore, because it takes a ton of time and summer raids are a thing. I'll wait until (if) we get to semi-pro and can build actual stability.

@ Stones II (Tester Challenge Cup Final
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Owen Kabodi/Luke Barlone

If we lose to a damn Level 23 side, I'm going to be pissed.

3 - Okojie boots a diagonal to the head of Barlone, but the bar robs him. Ball's bouncing around, and it's Kabodi who wins the scrum, poking it in the net. 1-0 One thing I've noticed just in the first couple minutes - Neild is UP for this game.

24 - Kabodi steals a sloppy pass, and shorts it to Barlone. Back a bit to Wales and the ball forth to Martin on the left wing of the box. Center to Kabodi, and it's in. 2-0

46 - We're moving the ball all around the pitch, and suddenly Kabodi finds himself triple-teamed. Spray out to isolated Warrell on the wing, strong cross into the box where Kabodi has sprinted ahead of everyone for the FIRST HALF HAT-TRICK! 3-0

Tindle shifts to DR, and Reed comes in at the break, because Lymn has a yellow, and damned if I let them back in.

57 - They get one back, as the ball's flying everywhere. Murray steps in for tiring Barlone.

7.5s for Robert Warrell and Michael Martin, 8.1 for Billy Wales, and of course 9.5 for PotM Owen Kabodi, who came back in time from injury to secure...

MY FIRST EVER CUP TROPHY IN FM!!!!!!!!!!!

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

As you can see, we pocketed $750 for the trophy, our first ever cup prize money!

vs AFC Ringmer II (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Joakim Ehui
S: Owen Kabodi/Luke Barlone

Robert Warrell sustained a nasty, Jupiter-sized bruise the day before the match, so the Frenchman Joakim Ehui gets the call last second.

44 - They've been marking us heavy all game, including this one where Martin just manages to escalate it to Kabodi. Despite a guy on his ass, he wins the battle and feeds it into the box where Barlone has breathing room and blasts it in. 1-0

45 - And they answer right back before the half. Both teams are playing great 1-1

46 - Wales delivers it to Kabodi, who dribbles into the box. He's trying to line drive pass, but puts too much mustard on it, and it somehow whistles into the very corner of the net. Okay, we'll take that! 2-1

62 - Walker on for Wales; Reed for Hawes

70 - Great save by Tetek on a booming free kick, and then he blasts it all the way down the pitch to Martin, the Northern Irishman burning the defense en route to far post crossing to Kabodi. The opposing keeper fumbles helplessly as our scoring machine sings it home! 3-1

7s almost everywhere, with Michael Martin's 7.6, Billy Wales' 7.7, and PotM Owen Kabodi's 9.1 the standouts.

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

:party: :party: :party: :banana: :banana: :banana:

HELL YEAH!!!! Just out of curiosity, if we'd also won the Parsons Cup, would that have been the quadruple? The queble? Ah well, I'm fucking thrilled with a treble, no matter how low rent. Oh yeah, another $750 for that title, meaning we pocketed $1.5k just in prize money alone this year.

I'm going to *hate* the summer raiding season. I've really grown attached to this group of guys.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/treble11_zpsfmwukfvl.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/treble11_zpsfmwukfvl.jpg.html)

Hilariously, despite not having played a single minute there for us, Billy Wales is listed as the DM on our All-Time Best 11. We also see Michael Martin a reserve, despite 38 games with the club, the highest of anyone by far. (Though I can't dispute Alando Lewis and Greg Hackett there instead). [More curious: Bojan Tetek and Tajh Bell have the same average rating (6.81), but Bell is the starter pick despite much fewer starts. Weird.

Our average home attendance was 87 fans, smashing last year's marks by a crap ton.

I screw up the team meeting at the end of the season. Everyone is mad because I'm not expecting us to finish in the top half at the next level. They're not even happy with mid-table. Well shit, guys. It's enough I got the board on my ass - you don't need to do the same! So all the good feelings crash from happy to just Okay.

Well, fuck. Not a good thing to do heading into summer.

[Izulde]

Wow!

The board would like to meet to discuss potentially buying Adastra Park!

Of course I'm all for it. That can only help our bottom line, rather than having to pay rental space. It's 1,000 seater that's been only filling 8% on average, but with each level, ticket sales have increased.

I forgot to note it in the first season, but right now, average ticket price is $8, season tickets are $113, and we have 24 season ticket holders. Everything is the lowest level of facilities, too. Right now, we have $14.5k in the bank, which seems awfully low to buy the stadium.

We get a huge upgrade in the scouting department, firing our 5 Current/4 Potential Chief Scout and hiring a 12/12 guy.

Time for summer raiding.

And yet, by the time preseason starts, everyone is still here. Staff is recommending formation changes, but I'm not down with that right now. We'll roll with what's served us so far.

Oh, neat! The protests about Qatar have caused the 2022 World Cup to be moved to Morocco.

Speaking of, I missed sometime last season when Dan Okojie declared for Nigeria, so he technically counts in our non-English category now.

We romp through our first friendly, 5-1. I really want my assman to take over, because friendlies are boring as shit.

It's after that first one we get our first defection.

Transfer Out
Adam Murray - $7.5k

East Grinstead Mavericks are 1-10 favorites to win the Mid Sussex Division Eight. Everyone else is 5000-1, and we and Heath Rangers are respectively first and second of the Others.

0-0
2-0 W
2-1 W but this friendly win is devastating as we lose Owen Kabodi for 7-8 weeks to strained ankle ligaments and Nathan Dennis 4-5 weeks to a foot injury.

And all of a sudden, looking at our team, we've some holes to address. And I begin to see why the coaches recommended a new formation.

But more on that next time. Four weeks to go until the season starts. And knock on wood, but this has been the single quietest summer raiding season ever for one of my teams, and the only dude we lost was a guy who was our 4th/5th striker option at best, and buried deep on the DC depth chart as well.

[Izulde]

But you know what? Screw it. We'll just ride forth with what we have for now, and adjust as needed.

Bojan Tetek and Billy Wales will retain their respective roles as captain and vice-captain from last season.

Transfers Out
ST Owen Kabodi - $16.25k
DR/MR Jordan Lymn - $10.5k
Joakim Ehui - $3.5k
Greg Tindle - $9k

We sell 25 season tickets, 1 more than last year. The raids also came rather late this offseason, but they were considerable, to say the least.

Transfer In ST Reece Passmore - 17
10 Finishing/11 Composure/15 Determination/12 Teamwork. My staff is eh on him, but I think he's someone who can do something despite limited physical abilities.

@ AFC Ringmer II
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

3 - Warrell/b] kicks it back to [b]Wales for the boot way out on the wing to Gill. The high, far post cross sees Lewis score with no trouble at all. 1-0

5 - Martin short passes to Lewis just outside the box. He's being triple-teamed, so he lays off to Passmore, who dribbles through the open space into the box. Goalie starts coming out, and there's the smooth debut goal! 2-0

7 - Our defense may need more work 2-1

17 - Seriously?! 2-2

24 - Both Martin and Lewis have blown wide open shots, which isn't like them at all.

Walker replaces Neild; Evans is on for Cook at half.

76 - Unfucking believable. 2-3

80 - Great takeaway by Gill and the jackhammer down the field to Passmore, who traps and controls it. Triple team again, and he threads the needle forward into the box to Lewis for the score. 3-3

Ridiculous to tie that game and nearly lose it. We should have won.

We've lost around $900 so far this year over the first two months, but the board still likes me.

Transfer In - DLCR James Crane (27)
The three position backup replacement for Greg Tindle. Not great by any shakes, but he'll do.

@ Crawley Panthers (Parsons Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

You may recall we suffered an embarrassing loss here in the first round last season. I'd like to avoid a repeat, especially given we're once again expected to win all the things.

9 - Wales with the wing out to Warrell who whips the near post cross to Lewis for the first score. To be honest, we got away with one there. He was offsides. 1-0

Walker comes in for an exhausted Wales at the half.

53 - Passmore belts a 25 yarder into space, and the defense wins. But the backpass to the goalie is sloppy slow, and Lewis beats the keeper for his second strike of the contest! Tricks slides in for Martin after the score. 2-0

85 - Brutal collision between Hawes and one of their guys, knocking both out of the game. Crane hops on.

7s everywhere in this solid victory, the highlights coming from Carl Gill (7.5), Robert Warrell (7.8), and PotM Alando Lewis (8.8).

Oh, and Sam Fisk leaves for another team. He just could never crack our rotation after his initial looks.

vs Linfield IV (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

48 - Neild shoots it on the far right wing to Gill, and Lewis charges forward on the center cross to kick it in after a frustrating first half. 1-0

50 - Warrell dribbles down the right flank and then diagonal line drives a pass into the box, where Lewis repeats the diagonal kick, right into the net! 2-0

57 - Barlone on for Passmore

71 - Roberts bombs it down the line for Barlone on the right wing. Lewis gets the cross and 7/10 splits the shot between defenders for his hat trick Pumpy Tudors styo! 3-0

78 - Neild wants a rest, so Walker walks on.

How dominant was this win? Only Reece Passmore had less than a 7 among the starters. 7.5+ guys: Carl Gill (7.9), Robert Warrell (8.2) and of course PotM Alando Lewis with his 9.5.

Nico Muir snapped up an $11.5k offer to go, after Fisk just got another non-contract. Neither player could force their way into our plans, so it doesn't matter. Just kind of funny, really.

Not funny is Adie Hawes taking a $6k contract. I'm not exactly happy with how Jack Cook has been doing, and this just creates more pressure on us at DC.

Transfer In - ST Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson (22)
I had no real intention of signing another striker, as I'm happy with our three man rotation there, but this kid is absolutely incredible. Like, the best striker to ever put on a Keymer & Hassocks jersey if my scouts are right.

vs Crawley United (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

37 seconds - Lewis kicks back to Gill, and the header setup sees the defense outmuscle our newest striker. But then Warrell intercepts inside the box for the quick, short pass to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and it's a debut goal barely a half-minute after he stepped on the field! 1-0

7 - Fucking central defense. 1-1

19 - Warrell takes the lateral cross from Martin and dribbles all the way to the sideline before he booms a pass to Lewis in the box. Defense is right in his face, but our leading scorer calmly drills the ball right through it all and into the net. 2-1

58 - Walker for Wales; Crane for Roberts

8.4 for PotM Robert Warrell, who was just incredible all game long. 7.6 for Michael Martin as well.

We're now solely alone in 1st place, though a couple teams with 4 points have a game in hand on us. Nice way to bounce back from the first game stupidity.

[Brian Swartz]

By my calculations, you only need another 20 consecutive promotions(or something like that) to reach the EPL. I wonder what the odds are of you getting half that far before you have a season or two of rough sledding, curse the fact that you keep playing FM even though 'nothing works', 'supertactics R crapola' and other similar sentiments, and swear you don't ever want to play again.

Until the next time you do, that is :P

[Izulde]

By my calculations, you only need another 20 consecutive promotions(or something like that) to reach the EPL. I wonder what the odds are of you getting half that far before you have a season or two of rough sledding, curse the fact that you keep playing FM even though 'nothing works', 'supertactics R crapola' and other similar sentiments, and swear you don't ever want to play again.

Until the next time you do, that is :P

:lol: Hopefully by then my reputation will be enough that someone else will hire me. I've had quite a few teams continue to be rumored they want me.

Which reminds:

Initially:


Coaching Attributes: All 5, save 1 in Technical and 11 Working with Youngsters
Mental Attributes: Adaptability 5, Determination 8, Player Knowledge 1, Youngster Knowledge 1, Man Management 4, Level of Discipline 2, Motivating 11

Now? Attacking 11, Defending 9, Fitness 5, Goalkeepers 7. Tactical 11, Technical 4, Mental 10, Working with Youngsters 11

Adaptability 5, Determination 9, Player Knowledge 7, Youngster Knowledge 5, Level of Discipline 2, Man Management 8, Motivating 11

Nice increases.

The team stuff is much the same as start, but our team value has doubled from $20k to $40k

Michael Martin finally leaves after getting $10k. There's a lot of players who have been sniffed around and keep rejecting offers to stay. Martin was one of them, until he finally got a five figure deal. And so our longest serving player departs.

Bojan Tetek and Carl Gill have good training. We made $2.13k last month and are back in the black for the year.

Transfer In - AMLR/MLR/ST Josh Dawkin (25) - Welsh
A selfish player unfortunately, but this dude is the truth as an upgrade on the left side. In fact, he steps in as one of our best players.

@Furngate (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

12 - We're awarded a PK and Fortnam-Tomlinson blows it. :(

29 - Dawkin kicks it up to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. We're awarded another PK, and this time it's Roberts who steps up. He converts. 1-0

38 - Fortnam-Tomlinson is knocked, so Lewis moves to the striker spot, and Warrell comes in at AMR.

55 - Two great interceptions by Wales, once to start a move and run down the right flank, the other after Lewis has the ball knocked away. Back to Lewis in the box, where he's being hemmed in on the touchline by two defenders. No problem, as it's a diagonal feed back a bit to the far post, where Dawkin waits to slam in the debut goal. 2-0

89 - HE WAS OFFSIDES!!! WHAT THE FUCK?! 2-1

92 - Bullshit PK given to them by Okojie, and they convert for a fucking RETARDED ASS draw. 2-2

I told them off for that one, you can be damned sure.

Transfer In - DL George Brislen-Hall (24)
Elite player who not only replaces Dan Okojie as our DL, he re-shuffles the talent pecking order on the squad.

Transfer In - DR/MR Jack McFarlane (23)
Another major talent upgrade, this time at DR. It also means I can move Carl Gill to DC, where I've been training him and he's reached competent. That means bye to Jack Cook as a starter.

@ East Grinstead Mavericks (Malins Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis

13 - Wales twisted his ankle, but he's going to play until half.

32 - My instinct was right, as Wales passes it to McFarlane just outside the right side of the box, our new DR muscling out the defender to get the ball. Center to Lewis, and we've the score. 1-0

Walker walks on for Wales at half.

47 - Outheaded on corner 1-1

59 - Tricks on for Dawkin's shit game.

64 - Brislen-Hall booms the free kick into the right side of the box, and I think it's going to be a goal kick when Gill saves the ball, pivots, and fires a diagonal in! 2-1

86 - Brislen-Hall whistles a ball *just* over the head of the defender, and it bounces into space for Lewis to pick it up in the box and trash the keeper on the 1 v 1 3-1

7.7 for Carl Gill in his debut start at DC (He's up to Competent there), 8.7 for George Brislen-Hall, and 8.8 for PotM Alando Lewis.

We lose Billy Wales for 5-6 weeks and Carl Gill decreases in potential. Awesome.

@ Lindfield III (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

15 - Wide open for Fortnam-Tomlinson and he cracks the post.

21 - Fucking awful attempt at clearance. 0-1

52 - Brislen-Hall throw-in to Reed and gets it back. The longball to the box, where Fortnam-Tomlinson gets there first, and this time his diagonal shot sings home. 1-1

58 - Crane for Roberts; Zuerner for Walker

92 - Dawkin on the corner, and Crane gets it in the scrum. No shot available, so he circles around and short passes to Zuerner, who short passes to Reed, and the shot is home for the dramatic late win!!!! 2-1

7.7 for deserved PotM Scott Reed; 7.6 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. Nice to show that we have some fightback in us after all, after I shredded the team at half.

[Izulde]

Transfer In - DC/DM/MR Jack Walder (27)
I've been looking for a better starting defensive midfielder, and though Walder isn't a huge upgrade, he's still appreciably better than anyone else we have here. He's also better than Ash Walker as a backup MC.

Transfer In - DC Jerel Ifil (35) - Saint Lucian
Veteran with 2 caps to his credit and the best central defender we've had in quite some time. Interestingly enough, he hates Dulwich Hamlet after playing there the last two seasons. Guess things went sour there. I try to get him to tutor Carl Gill, or any of our young defenders, but he isn't buying it.

@ Cuckfield Rangers III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

3 - They should have scored there.

26 - OFFSIDES ASSHOLE! 0-1

30 - Warrell drops a tight arc into the middle of the box, and Dawkin gets there first to put it away. 1-1

Crane goes in for Ifil at the half.

59 - Barlone in for Fortnam-Tomlinson

62 - Here's an amazing intercepting header by Walder down to Dawkin. Back to Walder and the laser into the box. Defense gets there first, but the backpass is weak, and Lewis laughingly darts forward to shoot it by the goalie. 2-1

8.2 and PotM for Josh Dawkin, 7.6 for Alando Lewis in a ho-hum game for us.

@ Ifield Galaxy III (Parsons Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Ash Walker/George Zuerner/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

6 - Intercepting header by the defense outside their box, but Lewis intercepts right back, sending the header to Fortnam-Tomlinson just outside the half-circle. The 25 yard strike sings true! 1-0

11 - Our Thai midfielder, Zuerner, gets waxed at midfield, dropping both him and the opponent. Ball squirts loose. Walker's first, and zooms it down outside the right side of the box where Lewis picks it up for the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Easy double, and just in this game, F-T's doubled his season goal output for us. 2-0

39 - Ugh. McFarlane with an own goal. 2-1

41 - "You don't save those!" Indeed, you don't, though Ifil deserves much of the blame for a shitty pass. 2-2

42 - Ifil own-goaled that like somebody fucking paid him to do it. What the fuck?! 2-3

At half, I chew everyone out.

46 - Walker wings it to Warrell, and there's the whipping cross seeing Fortnam-Tomlinson rising like the sun and scorching the header hat-trick in. 3-3

48 - Crane on for Gill

61 - Walder in for Zuerner

63 - SHIT! Lewis is knocked out with injury, and Barlone goes on.

83 - Cut on Barlone's hand, but we're out of subs.

93 - FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!! 3-4

Piling on to that bullshit, we lose Alando Lewis for 4 weeks. He's only the best player on the whole damn team. And a day later? Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson pulls his hamstring and is gone for 4-5 weeks. Well, SHIT!

Robert Evans leaves on a non-contract and we lost $425 last month.

vs East Grinstead Mavericks (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill/Jack Cook
DM: Scott Reed
M: Jack Walder/Jordan Neild
AM: James Tricks/Robert Warrell
S: Reece Passmore

Between injuries and tiredness, we're having to throw a makeshift lineup together for this one.

At half, Walder slides down to DM and Walker comes on, as Reed got blasted in the face.

57 - Barlone in for Passmore.

And yeah. It's the kind of game where Bojan Tetek wins PotM with an 8.1, because we played like shit all first half, and just couldn't find an opening in the second. Good news is, we still picked up a point on 2nd place.

This is the first really bad stretch we've had in my tenure. BTW, Reed is out 12-15 days with the face hit. Let's hope we can bounce back.

[Izulde]

@ Barcome II (Malins Challenge Cup 2nd Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Luke Barlone/Reece Passmore

Let's see how we go with neither of our starting strikers or our best central midfielder.

35 - Tetek with the blasted goal kick to Passmore. Double team starts closing, but the feed into the box finds a probably offsides Barlone for the score. 1-0

43 - McFarlane throws it in to Passmore, and he line drives it far post for a streaking Dawkin to slam it home! That's two assists for Passmore, BTW. 2-0

Walker replaces an exhausted Neild at the half.

54 - Zuerner comes in for Walder.

57 - Brislen-Hall throws into Barlone and gets it back, then crosses to Passmore. But the double team jumps and clears out the header. Problem being, the ball bounces down in the middle of the box, where Walker gets it, dribbles back to find his angle, and fires home his first ever goal for us! 3-0

60 - Warrell is the second man to get the ball after a throw-in, and he shoots it on down the line for Passmore. Just before the ball crosses the touchline, Passmore airs it near post to Barlone's head for yet another goal and assist combo, Barlone laughing as he knocked down the double team. 4-0

71 - Brilliant interception by Gill and the kick-on to Walker. The wide wing to Warrell, who whips it longball to Barlone. Opponent misjudges the header and here's Barlone with a hat trick! 5-0

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/totaldomination_zpscconw0pn.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/totaldomination_zpscconw0pn.jpg.html)

Oh yeah, and Ash Walker got a 7.8 off the bench, which is rare for a reserve. Wrecker wrecker yall!

vs Heath Rangers (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Luke Barlone/Reece Passmore

55 - Crane on for Ifil; Wales in for Neild

What a completely garbage game. No highlights. Still, we're now 2 points ahead of the second place team, so 1 point is better than zero, but that's two straight league games we've had a 0-0 draw in.

[Izulde]

@ Handcross Village II (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

Finally back to full strength.Well, almost!

Tricks replaces the injured Warrell and Crane the tired Ifil at half. No highlights thus far.

88 - Lewis has had a couple of clear shots at the goal and missed this second half. Evidently he's got some rust. But here, McFarlane passes to Tricks just outside the box. A little shake and bake, and the grounder to the far post where an offsides Lewis puts it away. Ref doesn't call it, though. 1-0

91 - Brislen-Hall finds Crane on a near post corner kick, but rather than take the shot himself, Crane wisely lays off far post to Gill for the guaranteed victory. 2-0

7.7 for Jack McFarlane 8.1 for PotM George Brislen-Hall, 7.8 for Josh Dawkin, and a 7.7 bench mark for James Tricks. Our defense and midfield were almost all 7.2+. It's the strikers that really let us down in this one.

I really want to find an upgrade at central midfielder. Jordan Neild keeps getting downgraded by my staff, and he's a 1.5/1.5 now.

$1.23k profit. Yay.

Three different firings all on the same day - a Southern League Premier team, a Conf North/South team, and a Sky Bet League 2 team(!). I'm listed as the favorite for all 3 jobs. :eek:

@ Roffey III (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

*NOW* we're at full strength.

12 - The fullback doesn't look back when he passes back, and his back is wack when Fortnam-Tomlinson wins the race to the ball in the box, and puts it away. 1-0

24 - Throw-in by McFarlane is to Warrell, who takes a bit to trap it, and then the near post cross for Brislen-Hall to head in his first ever goal for us! 2-0

44 - Neild must know he's playing for his job, because he straight up steals the ball on a pass and arrows it down to Lewis. Dribble, dribble into the box, and the 1 v 1 is smooooooth. 3-0

Ifil and Wales are done at half for Crane and Walder respectively. Because energy reasons.

47 - Nothing doing there. Perfect placement. 3-1

60 - Nice recovery by Warrell on the blocked shot. He passes to Neild, who threads it out right wing for McFarlane to dribble on the flank until he centers it to where three people are standing - The keeper, a defender, and Fortnam-Tomlinson. I'm sure you can guess who won that battle. Oh, and the announcers are already calling the game for us. 4-1

63 - Sloppy backpass by Lewis there, and though I give Crane mad props for absolutely wiping his guy out, the ball squirted to another opponent, and Tetek couldn't recover in time to get there. 4-2

69 - Ninja-like pickoff by Gill and the line down to Fortnam-Tomlinson just outside the box. Short pass into it for Lewis, who rockets the fucker through three defenders. 5-2

Lot of great showings here. Obviously Alando Lewis (9.0) and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson (9.2 - PotM) were on fire, but George Brislen-Hall and Jack McFarlane book-ended 7.5s and Robert Warrell (8.2) and Jordan Neild (8.2) dominated the midfield. Every single starter pulled a 7.0 or better.

Another manager stops by to check out Jordan Neild, Billy Wales, and Alando Lewis. First time we've had someone scoping 3 of our guys at once. There have been a ton of offers for our dudes, but they keep rejecting contract offers from teams because they love here, and the pay isn't enough to get them to jump ship yet.

Luke Barlone gets hurt and is out 4-5 weeks, but that's okay because then the dispute over whether he or Reece Passmore should be our third striker is settled.

vs Danehill (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

9 - Brislen-Hall with the throw-in to Fortnam-Tomlinson and the first hyphenated player gets it right back for the first touch cross to Warrell for the thundering header of his first ever goal for us. Can't believe it's his first, but the kid has been assist man supreme so far this season. 1-0

11 - Lewis kicks it back to MacFarlane just outside the box (whose last name I keep misspelling). Another short pass, this one to Warrell, and the scorching long shot finds home! 2-0

Fortnam-Tomlinson jacked his heel, so he's replaced at the break by Passmore, and we swap our strikers.

56 - Neild sends it out to Warrell and the kid does what he does best - feeds the long pass in the box to Lewis for a score. 3-0

64 - Passmore intercepts a terrible pass to start a move that ends in Dawkin long lateral to Warrell, who blasts right into the box. Arriving at the same time as the ball is Dawkin to put it away. Hot.damn. 2 goals. 2 assists. Announcers are losing their shit over how awesome Warrell has been this game. 4-0

77 - So Neild rips the ball all way into the corner of the box. Clueless DR, Sheriff, makes an interception, but doesn't try to clear. Lewis gets it. Sheriff steals it back, and Lewis robs him again after he hangs on too long. Say hello to yet another score. 5-0

How dominant were we? Of the 10 guys in the game the full 90, only Bojan Tetek had less than an 8.1 at 7.2. We also had 4 players at 9+ - Robert Warrell (9.6), who got robbed of a 10. Even in the goal fests I've had in previous dynasties, no player has *ever* stood out to me like that in his complete mastery of the pitch. 9.0 for Billy Wales, 9.2 for Josh Dawkin, and 9.4 for Alando Lewis.

In fact, that might just be the most staggering game any of my teams has ever played in any FM universe ever.

Even the Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson news isn't bad - he's only out 2 weeks.

Another big league match coming up. We'll still be in 1st even if we lose, but a win would put us in fantastic shape at the halfway mark of the season.

[Brian Swartz]

I think this is the best stretch I've seen you put together on this game!

So ... what are you doing differently this time around, or is just plain dumb luck/hydroplaning?

[Izulde]

I think this is the best stretch I've seen you put together on this game!

So ... what are you doing differently this time around, or is just plain dumb luck/hydroplaning?

Plain dumb luck, really. The talent level of the players on this team is far beyond the others at this level, I believe, so my tactics and whatnot don't really matter.

vs Barcombe II (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

31 - Rainy days here. Brislen-Hall with the throw-in to Lewis. PK awarded after the defense shoves him! Passmore's chosen to take it, and he confidently powers it into the upper left corner of the net! 1-0

44 - Dawkin has it and he's dribbling down the left flank, when he suddenly cuts in to the middle. That allows him to find the spot for a pass to Passmore in the half-circle. Two steps, and hello second goal of the game, third of the season! 2-0

I pull lackadaisical MacFarlane at the half for Crane, and swap Crane and Gill.

58 - Nothing to do about that one. 2-1

67 - I switch to a 4-4-2 Diamond Wide with Neild at AMC; Walder at DMC, and Reed jumps in for a tired Ifil

7.6 for Josh Dawkin; 8.6 for PotM Reece Passmore. To be honest, we weren't great today, and I probably should have been harder on them, but like Elsa, I'm gonna let it go.

We continue to have striker injury problems, as Alando Lewis bruises his head and will miss our next match. Billy Wales gets injured as well, and will be out 3-4 weeks.

vs AFC Ringmer II (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Ash Walker/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

58 - Zuerner in for Walker and switch; Crane for Ifil

63 - All game long they've been forcing us back and back and back away from the box, really focusing on getting the draw. So we have to keep passing around. Here, Zuerner shoots it on the wing for Warrell, who nabs it just before it goes out of play. The near post cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and I swear the header is going to miss, but it sneaks in! 1-0

78 - Pristine composure on the interception by Zuerner, our Thai veteran sending it into space for Fortnam-Tomlinson to pick up, run all the way down the middle of the pitch and into the box, and slam in the guarantee goal. 2-0

7.7 for Jordan Neild and 8.8 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. Just missing 7.5 was Jack MacFarlane with 7.4.

vs Copthorne IV (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinals
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Ash Walker/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis

I yell at the team at half for playing like shit.

57 - Tricks is on for Lewis; Zuerner for Walker and switch.

59 - Gill fucked us by missing the header. 0-1

72 - MacFarlane gets it on the far right wing out of the box. He short passes to Warrell for the far post cross to an unmarked Dawkin. And there's the equalizer. 1-1

111 - Dawkin gets the ball and is dribbling down the left side. Pass to Tricks, who goes forth into the box and shoots. Shot's deflected, but Dawkin is there to sink the rebound despite howls of offsides from the opposition (He genuinely wasn't, btw). 2-1

8.1 for Jordan Neild, 8.0 for Robert Warrell, and 8.8 for PotM Josh Dawkin. Just missing the 7.5 cut - Jerel Ifil with 7.4.

[Izulde]

I'm now back to Untouchable, and we made $3k last month.

Billy Wales has decreased ability.

Lindfield IV (8th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Ash Walker/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fornam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

44 - Brislen-Hall throws in to Dawkin, who dribbles backwards along the box perimeter before sending back to Brislen-Hall. The cross is perfectly bounced between three defenders and Lewis thunders the short shot so hard, it almost goes through the upper part of the net. 1-0

54 - Passmore pops on for Fortnam-Tomlinson; Zuerner for Walker, and both switch spots.

63 - Somebody, I didn't see who, missed a tackle there. 1-1

83 - Zuerner sees a huge hole in the defense, and hits the long groundball into space for Warrell. He picks up on the right side of the box. Eyes of the keeper are on Passmore in front, so Zuerner slips the pass behind him where Lewis is coming forth to score his second goal of the game. 2-1

90 - Neild passes it to Passmore for the first touch to Warrell outside the box. The 25 yard song hits the true note. 3-1

8.3 for Robert Warrell, 8.8 for PotM Alando Lewis, and 7.4 for Josh Dawkin. Oh, and 7.7 for Jordan Neild.

@ Crawley United (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fornam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

61 - Walker walks on for Neild.

72 - Passmore for Fortnam-Tomlinson and switch.

Just a game where we couldn't get it done. No real excuse for that, either. Our lead is cut to 4 points over 2nd, and stays at 9 over these guys.

vs East Grinstead Town III (Malins Challenge Cup Semifinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

42 - I pull Lewis for Passmore. Alando's head is not in the game at all today. There's been like three times he should have crushed it, and instead blew it.

47 - 28 seconds before the halftime whistle, Neild to Warrell, who two steps until passing to the far post, where Fortnam-Tomlinson and Dawkin are together. It's Dawkin who gets it and hits it. 1-0

Walker is in for tired Neild at the half.

60 - That's the kind of free kick no one can defend. Amusingly enough, the scorer had the same last name as my first girlfriend. 1-1

72 - Passmore takes MacFarlane's throw-in and gives it right back to him. The cross to Dawkin sees the header attempt deflected, but Warrell is right there to sink his own header shot that goes *just* past the keeper's outstretched fingers. 2-1

91 - Textbook interception by Walker, and he gets the ball to Passmore. The long ball into space, and Fortnam-Tomlinson picks it up, puts on the afterburners, and snaps home the insurance. Nice recovery for what been a terrible game for all three of our strikers. 3-1

7.9 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, 7.7 for Josh Dawkin, and 8.9 for PotM Robert Warrell.

Carl Gill will miss our next match due to the flu, and it's an important one for keeping us comfortably in first place.

[Izulde]

@ East Grinstead Mavericks (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Lot of buildup to this one, with lengthy press conferences on both sides. If we can beat these guys, that's a huge step forward to the title. Lose, and things will be a dogfight.

14 - Ifil's header interception is met with one from the defense. No problem as Neild snags it right back and short passes to Dawkin. The long ball comes and Fortnam-Tomlinson muscles the defense, dribbles into the box, and fires one home. 1-0

Walker for Wales and Crane for Ifil at the break due to tiredness.

46 - Cook intercepts a pass shortly after kickoff and gives it to Walder. Short pass to the right finds Fortnam-Tomlinson, who has his own safe give to Lewis. Dribble to midfield, and there's the long send in space for an unmarked Fortnam-Tomlinson to catch, dribble, and spear his second goal catch of the game. 2-0

48 - MacFarlane opts for a pass on the free kick, and we've a buildup deep in their half. Neild wings to MacFarlane on the right side for the quick kickback to Lewis. The defense is sagging off Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box, so Lewis passes it to him, and there's the hat trick! 3-0

69 - MacFarlane starts a move with a free kick just barely in our half. The sequence finishes with Walder right wing spray to MacFarlane hugging the sideline. Dribble to line up with the box, and nobody can stop Dawkin's header after the cross. 4-0

8.8 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.9 for Jack Cook in a major redemption game, 7.5 for George Brislen-Hall, 7.6 for Jack Walder, 9.0 for Alando Lewis, 8.7 forJosh Dawkin, and of course 9.6 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

I'm amused at having three Jacks in the starting lineup. Makes me want to get a fourth to have a complete set.

13 games played and we're 7 up on 2nd, 9 up on 3rd. Suffice to say, promotion clinching isn't far off at all with six matches left to play.

vs Fletching (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

2 - Incredible steal by Lewis despite two defenders with him after the clearance. Facing the double-team pressure still, he wings it out 30 yards left to Dawkin, who booms a drop pass into the box. Fortnam-Tomlinson is just onsides and takes the shot. It's deflected, but he's there for his own rebound and it's past the hapless, crumpled keeper. 1-0

14 - MacFarlane throws into Lewis inside the right side of the box. He quickly checks to his left and passes opposite to Brislen-Hall, who shoots through the gap in the defense into the net for his second goal of the year! 2-0

19 - Lots of really bad passes by the opponents here. Wales picks off one, laterals to Lewis, who dribbles down the right flank. Pass into the box, and Fortnam-Tomlinson is just too amazing to stop. 3-0

24 - Tetek felt sorry for these guys, so he own goals. I ain't even mad. 3-1

43 - They own goal it to return the favor. 4-1

58 - Walker in for Neild and midfield switch. Fuck it, Passmore for Fortnam-Tomlinson.

84 - Tetek stops one shot, but he's not quick enough to push away the rebound. 4-2

89 - Not that we needed it, but sure, we'll take that second own goal gift. 5-2

7.5 for George Brislen-Hall, 7.6 for Billy Wales, 8.5 for Alando Lewis, and 8.7 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, who isn't bothered by the early pull after I tell him he deserved a rest.

Six straight wins in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup breaks the tournament record.

We lose Jack Walder for 5-6 weeks to knee cartilage injury before our next game, but that's okay.

vs Furngate (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Ash Walker/Billy Wales
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

5 - Lewis is about to draw triple-team hate outside the box, so he gives it to Fortnam-Tomlinson, who then has four dudes converging on him. Safety valve wing out to MacFarlane all by himself, and the ensuing far post cross sees Dawkin score goal #9 with ease. 1-0

35 - Walker is facing his own double team shadows, so he passes to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Quick feed in the box to Lewis, and I have no idea what that weak, wack ass grounder was. I have even less idea how the keeper doesn't manage to get to that slow ball as it moseys into the net. 2-0

Neild moves back up to the central midfield in place of Wales, and Reed jumps in at DM at half. Everyone's looking awfully lazy, so I tell them to snap out of it. That freaks out Lewis and Fortnam-Tomlinson, but F-T was 2-C, so whatever man.

47 - Own goal? Okay. 3-0

90 - Ifil, exhausted as he is, intercepts when they're threatening, and passes to Dawkin. Lot of fiddle-faddling around before the layoff to Walker. Pass to Neild, and the breakthrough long ball that bounces into the box follows. Fortnam-Tomlinson and own goal guy footrace to it. Yeah, you know who wins. 4-0

Our entire backline had 7.6 or higher, including 8.1 by Jack MacFarlane. But that's not all. All of our starting midfielders except Wales and our striker scored 8.1 or higher, the PotM going to Alando Lewis with 9.1.

They definitely didn't get complacent after I cautioned them.

[Izulde]

$72 profit last month, and I'm still Untouchable.

Transfer Out - George Zuerner (29)
Our Thai veteran finally packs his bags. I'll miss his versatility, but he's only good enough for the next level up. He played in 6 league games for us, 3 a piece last year and this one, averaging a 6.87 both seasons. Evidently Cup games aren't a part of it? He signed a PPA deal with Sevenoaks, a semi-pro side, and is a striker in their flat 4-4-3, where he had a 6.9 in his first game with the club.

6 points is all we need to clinch the championship.

vs Linfield III (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

3 - Dawkin with the short pass ahead to Lewis. It's congested in the middle of the pitch, so he gets it out to a solo Brislen-Hall on the left wing. Cross into the box finds Fortnam-Tomlinson catching on and slotting it in. 1-0

6 - Throw-in by MacFarlane to Wales, who immediately longballs it in to space. Fortnam-Tomlinson already has the defense beat, so it's no trouble at all for him to get the ball, dribble forth into the box, and savage the keeper on the 1v1. 2-0

43 - Neild header intercepts in our half, nodding it on to Warrell. The pass down the line is to Lewis, who sends it on to Fortnam-Tomlinson for the easy first half hat trick! 3-0

51 - A triangular buildup in their half that ends in Fortnam-Tomlinson sending it left to Brislen-Hall, the cross to Dawkin's head securing yet another score. 4-0

73 - Perfect shot there. 4-1

78 - Walker and Reed replace Wales and Neild.

82 - I swear he was offsides! 4-2

We really tanked it in the last 10 minutes. As a result, we're at 9.0 for Billy Wales, 8.4 for Josh Dawkin, and 9.4 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, whereas before we were playing outstanding team soccer.

Oh well. We clinch automatic promotion to Mid Sussex Football League Division Seven next year.

Transfer Out - Carl Gill (18)
The only youth pull I signed from our initial crop, he had over 40 appearances with us the last two years, 26 league games. Last season was his standout, with 2 goals, 2 assists, and 2 MoM awards with a 7.29 rating. This year, he was down to 2 assists and a 6.99 rating, eventually losing his starting job at DC to Jack Cook after having already been replaced at DR by Jack MacFarlane. He also took a PPA deal.

Keymer & Hassocks Youth Candidates 4 K&H U18s 1
Absolutely shocking upset. Only Ash Walker (9.0 and PotM) showed up for the U18s, which featured players who are at least rotational/sub guys in our setup. Does this mean we have an amazing crop of youth pulls?

Well... no. A couple of guys I might consider signing, but overall, very underwhelming lot. I'll think on it a bit before deciding.

[Izulde]

I elect to only sign one guy. DM/MC Nick Plant, who is selfish and has low self-confidence. I know what it's like to doubt one's self, so I want to give him a chance. There's a couple 3.5* potential rated guys, but Plant isn't one of them. He's only 2. But screw it. I love his last name. Reminds me of Avenger of Zendikar's plant tokens, and I love me some AoZ in my Mayael deck.

@ Heath Rangers (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

Win this one against the team that came up from the Ninth division with us, and we win the title. Don't be fooled by their 5th place ranking - they have 18 points, but the 9th place team has 17 points with three games to play. 9th and 10th relegate. With 12 points, the last place team, AFC Ringmer II, is almost certain to drop. Only us, East Grinstead Mavericks, and Crawley United are guaranteed to avoid relegation (with our having secured promotion already). 4th place squad has 19 points, so it's really been a case of the Top 3, and then everyone else bar AFC Ringmer II.

3 - We've beaten Heath Rangers five times in a row, so I thought they were going to score here. Nope. Cook with a great takeaway and the give to Neild deep in our half. Incredible line drive all the way down the pitch into the box, where Fortnam-Tomlinson wins the race and lays off to Lewis. He hesitates to pick his spot, and then sings home his 20th goal of the year. 1-0

5 - Fantastic interception by Cook to start a move with the finisher of Neild sending out to MacFarlane outside the right box. Center cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and our two strikers both score their 20th goal of the season in the game, 2 minutes apart!!! Beautiful. 2-0

12 - Dawkin with a IFK that he boots to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. Bada bing, bada bang! 3-0

16 - Neild recovers the ball on the clearance and short passes to Wales. One time touch goes to Warrell just outside the right side of the box. There's a defender shadowing him, but not pressing, so the easy cross sees Fortnam-Tomlinson head it in for his umpteen thousandth first half hat-trick of the season!!!! 4-0

43 - Again a fearless pickoff by Cook, who then launches it all the way downfield to Lewis on the right side. Defender takes away the ball, but Lewis blocks the ball with his body and gets it back on the corner kick marker. What's intended to be a cross bounces off the goalie and in for a fluke goal. 5-0

53 - They're not letting up, constantly challenging us for possession, and get a couple steals this sequence. But guys like Ifil are always up to intercept it in turn. Fortnam-Tomlinson has the ball in the box, but a tackle dispossesses him. No problem, as Dawkin picks it up and crosses to Lewis. Second hat-trick of the game, motherfucker!!!!. Oh, snap! 6-0

76 - Heath Rangers continue to fiercely battle, staving off shot after shot. But MacFarlane snags a loose ball on the right side perimeter of the box, crossing to Fortnam-Tomlinson for a thunderous long-range header that goes home! 7-0

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Legitimate question - what the hell does a guy have to do to earn a 10 rating anymore?!

That margin of victory destroys both the club and Division Eight records (5-0 in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup Semi-Final, and 6-1 last season respectively), and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson is the first player in Keymer & Hassocks and Division Eight history to score 4 goals in a game.

@ Burgess Hill Rhinos (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Ash Walker/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

3 - Absolutely acrobatic save by Tetek there! I thought for sure that was going in.

Lewis slides over to Poacher, and Passmore replaces Fortnam-Tomlinson at half, because Bradley is just blah in this game.

56 - Wales subs in for Neild, and MC switch.

68 - Walker to Wales and the bouncer in the box for Lewis to snare and score on a diagonal. Finally! 1-0

Lot of low 7s, but the standouts are Ash Walker (7.6) and PotM Alando Lewis with an 8.1. I feel like Bojan Tetek should have gotten more than 7.3, because he made a couple of really amazing saves to win this one for us. Oh wait, Billy Wales picked up a 7.5 off the bench.

Not bad, considering I feared a major letdown after the goals burst last game, and the fact this match took place just 3 days after our title clincher.

AFC Ringmer II is officially relegated.

Transfer In - DC/ST Alasan Ann - 24 (Gambian)
I'm excited to bring this guy in. He's got nice physical attributes - nothing lower than a 8, and quite a few 12s. Has the ability to be our third striker and a legitimate poacher. He'll get starts in our last two league games, either at DC or ST, to be able to start adapting himself.

We make that move the day before Transfer Deadline Day. On the day itself, teams try frantically to steal Jack Cook, Ash Walker, and Bojan Tetek, but the clock runs out before that can happen.

Time to play out the thread on this season.

[Izulde]

$342 profit last month. Scott Reed has increased ability, but it's only to maybe Division Seven. We're really going to need to look for a DM if we're planning on using the 4-1-3-2 DM Wide next year. We've been using the 4-4-2 heavily this season due to matchups anyway, but still.

vs Roffey III (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook
M: Chris Shephard/Billy Wales/Ash Walker/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Reece Passmore

Lot of B-lineup guys, because yeah, nothing to play for.

31 - Fortnam-Tomlinson gets the ball on a line drive from Passmore and dribbles into the box, but his shot rattles off the top of the crossbar. No problem, as Shephard charges in to score the rebound goal. 1-0

38 - Complete fluke goal by Warrell after Wales' pass. 2-0

45 - Walker to Wales, and the crossing bounce pass on the wing to Shephard. Cross to the near post, and Fortnam-Tomlinson puts it away. 3-0

80 - Oh well. 3-1

87 - Wales jacks it down the line for Fortnam-Tomlinson's run. Triple team hate draws, so he lays off to Passmore, and there's just enough space despite the defender on his ass for our prospect to sink the kick. 4-1

Our entire backline had 7.1 or better, with Asalan Ann having a standout 7.7 debut. In fact, no one on the team with the exception of Tetek's 6.8 had lower than 7.1. Other highlights: 8.1 for Robert Warrell, 8.7 for Billy Wales, 7.8 for Reece Passmore, 9.0 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and 9.1 for PotM Chris Shephard.

@ Barcome II (7th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

Gotta make sure all our guys are match fit as possible for Cup finals, so full strength lineup today, save for in goal.

20 - Own goal by Ann. Fuck. 0-1

56 - Ann moves up to striker and Passmore comes on, sitting out both our scoring stars who act like they don't want to be here. Cook comes in at DC.

73 - Well shit. 0-2

87 - Warrell has it in the box and crosses to Ann, whose shot is pushed aside. Warrell has the presence for the rebound to give us a faint hope. 1-2

What a complete shithole of a game. Jerel Ifil just lost himself our Cup appearance with his ass-sucking 6.2.

Furngate is relegated, and Crawley United, well, crawls up to 2nd to go up with us. Heath Rangers fires their shit-talking manager after they lost five straight to close the season and end up 8th.

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson crushes the old league average rating record with 8.05. Previous best was 7.06. Like I said when we signed him, the absolute best striker ever to put on the Keymer & Hassocks jersey.

We earn Biggest Underachievers in the Parsons Challenge Cup. Eat my ass.

vs Burgess Hill Athletic (Malins Challenge Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jack Cook/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Karl Beckford praises Jack Cook before the game, which I thought was kind of cool. Beckford himself has been exceptional for Longlevens this season, after a disastrous year at Swindon Supermarine.

This is the biggest crowd we've ever played in front of, if I'm not mistaken. 539 tickets have been sold. The press catches me in the tunnel and asks about Jerel Ifil being left off. Because he sucked last game, that's why.

25 - Excellent interception by Wales, and it starts a move on the right side that sees Lewis send it down the line to MacFarlane. Cross far post, and Fortnam-Tomlinson's leaping header *just* stays inside, bouncing in for the first strike! 1-0

45 - Lot of triple teams going on, but Neild gets alone and puts it on the wing for Lewis to secure on the sideline. There's the cross, and a gorgeous sliding tackle by Fortnam-Tomlinson goes in!!!! 2-0

60 - Tricks comes on for Lewis; Neild slides to DM, and Walker comes in at MC.

Not dominant, but this squad is playing at the level above ours, so it's a good test for next season. 7.8 for Jack MacFarlane and of course 8.8 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, the great hero of the ages.

And that's a double!!! Weirdly enough, the fans are ecstatic with how we played.

We pocket a cool $2.53k for the win. Reece Passmore led the tournament in assists with 4, while Josh Dawkin topped the goal-scoring charts with 4.

Graham Moss, the opposing boss, talks shit, saying we're not as good as we think. I hope we kick your ass next year, fucker. You just barely avoided relegation. Robert Warrell set the Malins Challenge Cup rating record with 8.23, by the way. Previous high was 8.13.

Moss calls me undignified after I point out his trash-talking fired. Fuck you. One of us has a huge ass Cup trophy won in front of a giant crowd for this level. Who's that? Oh wait, ME! Suck it.

We'll be without George Brislen-Hall in our last Cup final after he sustains a nasty bruise. Jack Walder will also miss, thanks to severe food poisoning.

Buxted III wins the Tester Challenge Cup 7-0, crushing the old 4-0 Tester Challenge margin of victory. Well done to them. Crawley Panthers demolish the old average attendance record for the competition with 85, wiping out Heath Rangers' 43.

vs Wisdom Sports (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jack Cook/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

George Brislen-Hall is now a leading Isthmian D1 DL according to our scouts, and is one of the absolute top players on the squad. I love that dude, and both hypenated players are top priority to sign if they're still here whenever we turn semipro.

We're favored, and this is a Division Five team. Let that sink in for a moment. No wonder we're blitzing through these leagues. They also won this trophy a couple years ago, whereas we won last season.

36 - Beautiful pass block by Warrell, and he runs down the loose ball. Dribbling down the right flank a bit, then the long ball to free Lewis. His cross to the far post finds Fortnam-Tomlinson unmarked, and it's in! 1-0

[b]59[//b] - Walker replaces Wales. Fortnam-Tomlinson moves to the DF slot, Ann moves up to the Poacher position, and Ifil comes on at DC. Despite the assist, Lewis hasn't been playing very well.

76 - Ann has it in the box after a cross from Warrell, but he's drilled and the ball squirts loose. Dawkin beats the defense to the punch, and with two steps forward, scorches the insurance goal. 2-0

Every full-time starter except for Asalan Ann picked up a 7.0 or better. All the props to Bojan Tetek and his 7.6 - he kept making top-shelf saves all game long. Josh Dawkin just edged him out for PotM though, with a 7.7.

The treble is sweet. But seeing our names on the champions list for this trophy as back-to-back? That's even more beautiful. That's also another $2.53k in the bank. 539 people for this one, 3 below the Malins Challenge Cup's 542 attendance. Evidently the previous one got a handful of walk-up tickets.

8 of the Top 10 players in average rating for Division Eight, including the Top 7, were all Keymer & Hassocks players. We pretty much dominated the league, so it's not worth going through anything until we start running into real competition.

+32 GD and only that obnoxious loss to mar our season.

Our 12 victories in a row is a Mid Sussex Junior Cup record.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/d8_zpse1twwnfa.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/d8_zpse1twwnfa.jpg.html)

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/d82_zpsjnqgcsb4.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/d82_zpsjnqgcsb4.jpg.html)

Absolute mastery.

And now come the summer raids. Two years ago was devastating. Last season, not so much, as I didn't think Owen Kabodi was very consistent, and we had Alando Lewis still in the fold.

We'll see what this year brings.

[Izulde]

As I thought, we didn't have enough to buy the stadium. We do, however, get very slight increases in next year's sponsors, and presently have just shy of $32k in the bank.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Stuart Harrington (18)
My 12/12 Scout loves his upside as a 3* player. My coaches are meh on him. As it stands right now, he's a 4th/5th DC, 2nd DM, and 4th central midfielder. Fans are excited and see a lot of potential in him. So we'll see what comes of it. Hilariously enough, he gets a contract offer from someone else the very next day.

Argentina wins the World Cup 3-2 over Germany in extra time. Sounds like a thrilling game.

Division Seven Promotion Odds
Hartfield; Burgess Hill Athletic: 1-10
Keymer & Hassocks: 1-5
Ardingly II: 6-4
Ifield Galaxy III: 7-4

and then it drops to 33-1. You may recall that Ifield Galaxy III knocked us out of the Parsons Challenge Cup last season, so there's revenge in mind.

11 teams in the league, so we'll be playing 20 games this season instead of the usual 18 we've gotten used to the past two years.

Guess who is now listed as a Keymer & Hassocks Icon?! That's right - me! :D First time I've ever managed to get either myself or one of my players to Icon status.

We go 3-1 in preseason.

Bojan Tetek and Billy Wales will be our team and vice captains for the third straight year. I think the reason why we've been able to establish such continuity is because of with 23 levels (playing on Level 20 this year), there's a truckload of amateur teams, so the semipro squads have a lot to choose from. It also means they're willing to pay less on salaries, which pisses players off.

26 season tickets sold, 1 more than last year.

Transfer Out
Jordan Neild - $10.5k

Transfer In - MC/AMC Matthew Aldred (29)
Could play literally anywhere in the middle of the pitch if need be, but he'll replace the just departed Neild as our starter alongside Billy Wales. My coaches think he's the best player we have there right now, in fact.

@ Hartfield
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Matthew Aldred/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

28 - We've been shanking sitter after sitter after sitter, but this go-round, MacFarlane throws into Aldred, who drop shots it into the penalty box for Fortnam-Tomlinson to finally score. Nice debut assist! 1-0

48 - Passmore replaces the sucktastic Lewis

61 - Ugh. 1-1

70 - Dawkin crosses to Wales for the long-range shot. Keeper deflects it, but Fortnam-Tomlinson continues his stellar game by pouncing it and spearing in the go ahead goal. We also sub Crane in for Cook 2-1

77 - Fucking sloppy ass defending on that free kick. 2-2

Transfer Out - Alando Lewis - $22.5k
LOL. Plays like shit in the preseason, gets yanked in the first game, and then at long last gets the money he's been looking for. Teams have been after him non-stop, and he finally goes. I'll review his career with us more fully in the next post.

[Young Drachma]

Catching up.

[Izulde]

Catching up.

Glad to have you back reading. :)

vs Barcombe II (Parsons Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Matthew Aldred/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Reece Passmore

The jackasses that cost me my perfect Division Eight season. Revenge is on my mind.

At half, Cook is injured and Passmore stinks, so Harrington is on for Cook, Ann slides up to DF, Aldred shifts down to DC, Walker is on at MC, and he and Wales switch.

77 - Free kick by them, and Tetek stops the salvo. But he can't hold it, and they win the race to the rebound. Unfucking believable. 0-1

And that's it. For the second straight year in a row, we get embarrassed in the Parsons Challenge Cup.

Alando Lewis History
Signed in the summer following the Year 1 raid, Lewis played the AMR in our 4-1-3-2 Wide in the Division Nine Season, occasionally the defensive forward next to Owen Kabodi in the rare times we used the 4-4-2 or 4-4-2 Wide Diamond. Then, after Kabodi left, and we used the 4-4-2 most often this past year, Lewis was once again partnered with a more explosive forward in Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

Often praised by the media, Lewis was somewhat lesser regarded by the fans and the team, who loved his strike partners better. Nonetheless, his 49 appearances and 35 goals rank 2nd and 1st respectively all-time, and his 7.69 average rating is behind only Kabodi (7.71) and Fortnam-Tomlinson (7.9).

Barring a sudden change in fortunes, BFT will pass Lewis up for most goals scored, and others will surpass him in appearances. But he was still a vital part of our early teams, and in particularly shone during Cup play, which is where he banged in a lot of his goals.

***

vs East Grinstead Meads (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Stuart Harrington/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Matthew Aldred/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alasan Ann

11 - Wales sends it on to Dawkin for the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Despite two defenders blanketing him, our best.striker.ever. sneaks the shot in. 1-0

30 - Lot of back and forth here, but then Wales passes to Ann, who very slyly sneaks it to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. Pro tip: When two defenders are converging on an attacker, it's genuinely not wise to come out of the net. Especially not when the attacker is who he is. Another score. 2-0

I put in a lot of tired people in this one, because they were our best players and we need to get a win to get off the snide. Come half, we're up well enough, and I can afford to burn all three subs. Walker replaces Wales; Tricks comes for Dawkin; Ann moves to the poacher slot, and Passmore comes in for Fortnam-Tomlinson.

48 - Brislen-Hall feeds it in the box to Ann, who despite two defenders glued to him, gets off a shot that has me half out of my chair. But the post denies him. :( Fortunately, Passmore strolls up and sinks it for his first goal of the year. 3-0

49 - Penalty called on Ifil. Looked bullshit to me. They sink of course. 3-1

51 - Passmore has it deep in our half, and he pops a ball into space for Ann to get. He does, and with the whole damn opposition chasing after him, our Gambian dual duty player runs down the pitch and shoots the 1 v1, finally getting his first ever goal for us!!! 4-1

76 - Absolutely shit defense by Ifil. He's 36, so maybe the game has passed him by at this point. 4-2

7.7 for Josh Dawkin and 8.7 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, showing you how much they dominated the first 45 minutes. But Alasan Ann finished with an 8.3, and Reece Passmore picked up a 7.4 bench rating.

Transfer In - MR/AMRL/ST Evans Kouassi - 24 (Ivory Coast)
Although we've been hunting up strikers, this Ivorian turned out to be a huge improvement in almost every facet over Robert Warrell. Don't get me wrong - I love what Warrell has done in terms of overachieving, but any time you can get this much a talent upgrade, you take it.

@ Ardingly II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/James Crane/Tom Roberts/Jack MacFarlane
M: Chris Shephard/Jack Walder/Matthew Aldred/Evans Kouassi
S: James Tricks/Reece Passmore

Due to exhaustion all across the board, it's a mostly B-lineup here.

6 - Walder's in the half-circle at midfield, and then he boots it all the way down into the box. Tricks and the keeper are in a race for it, but then the goalie suddenly hesitates, and that's enough for Tricks to get there and hoof it in! Nice bit of work for someone who's been unhappy about not getting much PT. 1-0

45 - Just before half, Crane's stupid fucking ass misses the interception. 1-1

Needless to say, Ann replaces Crane.

52 - Shephard recovers his cleared out corner and crosses, where Passmore's goofy head-bobble just *barely* manages to stay in the corner of the net! 2-1

59 - Walker in for Aldred

It's the kind of game where Jack Walder's 7.7 is good for PotM and Chris Shephard's 7.6 is the only other 7.5+ rating on our squad. But you know, considering what we were working with, I'll take that kind of grindy victory.

Transfer In - ST Edwin Ahenkorah - 24 (Dutch)
Raw player, but if/when he develops, he'll be an adequate replacement for Alando Lewis.

And then it happens.

Transfer In - ST Jamie Gray - 24 (Irish)
He's equal to Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson in overall talent level. More to the point, his skills are sharper technically, with far greater leadership abilities (11 vs 1). BFT is superior mentally and physically for the most part, so they'll make a nice pairing. Though who goes where is still TBD.

Better think on that one a bit. Either way, this is a huge deal. We've not had two strikers of this caliber playing together, ever.

In fact, this probably calls for an overall review of our team and study of our makeup. It may be time to change things.

[Izulde]

Goalkeepers
Bojan Tetek (21) (Serbian) - 3/4
Nathan Dennis (22) - 1/3.5

Because of how heavily I lean on my #1 goalie in every dynasty ever, I'm not particularly fussed about getting a new backup. Besides which, Nathan Dennis is the lone original Keymer & Hassocks player.

Defenders Left
George Brislen-Hall (25) - 4.5/4.5
Dan Okojie (21) (Nigerian) - 2/3.5
James Crane (28) - 0.5/0.5

I'm comfortable here, too. GBH is the best player on the team, and despite occasional consistency issues, I've always really liked Okojie. Crane needs replacing.

Defenders Center
Jerel Ifil (36) (St. Lucian) - 2.5/2.5
Jack Cook - 23 - 2/2.5
Alasan Ann - 24 (Gambian) - 2/3
Stuart Harrington - 19 - 1/4
Tom Roberts - 29 - 1/1
Crane - 0.5/0.5
Matthew Aldred - 29 - 0.5/0.5

We're okay here, with Harrington particularly promising. My intention is to run an Ann/Harrington pairing and play to the upside, since we have very few standouts and lots of solid depth.

Defenders Right
Jack MacFarlane - 24 - 3.5/4.5
Cook - 2/2.5
Crane 1.5/1.5

Essentially like DL - a great player, and solid enough backups.

Defensive Midfielders
Jack Walder - 27 - 1.5/1.5
Harrington - 1/4
Aldred - 0.5/0.5

Or I could change to a DM formation, put Harrington there, and then let Ifil back in the DC starting mix. That perhaps seems like the best option, as you'll see when we get to MCs.

Midfielders Left
Josh Dawkin - 26 (Welsh) - 3/3
Chris Shephard - 29 - 1.5/1.5
James Tricks - 25 - 0.5/0.5
Robert Warrell - 17 - 0.5 silver/1.5

Remember when Warrell was a 3* potential player? We've so upgraded our talent that it's no longer the case. I'm fine with this for now, but wouldn't mind some better teeth here.

Midfielders Center
Aldred - 2/2
Walder - 1.5/1.5
Billy Wales - 25 - 1/1
Ash Walker - 26 - 1/1
Harrington - 5 silver/4

What was once a particular strength of our squad is now the weakest link. I think it high time we do away with the 4-4-2 and at last get more use out of the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide.

Midfielders Right
MacFarlane - 1.5/2.5
Evans Kouassi - 24 (Ivorian) - 1.5/2.5
Dawkin - 1.5/1.5
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Walder - 0.5/0.5
Warrell - 0.5 silver/1.5

We've been hunting for a better MR, and while Kouassi is an improvement, it's not quite enough.

Attacking Midfielders Left
Dawkin - 3/3
Shephard - 2/2
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Kouassi - 0.5/1
Warrell - 0.5 silver/1.5

Not much changed here from ML, though Shephard becomes a much better option.

Attacking Midfielders Center
Shephard - 2.5/2.5
Aldred - 1.5/.5

Perhaps the strongest argument for the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide - Shephard is better than anything we can put up at MC.

Attacking Midfielders Right
Kouassi - 1.5/2.5
Dawkin - 1.5/1.5
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Warrell - 0.5 silver/1.5

Continued problems with the right side.

Strikers
Jamie Gray - 24 (Irish) - 4/4
Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson - 23 (Northern Irish) - 4/4.5
Ann - 1/2
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Edwin Ahenkorah - 24 (Dutch) - 0.5/1.5
Crane - 0.5/0.5
Kouassi - 0.5/2.5
Dawkin - 0.5/0.5
Passmore - 0.5 silver/0.5

Lots of bodies, but the only truly good reserves are all slotted elsewhere. I admit to a hearty laugh at seeing an Irishman and a North Irishman as our starting strikers. No doubt we want to keep them from political discussions. :lol:

Jack Cook shows increased current ability; Robert Warrell increased potential ability. Eddie Claridge shows decreased potential.

Transfer In - MC/AMC/AML Rumen Nedelchev - 18 (Bulgarian)
My top scout thinks he'll be decent, but grades him behind Chris Shephard currently. My coaches consider him equal to Shephard right now, and brimming with elite potential. He's also an upgrade at AML backup in any case, if not beating Dawkin outright, so this is a pretty big get, and he'll have first crack at the AMC. Yay, Bulgaria!

vs Handcross Village II (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Evans Kouassi
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Rumen Nedelchev's signing didn't process through in time for this match, so we'll go with this for now.

54 - Our finishing stinks. Ahenkorah on for Fortnam-Tomlinson; Ifil replaces the equally lackluster Cook.

85 - Pitiful defense. 0-1

89 - Brislen-Hall is untouched outside the box, and he wings it to Dawkin. The long line drive cross, and here's Kouassi charging in to put away his first goal for us. 1-1

We played well enough to win, but were forced to settle for a tie. Ugh. George Brislen-Hall will miss our next game as well with a head injury.

@ East Grinstead Town III (1st)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Big match today. We really need to pick up a win here.

48 - Dawkin on the corner, and the giant Harrington rises above them all to smash in the header! 1-0

52 - Nobody, and I mean nobody covered that dude. Ifil in for Cook. 1-1

60 - Lot of buildup around their half of the pitch. Finally, Harrington hoofs it to Dawkin, and with the ensuing aerial cross, the keeper doesn't know which of our two strikers to eye, so Fortnam-Tomlinson knocks it in with his head. 2-1

63 - Dawkin has it deep in our half and cannons the ball all the way down into space in the box. Gray wins the footrace, jukes the defender, and bangs one with authority, finding the net! Shephard swaps in for Nedelchev. 3-1

83 - Shephard's corner is kicked away, but it's short and Dawkin, who has assists on all 3 goals this match, finds the seam and puts it away! 4-1

8.5 for Dan Okojie and Stuart Harrington, 9.4 for PotM Josh Dawkin, 8.0 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and 8.3 for Jamie Gray.

That launches us back into 1st on goal differential, with a game in hand to boot. Jerel Ifil has earned himself the start over Jack Cook next game, as he's been superior when coming on as a reserve for Cook's struggles.

But then we lose Josh Dawkin for 3-4 weeks. Ugh.

vs Burgess Hill Athletic (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jerel Ifil/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Rumen Nedelchev/Evans Kouassi
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

20 - Out goes Fortnam-Tomlinson with a back injury. Ahenkorah replaces him.

49 - Cook in for Ifil as we keep revolving door there.

81 - Kouassi throws in to Ahenkorah outside the box, who backpasses into space in the box. Wide open, and here's Harrington blasting a shot that the keeper completely misjudges! 1-0

8.4 for PotM Harrington and 8.2 for Rumen Nedelchev. I love Harrington's 6'7, 200 lb monstrosity out there. Those two have been putting in serious work since being brought in.

[Izulde]

@ Ifield Galaxy III (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Jerel Ifil/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Chris Shephard/Robert Warrell
AM: Matthew Aldred
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Fatigue issues to deal with here, as there's not much gap between games.

39 - We've been denied a ridiculous amount of times by the post, and missed easy sitters. No different here, as Gray kicks back to Shephard for the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Shot rattles off the post. Difference here is that Gray is first to the loose ball and dumps the easy rebound. 1-0

Crane is on for Ifil at the half.

48 - Ann intercepts a clearance and short passes to Aldred. Moonshot cross hits Warrell, who dribbles almost to the touchline before crossing to Fortnam-Tomlinson. This time there's no denial, post or otherwise! 2-0

58 - Suddenly, we can't pass worth a damn. Luckily, we get keep getting the ball back after our mishaps, including an interception by Ann just outside our box. He shorts it to Shephard for an all the way down into space rocket. Gray outraces two defenders and laughingly socks away the 1v1. 3-0

Bar Jerel Ifil (6.4) and Bojan Tetek (6.9), all our starters had 7.3 or better. And other than [b]Alasan Ann (7.3) and Jack MacFarlane (7.4), they were all 7.6 or higher. 8.0 for Jack Walder, 9.0 for PotM Chris Shephard, 8.4 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and 8.8 for Jamie Gray.

@ AFC Uckfields U21s (Malins Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/James Crane/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Rumen Nedelchev/Evans Kouassi
S: Jamie Gray

They're weak to the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide, so we're rolling with that. Besides which, it's another short turnaround.

2 - Roberts hurls his body in front of a laser shot to block what would have gone in. Cook pounces on it and sends it down to Gray just past midfield. Three defenders around him, so he lays it left to Nedelchev, who storms down the pitch and crosses into the six yard box, where... BILLY WALES?!?! is evidently a striker now, and walks it in. Wow! 1-0

31 - *Just* past Tetek's outstretched arms. 1-1

Tricks goes in for Kouassi at half, but really, the whole team kind of stunk out there.

59 - Ifil pops on for Roberts

80 - We wipe out one of their players to steal a ball, and my heart stops for a moment because I think it's Harrington getting his second yellow, but happily, it was Wales who floored him and takes the ball to pass to Nedelchev. Our Bulgarian runs down the flank, jukes a defender out of his shorts, and kicks off an around the world series of passes. The finisher is Cook alone on the right wing, his near post cross finding Gray for the short score. 2-1

7.5 for Jack Cook, 8.0 for PotM Billy Wales, and 7.6 for Rumen Nedelchev. That's our sixth Malins Challenge Cup victory in a row, which evidently sets a record.

Jerel Ifil gets hurt a couple days later and is out 4-5 weeks.

vs Burgess Hill Albion II (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
M: Matthew Aldred/Scott Reed
AM: Chris Shephard/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Between injuries, fatigue, and yet another stupid short break, we're reduced to playing this lineup. I could have switched the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide, but fuck that. We attack their weaknesses.

2 - About as clean and simple as it gets. Aldred picks off a pass after they take away our own pass, sends it forth to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and the quick two strides has our solo striker shoot it in (with help from the bar this time). 1-0

26 - Warrell is having a really, really bad day by the highlights. He keeps missing the passes he's supposed to get, he backs off on defense, and a shot gets denied by the post. The team's starting to ice him out, as here Fortnam-Tomlinson kicks it back to Reed, who straight-lines it to Aldred. Pass forward to the box and Fortnam-Tomlinson puts away his second goal. 2-0

Warrell is yanked for Kouassi at the break.

62 - Okojie, who got a potential downgrade last coach's meeting, comes in for a tired Brislen-Hall.

7.0 or better for everyone on the backline except George Brislen-Hall. But the game's true standouts are matching 9.0s from Matthew Aldred (PotM and deservedly so), and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

*Another* short rest game coming up next. Sheesh.

[Izulde]

@ East Grinstead Meads (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Robert Warrell/Evans Kouassi
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

A poor draw this, as we seek to go for our third straight title, and with a weakened lineup due to fatigue to boot.

12 - A knocked Warrell is first to the ball after we clear out a free kick, and he shoots it downfield for Ahenkorah. The defense is there first, but a poor pass allows our Dutch striker with his first ever start to get the ball and dribble parallel to the box. Then he cuts in, finds his angle, and strikes his first ever goal for us. A beaut of a first XI debut that piece was. 1-0

Nedelchev moves to ML; Tricks comes on at MR, and Aldred jogs in at AMC, thus burning two reserves at the half. Our wide midfielders simply didn't have the energy to keep going.

76 - Nedelchev makes an excellent recovery in our box and sends it down the left flank. Ahenkorah tracks back to fetch the ball, then lays off to Tricks, who dribbles across midfield before launching a rocket that Aldred latches on to. A sharp cross, and Ahenkorah knocks in his second goal of the match! 2-0

7s for every full-time starter except Bojan Tetek and Jamie Gray. A 7.0 for James Tricks off the bench, too. 7.6s went to Jack MacFarlane and Jack Walder; PotM naturally awarded to Edwin Ahenkorah and his 8.8.

We lose Robert Warrell for 3-4 weeks.

Transfer In - MRL/AMRL Lewis Haldane (33) - Welsh
Worlds above everyone else on the right side of the pitch, and even better than Josh Dawkin at AML. With this signing that we had planned in the offing, we've not only addressed the injury to Warrell, but again majorly improved one of the weakest parts of our team.

Transfer In - ST Bennie Igiehon (24) - Swiss
Signed to a rotation deal and our third striker, damn near the equal of Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. We're more than happy with our strikers, but I always like to add more if I can help it, especially with this quality a talent.

Transfer Out - DCR Jack Cook
I'm surprised to see the 23 year old leave on a PPA deal where he's a backup, considering he was a starter here. But that's the way it goes sometimes.

@ Ditchling II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rume Nedelchev
S: Bennie Igiehon/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

22 - Walder intercepts and passes to Fortnam-Tomlinson, who dribbles through the defense before stopping just outside the box. He crosses to Igiehon, and despite two defenders by him, neither cover our new Swiss striker, and he scores the debut goal easily. 1-0

61 - Harrington in for Roberts; Aldred for Nedelchev.

67 - Igiehon has the ball at midfield and he gives it to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Surrounded by three defenders, BFT loops it out on the wing to Haldane, who dribbles once, then arcs it to the box, where Igiehon is charging through the hole in the defense to head it in like it's nothing. 2 goals on the debut! 2-0

Not one full-time starter netted lower than a 7, and of those only BFT scored lower than a 7.2. Standouts included 7.5 for George Brislen-Hall and Lewis Haldane, 8.7 for Jack Walder, and 8.8 for debut and PotM star Bennie Igiehon.

[Izulde]

@ Plumpton Athletic II (Malins Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Rumen Nedelchev/Evans Kouassi
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

Having a lot of depth sure is a good thing, considering all these jam packed games we've been having.

8 - Roberts header-intercepts to MacFarlane, who quickly gives to Kousassi. Our Ivorian is dribbling down the flank when he's decked from behind. Shephard booms the ensuing free kick high in the air, and Gray wins the aerial dogfight to head the ball in the net. 1-0

12 - That's a shot Tetek should be able to stop all day every day. 1-1

Tricks replaces Nedelchev; Crane for Ann at half.

64 - Ahenkorah wings it out to Kouassi and gets it back on the ensuing cross. Defense strips it away, but it's a short dribbling that our Dutchman stays with and sinks the shot anyway. 2-1

80 - He's exhausted and sitting on a yellow, so I pull Harrington for Reed in a rare use of the third sub.

93 - And of course mere seconds before the whistle blows, Roberts goes off with injury. I drop Reed down to DC for our 10 man setup.

7.6 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.5 for Stuart Harrington, 8.3 for PotM Chris Shephard, and 7.5 for Edwin Ahenkorah. Nice 7.0 for James Tricks off the bench.

That injury to Tom Roberts is a damaged Achilles tendon that will knock him out for 5-6 months, and suddenly between him, Jerel Ifil's injury, and Jack Cook's departure, we're looking like DC is, ironically, the Achilles heel of our squad.

vs Crawley United (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Evans Kouassi
AM: Rume Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

I really get pressured about the Slough Town vacancy in the prematch press conference. Makes sense since I'm listed as a 5-4 favorite, but I'm resisting an answer.

55 - Nothing to do there. Crane for Ann; Igiehon for Fortnam-Tomlinson and striker switch. 0-1

60 - Kouassi runs over MacFarlane to get the ball and start a move. A few passes later, Nedelchev blasts it out on the left wing to Dawkin, who crosses. Igiehon shows great awareness by outfoxing two defenders and hitting a clear, open shot into the net. 1-1

72 - Dawkin on the corner, and Crane somehow manages to outjump two defenders to score his first ever goal for us! Great work by the reserves in this one. 2-1

88 - Brislen-Hall recovers his own cleared corner and crosses to Nedelchev just outside the box. Our Bulgarian feeds a beautiful seam pass in the gap to Crane, who short kicks it past a stumbling keeper for a shocking second goal. 3-1

7.6 for George Brislen-Hall, 7.7 for Jack Walder, 9.0 for Josh Dawkin, 7.5 for Rumen Nedelchev, and 7.2 for Bennie Igiehon off the bench.

But the performance everyone's going to be talking about for years is 28 year old James Crane, who never quite lived up to expectations as a three position sub. But here today, against the 2nd team in the league, he came off the bench to put on a masterful 9.1 PotM performance, scoring his first two goals ever for us, and allowing an ever widening lead on the league.

We smash the Mid Sussex Division Seven consecutive wins award with six.

Halfway through league play, we're 8 points up on 2nd, 11 points ahead of 3rd. That's almost a 3 and 4 game cushion with 10 left to play. I think it's safe to say that barring a total collapse, it'll be yet another season of easy breezy promotion.

[Izulde]

Since we have so many great strikers, I decided to create a 4-1-2-3 DM tactic where we have a defensive forward, poacher, and target man for Fortnam-Tomlinson, Gray, and Igiehon respectively.

That's not the only big upheaval. Assman Maucaley Trotter, who has been with me since the beginning, takes the manager spot at an amateur team much farther up the pyramid than ours. Fortunately, we had a better assman we pursued in Shaun Elliott. As in 14 JPA/12 JPP better.

In fact, after adjusting the coaching assignments, we're now 2* or better in all but one non-goalie area.

vs Stones (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Evans Kouassi
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

18 - Tough strike. 0-1

Ahenkorah replaces Igiehon at half, as does Crane for Harrington.

76 - Walder shoots it out to MacFarlane, who feeds it in the box. Ahenkorah beats out the defense to slot in the easy equalizer. 1-1

92 - Kouassi shorts it to MacFarlane. The cross is intended for Gray, but he's slammed to the pitch by the defense, and though no penalty is called as should have been, Fortnam-Tomlinson is there to put the dramatic winner away! 2-1

7.7 for PotM Jack MacFarlane and that was pretty much it. Rough first game for our new tactic. Jamie Gray will miss our next game, as will Stuart Harrington, the latter having picked up a yellow cards limit.

vs Hartfield (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Bennie Igiehon/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

57 - Kouassi for Haldane; Ahenkorah for Igiehon

60 - Brislen-Hall chases down a cleared corner and passes to Walder on the left sideline. The long cross hits the grass in the box, and Kouassi steams forward to sink the sitter. 1-0

8.5 for PotM Jack Walder and 7.2 for Evans Kouassi off the bench, as we scrape by our teeth in this one.

vs Fletching (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/James Crane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Jack MacFarlane is out with a nasty cold.

38 - Amazing takeaway by Walder, who sends it to Gray for the spray out to Dawkin. Short dribble and cross. The opposing keeper gets his hands on it, but it's pouring rain here and slips out of his grasp, leaving Fortnam-Tomlinson to walk it in. 1-0

49 - Crane is injured, so Haldane moves to WBR and Kouassi comes in at MR. This is a weird fucking formation.

62 - Shephard on for Nedelchev

84 - Gray steals the ball and puts it on the right wing space for Fortnam-Tomlinson to pick up. He dribbles down the right flank before crossing far post, where an unmarked Dawkin has no problem adding the vital insurance goal. 2-0

7.6 for George Brislen-Hall and Jack Walder, while PotM Josh Dawkin netted an 8.1 and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson secured 8.0.

They did break through once on the right side after the adjustment, but Tetek made an awesome save. James Crane will miss our next game with his injury.

[Izulde]

We broke the club consecutive wins record with 12 in that last victory.

vs Ardingly II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Bennie Igiehon

46 - Just before half, Fortnam-Tomlinson chases down a cleared corner and puts it into space. Walder just barely wins the race and passes to Haldane who dribbles about unmolested. Then he passes to Dawkin, who arcs it into the box. First there is Gray, and the shot *just* barely finds the corner of the goal. 1-0

56 - Ahenkorah jumps in for Fortnam-Tomlinson, who has been offsides a bunch and missed a couple easy shots. Harrington for Ifil.

It's the kind of game where Jack Walder's 7.2 is enough for PotM. Grindy win.

OTOH, Josh Dawkin just broke the Mid Sussex Division Seven single season record for assists with 8.

Bennie Igiehon and Chris Shephard both twist a knee in a friendly and will be out 3-4 weeks.

I get a pretty writeup for my 100th game as manager, talking about how awesome I am, mentioning my 3 league titles and 4 cup championships.

vs East Grinstead Meads (9th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: George Brislen-Hall/Scott Reed/Jerel Ifil/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
M: James Tricks/Evans Kouassi
S: Reece Passmore/Luke Barlone/Eddie Claridge

Between tiredness from the friendly a few days before, and wanting to as full strength a lineup as possible for the next game 3 days away, we've put together this C list lineup.

Ahenkorah goes on at half as the poacher, Barlone switching to DF.

76 - Tetek would have saved that. 0-1

80 - That one, too. 0-2

Whatever. We deliberately threw that game with our lineup. We still have a double-digit lead on 2nd.

Transfer Out - DL George Brislen-Hall - $12k
Well, that was a nasty surprise. Played 22 league games for us this year and last, and was a vital cog at DL. Granted, we have cover in Dan Okojie, who I really like, but still, it's a shock.

@ Ardingly II (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Edwin Ahenkorah

Didn't we just play these guys two games ago? Yep. We beat them then, and we'll do it again here if I have any say in the matter.

9 - What the actual fuck?! One of their guys backpasses all the way down the field to near the touchline, and no one seems to notice what's happened. Fortnam-Tomlinson runs all the way back to get it, and it's only when he's got the ball that the defense is all oh shit and tries to chase him. He LOLs as he crosses far post, and Ahenkorah heads in the first goal. 1-0

58 - Okojie throws in to Walder and they have a give and go. Walder dribbles around until he sees Haldane all alone on the right wing. Pass and center to Ahenkorah who shortly has three defenders on him. Layoff to Gray and there's the insurance! The Welshman is looking tired, so on comes Kouassi, who I secretly like better anyway. 2-0

69 - MacFarlane cracks the corner to Fortnam-Tomlinson whose shot is blocked by a defender, but that leaves them out of position for Gray's immediate rebound shot. 3-0

80 - Walder arcs it out to Dawkin on the left wing. The center is ill-advised with three defenders on Gray and it's kicked away. Only problem? Fortnam-Tomlinson is right there to shoot it in. 4-0

89 - Fortnam-Tomlinson gets the ball on a send from I missed who. He and Ahenkorah exchange passes, and then he gives to Gray just outside the box. While the defense swarms around Gray, Fortnam-Tomlinson is racing through the open hole in the defense, and upon receiving the feed, blasts it into the nets for his second goal. 5-0

91 - Kouassi has the ball in the right corner and is being hassled by a lone defender. The Ivorian jukes and crosses to Fortnam-Tomlinson for the last-second hat trick header! 6-0

"Ardingly II's second-half performance simply wasn't good enough." File that under No Shit.

Oh, and look this prettiness while I hum along to "Medhel an Gwyns" from Season 1 of Poldark.

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

Fantastic as Aida Nikolaychuk's singing voice (I've been cycling through her YouTube songs as I'm playing this session). Ed. Note: She's not the one who sings "Medhel An Gwyns", just in case there's any confusion or people wanting to gotchya me. I rotate a lot.

As depressed as the fans were over the upset loss last game, they're thrilled with this victory. Don't doubt my managing awesomeness, man. BTW, that's the biggest Malins Challenge Cup victory ever, beating a 2017 7-2 victory.

@ Handcross Village II (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

59 - Time to give Gray a break from his injury and put in Ahenkorah. Ann slides up to DF, and Harrington comes in at DC, because Fortnam-Tomlinson is playing like shit out there.

83 - Nedelchev is tired AF, but that doesn't stop him from jacking it out to right wing for Haldane to chase down. A couple more dribbles, cross, and there's Ahenkorah rising up between two defenders to knock the header home. 1-0

7.5 for Jack Walder, 7.9 for Lewis Haldane, 8.0 for Rumen Nedelchev, the PotM, and 7.1 off the bench for Edwin Ahenkorah. Doubtful for our next match Jamie Gray will be.

My phone battery ran out, so I'm gonna go hook it up to my PS4 for charging, switch my headphones to my computer, and either do some stuff I really should be getting done or play more FM.

...I think we know what's going to win there.

[Izulde]

A rare poor month financially, as we lost $1.91k. No worries, however. We're still in good shape.

vs East Grinstead Town III (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

If we win here and results go right elsewhere, we can clinch promotion.

2 - Dawkin hits the corner near post, and St. Lucian international once upon a time Ifil kicks in his first ever goal for us! 1-0

55 - I silently wish I'd put both strikers in subs today, but at least Igiehon can replace one suck ass player, and out goes Fortnam-Tomlinson and the strikers switch.

63 - Kouassi subs in for Haldane. Bee tee dubs, we've had like five shots crack off the woodwork this game.

8.3 for PotM Josh Dawkin and 7.5 for Jerel Ifil.

612 minutes since Bojan Tetek has allowed a goal, and I'd make a 98 Degrees joke since "My Everything" is playing on YouTube's autoplay, but I'll just say our Serbian keeper has been our everything in the net since joining the club.

Scaynes Hill II has set a Tester Challenge Cup record by winning six straight in the competition. Ditchling II has ignobly broken the record for most goals allowed in a season in Division Seven play with 33 surrendered.

vs Fairfield (Malins Challenge Cup Semifinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

17 - Well, there's some you just can't stop. 0-1

28 - That one's on Okojie. Ugh. 0-2

31 - Gray - blocked. [b]Fortnam-Tomlinson/b] - blocked. Dawkin - blocked. Finally, shot #4, Dawkin getting his own rebound, goes in. It's been that kind of game. 1-2

37 - Nedelchev wings out to MacFarlane who dribbles until the cross. Walder, the stalwart defensive midfielder, beats the defense by a half-step and scores his first ever goal for us!!!!! 2-2

42 - Ifil powers the ball into the box for Dawkin to grab. The pass to Gray, and now we've gone ahead! 3-2

Crane replaces Okojie; Harrington goes on for Ifil at the half.

64 - 1, 2, 3... 3 times MacFarlane gets the ball back, the last culiminating in a moon shot to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. There's nobody around him, so he has time to set up his shot and scorch it home! 4-2

70 - Hell of a job by Fortnam-Tomlinson to save and trap the ball on the touchline inside the box. The backpass to Haldane, still in the box, and then the cross to Dawkin for a wide open score in a pretty, around-the-world move. 5-2

Okay, so a little bit about my strategy here. Most of the time, I have it on Standard, then switch to Overload somewhere between 60-70 if it's tied, then to Defensive if we score. Otherwise I'll go defensive about minute 70 if we're only ahead by 1 goal.

This game? I switched to Overload as soon as we went down 0-2, and it worked so well, I just ran with it the rest of the game to burn these fuckers like an infinite mana Red Sun's Zenith.

So we went from being down 0-2 to this:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/rsz_zpsdhbuft8i.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/rsz_zpsdhbuft8i.jpg.html)

Shoutout to James Crane for his 7.0 showing at DL, too.

Even better? We bitchslapped Carl Gill on the team he left us for in the process. You ready to come back home, son?

Jamie Gray breaks the Malins Challenge Cup single tournament goal-scoring record with 5, formerly held by Josh Dawkins with 4.

Edwin Ahenkorah damages his heel and will miss our next game. He's our fourth striker anyway. I don't know why I keep getting report on Billy Wales. We've long since abandoned any formation that requires MCs.

Transfer In - DCR Carl Gill (19)
He saw the light, and came back home. He's immediately going to start working on DL, in hopes of replacing James Crane as our three position backup next season. Though I had to deal with him Eeyoreing all over the place when he found out his beloved Maucaley Trotter left for someone else.

vs Scaynes Hill (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

I didn't realize Mariah Carey had a song called "Shake It Off". Not bad, but I much prefer Taylor Swift's version with different lyrics. (Yes, YouTube autoplay has migrated from 98 Degrees to MC).

9 - Pro tip: If you block a Gray shot, make sure you hang on to the ball. Because if he gets a rebound, he'll score on your ass, which he does here. 1-0

18 - Way too much room left. 1-1

37 - Leave Fortnam-Tomlinson alone in the middle of the field. Suddenly, they realize that's a bad idea and chase him down. Out to Haldane he goes, who cracks a fluke goal, his first ever for us. 2-1

Crane replaces yellow card Ifil at half. "We Belong Together" playing, and it reminds me of a July the 4th when I went to the fireworks with Dreams (remember her?) and her BFF, and they sang this song in the car together. Other than beautiful women of a certain type, girls who can sing have always commanded my attraction, even if only in that performance moment (Dreams, of course, was HAF, and her BFF had a hipster cuteness to her).

Naturally it transitions to "Don't Forget About Us", which has a less interesting story associated with it, so nevermind. Let's see if we can hang on to win this thing. I kind of view the Mid Sussex Junior Cup as *my* trophy, since we're gunning for our third straight title there.

57 - Mediocre Okojie sits, Crane shifting to DL and Harrington sliding in.

61 - I was planning on switching to Defensive anyway cuz they're hunting goals, but then Nedelchev hits the corner and Harrington rises his large head to bang in the goal. 3-1

7.6 for Jack Walder, 8.1 for lately improved Lewis Haldane, 9.0 for PotM Rumen Nedelchev, 7.7 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and a 7.2 bench showing for 6'7, 200 lbs Stuart Harrington, who is just behind Jerel Ifil now, and actually has passed up Jack Walder as the best DM, but Walder is fucking dynamite for us, so I can't pull the trigger.

Much to my amusement, the fans are giddy about that win because of how much we controlled the match. Okay then!

That's our 12th straight Mid Sussex Junior Cup win, which is a record.

@ Burgess Hill Athletic (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

All we need is a draw to win promotion outright.

17 - Missed headers do that. 0-1

I scream at the team at halftime to the background music of One Direction "I Would".

47 - Unnerved by the boiband music blasting from the speakers, they own goal. 1-1

53 - Ahenkorah for Gray; Harrington for Ifil. I L-O-V-E tall ass DCs. Go kick ass, boys!

67 - F-M-L. Out goes Igiehon. Haldane, who is used to awkward role placements, to TM, and Kouassi jumps on at MR.

74 - Brickbrickbrick! 1-2

78 - HANG ON TO THE FUCKING BALL, BOJAN! 1-3

79 - Haldane's long range header is dropped by the opposing keeper, and Fortnam-Tomlinson wins the scrum to walk in. 2-3

I yell at them some more after the game, even though the third place team lost, so promotion backed into. Bennie Igiehon out 6-7 weeks. FML. Edwin Ahenkorah gets a 3-4 week groin strain a day later. So much for our 3 striker formation for a while.

Transfer Out - MLR/AMLR/ST James Tricks (26)
People say we shouldn't be together, and so we're not anymore. Tricks was in and out of the rotation at various times. He wanted more PT, and frankly he just wasn't good enough, so off he goes. Long-serving K&H player though - almost 3 full seasons.

On the recs of the current song (One Direction - "They Don't Know About Us" - "2 hours non stop christian praise and worship songs with lyrics". How droll. Although I shake my head at the rise of atheism, I'm far removed from Christianity. So yeah, we're not going to do that.

Robert Warrell out with a 2 week virus.

Youth Pulls
Garbage galore. No one worth signing.

vs Ifield Galaxy III (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Most of the team freaks out about the pressure of winning the title here. *eyeroll* Whatever.

36 - They've been blocking shot after shot after shot, but here Dawkin hits the corner to the far post, and no one challenges Ann as the Gambian defender rises and finally heads in our go-ahead goal. 1-0

59 - Harrington for Ifil

70 - Beautiful rocket into space by Dawkin for Gray, who dribbles through two defenders in the box, and a soft shot somehow finds the way home. Tired Nedelchev is replaced by uh, no one, because I forgot to pack a reserve. Oops. [b]2-0

7.6 for Asalan Ann, Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and Jamie Gray. 7.5 for Jack Walder and PotM at 8.4 for Josh Dawkin.

So that's the title won to the tune of Ellie Goulding "Love Me Like You Do".

So we've 3 meaningless league games and a couple cup titles still in play. Shooting for a repeat of the Malins Challenge Cup and a threepeat in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup.

[Izulde]

vs Burgess Hill Albion II (8th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: James Crane/Jerel Ifil/Asalan Ann/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Eddie Claridge

As C list a lineup as possible while still fairly fit.

7 - LOL. Claridge's shot bounces off a defender, and Plant's 25 yarder screams home. "Great vision by Claridge to set up the goal". Evidently the announcers are hipsters, making ironic commentary now. First ever senior goal for Plant, too. 1-0

40 - Interception by Walker and he jacks it to the box where Claridge pops up and crosses to Haldane for the header goal. This time the vision comment is deserved. 2-0

8.3 for Nick Plant, 7.7 for Billy Wales, 7.5 for Lewis Haldane, and a thoroughly undeserved 8.5 and PotM for Eddie Claridge.

That gives us 34 goals for the year, breaking the old Mid Sussex Division Seven record.

Transfer Out - MC Billy Wales (25)
Once a vital player in our setup who always overachieved, he found himself marginalized by our moves away from the central midfield this season.

Transfer Out - DC Tom Roberts (30)
A useful reserve who got a handful of starts here and there. The attack on the middle part of our players continues.

We tried grabbing a few promising prospects, but they all turned us down.

vs Newick (Junior Sussex Challenge Cup Semifinal
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

14 - Nedelchev is waiting, then dribbles past the defender prior to the short pass to Fortnam-Tomlinson just inside the half-circle. The shot's not great, but it bounces off the frame and in. 1-0

21 - Fortnam-Tomlinson runs down a wild cross and dribbles all the way into the box, angling in. He suddenly backheels to Haldane for the chip shot to Gray's head, and the quick direction change is good. 2-0

29 - Just how many strikers will we go through? Fortnam-Tomlinson is knocked out with injury, so here comes Ahenkorah and a striker switch.

33 - Poor work by Okojie, and the team sleepwalks through the counter 2-1

Replacing Ann at half is Crane.

89 - We got away with one there. They should have scored easily.

7.9 for Jack Walder and matching 8.3s for Rumen Nedelchev and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. The Bulgarian played the whole game, so he gets PotM. 7.0 for James Crane off the bench.

A familiar foe will await us in the championship game, but more on that next time.

[Izulde]

@ Crawley United (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

I kind of feel bad for Crawley United. They came up with us and for most of the season, it looked like we were both going to consecutively promote (us for the 4th straight time), and then they suddenly flamed out. They're tied on points, but are 2 behind on GD.

42 - And there's us failing at corner kick defense. 0-1

Okojie gives no fucks after halftime talk, so I sit his ass for Crane.

53 - They simply want it more. 0-2

65 - Igiehon comes on for Ahenkorah

76 - Igiehon gets the ball deep in their half and dribbles down the left flank to outside the box. Backpass on the diagonal hits Walder outside the box, and the 20 yarder sings its way in. 1-2

We picked it up in the second half, and should have squared at least a draw out of it, but we just didn't catch the breaks. No hair dryer this time, guys.

Ditchling II is officially relegated. No surprise there.

Joy. Jack Walder out 5-6 weeks. So he'll miss at least the Malins Challenge Cup final. And I'm listening to nightcore songs and drinking Mountain Dew Pitch Black. The combination is a little like the time I took ephedra and drank a Red Bull before a workout. Oh, and pondering an insane trade in a sim league.

The youth candidates leave. Bye, Felicia x 100.

Rumen Nedelchev is out 3-4 weeks now too. I hate losing my Bulgarian. :( Speaking of, there's this Bulgarian girl I really dig, and like she's blonde now. But I got friends zoned by her after a late summer and fall where my dudes were all like she's into you, so I believed it, despite telling them it was a nopecoaster. I was right. She comes back this summer, however, so who knows? I'm not fussed about it either way, really. She's not Her Blondeness after all (did I tell that story? I don't remember. Maybe some other post).

vs Ditchling II (Relegated)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Bennie Igiehon/Jamie Gray

Holy hell, the nightcore version of "They Don't Know About Us" is so danceable it's ridiculous. I'm literally head jamming and dancing in my chair.

I forget if this is the last match of the season. But fuck it. OVERLOAD FROM THE START, AND PASSIONATE PITCH FOR THE FANS!!!!

51 - Ahenkorah in for sucking today Igiehon. It's been weirdly highlight-less.

55 - Crane for tired Ifil

64 - WESTSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE! Actually it's just yellow card Harrington short passing in front to Shephard, who dribbles, jukes, and feeds an unmarked Ahenkorah for super sub goal. They immediately go into Overload, setting up Overload vs Overload! 1-0

76 - Shortly before this, they changed to Counter. Okojie absolutely hammers down an interception header that Dawkin laughingly picks up and blasts to Ahenkorah. Charge into the box, and there's the second goal for our Dutch striker. Inspired! screams the announcer. BTW Crane got a yellow, which literally marks the first time we've had two yellows in a game. Everybody getting in on the pumped up hype! 2-0

81 - Well shit. Double yellow for Harrington. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!!!

7.7 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.5 for Stuart Harrington, described as the "heart of the defense" when he was sent off. 8.1 for Josh Dawkin, 9.0 for PotM Chris Shephard and 8.6 for supersub Edwin Ahenkorah. A *ton* of 7.2+ guys here.

Welp. That was indeed our 20th match. We just fucked our DM spot for at least one trophy title game.

We edge the Mid Sussex Division Seven points record by 1 with 47. Cool. Ironically, Handcross Village II, who previously held the record gets relegated. Que?! Wow, yeah, they promoted up two years ago, and have since double demoted.

Crawley United did indeed go up with us. My men!

Attendance record for Mid Sussex Division Seven? Yep, we set that too, with an average of 96, beating the previous mark of 92. Jack Walder smashes the single season average rating record for MSD7, with 7.84. Previous one? 7.02. Holla!

vs Forest Row II (Malins Challenge Cup Championship)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

So like, winning a repeat title would be cool, but this ain't the Mid Sussex Junior Cup. So fuck it, we'll roll with anxious Nick Plant at DM. Do it for the Avenger of Zendikar, bro!!!

26 - So, brosephs! Like, OMG, THEY'VE BLOCKED LIKE 9000 SHOTS. Then Shephard flies the ball to Gray, who hangs outside the box. Then the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Shot's blocked. Defender clears, and WOW!!! THE BALL BOUNCES OFF FORTNAM-TOMLINSON'S BODY AND INTO THE NET!!! THIS IS LIKE THE GREATEST FUCKING GOAL EVER!!! First goal after a long injury layoff! BRADLEY THE AWESOME HYPENATED!!!! He was all like, "Come at me bro!" and said fuck you to the sissy clearance! I am *SO* uploading that shit to YouTube! 1-0

53 - Crane for Ifil

55 - Okojie collides with one of their players. Both guys are hurt. Crane to DL and the two red slices Aldred at DC. This is playing with fire, but I don't care, because the Bulgarian Baroness just liked my Facebook post.

59 - Crane throws in to Plant and gets it back first touch. First touch near post cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and that's goal #2!!! 2-0

68 - WTF are these dicksmurfs doing?! Now they hurt Fortnam-Tomlinson, and I want to stab these fuckers up the ass with a rusty pitchfork. :mad: Ahenkorah emergency jump-in, and striker switch. But as a final fuck you, Fortnam-Tomlinson is surrounded by three defenders, clearly gimped as fuck (46% health). He laterals to Haldane and the longball to Gray is a third goal! Fortnam-Tomlinson the hero even when wounded!!!!!! 3-0

85 - Aldred says fuck you to the red slices at DC. Shephard jacks a corner to his head, and in goes his first ever K&H goal!!! 4-0

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/malins2x_zps1m91xd3l.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/malins2x_zps1m91xd3l.jpg.html)

Not pictured: James Crane continuing his late season run of form with a 7.1 off the bench.

$2.53k in the bank, and fans are fucking celebrating like mad. Even though Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson will miss the Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup final.

Oh, and we broke our own Malins Challenge Cup goals scored with 19, compared to 15 from last year. And Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson broke Jamie Gray's Malins Challenge Cup goals scored record with 6 (formerly 5).

Nathan Dennis gets major blisters while hiking the English countryside. Damn it, Dennis!

Scaynes Hill wins their own double - Tester Challenge Cup + Mid Sussex Division Nine. Cool story bro.

@ Wisdom Sports (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Championship)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

Yeah. That's right. A rematch of last year, with the threepeat on the line. It all comes down to this. I respect the hell out of Mark Osman, the Wisdom Sports manager, and he does me, too. This will be a worthy game.

30 - Absolutely shit pass by Gray is intercepted and they counter attack. The shot fires and my heart is in my throat, but Tetek makes an incredible save!!!!

43 - MacFarlane with the short pass to Nedelchev, and it's followed by a short pass to Gray just outside the box. Two defenders breathing down his neck, but our Irishman atones for his prior error by sending into the box where Haldane has the defense beat by a step and the shot is good!!! 1-0

In what's becoming common, Crane is on for Ifil at the half. 45 minutes to go...

57 - So like, I screwed up. I meant to put Shephard and/or Walder in the subs. Instead, it's Aldred still there and my enthusiasm made me put Plant in. This is relevant because our Bulgarian is tired, and so Aldred has to go in at AMC.

79 - Aaaand Aldred's hurt. I literally have no one else who can jump in for him. FIGHT ON! At least he can still play.

86 - Oh how sweet it is!!! Dawkin with the corner to Aldred, and he fights past it all to scorch the insurance in with his foot!!!!!! YES!!!! YES YES YES!!!!!! On a twisted ankle, no less!!! 2-0

90 - Haldane sends it forward to Gray, who dribbles into the box and far post crosses where ball and Dawkin meet on the corner of the six yard box. Shot.is.good.!!!!! 4-0

7.5 for Asalan Ann, 8.8 for Lewis Haldane, 8.3 for Josh Dawkin, and 9.0 for PotM Jamie Gray. That heroic performance by Matthew Aldred was good for a 7.9, and James Crane scored his second straight 7.0 bench performance. Oh yeah, all full-time starters other than Bojan Tetek (6.9) grabbed a 7.2 or more.

OMG!!! WE ARE 3X MID SUSSEX JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS!!! THREEPEAT!!!! THREEPEAT!!! THREEPEAT!!!!!

Matthew Aldred won't touch a soccer ball for 5-6 weeks, so he really gritted out that injury.

550 people attended the final, breaking last year's record of 539. The rematch hype was real. Mark Osman was a little salty after we kicked their asses so badly, but I'm not going to fault him that.

That's 18, count them, 18 straight Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup victories!!!! Obvs a record.

Other breaks - Josh Dawkin topping Robert Warrell's team assists record with 16 vs 15.

Further review stuff can come later. I'm just gonna go celebrate our THREEPEAT! Oh yeah, $2.53k more to our coffers. :) Honestly, I'm more stoked about the threepeat than our treble.

THREEPEAT!!!!!!!!

[Izulde]

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/Izulde08022/Y4statskeymer_zpsfvh3hieo.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/Izulde08022/Y4statskeymer_zpsfvh3hieo.jpg.html)

Given the lack of raiding, I think we can start tracking these on a season by season basis. The big standout - Jerel Ifil with a 6.65. He's done as a starter.

Lewis Haldane really picked it up after a slow start, and Evans Kouassi wasn't that good after all. That means we may need to go shopping again at MR, especially if Halfdane takes a drop.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Y4awards_zpsf1zg10mb.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Y4awards_zpsf1zg10mb.jpg.html)

I actually thought Jack Walder would finish second in the voting, but I can't quibble with this result at all.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/Y4alltime_zpsjic8oayh.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/Y4alltime_zpsjic8oayh.jpg.html)

Still with the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide, since that's our most used formation all time. I'm expecting to see Billy Wales and Jordan Neild drop off the list soon. I forgot how long we had Adie Hawes, who was a big part of our Level Nine promotion team. That's an area that's ripe for the picking, however.

It'll be years before Bojan Tetek is knocked off this list, given how heavily I lean on my top GK in every dynasty ever, and he's been with us for three straight seasons.

There's absolutely no reason we can't gain our fifth straight promotion next year, and the whole club agrees with me. We ended up winning Division Seven by 10 points, BTW.

Stuart Harrington, Rumen Nedelchev, and surprisingly, Nick Plant, all had great training years. That, coupled with Plant's success in his starts, means I'm giving serious consideration to making him a major rotational player next year.

I'm not really looking to be active this offseason. We have a very dominant, talented group of players for a while now, all guys who I really like. That said, I wouldn't at all mind a splashy DC or MR pickup.

We made $18k last year, and the club is again going to take a run at buying the park next summer. Our bank account balance is just shy of $50k.

Jerel Ifil announces his retirement, to come at the end of June. Smart move for him, and with his 12 JPA/8 JPP, I make him an offer to join our staff as a scout. I'd like that access to St. Lucian players. Lewis Haldane also is going to retire, but unlike Ifil, he was only a half-season rental, and Wales isn't a need knowledge area for us. ...Or is it?

Our Chief Scout, Ian Puckett, has 0 Knowledge Areas. Hmm. TIME TO FIRE HIM! Jerel Ifil, on the other hand, has Knowledge Areas of Saint Lucia, England, and Scotland. Right now, our only Knowledge Areas are England and the United States, so by adding Ifil, we pick up Scotland and Saint Lucia, and by hiring Lewis Haldane as a coach, we add in Wales.

Cute glitch when Lewis Haldane accepts - the contract will keep him at the club until June 2nd 1900.

With Lewis Haldane taking over Ball Control coaching duties, we're now at least 2* in every non-goalie training area. That's pretty damn awesome. Jerel Ifil is comfortably embedded as the Chief Scout, too.

We're still an obscure club, but our reputation keeps rising. Board won't let me even request increase in Scouting Range - probably because we're still Amateur.

Transfer Out
Matthew Aldred - $21.5k
Stuart Harrington - $11k
Chris Shephard - $16.25k
Rumen Nedelchev - $12k

Talk about a crazy stupid overpay for Aldred, who couldn't even crack our starting lineup. Harrington was stolen just after our final friendly (Won 1, Tied 3. God, I fucking hate friendlies).

Losing Nedelchev kills me because Bulgarian reasons, and suddenly with him, Shephard, and Aldred all snapped up, we're bereft of any AMC worth discussing. Not to mention we still have issues at DC now after Harrison jumped ship.

This is how big a favorites we are to win Division Six - We're 1-10, and the next is Copthorne IV at 25-1.

Transfer In - AMR/MR Dan Cotterill (20)
About equal to Josh Dawkin at MR, which means we can keep Dawkin on the left hand side. The single best AMR option at the club. My assman, who has even better JPA/JPP than Jerel Ifil, absolutely loves this kid, and sees a genuine star at AMR.

Bojan Tetek continues to wear the captain's band, but the new vice captain is Jamie Gray, replacing Billy Wales, who'd held it the last couple years.

Oh, I'm now considered a Legend in Keymer & Hassocks history :D. Still just two favored personnel in Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Owen Kabodi. Kabodi is a 1.5/1.5 now and has no interest in coming back anyway.

We sell 27 season tickets, one more than last year.

@ Montpelier Villa III (Sommerville Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Dan Cotterill
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

This is what we've been forced to do after the surprising number of raids. If this goes anything like the Parsons Challenge Cup, we'll be early flameouts.

14 - Yeah. 0-1

27 - Ann is smashed in the face. Gill goes on.

45 - MacFarlane throws into Igiehon and gets it back. The cross and OMG that's the first time I've ever seen a bicycle kick goal by one of my players in FM!!! Fortnam-Tomlinson!!!! Saving us with an equalizer just before half!!! 1-1

46 - 20 seconds before the whistle and Gray gets hurt. Ahenkorah replaces him at half. What a fucking awful start to the season.

The real 46 - Dawkin crosses across the field to Cotterill. The pop pass into the box bounces off Ahenkorah, but Igiehon is there to slice an incisive strike into the net! 2-1

89 - Okojie throws in to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. He holds up play, then circles around the defender and lays off to Ahenkorah, who is perfectly positioned to sink the insurance goal. 3-1

8.0 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.5s for Jack Walder and Edwin Ahenkorah, and matching 8.3s for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Bennie Igiehon, our Swiss striker nabbing PotM.

We lose both Jamie Gray and Alasan Ann for about 2 weeks, guaranteeing they'll miss our league opener.

Transfer In - ML/AML Osamu Allman (22)
Unfortunately just a depth signing along the left side.

Transfer Out - ST Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson - $24k
Excuse me while I go cry ugly tears.

@ Newick
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Scott Reed/James Crane/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Ash Walker/Jack Walder
AM: Josh Dawkin/Dan Cotterill
S: Bennie Igiehon

Yeah. With injuries and defections, this is what we're down to.

19 - Yeah. 0-1

29 - FUCK YOU! DAWKIN WAS ONSIDES!!!!

Ahenkorah replaces Igiehon; Gill slots in for Crane at the half.

I scream at them. Scream because I didn't expect to be raped up the ass in summer raiding this year - not when we've been so comparatively untouched the last few years. Screaming because I don't know what kind of cushion being a legend gives me, and I see all going to hell.

58 - Cotterill and MacFarlane exchange passes, the latter getting it on the wing outside the box. He crosses to a loosely guarded Ahenkorah, and the Dutchman kicks it in. I tell the ref to suck my balls if he dares call that offsides. He doesn't. 1-1

66 - Cotterill is wiped, and not playing too well. I have to burn my last sub on Kouassi, even if it burns me.

79 - Gill makes two header clearances. They don't matter. 1-2

87 - Walder wings it out to Okojie, two steps before the touchline. The cross finds Kouassi to potshot it in. 2-2

92 - Ahenkorah gets hurt. I'm too despondent to want to throw things.

Fortunately, everyone should be back before our next game. But so fucking what? No one wants to come to play with us, and I wonder who else is gonna get sniped as we go on.

[Izulde]

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson was our leading goal scorer the last two seasons, has the record for most goals scored in a game with 4, and was the two-time defending Fans Player of the Year. At 24, the North Irishman was still young, too. It really sucks not having him here anymore.

Transfer Out - ST Luke Barlone (31)
Played some games for us, but quickly dropped down the chart due to the youth and talent infusions we got.

Jamie Gray gets hurt again in a friendly and will miss the next game.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Viv Pritchard (18) - Welsh
3 position player who is very raw, but has exceptional upside. Will probably start at DC despite his rawness, so we can have our 3 position backline guy in James Crane as a reserve again.

vs Portslade Athletic II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Scott Reed
MC: Ash Walker/Jack Walder
AM: Josh Dawkin/Dan Cotterill
S: Bennie Igiehon

55 - Crane for Pritchard; Ahenkorah for Igiehon

We just couldn't break them down, no matter what we did.

Transfer Out - ML/AML Josh Dawkin (27) - $24k
Well, fuck. I may have to start thinking about jumping ship. We're just getting raided left and right here, and finding solutions isn't working.

Transfer Out - DR/MR Jack MacFarlane (25) - $18.75k
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! LOSING TWO KEY PLAYERS ON THE SAME FUCKING DAY?! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

In brighter news, Nick Plant continues to rise in potential ability.

More striker injuries, as Bennie Igiehon will miss our next match with food poisoning.

@ Crawley United (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Ash Walker/Jack Walder
AM: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Edwin Ahenkorah

Still looking for our first win in league play. Beating the team we promoted up with would be a great thing.

Reed in for an exhausted Walker at half and MC switch.

47 - Ahenkorah is being jammed up by three defenders, so he slides the ball out to Okojie on the wing. A bombtastic far post cross later, Cotterill has the defense beat for his first ever goal for us! 1-0

55 - Warrell jumps on for Allman

64 - Nice interception by Crane, who passes to Walder. Straight line continues with a pinpoint pass to Ahenkorah just ahead of the defense. Dribble, dribble, and the rifle shot by our Dutch striker sings the insurance. 2-0

Workmanlike win, with the standouts Jack Walder's 8.6 and PotM Edwin Ahenkorah grabbing an 8.7. The victory launches us into 2nd, which would be good for a promotion spot. Copthorne IV has been amazing thus far - three straight wins to open the season.

Transfer In - MC Stuart Cook (33)
Stopgap measure in MC. He's our best player there at 2*, which says something about our state there. But right now, we're just trying to get bodies in there after the raiding destroyed us.

@ Portslade Athletic II (Somerville Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Jack Walder/Stuart Cook
AM: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray

3 - Huge mistake by the opposing keeper as he tries to intercept Cotterill's cross pitch cross, and that leaves a wide open net for Allman to deposit his first ever goal for us! 1-0

39 - Allman makes a flawless tackle takeaway and passes to Walder. Pass to Gray goes right back to Walder, who cracks a fire shot into space on the left flank for Allman to run down. A few steps and a near post cross to Gray, and the defense can only stare as the shot hits the net. 2-0

Ann is exhausted, so Crane jumps in at halftime.

77 - Reed is the weed that uproots Plant

This game was all about Jack Walder (8.3), Dan Cotterill (8.3) and PotM Osamu Allman (9.0). Funny how in days of yore, it was Josh Dawkin elite on the ML/AML side, and we had to worry about the right side not being all that great, and now it's the complete opposite. Nice work by Allman here though.

Transfer In - AML/ST Passeka Kargbo (24) - Dutch
Raw, but could end up the top player on our team when he develops. Will slide in as our third striker, and opens up the possibility of revisiting our three striker formation. He's our second striker with ancestry from Holland.

Transfer In - MC Ahmed Mohammed (23) - Nigerian
Opinions are split as to his potential, but Jerel Ifil and Shaun Elliott, the two best evaluators of upside we have, love him. We're starting to focus on building a team that's raw, but is brimming with promise. Our second Nigerian.

@ Copthorne IV (1st)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Stuart Cook/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

New formation, as we carve out a flat 4-1-3-2 DM out of the ashes of our 4-4-2 Diamond setup. Hopefully that'll be a nice tactical surprise for the unbeaten team we won't be able to catch even if we win.

10 - Gill with the short backpass to Cook, who launches it all the way down the right flank for Cotterill. On the cross, nobody's marking Gray, and you're just not going to have any fun when you do that. 1-0

22 - Walder continuing to show why he outperforms his ratings and why I love the dude as he makes a balls out interception. Later in the play, Igiehon is out on the right flank when he centers to Cotterill just inside the box. Two defenders on him, so the layoff to Cook. No one paid attention to the 33 year old central midfielder, and he scores his first goal with ease. 2-0

36 - Igiehon is injured, so Kargbo pulls off his jacket and goes in for a debut.

52 - Pritchard fucked up that clearance, and he was starting to tire anyway, so he's yanked for Crane. 2-1

58 - We're awarded a PK on a corner kick, and Kargbo is selected to take it. He nails it!!! Debut goal!! 3-1

8.7 for PotM Dan Cotterill, 8.6 for Stuart Cook, and 7.7 for Osamu Allman. Nice to see our new additions doing work out there.

Big victory, and it puts us one point behind them after four games. Somehow this ragtag bunch is still finding ways to win, despite all the defections.

[Izulde]

vs Portslade Athletic II (Malins Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

No, you're not reading that wrong. This is the third time this year we're playing Portslade Athletic II, and the second straight Cup game. We drew 2-2 in league game, beat them 2-0 in the Sommerville Challenge Cup, and now here, where we seek to defend our 2x title.

7 - Allman hits a bounce pass into space that hits the box. You really didn't think anyone but Gray was going to win the race, did you? The shot is savage AF, and scorches the net. 1-0

Crane replaces Pritchard at half, the latter still slowly adapting to our scheme.

52 - You know, Crane really has picked up his game the last 6 months or so. He makes a couple of great header intercepts here, including one that starts a move finishing in Allman blasting a ball down the left flank that Gray gets to first again. Far post cross and Igiehon heads it on in. 2-0

69 - Gill's cross is cleared out, but it's sent right back to our first youth pull signing. No problem, as he crosses it far side, when an unmarked Allman adds to his already insane game with a goal. 3-0

70 - Crane intercepts and hits a grass-burning line drive all the way down the field. No one's surprised to see Gray get there first, and he dribbles to outside the left side of the box. Ground ball to Igiehon, and the Swiss kid kicks his second goal of the game. 4-0

77 - Crane plays horrible defense, and they get one back. 4-1

All full-time starters had 7.1 or better (except Tetek). And there's Carl Gill with the 9.0, Dan Cotterill with the 8.4, Ahmed Mohammed with an 8.6 in his debut, 9.1 for PotM Osamu Allman, who has done amazing work in replacing Josh Dawkin, and matching 9.0s for Bennie Igiehon and Jamie Gray.

The announcers noted that we really lifted our game in the second half. Yeah boy!

Even though 100 people isn't our biggest crowd (That was last season against Crawley United, when 112 people showed up), we pulled in $750 in gate receipts, which is a club record, beating the old $668 against East Grinstead Town III in the Malins Challenge Cup Semi-Final two years ago.

vs Montpelier Villa III (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

22 - Cotterill dribbles down the right flank, and then exchanges passes with Mohammed. Upon the return, Cotterill skims a steamer past three defenders and right on to Gray in the six yard box for the easy score. Perfect placement. 1-0

37 - Okojie blasts one all the way down field to Gray in the box. The cross is headed away by the defense, but Gray heads it right back, and the initial defender can't recover in time to stop Igiehon's kick. 2-0

Crane swaps in for Pritchard at half, who not only stinks, but he's looking complacent.

46 - On the opening kickoff, we have a series where we're kicking it around, then go all the way back to Ann in our half. The Gambian defender passes it forward to Walder, who wings it out to Cotterill. Then the diagonal long pass that drops right before Gray for the wide open score. 3-0

89 - Not worried about that giveaway. 3-1

All full-time starters bar Tetek had 7.0 or better, with the standouts Carl Gill (7.5), Dan Cotterill (9.0), Ahmed Mohammed (7.9), and Jamie Gray (PotM with 9.1).

We leap into 1st place on the back of that win. Loving how this team is coming together.

Transfer In - ST/AMLCR Yemi Odubade (35) - Nigerian
Our third Nigerian player, and the first time we've had three players with the same non-English background at the club at the same time. Elite striker and a future coach candidate with knowledge of Nigeria, England, and a small bit of Welsh knowledge. He has 20 Teamwork, the first player in any of my FM dynasties to have a 20 rating in anything!

vs Forest Row II (5th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Stuart Cook/Robert Warrell
S: Passeka Kargbo/Yemi Odubade

Going with as many B-list guys as we can, since we've a cup match in a couple days.

52 - Cook with the short pass to Allman, and the near post cross has Odubade striking a low hummer into the corner of the net for a debut goal! 1-0

62 - Okojie throws in to Kargbo and gets it back. The long, arcing cross hits Odubade, who heads it in with authority! First Nigerian Connection goal!! 2-0

Solid victory keyed by Nick Plant (7.7), Stuart Cook (8.1), Osamu Allman (8.5) and PotM Yemi Odubade, with an 8.8 in his debut. Talk about an instant impact! Shoutout also to Nathan Dennis for his 7.1 in goal.

@ Roffey III (Malins Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Edwin Ahenkorah/Bennie Igiehon

3 - Walder has the ball and he's all alone. The pass to Igiehon, who takes a couple dribbles and then belts a 25 yard right into the net! 1-0

8 - Igiehon and Walder seems to have this relationship this game where they keep passing back and forth to each other. Finally, the Swiss striker passes to Ahenkorah in the right side of the box. Our first Dutchman is dribbling horizontally when he's clocked from behind. PK's awarded, and Gambian defender Ann nails it with authority, the keeper just a step too slow. 2-0

20 - Allman's corner kick to Ann, and I swear the ball broke the plane. Ref is refusing to call the goal though, and as I'm screaming at him, the defenders hesitate a second too long. Crane sneaks in like a ninja and nudges it across, ending the debate. 3-0

56 - Igiehon crushes his finger, and Kargbo comes in. That means we have both Dutch strikers on the field at the same time.

73 - Pritchard goes in for Ann, who has been fucking amazing, but who is also wiped.

We absolutely dominated. Alasan Ann is PotM with 8.5, but was frustrated with being pulled. All four defenders recorded 7.6 or higher, with James Crane picking up an 8.3. All three midfielders were 7.3 or better, with Jack Walder's 8.1 carrying the banner. At striker, Edwin Ahenkorah and Bennie Igiehon both netted 8.4s.

That's 12 Malins Challenge Cup victories in a row, breaking the old record. We're now through to the Quarterfinals in both the MCC and the Sommerville Challenge Cup - the latter a real feat, given how we wiped out our two years in the Parsons Challenge Cup.

[Izulde]

@ Eastborne Rangers II (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

6 - Great interception by Gill and a blast down the middle of the pitch to Gray. The moment the defense closes, he puts it on the right wing into space for Odubade. Our veteran Nigerian dribbles down and into the box, and when he draws heat, he crosses to all alone Igiehon for the header goal. 1-0

25 - Aces interception by Cotterill and his moonshot all the way down the pitch hits the box, where Igiehorn snipes his second goal of the game. 2-0

37 - Okojie throws in to Odubade and gets back for the first touch drop shot into the middle of the box. Igiehon's head rises up and knocks in his first half hat trick! 3-0

52 - Kargbo and Plant step in for Gray and Walder respectively.

73 - Nothing to do about that. 3-1

81 - It's official. Pritchard is booted from the starting lineup until further notice. 3-2

Except for Dan Cotterill's 8.1 and Bennie Igiehon's PotM 9.4 match, we didn't do so hot out there, and I tell them that very calmly.

Dan Cotterill gets pissed at me about it and the ensuing conversation did not go well at all.

I'm so irritated by this, I immediately apply to a job opening that very much intrigues me.

@ Danehill (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Edwin Ahenkorah/Bennie Igiehon

The perks of being Division Six - we get to skip the first round of my favorite tournament.

7 - Okojie digs out the ball from the corner and belts it all the way to midfield to Igiehon. Cross field to Allman, and the rainbow shot finds Gray in the box. Spear shot scores. 1-0

18 - Free kick by Allman, and Gray pops up like a gopher to head it into the box. Igiehon's there first, and it's in. 2-0

28 - Allman to Ann on the corner, and Gambian header gambols the ball into the net. 3-0

71 - Not worried. 3-1

8.7 for PotM Osamu Allman and 8.3 for Jamie Gray, as we played a much more solid all around game this time.

vs Bolney Rovers (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Ahmed Mohammed/Stuart Cook
AM: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray

They're pissed because I was patronizing to their overachieving. This is the formation they're weakest against, so why not? Nick Plant has made a major jump in ability, and is now capable of playing at this level. Since he has the highest upside, my anxious, selfish youth pull is now our starter.

4 - Mohammed jacks it out to Gill on the wing, and the cross finds a flying Gray arching to head in the goal. 1-0

13 - [b]Gray[/b has two defenders on him, so he laterals to Gill. Allman meets the long cross and kicks it in. 2-0

30 - Cotterill has definitely played not his usual amazing self since getting pissy at me, and he gashes his leg. Warrell immediately replaces him.

32 - Tetek goal kick to Warrell. Pass to Mohammed, back to Warrell, in the box to Gray. Goal. 3-0

62 - Shit defending by Crane, and he has a yellow anyway. Pritchard in. 3-1

70 - Cook corner kick finds Ann for the angle in. 4-1

82 - They trip Gray in the box, and he easily converts his own PK for his hat trick. 5-1

84 - Okojie throws in to Allman for the back header to Mohammed. Perfect pass into the box, and Warrell gleefully scores. 6-1

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

Dan Cotterill is out 2-3 weeks. Karma, motherfucker. We're putting all these punks in their place, yo!

The match broke the club attendance record with 121 people attending. War of words + 1st and 2nd team in league = tickets sold.

So that job I applied to? They want to talk to me. Sure. It's a lengthy interview, where they're really hammering me on the fact that Keymer & Hassocks hasn't made a ton of money, all things considered. Valid concern, considering the club is in hot water financially.

Keymer & Hassocks is absolutely frantic to keep me. They promise me they'll do whatever it takes, but when I ask them to improve the youth academy, so we can start getting better pulls, they refuse.

Transfer Out - DC Alasan Ann (25) - Gambian - $15k
Is this a sign? Devastating to lose our best central defender, especially since it was a weaker area to begin with.

The potential new club, in the interview, agreed to consider changes to the staff, including bringing over the guys with me from Keymer & Hassocks. A few days later, they signal they're willing to do it, and we discuss the changes.

I'm forced to leave behind Dean Faithfull and Craig Littlejohn if I take the job, but manage to manipulate the staff roles to take Shaun Elliott, Jerel Ifil, and Lewis Haldane with me, because they refuse to pay out any money to fire any of their guys as part of the negotiations.

And then the offer comes, right as the following article is published:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/mayberedhill_zps5futrocw.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/mayberedhill_zps5futrocw.jpg.html)

Redhill Notes
They have the awesome team name of the Lobsters. Starting off in Combined Counties Premier, they promoted to Isthmian Division 1 in the first season after having been relegated the year before game start. They finished 3rd in the second year, then promoted in Year 3 to Isthmian Premier. Year 4 saw them midtable at 15th, and now they're fighting relegation at 21st, after having been preseason picks to finish 9th.

With a $50k budget, they're spending $47.9k in player salaries, including $22.5k on DC Dan Summerfield, who would barely be a starter on my Keymer & Hassocks squad.

The board is offering me a one year, $7k deal to get them to avoid the drop. There's 46 games in a season, 24 of which have been played, and right now the Lobsters are cooking in the drop pot, 2 points away from safety.

The question is... do I take the deal, and leave behind what I've been building at Keymer & Hassocks?

It's a fresh, new challenge, and a huge leap up the table - albeit one that carries a lot of risks. Keymer & Hassocks is the safe play, continuing to grind our way up the ranks, where I'm already a legend.

No legends for the Lobsters, though they do have one icon who no longer plays for them.

On the other hand, being in the Isthmian Premier, they're just one level away from Conference North/South. So it's a huge, huge leap I'd be making. The only player of mine I would try to bring on board is Jamie Gray, who has Conf North/South potential.

Pull the trigger? Or continue grinding?

[JonInMiddleGA]

I almost always end up sticking to the first spot.

But {shrug} that's just me.

[Brian Swartz]

That's a really tough call. I'd almost always say go for something that is such a big promotion ... but they look desperate with the relegation position you mentioned. I think I'd probably stay and wait for a more stable situation to jump up to. You keep winning, that's going to happen anyway.

Really tempting though, couldn't blame you for trying if you went .

[Izulde]

After a lot of thought, I've decided to stay where I am. It's too risky a jump, and the whole reason I even started this dynasty was to build this lowest of the low team, taking them all the way to the top. Besides which, I just noticed a clause they snuck in "Allowed to move to another coaching role for 80% of the required club compensation."

Yeah, no thanks.

vs Willingdon Athletic III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/James Crane/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Evans Kouassi
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

39 seconds - Gill to Igiehon in the box, but it's crowded, so he lays out to Kouassi, who has made like three passes in the first 30 seconds. Here's pass #4, a cross to Odubade for a sliding tackle goal. 1-0

3 - Plant with the great pass to Allman. Dribble and cross is intended for Gray, but he's decked by two defenders, and the ball travels on further, where Igiehon blasts it in. 2-0

53 - Warrell for Kouassi; Walder for Plant.

57 - Textbook interception by Gill in their half. He sends it on down the flank, where Warrell overpowers the defender and crosses to Odubade for the score. 3-0

82 - Okojie got bulldozed. 3-1

90 - Our strikers are building an attack, but facing pressure, so Gray kicks back to Walder. Flare pass out to Warrell, who dribbles all the way down the right flank before short crossing to Gray for the score. Note: Both Gray and Igiehon nabbed their 10th goal of the season in this game. 4-1

Lot of 7+, the best of which are matching 7.5s for Bennie Igiehon and Jamie Gray, but it was Yemi Odubade who starred most with an 8.8 PotM performance. 7.2 for Jack Walder off the bench.

vs Newick (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/James Crane/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Evans Kouassi
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

14 - Own goal by Igiehon. 0-1

Warrell replaces a tired Kouassi at half. Their keeper has been fucking amazing all throughout the first half. Still gonna yell, though.

57 - Kargbo in for Gray

65 - Nice atonement for Igiehon by popping a pretty pass into space for Kargbo to pick up, run, and shoot a scorcher into the net, thereby eliminating our games with goal scored streak from being broken 1-1

82 - Poor defense by Gill there. 1-2

88 - Our whole backline screwed the pooch. 1-3

Fucking pathetic. Halfway through the league season, still in 1st. 2 points ahead of second, 4 ahead of 3rd.

Transfer In - DC Spencer Hamilton (24)
My coaches love his potential. Injury prone (currently has a damaged heel), with shit stamina, but an immediate starter at DC, though he's quite raw.

[Izulde]

@ Ashwood Hurst II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/James Crane/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Evans Kouassi
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

34 - Okojie with the short pass to Allman. Buzzing around him is a defender, so he lofts a pass into the box, where Igiehon leaps and heads it in. 1-0

52 - We switch to a 3-2-2-3 DM by taking Pritchard off and inserting Walder as a second DM. Kargbo on for Gray.

62 - Walder shows off the double DM skill by intercepting and lateraling to Allman. Short pass to Odubade, who laughs at all the defenders around him in our half. Gorgeous rainbow into space, with Kargbo having everyone beat. He destroys the keeper on the 1 v 1. 2-0

90 - The keeper comes out on a corner, so Allman hits Crane for the score. 3-0

Every full-time starter grabbed a 7.6 or higher. 8+ guys: James Crane (8.3), Evans Kouassi (8.9), and PotM Osamu Allman with 9.0. 7.1 off the bench for Passeka Karbo.

We've also found ourselves a brand new formation to replace the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide that's been our traditional style, but has gone by the wide side in recent seasons due to our poor MC options.

@ Buxted III (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Passeka Kargbo

Ahenkorah replaces Odubade; Warrell in place of Allman at the half.

61 - We're awarded a PK when Kargbo is drilled in the box. He gets up and converts his opportunity with ease. 1-0

68 - Terrific chasedown of a long ball by Gill, who dribbles and jacks it to Karbo for the header into wide open space. When Gray gets there, it's a done deal, because no one can beat our young Irish striker on a 1 v 1. 2-0

If you would have told me I'd *ever* run a 3 backline, I'd have said you were high. But here's James Crane with a 7.7 and PotM, Nick Plant with a 7.6. Crane has very quietly turned into an underrated part of our defense.

@ Portslade Athletic II (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Spencer Hamilton/James Crane
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

3 - Igiehon receives a pass in the box and sends it to Cotterill, who dribbles all the way to the sideline. Cross to Allman sees a header shot pushed away, but he sinks his own rebound. 1-0

19 - Allman dribbles down the left flank and crosses to Igiehon. The Swiss striker's shot cracks off the post, but Gray wins the foot race and it's all good. 2-0

41 - Good defense by Crane - The shot was just too good. 2-1

43 - Plant throws out a long vine to Gray, who dribbles into the box. There's two defenders draping our Irish striker, but he's drawn out the goalie. Rather than take the shot, he lays off to isolated Igiehon for a sweet Swiss score. 3-1

47 - Crane throws into Walder. Quick pass to Gray, and the long ball to Igiehon in the box. Precision like that can't be beat! 4-1

49 - Embarrassing defense by Hamilton there to allow a goal just before half. 4-2

Gill steps on for Hamilton at the break.

67 - Reed for Walder

81 - Cotterill - Igiehon - Gray straight line for the score. They should have gotten one on us earlier, and Gill looks completely unequipped to deal with DC in a 3 man backline, so I'll keep him at DR from now on. 5-2

83 - Shoddy defending. 5-3

7.5 for Nick Plant, 7.9 for Osamu Allman, and matching 9.2s by Jamie Gray and Bennie Igiehon, with Ireland getting the PotM nod.

vs Crawley United (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Spencer Hamilton/James Crane
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

BTW, Jamie Gray is now a Vanarama National potential striker. Crawley United was in third for a while, but they've now a ways to go if they want to get back in the triple promotion conversation.

15 - Incisive interception by Crane and he kicks it ahead to Gray. The lateral to Odubade, and the longball, with Igiehon beating everyone to hit the 1v1. 1-0

The backline gets stressed when I tell the team at half not to get complacent. Truth is, we could be losing right now. We've been getting outplayed.

52 - Ahenkorah for Gray

7.6 for James Crane and Dan Okojie, 8.3 for Bennie Igiehon. A bunch of people get pissed off when I praise Igiehon after I tell the guys they got away with one here. STFU.

[Izulde]

@ Bolney Rovers (Malins Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Spencer Hamilton/James Crane
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

2 - Looked offsides there. 0-1

32 - WTF is wrong with this team?! 0-2

34 - Allman kicks back to Okojie and Igiehon gets the long cross *just* in time to put it away behind the keeper. 1-2

54 - Fucking ridiculous. Crane to DC and Gill in at DR. Kargbo for Odubade. 1-3

58 - Igiehon sends it down the line for Gray, who passes it in to space where Walder charges ahead and scores the rare goal. 2-3

63 - I burn my last sub, kicking out Cotterill for Warrell.

70 - Warrell kicks back to Gill, and the longball has Igiehon heading even further into the box for a fast Gray to sink the equalizer. 3-3

We both get our chances in extra time, but it's nothing doing, so on to PKs.

Passeka Kargbo.... scores! 1-0
They score. 1-1
Jamie Gray.... scores! 2-1
They score. 2-2
Bennie Igiehon... scores! 3-2
They score. 3-3
Dan Okojie... scores! 4-3
They score. 4-4
Jack Walder... scores! 5-4
They score. 5-5
Bojan Tetek... scores! 6-5
And Bojan Tetek, just like he did the last time we went to PKs in a Cup match stops the next shot after scoring himself!!!!!

8.5 for Jack Walder and 7.9 for Bennie Igiehon, as we overcame a very poor day defensively and by Bojan Tetek (6.5) to escape.

@ Montepelier Villa III (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Spencer Hamilton/James Crane
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Edwin Ahenkorah/Passeka Kargbo

Both Dutch strikers in, as Jamie Gray is out with a cold and this gives us the most bars in the relative roles.

3 - Terrible defending by Crane. 0-1

13 - Crane redeems himself by feeding a ball into the box for Kargbo to take a shot. The keeper stretches a leg to deflect it, but he's on the ground, and Ahenkorah kicks it in the open net. 1-1

14 - Crane with the throw in to Cotterill and the giveback. Short pass to Kargbo, and the cross into the box sees Allman splitting the hole in the defense to score. 2-1

36 - Cotterill has it on the wing and crosses to Kargbo. The ball's stripped away by the defense, but Kargbo gets it right back and spears the perfect shot. 3-1

38 - Our backline doesn't stay back, allowing them to draw within 1. 3-2

I tell the defenders to stay deep at the break.

46 - Reed on for yellow carded Walder.

58 - Igiehon in for Odubade, and he goes to Target Man. Kargbo switches to Defensive Forward.

73 - Kargbo has the ball about midfield and he kicks it out to Allman. The long, high, far post cross comes when Igiehon has everyone beat, and the Swiss strike is sweet. 4-2

7.6 for James Crane, 7.5 for Dan Cotterill and 9.0 for PotM Passeka Kargbo. Off the bench, Bennie Igiehon got a 7.1.

Things learned: Set the backline to Deep when playing an Attacking style like we did after going down 0-1. In fact, that should probably be our default, and it might well explain why this formation has sputtered defensively the last few games.

It's a two team race for the title, as Bolney Rovers is 7 points ahead of 3rd and 4th place, and that's with their having a game in hand to boot. They've been hot on our heels all season long.

Transfer Out - DL Dan Okojie (22) and MC Ash Walker (28) - Burgess Hills Rhinos
Unbelievable. The Rhinos, while they're about to promote from Mid Sussex Division Five (in 1st by 10 points with 6 left to play, so it'd take an epic collapse), are another Amateur side. Walker I can understand, but fuck Okojie for abandoning us.

The Rhinos were Division Six the first year and relegated. Since then, they've won three straight promotions, and are looking like another us.

Our assman is about to sign for a head job elsewhere, so we bring in someone to replace him. He goes up to Division Two.

@ East Grinstead Town III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

41 seconds - Cotterill crosses into the box and Odubade rises above everyone to head it in. 1-0

31 - Crane to Gray, and the long skimmer into space for Swiss Igiehon to secure and strike home. My assman bitches about the gap between midfield and the forwards. I ignore him. 2-0

Walder gets a yellow just before half, so I pull him at the break for Reed.

49 - We're given a BS penalty on someone pushing Igiehon, but Odubade fucks it up anyway.

77 - Injury to Allman, so Warrell gets the call.

7.9 for Carl Gill, 9.0 for PotM Dan Cotterill and 7.8 for Bennie Igiehon as we played very well and continue our march towards what will hopefully be our fourth straight Mid Sussex Junior Cup trophy.

Osamu Allman is out for 3 weeks.

Oh, I forgot to mention... the game we had against Crawley United broke our attendance record by 2 more people at 123. We always seem to have big crowds against them.

[Izulde]

vs Copthorne IV (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Yemi Odubade/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

24 seconds - Cotterill crosses, but it's too far out of reach. Gray chases it down and backpasses to Warrell. Defense intercepts but doesn't clear, so Warrell gets it anyway and crosses to Cotterill. It takes him a moment to trap and secure it, but when he does, the shot goes in. 1-0

9 - Igiehon wings it out to Cotterill, who crosses to Odubade. The keeper gets there *just* before the ball crosses the line, but the pushaway leaves the ball sitting there, and Gray runs it down for the walk-in score. 2-0

56 - Pritchard in at DC; Kargbo replaces Igiehon

77 - Fantastic defensive work by Cotterill in stripping the ball away three times. Finally on the third, he's able to keep it and blast it all the way down the pitch to Kargbo. The Dutchman dribbles into the box and crosses to Odubade - only the defense intercepts midstream and kicks an own goal. Uh, thanks? 3-0

Every full-time starter other than Tetek had 7.2 or better, with the 8+ highlights going to PotM Robert Warrell and an 8.1 for Dan Cotterill, whose goal is the single fastest in Keymer & Hassocks history. His 24 second strike broke Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson's previous 36 second goal.

@ Antsy Sports and Social II (Sommerville Challenge Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Scott Reed/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Robert Warrell/Ahmed Mohammed/Evans Kouassi
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Bennie Igiehon

Fatigue issues results in a formation switch and a not ideal lineup.

18 - Mohammed fires out a long ball to Warrell, and the near post cross to Ahenkorah secures a goal. 1-0

Plant replaces yellow card Walder at the half.

56 - Kargbo replaces Igiehon

89 - Tetek's goal kick finds [b]Kouassi[/b in their half of the field. Short pass to Mohammed, and the lateral continues with a longer pass to Warrell. Drop pass into the box, and Ahenkorah scores his second of the game. 2-0

8.6 for Robert Warrell and 8.8 for PotM Edwin Ahenkorah. Not our best outing, but good enough.

Transfer Out - MR Evans Kouassi (26) - Burgess Hills Rhinos
These guys are really, really starting to piss me off with how they keep stealing my players. That's the third one this year they've swiped from me.

I missed the game, but Youth Candidates beat U18s 3-2. Two guys worth signing: DL Chris Davies (3* potential) and MR Daryl McDonald (4* potential). There's a couple other 3* guys, but I don't see us ever using MCs heavily any time soon, and we're loaded at striker.

I missed the interview deadline on a couple of semipro clubs that really intrigued me. Boo.

[b]@ Forest Row II (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
DC: Viv Pritchard/Scott Reed/Spencer Hamilton
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Robert Warrell/Daryl McDonald
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

With injuries and the like, we're forced to go with a weird 3-2-2-3 setup. Even a draw clinches promotion

57 - Allman on for injured Warrell; Kargbo for tired Igiehon

63 - Allman dribbles down the left flank, and his intended cross for Gray is a fluke goal instead. 1-0

78 - Heh. 1-1

81 - Our backline sucks ass. 1-2

What an obnoxious defeat. We're still in the driver's seat, but more than ever I'm looking to get out of this slogfest and move up. We break the Mid Sussex Division Six goals record with 39, which is cool I guess.

[Izulde]

vs Wisdom Sports (Sommerville Challenge Cup Semifinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

Decided to try a 3-2-3-2 DM for shits and giggles, and for something different besides the 3 striker setup. It's a surprise for the team we have a long Cup history with, having battled them for the Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup the last two years.

6 - Igiehon hurt again. Kargbo on.

20 - Allman hits the corner to Hamilton, and he gets his first ever goal for us! 1-0

28 - Plant got brushed aside there. 1-1

64 - Kargbo gets the indirect free kick and sends it to Hamilton, who nets his second goal of the game! 2-1

9.2 for PotM Spencer Hamilton, who finally had a breakthrough performance. 9.0 for Ahmed Mohammed in the quietest nine I've ever seen. 7.6 for Osamu Allman.

Wisdom Sports were the defending champs, too.

vs Eastborne Rangers II (7th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant/Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

9 - The ref for this game is a real tightass. Martin Parsons has already chalked up yellows for Hamilton and Igiehon, and awards a cheap penalty here when Igiehon's hammered. Gray coolly converts the PK. 1-0

Reed for Hamilton; Kargbo for Igiehon at halftime.

50 - Mohammed forward to Gray in the box for the first touch wing to Cotterill. Cross back inside finds Kargbo for the insurance. 2-0

It's the kind of match where Dan Cotterill's 7.6 is good for PotM, though Ahmed Mohammed put up a 7.5 and Passeka Kargbo got a 7.0 off the bench.

Bolney Rovers also auto-promoted, and are 2 points behind us with 2 games to play. We haven't yet secured the title.

On top of that, Dan Cotterill is out 3 weeks after twisting his knee late last match.

Transfer In - DC/MCLR/AMC Russell Fry - 34
We've been trying frantically to shore up our backline and everyone keeps rejecting us. Finally we grab Fry on a flier. He's good at MC, but meh everywhere else. He'll start anyway.

@ Scaynes Hill (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Semifinal
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Russell Fry/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Daryl McDonald
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

At half, Reed for Plant; Warrell for Allman; Cook for Mohammed because of fatigue.

52 - Cook's free kick shot is pushed away by the keeper, but Igiehon charges forth to put away the rebound. 1-0

68 - Crane fucked up. 1-1

78 - GOD DAMN IT!!!! 1-2

And just like that, our Mid Sussex Junior Cup dynasty goes up in smoke. All the backline defections absolutely killed us, and we could never get the players in to shore it back up.

I'm so done with this team after this season.

vs Ashwood Hurst II (8th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Russell Fry/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Daryl McDonald
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

32 - Igiehon, playing with a dead leg, exchanges passes with McDonald, our youth pull right midfielder then crossing into the box to Gray for the score. 1-0

40 - Allman takes the cross from Gill and fires. Deflection. Gray gets the rebound. Deflection. Gray a second time, and it's in! 2-0

Kargbo in for the injured Igiehon at the break.

55 - Allman has it just outside the box and feeds Gray. The shot's deflected, but the keeper doesn't get back in time, and a speedy McDonald comes through to power in his first ever goal. 3-0

7.7 for Carl Gill, 7.5 for Nick Plant, 8.8 for Daryl McDonald, 8.3 for Ahmed Mohammed, and 9.2 for PotM Jamie Gray.

Bolney Rovers suffered a shocking upset loss, so we clinch the Division Six title!!!

With 41 points, we break the Division Six record. Jamie Gray breaks the Division Six goalscoring record with 12. At 16 years, 323 days, Daryl McDonald becomes the youngest ever Keymer & Hassocks player to score a goal.

@ Burgess Hill Rhinos (Sommerville Challenge Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Russell Fry/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

If we'd won the Mid Sussex Junior Cup Semifinal, we'd get two shots as these thieving assholes. Alas, we only have the one, so I really want to whip these dudes.

Ash Walker is in the lineup at MC, and Evans Kouassi is playing striker. On the bench is Dan Okojie.

Reed for stupid ass Fry with the yellow at half, Kargbo for tired Igiehon.

65 - SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!!!! Walker is off and Okojie on now BTW. 0-1

87 - Gray with the long range bomb!!!!!!! 1-1

89 - Reed with the IFK... and he kicks it to Gray in the box for the second score!!!!!!! 2-1

Jamie Gray single-handedly carried us to victory with his 8.8, netting goals #19 and 20 en route.

Ratfucker Kevin Ellison says he's pissed at the loss and calls me "a very average coach". Hey, Kevin! Eat a dick! And you're the one who kept stealing my players, you baldheaded goatfucker!

LOL! I changed his nickname to Goatfucker and it took. Very nice. I removed it, though, because I'm not that much of a dick. Not like he is.

This is how little I care about the last game of the season against Bolney Rovers. I'm not going to write it up, and I let my assman pick the team.

We win 3-2 after coming back from an 0-2 deficit on long-range strikes by Dan Cotterill, Passeka Kargbo (sub in) and fittingly, with 89 minutes on the board, James Crane, the master of fightbacks in terms of his career.

Ashwood Hurts II earns relegation on the last day.

There's one more thing left to play for - the Malins Challenge Cup. That's if I'm still here, as I've identified a semipro club I want to take over.

Bolney Rovers sets the Division Six average attendance record with 113, breaking their own record of 97. We broke that, too, so pfeh. Chris Moon from Newick breaks the average rating record with 7.7.

The semipro club dismisses interest while their manager is still under contract. Okay.

vs Hartfield (Malins Challenge Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: James Crane/Russell Fry/Spencer Hamilton/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

I guarantee victory. Opposing manager gets butthurt.

55 - [b]Ahenkorah[b] for Igiehon and striker switch; Pritchard for Fry

Plant replaces yellow card Walder at the end of regulation.

100 - Crane has it on the left perimeter of the box. He kicks it forward to Ahenkorah for the long backpass to Plant. 25 yard strike by my favorite youth pull ever, and he scores his first goal of the year!!!! 1-0

117 - Mohammed has his shirt pulled, earning a red for the opposing player, and that's it.

7.6 for Carl Gill, 8.1 for Ahmed Mohammed, and 8.1 for PotM Nick Plant off the bench. Beautiful, just beautiful.

Hartfield played us a lot tougher than I expected. But hey that's our third straight Malins Challenge Cup trophy. 590 people showed up, breaking the tournament attendance record.

Dan Okojie and James Crane are inducted into the Keymer & Hassocks All-Time 11 as starters. Nathan Dennis finally gets in as a reserve.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/y5awards_zpsm83xlby2.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/y5awards_zpsm83xlby2.jpg.html)

Close vote for Fans Player of the Year.

Robert Warrell, Nick Plant, and Daryl McDonald were the standout yearly trainers.

Talks progress with a semipro team other than the one I pursued. Keymer & Hassocks' board is pissed. I don't care. They don't have a team name and their logo is stupid. I also don't want to go through the grind anymore, especially when our backline is so suck ass.

Scayne Hills beats the traitor Burgess Hills Rhinos 1-1 on penalty kicks in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup final. Haha! They set a new attendance record too with 575 people.

$10k profit for Keymer & Hassocks, giving them $60k in the bank. Stadium purchase failed. Yemi Odubade announces his retirement. Good.

Interestingly enough, despite being a semi-pro club, they're of lower stature than Keymer & Hassocks, thanks to my excellent work there. Wow!

Keymer & Hassocks' board still won't improve the youth academy.

None of my current staff wants to move with me. Uh, okay. I sign a one year contract, worth $7k.

Really looking forward to shaping this team in my own image!

More details next post on my move. :D

[Izulde]

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/201558-566998-thickbox_zpsw1ig8rk6.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/201558-566998-thickbox_zpsw1ig8rk6.jpg.html)
Woodley Town FC Kestrels
They are in fact several orders below Keymer & Hassocks in stature, and with a $15k total budget when I joined, the only guys we can pry loose are non-contract guys, with a maximum of $75 p/a for Key Players.

I cleared out the staff, and at friendly season start, we have me, a Chief Staff making $4k, and a boatload of loan players for the entire season who I brought on sight unseen, but who had full bars in the precise roles I ask for in my 4-4-2 Diamond setup.

It's gonna be an ugly season. Oh, and they're $9.6k in the red after I mutually terminate everyone.

The Storks have been the poster child of suckiness in this universe, only finishing as high as 9th out of 14 teams once. The good news is, there's no relegation in this division.

It goes like this:

Hellenic League Division One East
Hellenic League Premier Division
Southern League First Division South/West
Southern Premier
Isthmian 1st Divisions
Isthmian Premier
Conference North/South

So we're at Level 13.

Putting that in perspective, Keymer & Hassocks began at Level 23, and I took them up to Level 18. So sure I jumped up 5 levels with this move, and to a semipro team, but the stature is much lower, and in terms of the money we can offer, we're essentially an Amateur team.

And one that has to watch its bottom line.

We add an Assman and a Physio, both at $4k/year.

5000-1 odds of winning the division. We well and truly stink.

[Izulde]

We're a bunch of loaners with only a couple guys on the regular team playing meaningful minutes. The board just wants us to "attempt to be competitive" in the league, and we're not expected to get beyond the first round in the Hellenic Cup. There's silver stars everywhere, and my attempts to land guys in actual transfer all fail miserably.

@ Wantage
G: Kieran Watson*
D: Michael Murphy/Frank Mannion/Maurice Maloney/Pete Howes*
DM: Graham Barnett
M: Martin Slater/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Andy Cox*/Jason Bamford

* - Denotes original signed guy. Everyone else, including an injured striker who would normally start, is on loan.

19 - We'll be underdogs in every game we play. 0-1

47 - Slater ahead to Hilton, and then the long line drive to Cox. He's wrecked as the ball comes to him, but as he's falling, he manages to kick the ball to streaking Bamford for the goal! 1-1

60 - Slater makes an exceptional interception after we have so many clearances they get right back. He hoofs it sharply to Bamford, who returns the earlier favor by striking a 25 yard pass ahead of Cox. He dribbles and then parks just outside the half-circle. Sizes up his shot.. and fires in the long-range goal! 2-1

7.2 for Graham Barnett despite a yellow, 7.9 for Jason Bamford, and 8.3 for PotM Andy Cox. I'm going to use subs as little as possible, because most of the players have stupid shutout and goal bonuses that I don't want to pay, and unused sub bonuses, which is lame. I did force Pete Howes, the lone truly good original player on this team, to sign a new deal that has the same p/a, but none of those bonuses.

Huge upset in my first ever game as the Storks manager!

22 season tickets sold.

The wage screen says I'm $1.05k in the red, even though there's no one signed to a part-time contract other than the staff, which adds up to $7k me, $4k scout, $4k assman, $4k physio, which is $19k, and we're $14.7k budget, so we'd be more than that in the red if staff wages applied.

That means I'm going to have to terminate a bunch of people. I do, and get up to $7.6k clear of the budget.

vs South Park Reserves (9th)
G: Kieran Watson*
D: Michael Murphy/Frank Mannion/Maurice Maloney/Pete Howes*
DM: Graham Barnett
M: Martin Slater/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

Michael Cook is an absolute stud of a loaner (4.5/4.5) we nabbed. Really excited to have him on board.

5 - Yeah, we're gonna get whipped like Cartman was facing us. 0-1

12 - Hilton wings it out to Howes, and from there it's a diagonal ladder of Richards and Bamford into the box, with the last striking home a goal. We're using Counter strategy, BTW. 1-1

29 - Richards on the corner, and Maloney's head hammers a long rang strike! 2-1

36 - Sigh. 2-2

50 - Gareth Gillett on for Mannion the mistake maker.

57 - Barnett passes to Hilton for the one touch pass to Bamford. He turns around in the half-circle and scorches home his second goal! 3-2

90 - HE WAS OFFSIDES YOU FUCKING APERAPING COCKGNOBBLING REFF!!!! FUCK YOU FUCK YOU SDHOGHASOGHASOHGOSHEWEROHASEOFHAWEOH!!!! 3-3

God, such FUCKING BULLSHIT!

Transfer In - GK Gary Ward (18)
I've discovered the secret is to raid the Unattached players. That's where the real gold is. Ward is the single best player on the club right now, though we have more guys in the pipeline. $25 p/a deal, too.

@ Didcot Reserves (12th)
G: Gary Ward**
D: Michael Murphy/Frank Mannion/Maurice Maloney/Pete Howes*
DM: Graham Barnett
M: Martin Slater/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

18 - Beautiful rainbow by Hilton all the way down the left flank for Cook to latch. The cross to Bamford sees three defenders there, and they just blink while he bams it on in. 1-0

29 - Missed header by one of our defenders. Didn't see who. 1-1

66 - Gillett for Maloney; Joe Weeks for yellow card Barnett

84 - Weeks with the brilliant interception, and he passes to Hilton for a first touch pass just ahead of Bamford. Dribble into the box, and BOOM TOWN! 2-1

91 - Howes hits Mannion on the corner, but Mannion pops a head cross to Gillett who waits a bit, and then guarantees no late heroics this game! 3-1

9.0 for PotM Dennis Hilton, 8.8 for Jason Bamford, and 7.4 for Gareth Gillett off the bench. Another huge upset in Gary Ward's professional debut.

Transfer In - DLCR Rich Byram (19)
Exceptional at DL (4.5*), and a huge upgrade over the loaner we had there. My priciest acquisition yet with a $45 p/a contract, but he brings the value. We also dump a $40 p/a guy to get him, so it's not like it's a huge cut into our salary.

Transfer In - DL Thomas Keating (18)
Another fantastic DL guy, he can only play there, so he'll anchor that side while Byram moves to DC. $30 p/a deal.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Jean Marie Kouyombo (19)
Has Central African roots as well, so we'll see what nation he ends up declaring for. Absolutely phenomenal central defender and defensive midfielder (4.5 in both). Will slot in at DM on a $30 p/a deal.

We end up cancelling another DC/DM deal as a result of the previous signings. I'd rather fill in the gaps with loan players for now, unless I find someone super versatile willing to play for $20-25 p/a. Oops. We shouldn't have canceled that deal. Shit. Oh well.

@ Dorking (3rd)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Pete Howes
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Martin Slater/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

Obviously a big early season match. A win here would go a long way to establishing ourselves as legitimate contenders for promotion (Top 2 promote).

8 - Spend all that money upgrading the defense and goal, still allow a goal. 0-1[b]

[b]Keating stunk the first half, so he's pulled for Murphy.

84 - Bamford runs down a longball into the box and crosses to the six yard box for Cook to score! 1-1

The first month's report is in from the club. Obviously we're going to be losing money every month, because that's just how it is in LLM land. My status has upgrade from Stable to Secure, however, and the board is loving how strict I'm being with finances - we have $5.05k still available in the wage budget. They're upset that Gareth Hawkins, who was a favored player, was released in the Great Purge.

Transfer In - MLCR Thomas Hodges (18)
The curve is destroyed again, and he only cost $25 p/a! 5/5 at both ML and MR! This is the type of steal find you get that you celebrate, because of how much better he makes your team.

With four league matches played, we're one of four teams all knotted up with 8 points a piece with 2 wins and 2 draws. A far cry from the preseason media prediction of 2nd to last.

Keymer & Hassocks won their first league game in Division Five. Only the winner promotes. They're running a flat 4-5-1 :eek: Gill/Pritchard/Hamilton/Crane backline - Allman/Walder/NewGuy/Mohammed/Cotterill midfield and Gray all by himself up front.

And somehow Lewis Haldane is making $3.3k as the manager, even though Keymer & Hassocks is an Amateur side still. Weird. But very cool to see him get promoted from coach to the top job. As you might guess, K&H are predicted to win Division Five, and they need to in order to promote.

[Young Drachma]

5000-1 odds of winning the division. We well and truly stink.
__________________

I've seen this movie before...

;)

Good luck though. Cool you got to move up, even if it's with a different club.

[Izulde]

I've seen this movie before...

;)

Good luck though. Cool you got to move up, even if it's with a different club.

:D That's exactly what I thought of when I saw those odds. BTW, I got team name wrong - it's Kestrels, not Storks. Storks are the team I tried pressuring into firing their manager and failed.

vs Shrivenham (12th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Maurice Maloney//Pete Howes
DM: Graham Bennett
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
S: Kevin Gibbens/Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

Our second formation, the old 4-1-2-3 DM that we used intermittently at Keymer & Hassocks. We're favored for the first time in my tenure here.

56 - Weeks on for Barnett. Their keeper has been fricking amazing all game long.

66 - Ugh. 0-1

71 - Howes crosses far post to Gibbens, but rather than take the shot, he heads it back across the goal mouth when an unmarked Bamford scores. 1-1

77 - Gibbens picks up his second yellow. Ugh.

This is one we should have won, and it drops us down in the table to a very square third, 2 points behind the co-leaders.

Transfer In - AMC/ST/MC Daren Kirk (20)
Our most expensive player by far at $60 p/a, but it's really tough to find great AMCs, and Kirk is one. Plus he can flex out to a couple of different positions. He'll be worth the money. With his signing, we're at just under $851 of the wage budget, so that's the end of our shopping spree.

Transfer In - DR Danny Harvey (19)
Okay, so I lied. Elite upgrade at DR and $5 p/a cheaper than Pete Howes? Bye, Felicia! New team captain(s) incoming. We got the deal done just as takeover talks are heating up around the club. That also puts us $1k under budget. *Now* I'm done, barring any steals of our guys.

Rich Byram and Thomas Hodges are newly appointed captain and vice-captain. Most of the squad is pleased by the change, but Rich is freaked out about the pressure of the role. You'll grow into it, kid.

vs Holyport (8th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Martin Slater/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

51 - Kirk sprays it ahead to Cook, who after a short dribble crosses to Bamford for the wide open score. 1-0

53 - Fuckity fuck. 1-1

61 - Gillett in for Byram, who is so anxious over being captain, he's fucking up all game.

92 - Kirk on the free kick into the box. Mannion's shot is pushed away, but Cook is there for the rebound score!!!!! 2-1

7.3 for Frank Mannion and Michael Cook as our highlights. I'm pissed the ref allowed them another shot on goal at the end of the game. PotM is their defensive midfielder.

@ Clanfield (Hellenic Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Gary Ward
D: Michael Murphy/Maurice Maloney/Frank Mannion//Rich Byram
DM: Graham Bennett
M: Martin Slater/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Michael Cook/Kevin Gibbens

Short turnaround = this lineup.

55 - Gillett at MR; Byram shifts to DC to replace Mannion, and Harvey hops on at DR.

85 - Great hustle in a takeaway by Barnett, who passes to Hilton. The long pass into space has Cook picking it up. Defender whiffs on the slide tackle when Cook dribbles in the box, and he puts away the late goal!! 1-0

8.3 by Michael Cook, 8.7 for PotM Dennis Hilton, and 7.3 for Graham Bennett, as we just pulled off a massive upset.

No money, though. We'd need to win the whole damn thing to get cash.

@ Reading Town (13th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Maurice Maloney/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

12 - Powerful header to clear a free kick by Maloney starts a move that finishes with Bamford winging right side to Richards, who then dribbles into the box and crosses for Hodges to score his first ever goal with the Kestrels. Been a long time since I've seen that winger to winger connection. 1-0

18 - Lot of traffic passes from Hodges and Kirk[/b], the last a H2K that translates to a feed for Cook in the box. He lays off to Bamford for the sizzler strike home. 2-0

57 - Gillett replaces Mannion

63 - Weeks for Kouymbo

77 - Richards runs down the right flank and simply crosses into the six yard box for Bamford to sink his second goal and lock this game up. 3-0

85 - Weeks snags a clearance and gives it to Keating. Back to Weeks[/b] and he passes into space in the box, where Bamford is there first and gets the hat trick, the first for these Woodley Town Kestrels under my watch!!!![b] Yes!!!! [b]4-0

7.7 for Danny Harvey, 7.5 for Maurice Maloney, 8.5 for Jason Richards, 8.4 for Thomas Hodges, 8.8 for Daren Kirk, 9.6 for PotM Jason Bamford, and 7.9 for Michael Cook. In fact, all fulltime starters except the keeper (6.9) were 7.4 or better!!!!

The most complete game we've put together so far, and we're now not only in second place, but one of three teams with a +8 goal differential! Jason Bamford scored his 10th goal on that last one by the way. In doing so, he's destroyed both the Woodley Town goal scoring record (previously 7) and the Hellenic Division One East record (formerly 9).

Keymer & Hassocks have won all three of their league games and are in first. They also just won a Sommerville Challenge Cup match. A few new players have come in, including a Nigerian young kid, so they're still tapping into the pipeline I established with British-Nigerians. There's a Head of Youth Development there, too.

Good news all around for everyone.

[Izulde]

vs Wantage Reserves (9th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

4 - Richards passes down the line for Bamford, who dribbles down the right flank and stops before the touchline. Kick back to Richards, and the center to Cook results in a header goal. 1-0

16 - Not quite enough leap for Ward to get it. 1-1

18 - Thanks for the own goal gift! 2-1

46 - What an assbaggery of defending. 2-2

48 - Gibbens for Bamford; Barnett for Kouyombo

63 - Keating throws in to Kirk, gets it back, and crosses to Gibbens, who fires the shot in a defender's face and scores his first ever goal for us! 3-2

- Two lucky longe range shots in one game? GTFO! [b]3-3

Our backline really fucked us this game. We drop back to 3rd.

Board's approval of me is up to Very Secure. Thanks, guys.

@ South Park (4th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

16 - We like own goal presents. 1-0

Gibbens subs in for Cook at the half.

53 - Gillett replaces Richards

58 - Ugh. 1-1

76 - Double ugh. 1-2

82 - We're awarded a PK and Harvey converts! 2-2

Barely got away with a draw, there, and sure we were underdogs, but still. We're back up to 2nd on goal differential.

[Izulde]

12 games in a row without a loss is a new Woodley Town record. Go me.

Daryl Morrison is willing to pay $22k to take over the club, which has a valuation of $45k. That'd be a steal for him.

vs Henley (7th)]/b]
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

[b]50 - Byram is replaced with Gillett. Sliding down to DC is Kouyombo, with Barnett taking over at DM.

81 - Keating doubleteams with Gillett to strip the ball away and passes to Kirk, who longballs it perfectly for Cook. A dribble into the box and shot later, and we've finally gotten ahead. 1-0

7.1 for Danny Harvey, 7.9 for Daren Kirk, and 8.3 for PotM Michael Cook. With the victory we jump into 1st on goal differential!

If you'd told me before the season started that we would be in 1st after our first 10 games, I'd have said you were full of it. But here we are.

Dennis Hilton wants his loan terminated. Yeah, that's not going to happen. I'll get him some more games, however. Michael Murphy, on the other hand, I'm happy to terminate the loan of. We've got two great DL players.

@ Rayners Lane (3rd)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Michael Cook/Daren Kirk

Kirk is both a phenomenal AMC and ST, so we can put him anywhere we want and he'll be amazing. Obviously this game is a very, very big deal.

28 - We should have allowed like 2 goals by now, so whatever. 0-1

36 - OMFG 0-2

38 - Finally a breakthrough, as on the ensuing kickoff, Hilton gets it to Cook in the box, who crosses on his way out to the touchline, and Kirk sinks his first ever goal for us. 1-2

54 - They goal kick, we get it back and the ball gets to Kirk for the 40 yard shot that has the keeper still way out of the net! Crazy, crazy goal. Barnett in at DM after Byram moves to DL and Kouyombo slides down. Gillett replaces Mannion as well. 2-2

68 - Fucking shit defense in the middle. 2-3

77 - Cook has five defenders on him and wings out to Richards. Cross into the box, and Kirk has everyone beat for the hat trick! 3-3

Dorking lost, so we got another point on them there. Gary Ward has been awful the last few games, so I'm going to have a talk with him about that. He accepts that he needs to get his shit together, and so does Rich Byram, wo had a 6.2 last game and has been quite inconsistent.

[djsatu]

Nice to see something different from the norm. Loving this so far man.

[Izulde]

Nice to see something different from the norm. Loving this so far man.

Thanks. :) I don't know what will happen if I ever get to a point where I, you know, have actually money to spend.

Everyone is gushing over Daren Kirk after his hat trick, but the guy's put up strong performances the last several games. Martin Slater's loan is terminated because he was mad about his lack of PT, and I didn't feel like giving him any.

@ Holyport (Hellenic League Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Maurice Maloney/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Graham Barnett
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

Short turnarounds are boo.

Kirk for Hilton; Byram for Harvey at half.

Two cracks by Jason Bamford in the match. One called offsides, the other he flat-out flubbed, so we're on to PKs.

They convert, just barely. 0-1
Cook makes it! 1-1
They score. 1-2
Richards sends it in! 2-2
[b]Ward blocks the shot!!!! 2-2
Kirk kicks with style, right over the top of the keeper's head! 3-2
They even it up... 3-3
Hodges sinks it! 4-3
They're making us go to the last guy. 4-4

And so it's all up to Graham Barnett... and HE KICKS IT IN!!!!! WE ADVANCE!!!!!

This was all down to Jason Richards and his 7.8 PotM carrying us on a night when our strikers stunk it up.

@ Chinnor (13th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Jean Marie Kouyombo//Danny Harvey
DM: Joe Weeks
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hilton
S: Kevin Gibbens/Daren Kirk

Another short rest. Don't let the 13th place fool you - these guys have won three straight games, so they're not going to be an easy beat.

Bamford in for injured Gibbens at half.

58 - Mannion replaces Kouyombo

95 - Seconds before the whistle blows, Hilton is forced off with injury.

Another lousy day for our strikers. Kevin Gibbens is out 2-3 weeks; Dennis Hilton is done 7-9 weeks.

We're still a point ahead of everyone else, but we need to start getting some fucking wins on the board.

vs Chalfont Wasps (8th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

11 - Oh look. A bullshit penalty. 0-1

55 - Kouyombo to DC; Gillett at DC; Weeks at DM.

59 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 0-2

79 - Fuck this shit. 0-3

Fortunately we're still in first after that bullshit, but we've been playing like total ass.

I think it's time we admit that Rich Bynam is a complete flop as a central defender and cut ties with him.

We've lost just shy of $300 the last two months now, but I'm up to Untouchable thanks to our leading position, albeit on goal differential.

I make Rich Bynam a stopper and Frank Mannion a cover guy, in hopes that making those adjustments will bring the best out of them. I also change Thomas Hodges to a wide midfielder, even though I usually have wingers there.

vs Wantage (7th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

Gillett replaces Bynam at half.

62 - Fuck this team. 0-1

79 - Finally, a fucking goal. On a long range shot from Cook, but we'll take anything right now. 1-1

92 - Kirk on the corner and Kouyombo has it, traps it, and short passes to Richards. The shot deflects off a defender and into the net for a late game miracle to save our lead!!!! 2-1

7.3 for Jason Richards, 7.6 for Daren Kirk, and 8.3 for PotM Michael Cook. FINALLY!

Just over halfway through the season, it's an insanely crowded table up top. And really, there's only one bad team in the league. That's Reading Town, who have just 5 points.

6 games into their own league play, Keymer & Hassocks are in 1st by 5 points.

We really need to make some changes to our roster, but I can't do that because this takeover process is dragging on FOREVER!

@ South Park Reserves (11th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Kevin Gibbens

54 - Bamford replaces Cook and striker switch.

Garbage game. We drop to 2nd.

@ Pegasus Juniors (Hellenic League Challenge Cup Third Round)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Daren Kirk
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

19 - Kirk blasts it down the right flank for Bamford to chase down and far post cross. Cook march-step kicks the ball into the net, and we have an early lead for what feels like the first time in forever. 1-0

At half, Barnett comes in for Kirk and we change to a flat 4-4-2, with Barnett and Kouyombo as the central midfielders.

68 - Cook kicks it back to Barnett, and a flare pass for Hodges has him scorching a shot past the out of the box, out of position keeper! Malone comes on for tired Byramand is a Defender, whilst Mannion changes to a Stopper role. 2-0

79 - Charging interception by Maloney and he sends it to Bamford for the lateral to Hodges. Long ball to Cook downfield, and he runs... shoots. Deflected. But Cook has the presence of mind and pace to race forward and drop it in before the keeper can get up again. 3-0

85 - Harvey throw in to Barnett, ground pass ahead of Cook into the box, and with crossbar help, there's the hat trick!!!! 4-0

91 - Gave up a goal on a last minute corner. Whatever. 4-1

7.5 for Danny Harvey, 8.3 for Thomas Hodges, 7.7 for Jason Bamford, PotM for Michael Cook and his 9.5 game. But the real standout for my money was Graham Barnett putting in an 8.9 off the bench.

With his third Player of the Match award of the season, Michael Cook breaks Gareth Hawkins' old single season club record.

Takeover finally complete. And the jackass takes out a $13.76 bank loan. What.the.actual.fuck?!

Whatever. I'm still here, and now we can go back to looking for better players for our promotion push in the second half of the season.

Oh, side note: Woodley Town has been in the FA Vase two different seasons but lost in the extra preliminary qualifying round each time. No, I don't know what that means, or even what determines FA Vase eligibility. Obviously not in it this year. This is also the first time in this universe that the Kestrels are playing in the Hellenic League Cup quarterfinals, having made the third round just once before.

[Izulde]

vs Didcot Reserves (6th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Rich Byram/Frank Mannion//Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hinton
S: Michael Cook/Daren Kirk

Likely the last time we'll see Rich Byram play for us, and Frank Mannion will likely lose his starting spot as well with a couple of transfers we've got coming in soon.

2 - Byram fucked us over. 0-1

48 - Kouyombo to DC, Gillett at DC, Barnett at DM.

67 - Kirk with the kickback to Barnett. Stupid long range shot is pushed away, but Hodges speeds forth to power in the rebound. 1-1

The slide continues, falling to third.

Transfer In - DC Damien Conway (19)
Elite DC willing to play for $30 p/a. Huge upgrade in tackling and marking, and an immediate starter.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Kevin Cloke (17) - From East Preston
Have to shell out $45 p/a for him but that's perfectly fine with me, given his versatility and star quality in the middle of the backline.

Rich Byram and Kieran Watson are handed their walking papers to get us back under budget. I'm fine with a gray player backup goalie.

Thomas Hodges becomes the new captain, promoting from vice-captain, and newcomer Kevin Cloke is appointed vice-captain. Everyone is yay with the appointments except Hodges, who also feels the pressure. Suck it up, buttercup.

My stellar turnaround work with the Kestrels hasn't gone unnoticed. I get linked to a bunch of jobs, including the Kendal Town Mintcakes. But Greyfriars Bobby already had that gig.

vs Dorking (5th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hinton
S: Michael Cook/Daren Kirk

We and Dorking have both fallen from the loftier heights we had earlier this season, so this game is big for both of our ambitions to get back up in the promotion and title chases.

4 - Keating throws the ball in and gets it back, then centers to Kouyombo. Feed into the box, and Kirk beats the keeper on the 1v1, although he almost missed the shot. 1-0

10 - Nobody even challenged on that corner kick. 1-1

23 - Sure, we'll take Harvey's freak goal! 2-1

40 - Motherfucker. 2-2

61 - Kouyombo to DC for Cloke; Barnett in. Bamford replaces Cook.

87 - Own goal gift. Thanks! 3-2

8.0 for Jean Marie Kouyombo and Jason Richards; 8.9 for PotM Dennis Hilton. We really deserved to win this game, so it's nice to see we get it. Oh yeah, Danny Harvey had a 7.4, too.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/woodyay_zps9t4wimkm.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/woodyay_zps9t4wimkm.jpg.html)

I mean, that's nice and all, but I'd still rather be in the promotion spots, instead of 1 point back. Dorking's central defender who coughed up the own goal got fined, and he's pissed.

Dennis Hilton breaks the PotM record with 4. Funny how it's two loan players who are getting the accolades.

BTW, new calculations are that Gary Ward is a 2*/4*. No wonder we've been leaking goals in our 4-4-2 Diamond Wide Setup. We've had a mediocre goalie back there.

I try to extend my staff at the six month mark. They all reject me, and Rob Boardman, our stellar scout, says he's leaving at the end of his deal because our team stature isn't good enough. Fuck off.

Somehow we made a profit of $17.18k last month. I have no idea how. Loan repayments have to start now, however.

@ Shrivenham (12th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hinton
S: Michael Cook/Daren Kirk

3 - Hodges kicks it back to Conway for the long pass to Kirk. Pass into box, and Cook slams it home. 1-0

68 - Shit corner kick defense. 1-1

77 - Bamford on for Kirk; Barnett for Kouyombo.

Really unlucky to not win that match. We do sneak back into 2nd on goal differential though.

@ Holyport (7th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hinton
S: Michael Cook/Daren Kirk

10 - If we could stop sucking at set pieces, that'd be really great. 0-1

55 - Kirk drops to AMC; Bamford at ST.

80 - Keating fucks up and guarantees we can't win. 0-2

@ Fairford (Hellenic League Challenge Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Graham Bennett
M: Thomas Hodges/Jason Richards
AM: Dennis Hinton
S: Michael Cook/Daren Kirk

I terminated Kevin Gibbens' loan before the game, because I got sick of his manager bitching.

35 - Whatever. We were heavy underdogs anyway. 0-1

This game was such bullshit. Didn't even bother detailing the subs. Fucking cockmunching ref kept giving us yellows but letting his dudes off with a warning, and Kirk got hurt, too. Dislocated shoulder - out 2-3 months.

Fuck.that. And fuck the draw for fucking us giving AWAY GAMES FOR EVERY FUCKING MATCH!

It gets even better. Thomas Hodges will miss our next match with the flu, and we have no cover. So we'll go with a 4-3-1-2 with 2 DM setup for the next game.

...Or not! Game is postponed 2 weeks due to our pitch sucking ass. That's what a loan-happy, dumb new owner will get you. I've already applied to another club, and then I get the news that a team I really wanted to join last go round is now open, and I immediately put in for that one too, and declare my interest.

But the board is cockblocking my interest in going elsewhere, demanding a compensatory fee for a move. If they try to stop me from going the club I want to be at, I'll resign, and they can kiss my ass as they lose their best season ever.

vs Reading Town (14th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Graham Barnett/Jason Richards
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

My old 4-1-3-2 DM setup.

82 - Kouyombo plays an amazing longball for Cook, who stops. waits, and crosses to Bamford for the score. 1-0

We jump back up to 2nd, but it was the kind of shit match where Danny Harvey's 7.2 wins PotM.

vs South Park (1st)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Graham Barnett/Jason Richards
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

Our season pretty much comes down to this match, IMO. We can't afford to lose, period.

43 - Kouyomb sends it out to Hodges on the wing for the cross to Cook, and whoota! Ahead! 1-0

48 - FFS. Kouyombo to MC, Weeks at DM. 1-1

56 - Mannion for Cloke

69 - Well, that's that. 1-2

89 - Harvey with the booming kick down the right flank to clear, and Bamford latches on. Cross to all alone Cook, and we snag the late draw. 2-2

Third place team got hammered 0-3, so we actually gain a point on them.

I'm suddenly linked to a very prestigious team (relative to what I've accomplished), and they come in with a huge budget, so I naturally apply. It would be a major leap up, one I think I've earned after what I've gone through here.

The original job I really wanted, the board comes back and says they're willing to let me go, even though they really don't want to see me pack my bags.

The job I really wanted comes in with their offer... and it's a slap in the face. They expect me to take a pay cut down to $5.5k from the $7k I'm making. Ilford FC comes back with $6.5k when I demand double my salary, and I'm willing to go down a bit, but they break off talks. Assholes. Did they really fucking think I was going to take *any* kind of pay cut to manage them?

@ Wantage Reserves (11th)
G: Gary Ward
D: Thomas Keating/Damien Conway/Kevin Cloke/Danny Harvey
DM: Jean Marie Kouyombo
M: Thomas Hodges/Graham Barnett/Jason Richards
S: Michael Cook/Jason Bamford

46 - Are you fucking kidding me right now?! Umpteen shots missed and they get one fucking shot in before half and it goes in?! 0-1

71 - By this time we've had Kouyombo move to MC; Weeks in at DM, and Mannion coming on for Cloke. Bamford plays a 25 yard pass for Cook to sing in a 25 yard shot. 1-1

4 matches left. We drop down to 3rd, a point behind.

[Izulde]

Michael Cook broke the Woodley Town PotM record with 5, and also has the goals scored record with 12 or however many he has now.

Remember that team with the huge wage budget? They said they were going to wait to see how their interim manager does. Suddenly, they've asked me to come in for an interview. ...Okay!

Completely different interview here. They're asking me to do things specifically. Making the first team younger I have no problem with. Sign high profile players? Get out. But they're also planning on making their previous manager a General Manager. No. I need all the power, guys. Also, since they have money, I want to bring my own staff in. Ilford FC didn't even ask about my staff. Should have known then what cheap bastards they are.

They don't make money available, so I can't bring my Chief Scout on board. Boo. Staff needs a total house cleaning - they're spending way too much money on salaries.

The offer comes in: 1 year, $15k. 15% wage increase with promotion, 35% wage drop if relegated. Buyout clause of 90% of the compensation! Wow, so basically, I'm here until I get fired.

The wage budget is in the triple digits.

Let's see if I can squeeze out some more money from them. They're willing to go up to $17.5k and lower the relegation decrease to 30%. Even if we relegate, I'd still be making $12.25k.

Okay, let's do this.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/chelmsford_zpsyodicxxu.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/chelmsford_zpsyodicxxu.jpg.html)
Chelmsford City FC Clarets
Founded: 1938
17th in Vanarama Conference League South
Wage Budget: $314k!
Bank Balance: -$272k - Ouch!
Facilities: Adequate corporate facilities/Below average training facilities/Basic youth facilities/Adequate junior coaching/Basic youth recruitment

Stadium: Chelmsford Sports and Athletic Center
Seats: 3,016 (1,270 seated)
Rent: 5% of gate receipts

First thing I do is release all but one of the youth players to start cutting in to the wage budget. The Clarets are $15k OVER that beautiful wage budget, so slashing will happen. I also offer a couple big money player out to clubs, and request mutual termination with our highest salaried player.

I'm also greeted with this pretty piece of news.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/byefelicia_zps1lqllkvp.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/byefelicia_zps1lqllkvp.jpg.html)

No one bests my authority!

Chelmsford City was third place in the Vanarama South back in 2010 and have quite a few lower league titles to their credit. In 2019, their Under 18s club won their group. The Clarets have won the Southern League Cup 3 times - 1946, 1960, and 1991. So it's been a while since they've had cup glory.

From 2008/09, after they first promoted to Vanarama South, they were a top 5 team consistently until 2012/13 - a remarkable five season stretch of success. Then they fell off a cliff, and haven't placed higher than 10th since, and even that was only once.

Season Ticket Price: $315
Season Ticket Holders: 344
Reputation: Local

As you can see, this is a hugely supported club compared to what I'm used to. This is a big, big step up.

More info: Information - Chelmsford City FC (http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/a/honours-records-31055.html)

They've had a couple manager Icons, but no manager Legends. The legends are Tony Butcher and Derek Tiffin, as you might surmise from the above link.

Keymer & Hassocks are still in 1st by 6 points with 4 games left to play. Bojan Tetek took a P/A deal with Burgess Hill Rhinos, because those dudes always steal my players. Jamie Gray wants $29k to come play for us as a Rotation player. GTFO. I try to get to Tetek to come play for us on a P/A deal, but he gets pissed at my first offer and says no.

Our players are all out of contract at the end of the season and so is the staff, so I'm just going to play out the string here. The goal is to avoid relegation, and with 11 games to play, we're 8 points clear.

My releases are blocked because we have no transfer funds to pay the compensation. A quick look over the roster says we've got the horses to run my original favorite formation in this universe of 4-1-2-3 DM Wide, so that's what we'll run with.

Transfer deadline is in a week, so we blindly throw out a couple loan offers to high value players. That proves a mistake with a goalie, who is a #2 guy on our squad. Then again, maybe not. Our assman is a 6 JPA, after all.

vs Maidenhead (9th)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Kyle King
S: Nikolay Todorov (Bulgarian!)

Marvel Ekipeta replaces Keita at the half, and because Todorov is hurt, King slots up to ST and David Fitzpatrick comes on at AMR.

82 - Whight is sent off with a double yellow.

Very chippy game, with nobody really getting shots on target. Nikolay Todorov will miss our next game with a head injury, but be back after that.

We loan in a striker who finally commits on transfer deadline day, but beyond that, we don't make any moves. Still too much work to be done sorting out the roster. Too bad said striker stinks.

@ Dulwich Hamlet (1st)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Stuart Lewis
M: Jake Heath/James McQuilkin
AM: George Cole/Tom Christie
S: Julian Lewington (Loan)

We're going to get clobbered here. They've secured themselves a promotion playoffs spot, and really want to lock down automatic promotion.

66 - King in at AMR, Lake up to MC, and Ekpiteta at DC.

71 - Well, we held out a long time. 0-1

Two games, and no goals scored. I'm also not seeing anyone here I have any interest in keeping long-term.

Woodley Town is still 3 points behind in 3rd with 3 games to play. With 2 games left, Keymer & Hassocks are in 1st, still by 6 points, so they've all but got it locked up.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Congratulations on the new job. I saw you had a shot at Kendal Town...it would have been fun to see how you got on there. My Mintcakes were all fictional players anyway.

I managed Chelmsford City in a game I didn't write a dynasty for; I stayed there for two years before I moved on to a job at Lewes. It's a club I wouldn't mind managing again sometime, if my journey takes me back that way.

Good luck with the Clarets!

[Izulde]

vs Kingstonian (14th)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Kyle King
S: Nikolay Todorov

If we can pull off a win here, that would be huge, huge, YUGE!

50 - Lewis Page in for Sturgess

57 - Ekipeta or however you spell it on for injured Lake.

82 - FUCK YOU!!!! HE WAS OFFSIDES!!!! FUCKING HORSESHIT!!!! 0-1

We got fucking ROBBED of a point today! Fuck that ref up the ass with a fly-infested shitswatter!!!!!

@ Burgess Hill (21st)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marvel Ekpiteta/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Tom Christie
S: Julian Lewington

Marc Lake is out for 2 weeks with injury. We need to win this match, point blank.

23 - Sturgess intercepts a clearance, passes to Heath, and gets it right back. Dribble along the left flank and the cross to Lewington *finally* gets the first Chelmsford City FC Clarets goal of my tenure! 1-0

At half, Lewis moves to DC because Buddle is exhausted, and McQuilkin jumps in at MC.

49 - That's down to Lewis poor defense on the corner. 1-1

74 - McQuilkin wings out to Keita, and the cross to Lewington results in a second goal for our loanee!!! Fitzpatrick in for a tired Christie 2-1

7.3 for Souleymane Keita, 7.1 for Spencer Whight, and 8.8 for PotM Julian Lewington.

That win gives us 4 points breathing room on the drop with 4 to play. Whitehawk officially relegates. Maidstone officially is going to at least the playoffs.

Souleymane Keita becomes my first signing, earning himself a payraise from $10.5k to $16.25k. But I also dumped all the clauses except Team of the Year and a 30% promotion raise. Because let's face it, we're not promoting this season. When you factor out all the silly clauses removed, we probably end up breaking about even. I've liked his performances as a starter, and he has next-level potential.

Julian Lewington gets in Team of the Week. Very cool.

vs Oxford City (5th)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Tom Christie
S: Nikolay Todorov

55 - Fitzpatrick is in for Cole

62 - Sigh. 0-1

69 - Page replaces Sturgess.

76 - Page recovers a clearance and bounces a ball into the box that's timed just right for Todorov to nail it in! 1-1

Should have been able to win this game, but it's another point in the coffers. Sutton United is going playoffs as well.

Nikolay Todorov is out 6-7 weeks with injury, which means he's more or less done for the season. Good thing I loaned in that striker!

The board blocks my next season transfer of a player because it'd "break the payroll budget". Obviously that's based on current dudes, none of whom I'm currently planning on re-signing outside of Keita.

vs Sutton United (3rd)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Tom Christie
S: Julian Lewington

Yeah, let's not make things any easier, shall we?

50 - King in for Christie

62 - McQuilkin for Lewis after the latter picks up a yellow.

There's another point against a superior team! With two games left to play, we're now 5 points away from the drop. Big props to Jordan Atkinson for his PotM 8.3. He saved us again and again.

@ Billiericay (16th)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Tom Christie
S: Julian Lewington

This is very much a winnable game. If we can get the victory here, we're safe for next season.

18 - Pfheh. 0-1

43 - Whatever. 0-2

Expitata in for Buddle; King for Christie.

51 - First ever hat trick I can remember giving up. Fucking pathetic. 0-3

We drop to 18th, but thanks to teams below us also losing, we're guaranteed to survive another year. We also have to pay out far too much money in bonuses for avoiding relegation.

Salisbury FC (17th)
G: Jordan Atkinson (Loan)
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Nathan Buddle/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Jake Heath/Stuart Lewis
AM: George Cole/Tom Christie
S: Julian Lewingston

We face the impossible. Don't care.

35 - The ball's cleared, but Whight gets it, traps it, and fires the long range bomb in! 1-0

37 - Immediate answer. I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. 1-1

85 - I so can not wait to empty cupboard this bitch. 1-2

Merthyr Town is the last to drop.

The initial wage budget for next year is $388k with no transfer budget. I can handle that shit ton of cash, yes sir!

Problem is, all these players who suck now but have decent potential are demanding stupid amounts of money. We do get a new keeper, however, at $24k salary who I'm excited to have. More on him later.

Overall though, it looks like we're going to need to wait until July before starting to make serious moves.

[Izulde]

Congratulations on the new job. I saw you had a shot at Kendal Town...it would have been fun to see how you got on there. My Mintcakes were all fictional players anyway.

I managed Chelmsford City in a game I didn't write a dynasty for; I stayed there for two years before I moved on to a job at Lewes. It's a club I wouldn't mind managing again sometime, if my journey takes me back that way.

Good luck with the Clarets!

Thanks. :) It's proving tough sledding so far.

Transfer In - GK Harry Burgoyne (24)
Has 4.5* upside and is roughly equal to the man he'll be in replacing in net at the same salary, who had no upside left, and was slow in some critical areas. Burgoyne's not a top-flight keeper by any means, but he's good for this level, and IMO he'll be an overall upgrade.

I ink Spencer Whight to a $21.5k deal to keep him with the club next season. He really showed me over the last set of games that he'll flourish in my setup, and was being horribly misused prior to that. He was formerly on a P/A deal, so it's a big money jump for him.

Marc Lake takes a pay cut, going from a $300 p/a deal to a $250 p/a contract. So that's three guys from last season I've judged as good enough to keep around. Everyone else can go to hell.

Woodley Town fell all the way to 7th without me. Keymer and Hassocks maintained their 6 point lead in winning Division Five.

Transfer In ST Jamie Gray (23) - From Keymer & Hassocks
It took a *lot* of convincing and back and forth, and I paid way too much money at $27.5k, but I really, really wanted Jamie on this team. My current scout is meh on him, but I had better scouts at Keymer & Hassocks who raved about his potential as a Vanarama National League player. Keymer & Hassocks fans are *pissed*.

A few of our youth players are signed to other teams, thankfully.

Transfer In - AMC/MC/MR Chekaine Steele (23)
$27.5k, same as Jamie Gray, but he's an elite AMC who will slot in perfectly with our new 4-4-2 Diamond Narrow formation. I'm really excited to see this kid in action as a Shadow Striker.

Transfer In - DLC Jon Moran (24)
Brought him in at $17.5k to be a new starting defender, after our captain opted not to stay when we didn't offer him a new contract. BTW, he and Steele both have 5* potential according to our new 15 JPA/18 JPP scout. So these dudes are for the future.

Transfer In - MC Sean Longstaff (23)
$275 p/a deal who will fight for a starting spot at MC. We've got some more dudes coming in, so this is by no means a guarantee. But it's another high potential signing.

Transfer In - ST Piteu Crouz (24)
$250 p/a deal as a backup. Will most likely be our third striker.

Transfer In - ST Aidan Chappell-Smith (23) (South African)
$275 p/a deal and wil battle Crouz for the backup role.

After letting Stuart Lewis go on a free, we have $129k in budget to spend. That's huge money to go after an elite player, as we're pretty comfortable with the young players we have to grow into their potential.

Ah, shit. That's right. I need to reorganize the rest of my coaching staff. That'll come next time, after supper.

[Izulde]

Loan In - MC Chris Wood (17)
Raw, but should get some PT nonetheless. Here until the end of the season.

Transfer In - MC Chris Hargreaves (21)
$300 p/a deal, and his physical attributes are just ridiculous. Only two of them are below 11, and the lowest one is 9. Rated as our best central midfielder or close to it by our guys who actually know what the hell they're talking about. Could be a steal.

Transfer In - MC/DM Steve Jones (18) (Jamaican)
A white Jamaican kid who will battle Sean Longstaff for a starting spot in central midfield. Honestly, he's likely to win it, but because he's an improvement over what we have at backup DM, maybe he comes off the bench? Difficult to say right now. Grew up in Arsenal's system.

Boreham Wood is 14-1 favorites to win the Vanarama North this season. We're priced at 80-1 and pegged 19th, just avoiding the drop. Harry Burgoyne and Chekaine Steele make the Players To Watch page, which is pretty awesome.

Transfer In - DL Makhosini Khayne (24)
$15k signing, and his crossing is worlds above Calum Sturgess, so he's going to get starts ahead of him, even though he's an overall less talented player, because my system calls for my fullbacks to actually be able to make crosses.

We win 1, draw 1, and lose 2 of our friendlies, including against Notts County, our parent club. We really should have won 3 and lost 1, but I was lazy and had my assman pick lineups.

[Izulde]

We get $11.76k in North/South TV rights. I appoint Jamie Gray captain and Chekaine Steele vice-captain. Most people are happy, but Jamie, who was my K&H captain, is stressed about it. Seriously? Also, Marvel Ekpiteta and Mark Haines are pissed, because they felt they should get it. I let Ekpiteta go in response. Haines only survives because he was decent in friendly play.

@ Salisbury FC
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Makhosini Kayne/Marc Lake/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Chris Wood
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

We have 2 games in 3 days, which is bullshit, but whatever. It's going to be a long season of trying to avoid the drop and waiting for our guys to develop.

31 - Keita has the ball stripped away in the corner, but on the ensuing cross, Whight blasts it the hell out of there and to Todorov. Another long ball follows, dropping in front of Gray, who dribbles forth. The opposing keeper comes out, and my Irish boy blasts the ball into the net!!! 1-0

39 - WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF SHITTY BACKPASS WAS THAT, WHIGHT?! AND WHY THE FUCK WERE YOU SO FUCKING SLOW, YOU MORON MORAN?! 1-1

Jones replaces Whight at the half.

54 - Our backline is putrid. Page in for Khayne. 1-2

68 - Keita throws in to Todorov, and with three defenders buzzing down on our Bulgarian, gets it back. The cross to Steele, and there's steel there in the score! 2-2

77 - Todorov wings it out to Keita, who first touches the long, high, rocket cross far post. Gray is there to spear in his second goal of the game!!! 3-2

They get a couple more cracks, including one nanoseconds before the whistle, which is home cooking bullshit, but whatever. We steal the opening victory!

8.3 for Souleymane Keita, 7.6 for Chris Wood, 7.9 for Nikolay Todorov, and my own personal favorite... 8.8 for Jamie Gray, who is PotM in his Chelmsford City Clarets debut.

The post-game press conference is absolutely abuzz with questions and talk about Jamie Gray. It's so beautiful to see and hear. All the moreso since he was never truly loved by the Keymer & Hassocks fans - never made Favored Player status.

We sell 340 season tickets - 4 less than last season.

vs Dover (21st)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Makhosini Kayne/Marc Lake/Mark Haines/Lewis Page
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Sean Longstaff/Steve Jones
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Piteu Crouz/Aidan Chappell-Smith

Two days later, our second game. Dover (Hi, NoSkillz!) got waxed 0-5 in their first match, so they're looking for revenge here.

Both teams have had opportunities, but neither has been able to convert. Keita for Page; McQuilkin for Jones at half.

And it's no soap for either side. Finishing was awful everywhere. Because we have an early second game, we're temporarily in 1st. :lol:

@ Sutton United (4th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Calum Sturgess/Marc Lake/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Steve Jones/Chris Wood
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

We fall to 5th once everything normalizes - the last promotion playoff spot. Obviously I'm not expecting to be there by end of season, but it's nice to see us have the start we have.

3 - We still need to upgrade our central defense. 0-1

37 - Whiplash passes from Whight to Jones to Steele and then to Gray in the box, and even at this level, you just don't bet against my boy on 1v1. 1-1

40 - Three defenders stand in a fucking clump and allow the striker to beat us. 1-2

Page for Sturgess, who has played his last game for the Clarets, and Crouz for Todorov at half.

91 - Lake blasts it downfield for Gray, but the defense intercepts and heads it towards the goalie. Problem being it's a slow roller, and Crouz darts forward to smash in the ball for the dramatic late point saver! 2-2

We were pretty heavy underdogs, so this is something of a upset. That was also Crouz's first goal in 35 matches. Damn. Just damn. Hopefully he can find his spark with the Clarets.

Transfer In - DL Lee Williams (18)
Doesn't have the upside of most of the rest of our signings, but he's a now upgrade over the other stuff we have there. And now I can let Calum Sturgess go finally. He's already a 4* by my assman's reckoning anyway. We still have $108k in wage budget after the moves.

vs Northampton (19th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Steve Jones/Sean Longstaff
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

38 - We're having a hard time finding competent DCs anywhere. 0-1

Haines replaces Lake; Crouz swaps for Gray at half.

62 - Oh great. Whight gets a red.

70 - Longstaff gets the ball and passes to Jones. On to Todorov, and then the center to Steele. He feeds into the box where Crouz strikes home the 1v1! 1-1

74 - Surprised? Me neither. 1-2

82 - Todorov kicks lateral to Crouz, who sends it to Steele for the long-range strike!!! 2-2

Shoutout to Chekaine Steele for his 9.0 PotM performance. Whight, on the other hand, is benched for the foreseeable future.

Chekaine Steele makes the Team of the Week. Sweet.

Alan White, the lone youth player who was here when I arrived that I wanted to keep, gets called up to the Northern Ireland U21 team.

Transfer In - DC Francis Kale (23)
Finally a DC upgrade, he'll get the start over Jon Moran, as Marc Lake has been the better of the disappointing duo. Not a massive boost, but good enough and an actual player who is good for this division, unlike the two Regional Premier dudes we had. $15k, so we're still cool with our cap.

vs Maidenhead (16th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Francis Kale/Souleymane Keita
DM: Steve Jones
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

25 - Longstaff twists his knee, but he has the ball a long time dribbling carefully on the right flank, the defense not pressuring him like they should. Short backpass to Keita and the moonshot cross lands to all alone Gray for the power strike. 1-0

26 - Of course. 1-1

38 - Fucking hell. 1-2

46 - Just before half ends, Jones picks up his second yellow. WHY THE FUCK DO OUR DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS KEEP DOING THAT SHIT?!

Wood in for Longstaff; Khayne for Williams at the break. The bitchass ref gave out a shit ton of yellows to us and none to the opponents. We're at home, fucker!

47 - :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: 1-3

62 - Fuck our backline, and fuck our defensive midfielders. 1-4

64 - Gray scores. Too bad everyone else on this team is flaming pile of fly shit at the moment. 2-4

77 - Sure, let's give up another goal! 2-5

89 - Let's set a record why don't we? 2-6

I yell hard at the team, which features 3 players with a sub 6 and one with a sub 5. As you can guess, it's the fucking dipsticks on the backline. Our first loss of the season crashes us from 9th all the way to 14th. All that hard work we did? It means jack fucking shit because we're only 4 fucking points out of the drop.

Sean Longstaff is out 3-4 weeks.

Thanks to our shitwaffle defenders, that ignobly set a goals scored Chelmsford record.

[Brian Swartz]

That's more like it! You're always more fun to read when you're losing ...

[Izulde]

That's more like it! You're always more fun to read when you're losing ...

May all your Kerbals die in space. :P

So because our two dumbass DMs got themselves suspended, we're going to run a 4-2-1-3 Narrow our next game.

Jamie Gray goes down for 4-5 weeks because, yeah, we don't have enough problems.

The first international report of my career: Alan White played 45 minutes in Northern Ireland's 0-2 loss to Slovakia, and recorded a 6.6.

@ Basingstoke (10th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Francis Kale/Souleymane Keita
M: Carl Hargreaves/Chris Woods
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Piteu Crouz/Aidan Chappell-Smith/Nikolay Todorov

34 - Crouz lays it forward to Chappell-Smith, who has four defenders around him. Escape act via box pass to unmarked Steele, and it's an easy score. 1-0

35 - And of course FOR THE FUCKING UMPTEENTH GAME IN A ROW, it's an immediate fucking answer. 1-1

Page for Keita and Khayne for Williams at the half.

48 - God, I hate our defenders. 1-2

59 - Just keep letting them in. 1-3

60 - 30 yard strike? Go right fucking ahead. 1-4

63 - Stupid PK? HERE YOU GO! 1-5

78 - Chappell-Smith continues the fine tradition of fucking meaningless goals. And it took his ass 3 different tries to get it. 2-5

My trash youth goes out on loan en masse. I work on changing my 4-4-2 Narrow Diamond into a more defensive formation to stop all these fucking leaks - Making it Defensive and the shape more Structured, with Stay On Feet.

@ Billericay (9th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Francis Kale/Souleymane Keita
DM: Steve Jones
M: Carl Hargreaves/Chris Wood
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Piteu Crouz/Nikolay Todorov

22 - Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?! CROUZ WAS ONSIDES, YOU FUCKING BLIND ASS REF!

56 - Khayne for Williams; Chappell-Smith replaces Todorov

We should have been able to win here, but I'll take the draw against a better team, and will definitely go with the much improved defense.

One of my favorite whipping boys, Marc Lake, even got in the Team of the Week for his performance back there.

Piteu Crouz will miss our next match with food poisoning. Joy.

My assman says Spencer Whight has really improved. All right, I'll give him another shot.

vs Boreham Wood (13th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Francis Kale/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Chris Wood
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Aidan Chappell-Smith/Nikolay Todorov

It's a very even division this year, with 14-1 favorites Boreham Wood struggling out of the gate.

Khayne replaces Williams at half, who looks to be in danger of losing his starting job.

57 - Todorov recovers a cleared corner and passes to Steele. Our shadow striker dribbles parallel to the box line, and fires the long range shot in! 1-0

DL continues to be a problem, no matter who we have in there, but the rest of the backline was 7.1 or better. Highlight players were Chekaine Steele, PotM with 8.3, and hat tip to Nikolay Todorov's 7.9. Finally we break through with another win.

vs Frickley (FA Cup Qualifying Second Round)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Francis Kale/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff/Chris Wood
S: Piteu Crouz/Nikolay Todorov

Decided to try a three central mid attacking formation, given we're at home against a team we should be able to beat.

Moran replaces Kale and Page pops on for Williams at half, since both are sitting with yellows.

64 - Chappell-Smith slides in for injured Crouz. Yeah, strikers being healthy is never a thing for us.

We've got some lazy looking fuckers happy with the draw, so I inform them we should have won this game. And we should have.

Piteu Crouz is out 5-6 weeks.

Sheerwater pays for our youth scrub loanee's salary for the next 3 months. Thanks, guys.

Transfer In - MC Harry Pickering (22)
Our new biggest wage earner at $31.5k, but the dude is so clearly our best central midfielder, it's not even funny. A massive upgrade at the position, and one who should hopefully get that part of the pitch going.

@ Frickley (Replay)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Francis Kale/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff/Harry Pickering
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

We were close to winning last time, so we'll run back out with it.

6 - The throw-in by Williams is to Gray, who kicks it back to Longstaff. Forward to Keita, who holds up play before centering to Pickering in a crowded box. The spear finds the light, and we have a debut goal! 1-0

32 - WTF Burgoyne?! You don't come out on that shit!!! 1-1

Moran replaces Lake at the half, and Todorov is dumped for Steele to come in his Shadow Striker role.

62 - Kale fucked us on that one. 1-2

Embarrassing.

[Izulde]

vs Eastborne Boro (21st)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Aidan Chappell-Smith/Nikolay Todorov

We're favored, but fuck that attacking formation for now.

36 - Whight passes the ball into the box for Steele. Three defenders around, so he lays off to Todorov, who scores for the first time in nine or ten matches. 1-0

54 - Jones for Longstaff; Page for Williams.

92 - We're awarded a PK, and Todorov converts! 2-0

Our first two goal win of the season. I realized before the game that my DCs were set to Limited Defenders, and I always have them at Central Defenders, so I changed that right quick. In response, 7.8 from Marc Lake and 7.1 from Jon Moran. Great all around play here, with special nods to Carl Hargreaves (8.1), Chekaine Steele (8.7), and PotM Nikolay Todorov (8.7).

Transfer In - DC Bradley Varga (24) (Hungarian)
A whopping $27.5k and now we're officially close to our budget line. But he's our best central defender, and has some quality all-around attributes. He'll replace Moran in the lineup, as Marc Lake is better.

Marc Lake, Chekaine Steele, and Nikolay Todorov all make the Team of the Week. This will probably be the highlight of our season.

@ Dartford (4th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Bradley Varga/Souleymane Keita
DM: Steve Jones
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Aidan Chappell-Smith/Nikolay Todorov

32 - Keita on the right flank passes to Longstaff, who sends it to Hargreaves and on to Steele. Into the box where Chappell-Smith slams home what I think is his first goal for us. 1-0

42 - You just can't let us get an upset win, can you? 1-1

51 - Moran replaces Varga after our new signing lets that goal in on a free kick. Page subs in for Williams, who will sit his ass on the bench next game. 1-2

77 - Third hat trick coughed up so far this season. 1-3

78 - It's like we get to the second half and completely fucking forget to play. 1-4

6.7 for Alan White in Gibraltar's 0-2 loss to Northern Ireland. He played 45 minutes again.

I sure will be glad when these shitty youth players expire so I don't have to get spammed with loan requests for them.

There's props for Harry Burgoyne's development, and Chekaine Steele is drawing plaudits.

Alan White gets just 8 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Belarus, but posts his best rating yet for NIR with 7.0.

vs Bishop's Stortford (6th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lewis Page/Marc Lake/Bradley Varga/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Harry Pickering
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

16 - Whatever. 0-1

21 - Fuck you. 0-2

26 - This isn't fun anymore. 0-3

40 - Sure, throw in a fluke goal on top of it. 0-4

80 - Another hat trick given up. At this point, I have no idea what the fuck to do. I've tried bringing in better defenders, I've tried making our formation more defensive, and we're *still* bleeding goals.

I mean, I suppose I should consider it a good thing I've got us 14th, 5 points clear of the drop, but still. I can't figure out what the solution is. It's not like my defenders are god awful by ratings or the scouting of my very accurate guys, either.

I do love watching Chekaine Steele, though. He's amazing when he gets a chance to do stuff.

[Brian Swartz]

May all your Kerbals die in space. :P

Thanks for the cheer and goodwill, sir! In all honesty though, very well played. Perhaps it's just the sheer morbidity in me, but I can't help but laugh at stuff like this:

77 - Sure, let's give up another goal! 2-5

89 - Let's set a record why don't we? 2-6

I yell hard at the team, which features 3 players with a sub 6 and one with a sub 5. As you can guess, it's the fucking dipsticks on the backline.

whereas the 'yep, we've clinched promotion again' was getting a little old hat. Impressive, but still old hat.

[Izulde]

Thanks for the cheer and goodwill, sir! In all honesty though, very well played. Perhaps it's just the sheer morbidity in me, but I can't help but laugh at stuff like this:

whereas the 'yep, we've clinched promotion again' was getting a little old hat. Impressive, but still old hat.

Fair point. I *was* starting to get a little weary of the monotony, just waiting to chase up the ladder until I could get to semipro.

Speaking of which: Keymer & Hassocks are tipped to finish 1st in Division Four, even absent Jamie Gray. They're doing exactly that - having won their first 5 league games of 12, holding a commanding 6 point lead. Still using the 4-5-1.

What of Woodley Town? Tabbed to finish 8th, they're in 1st after 10 games by 3 points, 6 points over 3rd. (26 league games total). The Kestrels are utilizing a flat 4-4-2.

So both of my former clubs are winners, whilst I'm toiling at trying to turn Chelmsford City around. It's the first job I've had where I've struggled to make an immediate impact. But considering we had almost wholesale roster turnover, and there's a steep learning curve with our new systems, it's something we simply have to ride out.

vs Lewes (6th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Harry Pickering
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

30 - Keita heads the ball stealing on an opposing goal kick to Todorov. The short pass to Steele preludes a long one to Gray, and keepers at this level still haven't learned you don't come out against the Irishman. 1-0

46 - And of course we let one in *right* before half. 1-1

51 - Hargreaves to Steele to Gray. This time on the run-out, the keeper comes much closer to getting there first, but still no good for him. 2-1

61 - Page on for Williams; Longstaff for Pickering

79 - Knock for Todorov, so Chappell-Smith gets the call.

85 - GOD FUCKING DAMN IT! ANOTHER FUCKING LATE GOAL GIVEN UP! 2-2

90 - ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!HNWLRHAASDOGOSERHTGIOSHGOPIERHSRVB 6GVYN589BY2GN89PVY QN9WER8PYWR89Q34N V FUCK UFKCDFJKLSEFHASDOFHOASDHGASIOYGAS89GHI9PASFY ASDFOUJDFOUYASGYOAS89FYFHUIOASEFYASD89FYAS9YTYW348TYWRFGSFG9PF6SDA9FPYAWE94YEP9-ERYAWO 2-3

NO FUCKING EXCUSE FOR THAT GOD DAMN FUCKING HORSESHIT````````````````````````````````````````````````+```+

I yell at Harry Burgoyne after the game. Dude has really been fucking up in net the last several contests, and he's the one who cost us in this one.

Spencer Whight's development gets praised by the assman. Chekaine Steele is named to Team of the Week for his 9.0 performance in our fuckup loss. Harry Pickering gets injured in training and is out for 4 weeks.

@ Eastleigh (2nd)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Marc Lake/Bradley Varga/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

6 - We weren't expected to win anyway. 0-1

9 - I'm this close to transfer-listing Burgoyne. Pathetic. 0-2

24 - Yeah. There's literally nothing I can do. 0-3

38 - In a long-running tradition, Gray scores a meaningless goal. 1-3

52 - Moran for Williams; Page for Keita

I get ripped for unwillingness to change my tactics, and we hold a team meeting to try and shore up flagging morale. It works - at least the morale part does.

Sean Longstaff got injured, and will miss at least our next game.

@ Hastings (1st)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Francis Kale/Bradley Varga/Souleymane Keita
M: Carl Hargreaves/Chris Wood
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Aidan Chappell-Smith/Nikolay Todorov

Just trying one of our other formations to see if we can get something, anything going.

2 - Hargraves sends it down to Steele. With two defenders on him, the layoff to Keita for the pass into the box. Offense whines about offsides as Chappell-Smith knocks it in. We've seen this movie before. 1-0

44 - Yep. Right on schedule. 1-1

Whight and Moran take over the DC spots at half.

47 - Chappell-Smith launches the ball down the field into space. Gray's first and dribbles into the box for a quite nifty score. Again, we've seen this story many a time. 2-1

57 - Told you. 2-2

66 - Own goal plot twist! 3-2

71 - I'm sure that fourth goal will be coming soon enough. 3-3

94 - Seconds before the whistle, Todorov is knocked out. Jones on with the narrow 4-4-2 Diamond.

I suppose I should be ecstatic about tying the top team in the league. But I'm pissed off. How many fucking games now have I been forced to see the "Chelmsford collapse" headline?! I'm going defensive, I'm making subs - WHAT THE FUCK ELSE CAN I DO?!

vs Reigate Priory (11th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Makhosini Khanye/Francis Kale/Bradley Varga/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Sean Longstaff/Aidan Chappell-Smith
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

Khayne whined about lack of PT, so to shut up, he's starting here. Not like he'll be any worse than what we've had.

15 - Yawn. 0-1

35 - I'm so getting fired. 0-2

I notice after reviewing reports that we have very slow defenders. After doing some searching around, I'm opting for Shorter Passes, Play Out of Defense, Slower Tempo, and Closing Down Less.

Alan White is lousy for Northern Ireland, but at least he keeps getting those callups.

@ Oxford City (20th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Bradley Varga/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Harry Pickering
AM: Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

My assman really wants us attacking this game. I tell him to GTFO. That said, we really need to win this game in order to be sure we get out of the drop zone.

15 - Fucking boneheaded play by Whight. 0-1

Jones for White; Page for Keita at half.

52 - Burgoyne's retarded ass just stands there. 0-2

SSDD. Only now we're finally in the drop zone after our continual fuckups.

[Izulde]

@ Worcester Park (15th)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Francis Kale/Jon Moran/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Harry Pickering/Carl Hargreaves/Chekaine Steele
S: Jamie Gray/Nikolay Todorov

Went with my coaches' advice on formation and team instructions here. At this point, anything is worth a shot. I refuse to replace Jamie Gray in the lineup, however.

9 - Nothing works. 0-1

16 - I'm about ready to quit. 0-2

35 - FUCK THIS GAME! 0-3

39 - Gray scores meaningless goal. 1-3

80 - Double yellow for Pickering. Whatever. Suck a giant bag of jelly dicks.

Yet another team meeting. It works to raise morale slightly, but at this point, we're just a fucking hot mess.

Bradley Varga gets a hip injury that takes him out 5-6 months. Normally I'd be pissed, but fuck it.

@ Oxford City (FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round)
G: Harry Burgoyne
D: Lee Williams/Francis Kale/Marc Lake/Souleymane Keita
DM: Spencer Whight
M: Carl Hargreaves/Chekaine Steele
AM: David Fitzpatrick/Kyle King
S: Jamie Gray

More listening to coaches.

35 - At least we held them scoreless for most of the half. 0-1

38 - And the fucking stupidity starts anew. 0-2

59 - I'm resigning after this game. 0-3

Bye, Chelsmford City.

It was just too big a jump for me to make. Time for me to go back to the Amateur leagues and rebuild my damaged reputation.

[Izulde]

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/rotherfieldfc_zpsd5imqwzy.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/rotherfieldfc_zpsd5imqwzy.jpg.html)
Rotherfield FC
Amateur
Mid Sussex Division One - 7th
Cash: $26,736
Stadium: 1,000
Owned By: Council
Corporate: Basic
Training: Poor
Youth: Basic/Basic
Junior: Basic

I love the red, green, and white in the logo - reminds me of my Mayael deck, which is red/white/green, and my favorite Commander deck. Plus horses and birds, so yeah.

Their assman was 2/3 JPA/JPP and their Youth Development head was 2/2. Scout was 6/4. My first moves are to get a 14/16 JPA/JPP Chief Scout and an 11/13 JPA/JPP assman.

The team's been wrecked by injuries and suspensions, so we have to play a couple of really terrible dudes our first game. The hunt is already under way to bring in new players based off the Chief Scout's initial report.

@ West Hoathly (3rd)
G: Freddie Sands
D: Luke Purdie*/Josh Crossley/Darren Green*
DM: Scott Reed (Yes, the former Keymer & Hassocks player)
M: Gareth Camper/David Doran/Martin Bourne/Kevin Lis*
AM: Max Musselwhite
S: Adam Bolle

Yeah, a 3-5-1-1 DM setup. There's been 11 games played, and there's 20 in the season, so we're a little over halfway through. It's also my 200th match.

32 - Reed has been doing work all game long in getting the ball back, and here he heads it to Musselwhite for the pass to Bolle. Dribble just into the box and *bam*! 1-0

47 - Welp. 1-1

52 - Yeah, kind of saw this. 1-2 Some guy named Rose replaces Doran. 1-2

72 - The team was set up to fail this game. We literally could not put together a roster that played in natural positions. 1-3

The great irony? We were playing against Maucaley Trotter's team, and the players praised his halftime talk for helping them to turn it around.

Beaten by my old Keymer & Hassocks assman. Now that's tough. He joined West Hoathley in June of 2019, and in his 2 and a half seasons in charge, he's led them to a 6th place finish in Division 2, a Division 2 title, and now in the middle of a double promotion fight here in Division 1. At his

Rotherfield, on the other hand, has been a team in a downward spiral. They started off in the Mid Sussex Premier Division, got demoted to the Mid Sussex Championship after 3 years, and demoted to their current level after another 2 years. They were 6th here last season, and will probably be worse this year, until I can sort things out.

vs Del United (Sussex Intermediate Cup Fourth Round)
G: Freddie Sands
D: Scott Reed/Josh Crossley/Darren Green
DM: Josh Johnson
M: Gareth Camper/David Doran/Vince Wills/Martin Bourne
AM: Max Musselwhite
S: Adam Bolle

This really should have been the lineup last game, with 3 DCs and Bourne at MR. Oh well, live and learn.

Josh Johnson drops to DC and Chris Rose comes in at DM. Emeka Ogbu comes in for Musselwhite, both at half. TBH, they should be kicking our butts right now, but they keep missing wide open shots.

70 - Rose tackles a striker from behind, and I'm scared of a PK, but no whistle, and Johnson blasts it all the way downfield to Bolle. Three defenders around him, but the 31 year old dribbles through to the half-circle and cracks the long shot in! 1-0

8.3 for PotM Adam Bolle, but give credit also to Josh Johnson for ramping up in the second half to 7.4 at DC after a lackluster half at DM. Not a pretty win, but one we'll take, all things considered.

Our staff is completely filled out shortly after this match, giving us 2* at least in each training category, and upgrading our physiotherapy from 6 to 11, and bringing a female physio to boot. Woot woot!

A nice two week break should hopefully give us time to get players back from injuries and start bringing in upgrades in talent.

Transfer In - ST Jason Bamford (20)
Yep, that guy. The one who started off hot for Woodley Town. He's quite a ways down the list for now, so i'll move him down to one of the lower teams to get more match experience (More on that in a second).

Transfer In - ML/AML/ST Glenn Walker (34)
Can also pinch hit at DL and MC if needed. 4.5* ML even as an old dude, and is so big a leap in talent at that position despite his age that he helps re-configure the talent levels. Really excited to land this guy, with whatever time he has left in his career.

Okay, so, in this setup, there's a number of teams that don't have the usual U21 and U18 setup - they have B and C teams. Remember the II and III, etc, you've been seeing with Keymer & Hassocks? Yep, those are those teams. And I believe some have even more than that.

Our B team (Rotherfield II) competes in Mid Sussex Division Eight, and our C team (Rotherfield III) competes in Mid Sussex Division Ten. Every now and again, you'll see the teams play in the same level - as I'm sure you've seen with my Keymer & Hassocks tenure. Sometimes even the senior team and a lower team, which always makes me laugh my ass off. It's like yeaaah.. not much difference in quality there! South Park and South Park Reserves I remember in particular with Woodley Town. Oh wait, so it's not just the lowest of the lowest levels. :D

Transfer In - DLR/MC Callum Richings (26)
I had him with Keymer & Hassocks Division Ten, where he played 6 games and wasn't that great. But he's developed a lot since then, and is now so good, he could literally play any of his three positions and be the top player there on the squad. We're weakest at DL, so that's where he'll suit up.

Transfer In - GK Ashley Maynard-Brewer (22) (Australian)
We go back to the international well. Tahj Boyd. Bojan Tetek. And now this guy, who is 4.5/5 and completely rewrites the talent evaluation on our roster. I'm stoked like his name was Stokke! I foresee him hopefully having a long career here.

Incidentally, what's the All-Time Best 11 look like appearances wise?

GK: 66
DL: 51
DC: 83/36
DR: 14
DM: 47
MC: 56/42
AML: 57
AMR: 73
ST: 43

Some of these guys are still with the club, so it's going to take a while before I can rewrite the All-Time team with my own players. BTW, one of the contract requirements I signed with Rotherfield was a promise that I not apply to other clubs. Believe me, I have no intention of that. I'm much happier building a team here in Amateur land so that when the time comes to move to Semi-Pro, I'll already have my squad and system running smoothly.

Transfer In - DCR Finn O'Mara (22) (Irish)
Slow player, but he'd be an improvement either at DC or DR. Because of his lack of speed, I'm going to stick him at DR for now. Although he's a 5* potential player, he'll be on a short hook because I'm usually not too fond of slow dudes. Guess I should have looked into that more.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Darren Stenson (20)
Versatile player who would be #1 at both DC and DM. Since the gap is biggest at DM, that's where I'll have him playing. Another high potential dude, albeit not as electric in current ability as some of the other guys.

Transfer In - ST Robbie Gulley (21) (Welsh)
Not a high impact player either currently or in potential, but he's a young kid who blows our old man scorer off the pitch and becomes the new starter in our 3-5-1-1 setup. Eventually I want to find someone who is genuinely elite, but he'll do for now.

vs Cuckfield Town (3rd)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Callum Richings/Josh Crossley/Finn O'Mara
DM: Darren Stenson
M: Glenn Walker/David Doran/Vince Wills/Martin Bourne
AM: Max Musselwhite
S: Robbie Gulley

All these signings have generated a real buzz about the team. Average home attendance for the season has been 61. But we're expecting to sell around 100 tickets for this match. Yeah boy!

21 - Blargh. 0-1

24 - Are you fucking kidding me?! 0-2

Our finishing and defense have both been ass.

54 - Richings takes a dude's head off and draws a PK. That's a hat trick. 0-3

Truth is, we played a lot better in the second half. But our offense continued to suck dick, and O'Mara's weakness in slowness was exposed. Rome wasn't built in a day, after all.

But Glenn Walker got hurt and is out 4 weeks, so more shopping time. Ugh.

Transfer In - DR/DC Kostas Solomou (19)
Also eligible for Cyprus citizenship. Faster on the DR and not far below Finn O'Mara in current ability on DR, he'll start there whilst we shift the Irishman over to DC by going back to my old, comfortable formation.

Transfer In - DLRC Ryan Cotton (22)
Best on the right side, but overall, he's a 3 position backup to sit on the bench and slot in when called upon. Basically I'm hoping he ends up being a young James Crane - three position reserve who eventually works his way in the starting lineup.

@ Brighton Boys Brigade Old Boys (7th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Callum Richings/Josh Crossley/Finn O'Mara/Kostas Solomou
DM: Darren Stenson
M: David Doran/Vince Wills
AM: Gareth Camper/Martin Bourne
S: Robbie Gulley

3 - HE WAS OFFSIDES! 0-1

9 - Bourne's corner kick finds Stenson's feet to finally give one of our new guys his first goal for the club. 1-1

Cotton replaces the injured Solomou at half, and Bolle goes on for obnoxiously bad Gulley.

My talk is a mix of we can still win, and hey defenders and midfielders, stop fucking up out there.

52 - We're awarded a PK when Bolle is drilled in the box. They scream, and one of their players gets red-carded. BRILLIANT! Doran converts the PK! 2-1

67 - O'Mara continues to disappoint, allowing this goal. He's out next game. 2-2

76 - ARE YOU MOTHERFUCKING KIDDING ME?! 2 goals allowed on a fucking power play?! 2-3

Kostas Solomou is out 2 weeks to boot. Just fucking great.

Transfer In - ML/AML Ben Korosi (22)
He's chill, so chill he's a freaking ice cube. But the kid is our best AML and equal to our best ML. Sky-high potential to boot, so I'm going to be very excited to see how he does. Hopefully he'll pan out better than some other other n00bs so far.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Jordan Flint (21)
Kid looks like he belongs in a boy band. He's also a big-time upgrade at DM, which will allow us to move Darren Stenson down to DC, and ditch Finn O'Mara's slow, narrow, Irish ass, who I have these things for.

vs Ditchling (Sussex Intermediate Cup Fifth Round)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Josh Crossley/Darren Stenson/Ryan Cotton
DM: Jordan Flint
M: Ben Korosi/Callum Richings/Martin Bourne
AM: Sam Tuck
S: Robbie Gulley

4-1-3-1-1 DM. A word about Sam Tuck. He's one of the team's elite players, who has been shelved with injury for a long time. Now he's finally back, and hopefully the kid can help get our shit turned around.

I remembered now why Callum Richings stunk for Keymer & Hassocks. He isn't shit as DL, so we'll move him to his better position of MC.

10 - WILL YOU ASSFARMERS FUCKING CALLING OFFSIDES WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO?! 0-1

Johnson for Stenson; Rose for Richings at the break.

Lot better play in the second half. Heh, more hauntings from the past. Gareth Hawkins, who I cut from Woodley Town, to the ire of the fanbase, is on this team.

vs AFC Haywards (8th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Josh Crossley/Darren Stenson/Kostas Solomou
M: Ben Korosi/Callum Richings/Jordan Flint/Martin Bourne
S: Adam Bolle/Robbie Gulley

I've noticed we're only Competent in the other formations, so with that and our bad run of form... fuck it, we're stripping everything back down to the basic flat 4-4-2. Last thing I need is to relegate in my first year here.

6 - Solomou fell asleep there. 0-1

48 - WHY TE FUCK DO MY FUCKING DEFENDERS KEEP FUCKING GETTING SHITTY RATINGS?! THIS SHIT NEVER FUCKING HAPPENED TO ME AT KEYMER & HASSOCKS OR WOODLEY TOWN AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT KEEPS FUCKING HAPPENING!!!!!!%$HJ34OTHWEROTGHERIOYHPTN TGU9P34PGTVTIK 34GI 3V5THILV TB5VT5OPVYNTB78945VN2CP 0-2

66 - Flynn intercepts a clearance and wings to Korosi. Pass into the box and Gulley finally fucking gets a god damned goal for this piece of shit team on his motherfucking birthday! Happy fucking first birthday and happy goal! Too bad we're still fucking losing. 1-2

78 - Lis in for Bolle

82 - There's a clearance, but Bourne charges like a fucking bull and first touch smashes that shit right to Gulley. Birthday luck continues as he gets a motherfucking second goal and we might actually get my first fucking league point at Rotherfield. 2-2

86 - Richings wings out to Flynn and two defenders decide to charge the shit out of our DL. He smirks and crosses it to the motherfucking birthday boy, and HAPPY FUCKING BIRTHDAY, YOU MARVELOUS, SUDDENLY SCORING WELSH BASTARD! GULLEY WITH THE BIRTHDAY HAT TRICK!!!! CAN WE FINALLY GET A MOTHERFUCKING LEAGUE WIN?! 3-2

Chris Flynn manages a 7.2, Martin Bourne a 7.3. Ryan Cotton and Josh Johnson pull a 7.0 out of their ass off the bench as replacements for Crossley and Solomou at the half. I just forgot to mention that because I was so fucking pissed we went down 0-2 right before half and I was staring fucking sub-6.3's in the fucking face again.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN TO ROBBIE GULLEY WITH HAT TRICK BIRTHDAY MAGIC! He turns 22, and snags a 9.4 with his hat trick.

We inch up to 8th, but everybody on the club is all butthurt over how shit we're doing in the standings, so they're all thinking of leaving in the summer.

Whatever. Let's get some motherfucking birthday cake to celebrate our fucking first victory of my Rotherfield tenure.

[Izulde]

The C team wins 11-10 in a PK shootout in the Tester Challenge Cup Quarterfinal. Fucking beautiful.

I didn't have birthday cake in my apartment, so I ate a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. I have five games left to try and A) keep us from getting relegated, B) get us up to the midtable the board wants and C) keep from getting fired for the first time.

In previous jobs news...

Keymer & Hassocks: There's 21 games, because everyone plays each other 3 times. Through 12, K&H is 10-0-2 (That's 2 draws because I'm American, bitches). 32 points. #2 team has 18. You can pretty much gift wrap the title to them and a move up to Division Three. A lot of my players are still there. Still the 4-5-1. Lewis Haldane still the head man.

Woodley Town: Running a flat 4-4-2. A number of my dudes are still there. In 1st as well. Tight race, though - just a point ahead of 2nd, 3 ahead of 3rd.

Chelmsford: Still 20th, but just a point out of the drop zone.

Josh Crossley goes out for 4 weeks with injury. Adam Bolle is gone for a couple weeks as well.

Transfer In - ST Ronnie Sedlan (20)
Finally, a genuinely elite young striker I can build this team around. Let's see him get out there and do work.

@ United Services (4th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Finn O'Mara/Darren Stenson/Kostas Solomou
M: Ben Korosi/Callum Richings/Jordan Flint/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan/Adam Bolle

Robbie Gulley is still recovering from the flu. Partied too hard on his birthday after we won the game thanks to his hat trick.

19 - O'Mara comes from purgatory to start a move with free kick that caps off in Richings with the long ball to Sedlan. Four defenders around him, so he lays off. Bolle backtracks to get it, and scores it home. 1-0

58 - Rose for Flint; Cotton for O'Mara

7.3s for Kostas Solomou and Adam Bolle, with a 7.4 for Callum Richings. PotM was somebody on the other team as we were very, very lucky to escape with a win here.

vs Romans United (10th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Finn O'Mara/Darren Stenson/Kostas Solomou
M: Ben Korosi/Callum Richings/Jordan Flint/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan/Robbie Gulley

Win here, and we're not 100% locked down to stay up, but it's a long, long way towards it.

3 - Gulley saves a deflection on the goal kick and passes to Richings, who has to go back to get it. Short pass to Korosi, and he opts to wing it all the way across the pitch to Bourne. High cross to Sedlan who has everyone beat, and there's his first goal. 1-0

40 - Booming goal by our Orzie keeper, Maynard-Brewer, all the way down the pitch to Gulley. The Welshman gets it, traps it, and then shorts it to fake out the defense. Gets to the ball and whams it in! 2-0

45 - Fucking asswipe before half goals. 2-1

53 - Rose for Flint; Cotton for Flynn

76 - Shit fuck defending. 2-2

77 - FUCK YOU!!!! SEDLAN WAS ONSIDES YOU FUCKING GOATFUCKING PIECE OF HORSE SHIT REF! GET FUCKED UP THE ASS BY A DISEASE-RIDDEN DONKEY DICK!

80something - FUCK THAT! I throw my fucking mouse in fury at that fucking OHAILET'SGIVETHEAITHEFUCKINGGAMEHEHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHHEHEHE!!!! Pardon me while I take way too fucking long to find my mouse. Fucking thing split in half. Found the cover plate, now to find the fucking body. 2-3

Fuck. I broke my mouse cover. It won't attach properly.

[Izulde]

81 - Rose passes back to O'Mara for the bomb finding Sedlam. Some great shake and bake moves, and the shot goes in! 3-3

85 - WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU JUST STANDING THERE LOOKING AT THE GOD DAMNED FUCKING BALL ON THAT SHITTY BACKPASS?! MATCH ENGINE BUG! MATCH ENGINE BUG! THE OPPONENT FUCKING RUNS LIKE HE HAS ON ROCKETS ON HIS GOD DAMNED FUCKING FEET GOING 5X FASTER THAN MY FUCKING STUPID DEFENDER 3-4

Darren Stenson and Ryan Cotton come crying, all butthurt because I yelled at them for their fuckups. I tell them I'll modify the way I talk to them, even though I want to fucking beat their underachieving heads in with a giant fucking soccer shoe.

Youth Intake
A treasure trove of guys with 4* potential, so I end up signing 7 guys. That's how lucky we got in the youth pull lottery this season. They'll all start off on the C team until they're ready to move up to the B squad.

@ Buxted II (7th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Finn O'Mara/Darren Stenson/Kostas Solomou
DM: Jordan Flint
M: Callum Richings/Vince Wills
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

If we win here, we have a good shot at hopefully securing staying up.

53 - Gulley for Sedlan; Johnson for Flint

We had numerous chances to win today, but all our shots misfired, particularly Martin Bourne, who rightfully finished with a 6.1.

Tweaks made to the tactical setup to better fit our roster and the play style I look for. Furnace Green Rovers officially incinerates, and will take one of the two relegation spots.

We skip the transfer day. I'm tired of shopping, and we need to work on getting our guys to gel for the last two games of the season.

2 games left. We're in 9th place, 4 points ahead of the drop. There's a cushion, albeit a very small one.

vs Ridgewood (5th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Finn O'Mara/Darren Stenson/Kostas Solomou
M: Ben Korosi/Callum Richings/Vince Wills/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan/Robbie Gulley

I deliberately downplay this match. Sure if we win we go up , but this is still a team finding itself. No need to add pressure.

17 - Stenson draws a PK, but Maynard-Brewer is heroic in making the stop!!!

38 - Cotton subs in early for O'Mara, who is done as a starter. I've given him chance after chance after chance.

63 - Flint hops on for Richings

Unfortunately, Romans United won, so we go into the last game needing to at least draw to guarantee going up, as I don't see them winning by 4 goals.

@ Furnace Green Rovers (11th)
G: Ashley Maynard-Brewer
D: Chris Flynn/Ryan Cotton/Darren Stenson/Kostas Solomou
M: Ben Korosi/Callum Richings/Jordan Flint/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan/Robbie Gulley

Again, I play it low key. Oh, BTW, I cut every single one of our B and C team scrubs, the most notable of which is Jason Bamford. By the time the dust settles, Martin Bourne is the new captain; Vince Wills the Vice-Captain.

44 - Flint comes in for awful Cotton.

Everyone's nervous as hell at half, so I get them to relax and chill out.

48 - Korosi has to bail out Stenson's shitty pass, and he booms it downtown to Sedlan on the left flank. The ensuing cross results in an aerial fight that Gulley wins. 1-0

53 - Good thing Romans United is down 0-1, because Stenson screws the pooch here and allows the draw. O'Mara instantly replaces him. 1-1

86 - Unfucking believable. If Romans United wasn't getting destroyed 0-4 right now, I'd be throwing my chair. 1-2

Meanwhile, Maucaley Trotter locked up the title, which is leading some people to say the Keymer & Hassocks successes were due to him, not me.

Heading into next season...

We've got a lot of high potential players at the club, but in terms of current ability, we have the following areas at 3* or higher - GK, DM, and 1 ST, all at 4*, and a 3* AMC who never impressed me.

So we have a lot of work to do in terms of upgrading the overall talent on the roster.

[Izulde]

Josh Johnson and Kostas Solomou were the top yearly season trainers. We'll probably in another relegation fight next season, unless we bring in some great players.

Chelmsford City completely collapsed down the stretch, the Clarets finish solidly in the drop at 20th. Keymer and Hassocks doubled everyone else en route to the Division Four title. They're catching up. Woodley Town broke through this season, finishing 2nd and getting an auto promotion slot.

We ink a couple pre-contract signings I'll discuss later.

Transfer In - DL Tom Roberts (21)
Big jump up in talent at the position - rated 3.5/4. Fast, with great acceleration. Needs work on the mental aspects of the game to reach his potential.

Transfer In - GK Scott Mantraga (20)
Strong reflexes and handling. Will be in a battle with our Australian keeper for the #1 spot. Mantraga is probably slightly better now, but Ashley Maynard-Brewer has higher upside.

Transfer In - DRC Chris Jones (29)
Solid athleticism and will be a starter on the backline. Probably at DC. He's strongest at DR, but I want to see Kostas Solomou develop there instead, and I've bitched enough about our DCs.

Although our reputation falls, we're still ahead of Keymer & Hassocks and Woodley Town, the latter of whom leapfrogged K&H by virtue of their promotion. Chelmsford City dropped from 1* rep to a half-star rep as a result of their demotion. Ouch. Sorry, guys!

Transfer In - DM/MLC Viv Davies (22) (Welsh)
Perfect for a ball-winning CM defensive role and instant starter.

Transfer In - MC Simon Rowley (21)
An attacking Advanced Playmaker may be just what we need to fix the malaise of our offense, as we've sucked awfully in friendly season.

Transfer In - DM/MC Fernando Bell-Toxtle (23)
Will be the first backup at both slots.

Transfer In - GK Emmanuel Diallo (21) (Ghanian)
Found this kid at English Trial Day, and he firmly ends the dispute over who should be the starting keeper by being better than both.

I radically change our setup after these signings and lackluster friendlies, changing to a defensive 4-4-2 Narrow Diamond with slower pace, playing out of defense, etc. We drop to Awkward.

We're also 1-5 favorites to win the league. Lovely. Still, we get a 0-0 draw in Friendly #3, and it's the first time in a long time our defense hasn't played like ass.

That was a fluke, though, as it sucks yet AGAIN the final friendly. God, I fucking hate this game. I don't know how I kept succeeding at K&H, and now I suddenly can't do shit.

Emmanual Diallo and Jordan Flint are named Captain and Vice-Captain for the year. Michael Bourne is initially unhappy, but after talking to him about it, he's okay. The rest of the team isn't. Fuck off.

The board will be satisfied with a mid-table finish and either Finals or Semi-finals appearances in various Cups. Thanks for the break, guys.

@ Forest Row
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Luke Purdie/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Jordan Flint
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

I let my coaches pick the instructions and starting lineup while our defensive 4-4-2 continues work.

25 - Davies strips the ball away deep in our half, and rainbows it to Korosi. Dribble down the left flank, and far post cross to a wide open Bourne, who shows off unlikely finishing in knocking it home! 1-0

58 - Stenson subs in for Purdie; Bolle for Sedlan, and Bell-Toxtle for Davies. Yeah, I'm living on the edge.

87 - Surprised we allowed a late goal? Me neither. 1-1

vs Ambassadors (Sussex Intermediate Cup First Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Jordan Flint/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

25 - Bell-Toxtle shows he was worth his start by launching a ball downfield into space for Seldan to latch on to, run into the box, and score one with ease! 1-0

38 - Oh look. Fucked up defending. 1-1

42 - Richings allows a PK. Our godly Ghanian keeper saves it. [b]Roberts is pulled for Flynn

56 - Stenson for Jones and I decide to go with a weirdly symmetrical setup, where Korosi's moved to striker and replaced by Gulley

78 - FUCK YOU, FAGGOT ZEBRA!!!! GULLEY WAS ONSIDES!!!!

Extra time is an assbag of fuckery. The ref jips us out of a PK, bullshit throws Flint out of the game, and oh yeah, Gulley is hurt.

Diallo blocks 1 of the 5 PKs, but then Davies fucks it. On kick 6, we both make, including Diallo. Finally, kick 7, they miss, and Flynn converts to have us advance.

Never should have fucking come to that. 7.6 for Viv Davies despite the missed PK, 7.3 for Emmanuel Diallo, which is low IMO. 9.0 and PotM for Fernando Bell-Toxtle, and off the bench, 7.2 for man of the hour Chris Flynn.

I kind of like having my coaches do the tactics and set the lineups, I think. Allows me to concentrate on scouting, requirement, and deciding when to make substitutions. Obviously I can't do jack shit tactically since leaving K&H.

[Izulde]

vs Crawley Athletic (Mowatt Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Sam Tuck/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

2 - Four guys are closing in on Korosi, so he takes the safety route left to Roberts. The cross intended for Sedlan ends up a fluke goal! 1-0

16 - Pretty weak that we have an elite goalie, and still keep letting goals in. 1-1

22 - Bell-Toxtle passes to Sedlan, who backtracks a pass to Tuck. Defense starts drawing there, and the pass is fed right back to Sedlan, who scores on the 1v1. 2-1

Solomou replaces Richings at halftime.

49 - Rowley centers to Tuck, who gives it to Bourne in the box. Keeper and defense move his way, and he lays off to Sedlan for the open net scorcher! 3-1

70 - Just as I'm about to make a sub, Sedlan is forced out of the game with injury, and Bolle steps in.

79 - Mini-triangulation here as Tuck to Rowley and then the short pass back to Bell-Toxtle. The high ball drops in front of Bolle, who blasts the ball into the net. 4-1

Impressive win, with all full-time starters except Diallo grabbing a 7.1 or higher. 7.6 for Tom Roberts, 8.5 for Fernando Bell-Toxtle, 8.2 for Simon Rowley, 8.4 for Sam Tuck, 7.9 for Ben Korosi, 8.8 for PotM Ronnie Sedlan, and 7.2 off the bench by Adam Bolle.

We've run the same setup the last few games. So what has our coaching staff been having me do?

4-1-2-3 DM Wide with Control, Slightly Higher line, Fairly Narrow Width,Stay on Feet, Go Route One, and Look for Overlaps - stuff I never would have picked myself outside of the formation, the narrow width, and stay on feet (maybe the overlaps, too). But it's working, so we're rolling with it.

On the other hand, I'm the one who sets the roles for each position, so I deserve credit for that at least, in addition to getting the guys we have.

Ronnie Sedlan is out 7-8 weeks. That really, really hurts. Huge dropoff from him to our next striker.

vs Sporting Elite (1st)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Jordan Flint/Chris Jones
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Glenn Walker/Emeka Ogbu
S: Adam Bolle

Both our top strikers are out with injury, so we have to start our third stringer, who was the top guy last year. I overrule some of my staff's subs decisions, but allow them to start players who are way more tired than I would normally let on. That said, they want me to start Ben Korosi and Martin Bourne, who are both super tired, so I veto that in favor of Walker and Ogbu. The youth pull I want to start instead of Ogbu is of course injured, and the other guy is too old, slow, and low stamina for me to consider.

Tuck swaps in for Bell-Toxtle at half, Flint moves up to DM, and Cotton fills in at DC. Their keeper has been playing out of his mind in the nets.

We were just incredibly unlucky to run into a hot goalkeeper who posted an 8.0 in a match engine where goalies rarely get that kind of ratings at the lowest levels.

I move Ashley Maynard-Brewer down to the B squad so he can start getting some actual match experience. Does our highest upside keeper no good to just rot on the bench.

vs Fletching (10th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Luke Purdie/Chris Jones
DM:Jordan Flint
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Glenn Walker/Emeka Ogbu
S: Kevin Lis

For some reason my coaches wanted Bell-Toxtle and Rowley playing opposite roles than what they've been doing together in the midfield. That's stupid to me, so I switch them back. I also start Ogbu again over Bourne for fitness reasons.

32 - Ugh. 0-1

At half, it's Tuck for Bell-Toxtle, Stenson slides up to DM, Jones shifts to DC, and Richings is in at DR. I also yell at the guys because they're playing like shit.

51 - Tuck sprays it out to Lis, who for some reason is way on the left flank. Pass to Walker, and he crosses to Ogbu, where I get a measure of vindication as he heads in his first goal of the year. 1-1

78 - Rowley with the long, long free kick into the box. It finds Walker, and the goal's scored! 2-1

It's the kind of match where Glenn Walker's 7.5 is good enough for PotM, but shoutout to Sam Tuck for his 7.0 off the bench. Yelling at halftime actually worked for once, as we really picked up our play in the second 45 to storm back and finally get our first league win.

I feel like I've reached a happy medium here finally, and hopefully I'll go on to more success with Rotherfield. ....Unless a semipro team with a name and logo I like comes calling...

...But on the other hand, I feel like I'm stupid because I'm relying on my coaches to come up with the baseline strategy and instructions, and let them pick the starting lineup before making any modifications - usually only adjusting for fitness reasons. Does that make me a shitty FM player? Or am I all good?

I suppose the question is what's haunting me since leaving Keymer & Hassocks - is it the moves I've made, or is it my staff?

[law90026]

Personally I've never been amazing at coming up with my own strategies for FM. I prefer to find a tactic on the SI forums and just plug-and-play and let my role be about finding the right players to fit the system and managing morale.

[Izulde]

Personally I've never been amazing at coming up with my own strategies for FM. I prefer to find a tactic on the SI forums and just plug-and-play and let my role be about finding the right players to fit the system and managing morale.

Yeah, I used to that too, with usually poor results as detailed in previous dynasties. :D I love the player hunting, and I'm pretty good at managing morale.

Heh. So I'm listed as the favorite for the Northampton Town job, a professional team that finds itself mired in the Southern Premier. No interest in that - part of what I want to do is make a team turn professional, not already be there.

Besides which, the promise I made to Rotherfield was that I wouldn't apply to other jobs, and frankly, they would have been justified in firing me for failing to reach midtable last season, instead of barely fending off relegation. The fact they showed patience with me by letting me stick around has earned them a considerable measure of goodwill.

@ Smallfield (1st)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Jordan Flint/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Nikki Betteridge/Keith Harrison
S: Robbie Gulley

I know it's early in the year, but heavy draws on the top shelf at the moment teams. I call up our two youth pulls to start at the AM slots due to tiredness of the rest of our guys there, and I slot Gulley in over Lis for similar reasons. I missed seeing Viv Davies so low, or I would have changed that, too.

Tuck for Davies and Stenson for Jones at the half after a nothing 45 minutes.

We played poorly, and I calmly let the boys know that shit won't fly. Callum Richings has earned himself permanent banishment from DR, no matter how much the coaching staff wants to recommend he be there.

vs United Services (7th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Jordan Flint/Kostas Solomou
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Adam Bolle

My one coach thinks Chris Jones should be dropped, but then he's added in. Nah, I'm giving my boy Kostas Solomou some burn. Also GTFO out of here with Kevin Lis as striker. Adam Bolle gets the nod. Some sub shuffles as well. I also have started role training for those guys who seem to have consistent, set patterns in our system.

37 - Hey, thanks for the own goal present! 1-0

37[//b] - This is my shocked face at the immediate answer. [b]1-1

Cotton on for the fucking stupid Roberts at the half. You can't play a 6.1 and expect to on.

49 - Flint own goals. I immediately shift Cotton and Stenson over one, and put Walker in at DL. 1-2

No two ways about it - we were fucking awful that game.

vs CCKB (Sussex Intermediate Cup Second Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Kostas Solomou
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Kevin Lis

No, AI. Callum Richings is not starting at DR! Normal line today - the coaches tell me to take off the higher up, which I'm happy to do.

10 - Davies floats down to Rowley and the pass to Lis. Hold up of play until Bourne can get into position, and he fires it in off the feed. 1-0

13 - Lot of bad passes on both sides, but finally Bourne has it on their wing and jacks it back to Davies. The pass to Rowley and on to Bell-Toxtle, who decides rather than pass it, takes it into the box himself for his first ever score with us! 2-0

15 - Throw-in by Roberts to Bell-Toxtle and gets it back. Pass back to Korosi, who feeds it to Bell-Toxtle on the left side of the box. B-T dances with two defenders a while and then centers to Rowley for *his* first Rotherfield goal! 3-0

Guys are looking lazy, so I tell them not to sag off. It appears they've responded, but we'll see.

Everyone with 7 except Diallo's 6.7 and Lis's 6.8. Absolute masterwork by Simon Rowley and Fernando Bell-Toxtle in the central midfield, each notching 9.0 with Rowley PotM. 7.7 for Darren Stenson, 7.6 for Chris Jones, and 8.6 for Martin Bourne.

It's funny... I expected Fernando Bell-Toxtle to be the backup, but he's impressed my staff and done very well as a starter, no matter what role he's played. Simon Rowley was brought in to be an Advanced Playmaker, but he's taken on a Deep-lying Playmaker after I studied our 4-1-2-3 DM Wide setup and his role suitability, and he's done perfectly fine there.

vs Ridgewood (8th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Kostas Solomou
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Kevin Lis

Just assume until further notice that I've told my assistants to get fucked with Callum Richings, and have replaced him with Kostas Solomou. My staff also tells me to drop Fernando Bell-Toxtle and Viv Davies for better players, yet then insert them in the lineup. Make up your minds, guys!

2 - Stenson, who has been impressing me at DC, makes a great header interception and nods it on to Rowley. Long pass to Lis in the box, and the kid finally scores his first goal of the season. Still hate him, however. 1-0

Flint in for Davies at half.

71 - Flint to DC, replacing Jones. Bell-Toxtle to DM, and Tuck in at MC.

88 - Bullshit PK. 1-1

91 - ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?! 1-2

@ Buxted II (7th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Finn O'Mara
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Kevin Lis

My coaches say to drop Kostas Solomou for either Richings or O'Mara, and I have to agree.

34 - Ugh. 0-1

Cotton in for Roberts; Bell-Toxtle to DM and Tuck at MC at half.

49 - Rowley longballs it to Lis on the left flank, and he centers to Korosi, who dribbles, shoots, and gets help from the keeper's piss-poor handling to snag his first goal for us. 1-1

80 - :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: 1-2

90 - Beautiful sliding tackle by Bourne to get the ball back after a clearance, and he feeds Lis to salvage a draw. 2-2

This team is way too talented to be playing with this level of fuckery. So.damned.aggravating. I just hope it all gels together later in the season.

[Izulde]

@ Brighton Boys Brigade Old Boys (3rd)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley
AM: Ben Korosi/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

29 - They're jamming us up defensively, so we have to pass all around the central midfield until Rowley passes forth to Sedlan for the kickback to Bell-Toxtle. Seam pass finds the hole in the defense, and Sedlan slams it home. It's so good to have an actual decent striker again. 1-0

38 - Korosi is knocked out, so Bourne moves to AMC as a shadow striker, and Tuck comes in as an AMC advanced playmaker - thereby creating a narrow edition of our 4-1-2-3 DM formation.

64 - Fucking pathetic pass by Stenson lets them tie it up. Another fucking draw?! He's tossed for Flint 1-1

73 - What a fucking stupid bit of free kick defending. 1-2

77 - Bourne to Tuck, who crosses to Bell-Toxtle. 25 yard shot with two defenders preparing to vice squeeze your ass? No problem. 2-2

Poor game by our defense again. I also yell at Emmanuel Diallo, because he really slagged it back there.

Bad news gets worse. Ben Korosi is out 10-12 months with damaged ligaments. That's the most severe injury I can ever recall seeing in FM. Well, fuck. Now what? We'll install the narrow version for now, while we try and hunt for a backup... unless we want to call up our youth pull again. Oh wait, we still have a player we can fit in there. Duh.

@ Keymer & Hassocks (Mowatt Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Glenn Walker/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

So here I am, back where it all began. By this time, most of the players I knew have moved elsewhere. But there's Carl Gill and James Crane in the lineup on the backline, and Jack Walder in the middle of their crazy 4-5-1. And in the net, as he has been since Bojan Tetek left? Nathan Dennis, who stayed loyal to the team all those years, the longest-serving K&H player ever in this universe.

Bell-Toxtle slides up to replace Davies at the half, with Flint the new DM. We had a couple cracks at Dennis in the first half, but nothing doing so far.

53 - :( 0-1

90 - I never should have left this team. 0-2

I stand there alone in the park, long after the game's over. Would we have continued our dominance if I'd stayed? Or was I merely the guy to get them to the point I did, the rest left to Lewis Haldane? They're tied on points with 9 at the top of Division Three, but have won all 3 of their games, and have two games in hand on the second place team.

Why haven't I been able to recapture the magic I had with that squad? Why can't I even replicate the minor successes I had with Woodley Town? Why why why?

[Izulde]

vs Ovingdean (Mid Sussex Senior Cup Second Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Chris Flynn/Darren Stenson/Luke Purdie/Chris Jones
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Gareth Camper/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

32 - Whole lot of ping-pong possession, with Stenson standing out. End sequence is Rowley winging to Bourne, who counter-crosses after fighting off a challenge. Camper is there to nail it. 1-0

Instead of being nice like I have been, I tell them not to get complacent.

53 - Tuck replaces Davies, Stenson moves up to DM, Jones shifts to DC, and Richings comes on.

74 - Great header by Richings up to Jones, who blasts it to Tuck on to Rowley. Then a pass to Sedlan, and a box feed to Bourne results in a birthday goal, something we seem to specialize in. 2-0

7.5 for Simon Rowley and 8.9 for PotM Martin Bourne. Nice to finally get a damned win.

vs AFC Haywards (3rd)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Chris Flynn/Luke Purdie/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Glenn Walker/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

We're running out of time to make our move in the division.

59 - I switch to the narrow version of our setup, and Tuck replaces Walker. Bell-Toxtle to MC instead of Davies, and Stenson slides in as the DM.

60 - Good thing I took a Norco, because I just roll my eyes. 0-1

65 - Fluke goal. Another loss or draw coming. 1-1

Yep.

I do some more research and decide to radically adjust my roles. FBs are taken off Auto, and I sprinkle some more attacking roles throughout the lineup, as we've been quite short on being able to actually create chances and goals.

vs Rogate (Sussex Intermediate Cup Third Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Gareth Camper/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

6 - Richings throws in to Sedlan on the left flank, who passes to Bourne. Center to Davies, and that's his first ever goal for us! We're expected to be slaughtered by 4-5 goals, BTW. 1-0

55 - Flint for Stenson

60 - Flint strips the ball away that ends in an exchange of passes between Richings and Rowley, the former crossing to Sedlan, playing in the uncomfortable role of a False 9, for the score. 2-0

68 - Flynn in for Roberts

9.0 for PotM Callum Richings, who was everywhere playing in a support role at DR. Viv Davies racks up an 8.3 as a newly Attacking central midfielder, 7.9 for Martin Bourne as an Attacking AMR. Beautiful, just beautiful.

Have I finally unlocked the puzzle?

@ Smallfield (Mid Sussex Senior Cup Third Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Glenn Walker/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

18 - Deep in our half, Roberts throws into Rowley for the short pass to Walker. Boomer down the field and Sedlan has everyone beat. The long dribble to the box, and the scorcher is in! 1-0

Flint replaces tired Davies at half.

51 - Flint to DC to swap out sucky Stenson, Bell-Toxtle to DM, Tuck in at CM, and midfielder switch.

I fucked up an accidentally took out Jones, but it worked out okay as we got the win. 7.6 for Tom Roberts and 8.4 for PotM Glenn Walker, as we escaped with one there.

Ronnie Sedlan's 7th goal of the year broke Rotherfield's goal-scoring record, which shows how pitiful they've been.

Transfer Out - Sam Tuck
A vital reserve, but I'm not sorry to see him go, really. He wasn't one of my guys anyway, though it's his first new team.

vs Forest Row (11th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Jordan Flint/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Glenn Walker/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

If we can't beat these guys, who are the worst team in the league by far, something is seriously wrong.

34 - We're facing intense pressure on our buildup, until Davies sprays the safety valve left to an open Roberts on the left wing. Long cross to Sedlan and it's a secure score. 1-0

49 - If Forest Row wasn't lacking in confidence, we would actually be down 0-2. Our central defender are both playing like ass, and I make a mental note not to have Flint play there if I can help it. He does poorly. Anyway, on a corner we get a PK, and Bell-Toxtle blasts it in. 2-0

56 - Flint's free kick fuckup has me fuming. Purdie in for him. BTW, I really need to cut Purdie. My staff loves him, but he'll never accomplish anything. 2-1

59 - *Now* Flint is off. I keep misreading the screen. Anyway, Stenson on.

We really didn't play that well. Only PotM Fernando Bell-Toxtle with his 7.8 stood out.

Still, it's finally a league win, and halfway through the season, we're in 8th place with 12 points. Just one point off the drop. On the other hand, 6 points from the top two spots, which lets you know just how congested Division One has been this year.

[Izulde]

Luke Purdie is released, along with a ton of other players as I cut the chaff. Robbie Gulley signs with another team, just when I cut Kevin Lis, too.

Transfer Out - Glenn Walker - $4.5k
Welp, I cut Gareth Camper, too, so suddenly we may find ourselves needing to look at a new formation.

Transfer In - ST Sorin Dunlap (21) (Romanian)
Needs a lot of work as he's quite raw, but my staff likes to loves his potential, and we need fresh blood to work on developing after all the other cuts we made.

Vince Wills also leaves to another team.

@ Fletching (10th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Jordan Flint
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Andrew Taylor/Martin Bourne
S: Ronnie Sedlan

3 - Stenson kicks it to Roberts for the feedback into the box. It takes Sedlan a bit to juggle and control the forceful pass, but when he does, his shot sings home. 1-0

66 - Rowley with the kick out to Richings right wing. The cross bounces into the six-yard box, and Bell-Toxtle is just quick enough on the draw to put it away. O'Mara subs in for Stenson. 2-0

8.0 and PotM for Callum Richings, who shows that role matters. In fact all of our backline starters netted a 7.2 or higher. 7.8 for Simon Rowley and 8.0 for Fernando Bell-Toxtle.

We've climbed up to 7th now. But the real test will be when we play against teams higher up, like next game.

Transfer In - ST Shaun Humphreys (22)
To give some challenge to our backup Romanian striker. Not as high an upside, but worth having. Maybe.

Transfer Out - MR/AMR Martin Bourne
Shocking steal away, and we're really crippled now in our formation. :(

vs Cuckfield Town (4th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Andrew Taylor/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

It's Harrison the youth pull who finds himself inserted in the lineup.

26 - Three defenders on Sedlan and he's about to lose the ball when he quick kicks out to Harrison, and the kid hits a long cross to Rowley for the walk-in goal! 1-0

34 - Beautiful possession saves by Bell-Toxtle again and again, but the finisher here is Sedlan with two defenders in front of him long lateraling to Richings for the return cross that has Rowley smashing his second goal in. 2-0

38 - Shit. Harrison knocked, but he'll have to play on.

48 - That PK was bullshit. An immediate yellow after it, too? Bye, Stenson. In goes O'Mara. 2-1

64 - Humphreys on for Sedlan.

72 - Great recovery on a clearance by Roberts for the pass to Bell-Toxtle. Spray out to Richings on the right wing, and the long far post cross connects with Humphreys for the debut goal!!!! 3-1

77 - Richings with the interception, trap, and control to start a move that includes Bell-Toxtle blasting it out to Richings, who has run all the way down the right flank. Cross to Thomas results in a short lateral to Harrison, but the shot clangs off the top of the bar with help from the keeper. No problem, as Humphreys is there to put away his second goal! 4-1

81 - Can't do much with those long-range scorchers. 4-2

87 - They should have scored here on the corner, and we're damned lucky they didn't.

7.6 for Callum Richings, who continues to amaze as a DR with Support duty. 7.5 for Fernando Bell-Toxtle, 8.3 for Keith Harrison, and 8.6 for supersub Shaun Humphreys. But it was Simon Rowley's 9.1 that really stood out this game. The rightful PotM, he ran the game to perfection.

The victory jumps us up to 3rd, but that's only temporary, as the team we're tied with on points has a game in hand, and teams who are 3 and 5 points back respectively have *2* games in hand.

Keith Harrison can play with a gashed head via protective equipment, and we simply don't have a choice but to pay the $750. We need him out there.

vs Barcombe (Sussex Intermediate Cup Fourth Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Green/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Andrew Taylor/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

We've had some shoddy performances from Darren Stenson lately, so Green gets the nod, because Finn O"Mara has disappointed, too.

33 - Terrible backpass by the defense, and Sedlan takes advantage to beat the keeper on the 1 v 1. 1-0

52 - Flint swaps in for Davies

65 - O'Mara in for wiped Jones

We were carried by Ronnie Sedlan's PotM 8.1. It was always going to be an ugly game, as both teams were playing on a short turnaround. But we advance, and that's what matters.

We've also won six games in a row, which breaks the Rotherfield team record. It's amazing how changing the duties around completely transformed this squad. That and never telling them they're doing a good job at halftime, but always warning them against complacency.

Transfer In - MR/AMLR Shaun Pearson (22)
My scout thinks he's okay on potential. My staff absolutely loves his upside. Will either be a starter at AML, depending on another offer we have out, or come off the bench. Or maybe he'll start at AMR. I haven't decided yet.

Transfer In - MCL/AMCL Adrian Maguraushe (22)
Another one my staff loves more than my Chief Scout. He's considered worlds better than even Ben Korosi at the AML, so he's firmly planted himself as the starter there. One of his favorite teammates is Glenn Walker, who unfortunately left us. Still, this is a huge, huge signing.

@ Sporting Elite (1st)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Finn O'Mara/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

Big game here. Win, and we're officially in the promotion conversation. Lose, and they'll consolidate their 4 point lead on second place, and their 6 point lead on us.

6 - Davies constantly bails us out here, and the move ends with Maguraushe crossing to alone Richings, and the high bounce pass coincides perfectly with Sedlan's sizzling strike into the net. 1-0

53 - Flynn on for Roberts, who has stunk all game.

65 - Pearson in for tired Harrison

Solid all around performances, with the standouts Callum Richings getting his third PotM award since the changeup with 7.7 and Ronnie Sedlan with 7.5. Finn O'Mara had a modest 6.9, but he might finally have the starting spot he's been clamoring for.

And we're now in 2nd on a comfortable goal differential of +5. Seven games left, and we've completely turned our season around after having been in the relegation zone for a very brief spell (we had a game in hand).

Keymer & Hassocks is destroying Division 3, 9 point lead with +16 GD and only 2 draws. Lack of trophies is what's keeping Lewis Haldane off the list of heroes, though he took them to the Edgar German Challenge Cup Final last season.

Woodley Town is last in the Hellenic Premier and barring a miracle, they'll go right back down.

Chelmsford is in 1st by 3 points with 2 games in hand in the Isthmian Premier, so the Clarets are looking a good bet to promote right back up.

[Izulde]

Those 3 PotM awards by Callum Richings is a new Rotherfield record BTW.

In one month, I've jumped up from Stable to Very Secure, the board quite happy with our sudden leap up to a promotion spot. Even when I've just been okay all these months, I keep getting mentioned as a favorite for vacant positions higher up the chain.

And then Ronnie Sedlan is hurt AGAIN, out for 4 weeks. We just can't keep him healthy.

vs Smallfield (8th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Finn O'Mara/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Shaun Humphreys

13 - Ugh. 0-1

22 - Giving them 9000 shots doesn't work, assholes. 0-2

Halftime talk is a disaster as I ream apart my defense and they're not happy. Stenson replaces Jones and Dunlap for Humphreys.

47 - Mauguraushe forces his opposite to backtrack all the way down the field, whereupon he steals the ball and crosses for Harrison to score his first senior goal! 1-2

60 - Pearson results in an asymmetrical shift, as I pull him up to MR because I'm sick of looking at Richings' 5.9-6.0.

76 - Ugh. PK. But Diallo stops it.

vs Ovingdean (Sussex Intermediate Cup Fifth Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Finn O'Mara/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Sorin Dulap

Humphreys replaces injured Dulap; Stenson tired Davies at half.

54 - Flynn for Roberts

65 - Humphreys runs his way out of a five defender wall and kicks ahead to Maguraushe on the far left flank. The cross evades a header and lands where Harrison can slam it in! There's a bug that keeps reporting this as his first goal and on a debut, but whatever. 1-0

Callum Richings' 7.2 wins PotM, but I thought Finn O'Mara's 7.2 was far more deserving.

vs Ridgewood (Mid Sussex Senior Cup Fourth Round)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Callum Richings/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Joseph Hall
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Shaun Humphreys

37 - They've done just enough to fend us off shot after shot, but Rowley kicks it back to Hall, who dribbles forth and passes to Harrison for the header to Maguraushe. The shot threads through two defenders and into the net! 1-0

O'Mara replaces the yellow carded Hall at half.

76 - Flint in for Davies

PotM goes to Gernando Bell-Toxtle's 7.9, but Adrian Maguraushe's 7.8, GWG, and first score for us is right behind.

@ United Services (5th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Finn O'Mara/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

Our last game loss dropped us to 4th, 2 points back of a promotion place and 3 points back of 1st. While every match is important now, this one is particularly critical.

16 - Harrison is dribbling into the teeth of three defenders, and he diverts them by winging out to Richings. Cross to the middle, and Maguraushe leaps up to head the ball in. 1-0

37 - One of their defenders handles the ball on a corner, and Bell-Toxtle spears the PK. 2-0

49 - Stenson swaps in for complacent, lolly-gagging Davies.

Another PotM and 8.0 for Callum Richings, who continues his remarkable turnaround to coincide with our season reversal. 8.0 for Fernando Bell-Toxtle as well, and 7.6 for Adrian Maguraushe.

That puts us back in 2nd on GD, but there's still a team with a game in hand who could leapfrog us.

Callum Richings also broke the single season Rotherfield assists record with 6. Funny how I was close to cutting him at one point, and now he's emerged as one of our most valuable players. Means I was misusing him at Keymer & Hassocks, and here earlier.

vs Buxted II (10th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Jordan Flint
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

21 - Sedlan is surrounded by defenders, so he boots an aerial ball all the way down to the left flank touchline, where Maguraushe snags it and centers to the cluster of defenders in the mouth of the net. Problem being, Harrison is there, too, and he short kicks it in. 1-0

53 - Humphreys in for Sedlan, and we go asymmetrical by pulling Maguraushe down to ML and tossing Davies in as his replacement.

68 - Humphreys recovers a dispossession in the box and short passes back to Davies. The cross to Rowley is good and so is his diagonal shot. 2-0

89 - Davies laterals it to Bell-Toxtle following a great interception by Roberts. The pass is into the box for Rowley, who waits to find his spot, and then lances a line drive between three defenders, and the ball *just* finds the corner of the net! 3-0

All full-time starters scored a 7.2 or higher bar the keeper (6.9). Highlights go to Darren Stenson (8.1), Fernando Bell-Toxtle (9.0), PotM Simon Rowley (9.3), and [b]Keith Harrison (7.6).

Transfer Out - DR Kostas Solomou
I really wanted to like this kid, but he just got out-played, and my coaches never liked him anyway.

@ Sporting Lindfield (Mid Sussex Senior Cup Quarter Final)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Shaun Pearson
S: Ronnie Sedlan

28 - Own goal by Roberts. FML. 0-1

31 - Bell-Toxtle to Rowley for the dribble and pass to Sedlan just outside the half-circle. 20 yard strike booms its way in! 1-1

3-2-2-3 DM Wide after Flynn replaces Roberts and Flint becomes a second DM, replacing Jones.

97 - Humphreys in for exhausted Sedlan

104 - Richings' cross is cleared, but Bell-Toxtle gets it back and laterals to Rowley for the forceful strike home, after having spent all of extra time hammering away at these guys. 2-1

The team really turned it on after I yelled at them at the original halftime, and the defense particularly rebounded. 7.5 for Callum Richings, 7.7 for Darren Stenson, 8.2 for Viv Davies, matching 9.0s for Fernando Bell-Toxtle and Simon Rowley - the latter PotM, 8.3 for Ronnie Sedlan, who was okay with being pulled after I told him he needed a breather, and 7.2 off the bench for Jordan Flint.

Keymer & Hassocks are through to the Mowatt Challenge Cup Final. Meanwhile, we're in 1st place in Division 1, though we might still drop to 2nd after a team with a game in hand plays.

[Izulde]

@ East Court (Sussex Intermediate Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Fernando Bell-Toxtle
M: Viv Davies/Simon Rowley
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

Flint for Davies and down to DM with MC switch at half.

52 - Richings moves to a BWM defender role at MC, and Hall comes in at DR to replace Jones as we go with a 3-1-3-3 DM formation.

79 - Humphreys in for Sedlan

117 - Bell-Toxtle shoots a bullet into the box to Harrison for the cross. I think it's going to be Humphreys, but it's Rowley sneaking behind to snipe the goal in. They're screaming Humphreys was offsides, but to no avail. 1-0

8.1 for Darren Stenson, 7.5 for Tom Roberts, 8.0 for Fernando Bell-Toxtle and 8.8 for PotM Simon Rowley.

Transfer Out - Finn O'Mara
Bounced in and out of the starting lineup, but never could quite hold it down, so he's on to more guaranteed PT elsewhere, or least a PPA contract.

@ Ridgewood (5th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Callum Richings/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Ronnie Sedlan

Switching to the 3-1-3-3 DM for this one just because.

27 - Jones heads and fights off the defender to get the ball, then pops it into space for Harrison to run on into and dribble into the box. Short, high pass to Sedlan sees the header to Maguraushe, and the second header bounces in with a post assist. 1-0

Davies moves up to the BWM CM role and Flint comes on, as Richings not only has a yellow, but has played like garbage.

56 - Pearson jumps on for Harrison

A game where no one stood out, but we'll take it. Especially since it officially guarantees that we can't relegate. :lol: In fact, we can't finish any worse than 8th.

Youth Pulls
A few interesting guys, but low determination and/or ambition players plus selfish strikers mean I only sign one guy, a ML/AML who could be the top backup right now, and gives us coverage in case Ben Korosi isn't the same player when he gets back.

I also cut a bunch of players who just don't have the upside to make it on this roster. Callum Richings may find himself on the chopping block soon, too, as he has the least amount of talent of anyone on the senior team.

Transfer Out - ST Ronnie Sedlan
Welp, there goes our leading scorer. I was planning on replacing him anyway, but it sucks to see him leave now. I'm not panicked about it like I would have been earlier in the season, however, as we really need a more natural False 9.

Transfer In - ST Paul Gutteridge (22)
Sparkled for Crawley Cobras, though finding someone who can actually play the False 9 is proving impossible. I'll keep bringing guys in and training them, however.

@ Harting (Sussex Intermediate Cup Semi-final)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Paul Gutteridge

Note to self: If adjusting to a 3-3-3-1 DM, do it on another formation, because then resetting to the 4-1-2-3 DM resets it to Competent, when it was Accomplished before.

13 - Rowley flips it back to Bell-Toxtle for the right flank longball to Richings. The cross makes it easy for Maguraushe to walk it in. 1-0

32 - I just noticed with the reset, the style got set to Standard. No wonder we allowed our first goal in a while. 1-1

39 - Back to Control and Rowley plays it ahead for Harrison's cross-pitch line drive that charging Maguraushe fires in. 2-1

Flint for Davies, and just for the fun of it, and because Richings has a yellow, we switch to a 3-1-2-4 DM Wide with Dulap coming in as an attacking Target Man.

50 - Stenson fell asleep there. 2-2

77 - Prime interception by Roberts to start a move that caps with Bell-Toxtle passing to Rowley and on to Gutteridge. Feed into space, and the Romanian Dulap spears his first goal for Rotherfield! 3-2

84 - Bell-Toxtle sends it back to I don't know who for the longball left flank, and Roberts crosses it to Harrison, firing the debut goal bug again, even though this totally isn't his first goal or appearance. 4-2

Heroic performance by Emmanuel Diallo in the net despite the goals, notching a 7.7. 8.3 for Keith Harrison, 8.8 for Andrei Maguraushe and PotM, 7.5 for Paul Gutteridge and a 7.0 bench showing for Sorin Dulap.

vs Brighton Boys Brigade Old Boys (6th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Paul Gutteridge/Sorin Dulap

26 - Harrison has two guys on him in the box, so he outlets it back to Bell-Toxtle for the back in box feed to Rowley. Shot's lined up, and *bam*! 1-0

37 - How the hell they didn't score there, I'll never know. Stenson had to try and cover two guys by himself.

39 - Two guys missed on headers, and they scored on the corner. 1-1

Pearson subs in for Harrison's yellow card self at half.

52 - Sigh. Okay, enough monkeying around. Gutteridge is out, and Dulap's DLF self is the lone striker. Jones to DC, Richings in at DR, as we return to our normal formation. 1-2

56 - Rowley rocks left flank to Roberts. Cross to Dulap and the ball is stripped away, but Rowley's run up to ram in the rebound. 2-2

I'm not going to chew them out for that one - it was my screwup, getting cute with that. And we're still in 1st by 1 point with 2 left to play. Tightly packed on top of the table - 5 teams within 3 points of us.

[Izulde]

Simon Rowley breaks the Rotherfield league goals scored with 6, and with 9 goals overall, he still has an outside chance of hunting down Ronnie Sedlan's season record. He also has 6 PotM awards, breaking Callum Richings's earlier record.

The transfer deadline passes in a blink of an eye. We didn't feel like participating, and our guys other clubs were interested in didn't want to think about it.

Buxted II and Forest Row are relegated. Awkwardly enough, Rotherfield II is relegated from Division Nine. Oops. I think I'm going to change jobs this summer. Seeing the II and III teams is really kind of annoying.

@ AFC Haywards (8th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Sorin Dulap

8 - Dulap passes back to Bell-Toxtle for the spring forward to Harrison. Cross to unguarded side, and Rowley sinks it. 1-0

69 - Welp. 1-1

80 - Pearson for Maguraushe

87 - .... 1-2

This wasn't a game we deserved to lose by any means.

We drop to 2nd, whereas a win would have clinched promotion, like it did for Smallfield.

...LOL. Scott Matranga has been whining for first team action. So a website took a vote. 87% said he should be starting, 7% said No, and 6% were undecided. GTFO. You guys don't know shit.

@ Fellbridge (Mid Sussex Senior Cup Semi-Final)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Stenson/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Sorin Dulap

46 - Just before half, Stenson/b] is knocked out, so we go with a 3-2-2-3 with 2 DM and [b]Flint in.

52 - Pearson for Harrison

82 - Roberts runs down the loose ball on the left flank and passes to Maguraushe, who is wiped out in a sliding tacke. Roberts gets it back and shoots a cross that finds Dulap's head for the late goal. 1-0

7.6 and PotM for Fernando Bell-Toxtle in our grindy win.

Darren Stenson is out for the season with a torn groin muscle (2-3 months), which puts us in really bad shape for our last three matches of the year.

@ Cuckfield Town (4th)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Green/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Sorin Dulap

It's down to either us or Cuckfield going up. Win or draw, and it's us. Lose and it's them, as the third place team is out of games.

7 - Beautiful save by Jones after Green gets absolutely wrecked in our box. Later on, Bell-Toxtle blasts it ahead of Dulap on the left flank, who goes to the touchline, then diagonals back into the box for a streaking Maguraushe to overcome a two game slump and fire in the first strike. 1-0

9 - See Davies flare it out to Harrison. See Harrison cross to Maguraushe. See Magurashe smash in his second goal. 2-0

39 - Roberts on the IDK and gets it back. Pass to Harrison sees a shot headed away, but Bell-Toxtle is there on the bounce down and he rifles it in. 3-0

The whole team was pumped after I told them to do this one for the fans at the beginning of the game, and I told them in the team meeting prior just to play it cool and play their game.

Now, do I tell them not to get complacent? They're all hyped and motivated. In the end, I say nothing. Let them play as they will.

53 - Silence is golden as Rowley passes to Bell-Toxtle for the wing out to Richings. Cross to all alone Mauguraushe and there's the hat trick!!!! What what! 4-0

71 - Eh, it's only one goal. 4-1

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

Was even higher before we let that one goal in. Either way, what a hell of a way to end the league season and clinch the title!

We lucked out in that it was a real bruiser of a season in Division One. That allowed us to move up and snap up the title on the last day of the year. In a normal season, that doesn't happen, but we get it on goal differential thanks to our second half surge.

Lewis Haldane finally gets his trophy, winning the Mowatt Challenge Cup along with the Division 3 title. Good for him.

@ Ditchling (Mid Sussex Senior Cup Final)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Green/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Simon Rowley/Fernando Bell-Toxtle
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Sorin Dulap

28 - Maguraushe's corner hits Green, but the ball's stripped away. Rushing Rowley runs up and slams in the diagonal! 1-0

49 - Pearson in for Maguraushe, who has gone back to his poor form ways.

75 - Bell-Toxtle sprays out to Roberts, who engineered this attack by grabbing a loose ball. He crosses to Harrison for the short kick goal, and debut goal bug fires again. 2-0

Every full-time starter except Dulap (6.6) grabbed a 7.1 or higher. Highlights are 7.7 for Tom Roberts, 7.6 for Callum Richings, 9.0 for PotM Simon Rowley 7.6 for Fernando Bell-Toxtle, and 7.9 for Keith Harrison.

Rotherfield win their first trophy of this universe!!!!

I unlock the Cup Streak achievement for it, too. Just $1.46k for this trophy win, however, which is pretty damn skeezy.

@ West Hill United (Sussex Intermediate Cup Final)
G: Emmanuel Diallo
D: Tom Roberts/Darren Green/Chris Jones/Callum Richings
DM: Viv Davies
M: Fernando Bell-Toxtle/Simon Rowley (They've been this way the last three games. I've just missed it)
AM: Adrian Maguraushe/Keith Harrison
S: Sorin Dulap

11 - We're rightfully awarded a PK on a behind tackle on Harrison. No problem for Bell-Toxtle to make his 7th goal of the year. 1-0

44 - Rowley lateral to Davies for the pass up to Bell-Toxtle. Forward pass in the box to Dulap. Short dribble and soft kick, and our Romanian has his third goal! 2-0

51 - Poor backpass by Dulap. Flint for Green; Gutteridge for Dulap. 1-2

52 - Unbelievable own goal by Jones. JFC. 2-2

66 - What a ridiculous collapse. 2-3

Yeah, I'm packing my bags. Beautiful season, but just too many annoyances with the Harrison bug, and the B and C teams make me feel like I'm running three squads at once.

[Izulde]

Keith Harrison has 9 assists, breaking Callum Richings' Rotherfield record of 8 this season.

New All-Time Rotherfield Best XI inductees: Simon Rowley, Fernando Bell-Toxtle, and Callum Richings. Making the subs: Emmanuel Diallo and Darren Stenson.

Simon Rowley wins 46% of Fans Player of the Year vote, Fernando Bell-Toxtle second with 41%. A distant third is Viv Davies with 11%. Makes sense as our midfielders were the most dominant part of our game this season, and I'm going to hate leaving Rotherfield because of how attached I've grown to Rowley and Bell-Toxtle.

The players think my mid-table ambitions for next season are way too much. Good thing I'm probably leaving soon.

Rotherfield gets a $0.1k bump in sponsorships next season. Meanwhile, I've found the perfect team to apply for. Checks the boxes of Amateur, cool team name, no promotions, no trophies, no Icons, cool pin badge image. Just waiting for the interview and acceptance.

I apply to the US and Mexico U23 teams since they come across my desk, but I'm rejected immediately by both. Oh well, worth the shot.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/marchhares_zpsu8zdjzib.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/marchhares_zpsu8zdjzib.jpg.html)
March Town United FC Hares
Way back in 1988, they won the Eastern Counties Premier League, so they've been to the Isthmian Division One North at least, but are still an Amateur side. They started off this universe in Eastern Counties Division One, stunk a lot, and then relegated finally to the Anglican Combination Premier Division, which doesn't drop any lower here. They were second to last two years ago, and 13th out of 16 teams this season. Their high mark in any league is 11th, their first season here.

I fire all the incompetent staff but the best I can find is 13 JPA/12 JPP guys. The good news is one's an elite coach, and the other is a guy with full knowledge of Portugal, and good knowledge of Brazil and Argentina. That's *huge*. The bad news? I should have just kept the previous physio, who was 6, because that's all I can find who will work here.

Transfer In - DLR Rafail Christoforou (23) (Cypriot)
Huge boost at DR, and is also our best DL guy. Obviously this will settle out as we bring more players in, but his DL greatness is weak comparatively - 1.5* to 4* on the right side.

Transfer In - MC Jackson Idzi (19) (Welsh)
Our best MC by a million, but when he gets to the club, I find out he has low determination, and I hate those kinds of players. Still, he'll stick around because Simon Rowley and Fernando Bell-Toxtle declined my invitation to become Hares.

Can I just say how much I love that this team is the March Hares? I'm deffo hoping to take them to Wonderland. :D

Transfer In - GK Kyle Greening (18) (Welsh)
Rated equal in talent to our incumbent keeper, but the guy from last season stinks at 1 v 1. Greening doesn't come with that flaw, so he's going to be the one to start in the nets and continue my long, proud tradition of non-English keepers. And the current captain pitched a hissy fit about introducing him to the team, saying he's tired of being asked to do that. You're losing the band, asshole. That's the first time I've had someone bitch about that.

Transfer In - ST Jamie O'Brien (18) (Irish)
Can he be the new Jamie Gray, in the trend of great Irish strikers named Jamie who have played for my squads? In any case, he's an absolutely elite player yet again over everyone else on the team at that slot, so I'm hoping for good things.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Anthony Peltier (18) (Trinbagonian)
From Trinidad & Tobago, another giant upgrade in talent at his spot. I love raiding the non-English players, and that's what I've been doing obviously. There's two more guys I have on tap, and then we'll look at the roster again to see where we need to upgrade.

Transfer In - ST Chinoso Okoye (21) (Nigerian)
The adjustments have already started, as he was elite potential when we first looked at him, but after the rash of signings, he's 1.5/3. Still our second best current striker, however.

Transfer In - DC Pasca Andrei Sorin (22) (Romanian)
Bust signing. Oh well. Was bound to happen in the early rush of players.

After all the adjustments, we need DC, DL, DM, MC, ML/AML, ST (in case we go to two). The left side of the pitch is particularly putrid.

Transfer In - DC Jordan Garner (27)
Tagged with being a slow player, yet he's still overall a huge talent upgrade over what we had as the second option roaming the middle before. One of the other original DCs is a 3*, so I'm fine here for our starting lineup.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Robert Paratore (27) (Australian)
Not an elite player by any means, but good enough that he's our top MC, light years ahead of Jackson Idzi, which is great. Idzi drops to 2.5* Current after all our people brought in.

Transfer In - MC/DM Anthony Wilson (23)
And now I can boot Jackson Idzi to the subs, as Wilson ranks just a hair above him as the new Hare, which is good enough for me.

At this point is our preseason team meeting, wherein we decided to shoot for a mid-table finish based on the current roster composition. That'd be a huge increase for this team, but we'll see if we can do better than that. After all, in every single full season I've coached with one team start to finish, we've won a title.

Transfer In - DLCR/DM/MLCR Jomo Howell (21)
Not a starter at all, but look at all the freaking positions he can play! Also eligible to play for Barbados. Utility bench man who will be a fixture on our subs - if he doesn't start at DL. That's currently a weak spot, and he's presently our best one. My assman thinks he can be a star - my Chief Scout sees him as a 3* potential, so we'll see.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Alex Brough (22)
Again split opinions on upside, but he's an immediate starter at either DC or DM - likely DM as I prefer using those in my setups, and he's clearly the class there, and #2 at DC.

Transfer In - DM/MC Shane Potter (22)
#2 DM but I may go ahead and start him there anyway, so I can have Brough at DC and add another one to my guys in the starting lineup. I do so hate using incumbents. :D

I'm going to go ahead with the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide setup I used at Rotherfield with Control. I'm sure my assistants will chime in with stuff they want me to do differently. Player roles and duties will be the same as then, though I'll leave instructions at default until advised otherwise.

Roster purge happens next, clearing out all the junk in the trunk.

Transfer In - ML/AMLC Bobby Lofthouse (29)
Solid veteran player who actually gives us a legitimate player on the left side. Freaking finally!

Transfer In - MLC/AML/ST Tom Hooper (23)
High upside player who will be a capable reserve on the left side and the #2 ST. An obvious guy to be on our subs roster.

Transfer In - MLC/AML Nial Forrester (22)
Equal in current ability to Bobby Lofthouse *and* has 5* potential?! Yes freaking please! Huge relief signing, giving us a young guy we can build around there.

Transfer In - DLR Reece Blake (24)
Marginally best DL, so it's still a huge problem there, but he has upsides and allows us to move Mr. Play Everywhere Jomo Howell to the bench.

Transfer In - DC Richard Warrington (21)
Elite upgrade at DC, allowing us to move Alex Brough to his best spot of DM.

Transfer In - DL/WBL/ML/AML Dylan Massey (18)
I love picking up English Trialist players who I think might have a future on the team, and I think this kid's one of them. I'm tempted to give him the start at DL, as he's not that for off Reece Blake, and he's younger.

Chinoso Okoye slacks off in training, and then mouths off to me. He won't be long for the team with that attitude. If I didn't think it'd affect morale, I'd cut his ass now.

Preseason Predictions
Ecclesfield are 4-5 favorites to win at all, but everyone's noticed the improvements to the wholesale makeover of the Hares, and so March is listed as 5-1 second favorites. Plus, you know, me being the awesome manager at bucking up amateur sides.

We finish 1-1-1 in preseason, and I'm quietly hopeful for how we'll look in the season ahead. I think my coaches are waiting until they really know the team to make suggestions for how we should optimize our squad, but I'm loving the complete rebuild. Still some areas of weakness - GK, DL, DR, DM, MC, ST all have less than 3* for their starters (including both MC spots), but those upgrades can wait until later in the season, or at least until my eyes stop burning.

[Izulde]

Niall Forrester and Alex Brough are named Captain and Vice-Captain for the season.

I feel like having Jamie O'Brien as a DLF is a waste of his 12 Finishing, so I make him an attacking Target Man instead.

Lousy supporters here - we sell just 6 season tickets, same as last year. That poor fan support explains why the club has just $10.3k in the bank. As a point of comparison - oh wait, I can't look at Keymer & Hassocks. Oops. That's still an absurdly low amount for a team that's been around this long.

With 30 league games, there's just one cup to play for - the Sterry Cup, which the board wants us to make the Final of. The league they just want a mid-table showing from.

vs Teversal
G: Kyle Greening
D: Dylan Massey/Jordan Garner/Alex Brough/Rafail Christoforou
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Anthony Wilson/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Jamie O'Brien

FBs are set to Support, as our wingers are attacking. In central midfield, Lofthouse is a supporting CM; Wilson a BWM defender. Up top, Hooper the supporting defensive forward and O'Brien the attacking Target Man.

We're playing a Structured shape with a much higher tempo, narrow width, staying on feet, and looking for the overlap. Standard mentality.

9 - Peltier passes back to Christoforou, then runs forward to get the return pass. Cross to the middle and Hooper is the first new March Hare to score! 1-0

Warrington replaces mistake-prone Garner at half.

57 - Okoye in for O'Brien

This was a bit of a lucky win, since nobody on our squad had higher than a 7.0, but we'll take the 3 points.

ARGH! Niall Forrester sprains his ankle so badly he's out for 2 months! :banghead: :banghead:

Transfer In - DR/MC Glenn O'Hanlon (30)
Big upgrade to DR, where he's a 4* player and will boot our Cyprus player to the bench, or more likely the unplayed list.

@ Cromer Town (3rd)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Dylan Massey/Jordan Garner/Alex Brough/Rafail Christoforou
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Wilson/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Jamie O'Brien

Control mentality, and now players will roam from positions.

6 - Awful corner kick defense. 0-1

28 - Own goal by Christoforou. Why did I listen to my assman again? 0-2

Howell at ML; O'Hanlon at DR; Okoye replacing Hooper. Fuck it. ALL IN!

70 - Bullshit PK. No more roaming from position BTW. 0-3

Injuries continue as Bobby Lofthouse is out 5-6 weeks. Whoever plays left midfield is evidently damned to injuries.

@ Eccleshall (6th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Reece Blake/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Dylan Massey/Anthony Wilson/Shane Potter/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Jamie O'Brien

Back to Standard, and a couple instructions are taken off, including the stupid one.

Our corner kicks are set up stupidly, too, but I'll do that after the game. Okoye steps in for O'Brien at half.

59 - What the fuck kind of pass was that, Blake?! 0-1

91 - It's like we're not even trying. 0-2

vs Downham (9th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Dylan Massey/Anthony Wilson/Shane Potter/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Jamie O'Brien

Idzi comes in at MC and Brough moves to the other MC spot due to the yellows. Garner then slides in at DC.

61 - Insane moonball by Christoforou down the left that Massey somehow gets to before it crosses the sideline. Cross he does to O'Brien, the Irishman finally hammering in a goal with authority. 1-0

I've yet to see a truly good game from our players, as Jamie O'Brien's 7.2 gives us our first PotM of the year. But I suppose they need time to gel.

Transfer In - ST Elvis Menayese (25) (Welsh)
What's this? An actual striker worth his salt? Yessir, and we're kicking Tom Hooper out and changing that defensive forward to a deep-lying one, where the Welsh King excels.

vs Woodbridge (12th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Dylan Massey/Jackson Idzi/Shane Potter/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

Garner replaces Brough; Potter in for Wilson at half.

50 - Give it time, give it time, give it time. 0-1

56 - Following a corner clearance recovery, Massey to Menayese, who is staring down two defenders. Lay off to Peltier, who dribbles into the box and fires his shot for his first goal. Hey, man, don't cartwheel yet. It's only a tie. 1-1

89 - O'Hanlon just barely gets to a ball first and kicks it back to Greening for the blast down to Peltier. He shoots it ahead into space for O'Brien to beat everyone and slice in the late go-ahead goal! 2-1

We survive an absolute shit day from our defense thanks to the first truly good game from one of our guys - Trinidadan Anthony Peltier scooping up PotM with an 8.3.

Not a great first five games, but we're in 5th and very much still in the conversation once we can figure out what the hell we're doing and put it all together.

[Izulde]

Chinoso Okoye breaks his leg and is out 5-6 months, and one of our other backup strikers is gone 6-8 days. Been one of those years already. Fortunately there's a 10 Physio guy willing to join us, so I fire our 6 one, who I think is causing a lot of the problems.

@ Harleston Town (3rd)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Jordan Garner/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Dylan MasseyShane Potter/Anthony Wilson/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Jamie O'Brien

Wilson started last game too, and maybe some others. Sometimes I don't catch all the changes when I copy/paste.

Fun fact - the Harleston Town manager led the Hares last season. Did a poor job so they punted his ass, and that's where I come in. :D

51 - Menayese for O'Brien and I change Hooper to DF; Elvis to Poacher. Paratore slots in for Wilson and midfield switch.

87 - Brough nearly runs over Paratore on his way to intercept, and then launches a long ball. They miss the header, so it bounces into the box. Menayese is there first, and he powers in his first goal for us! 1-0

7.0 for Elvis Menayese off the bench, but the story here is Alex Brough's balla 8.0 and PotM. Some day we'll get multiple guys with 7.5+, but today is not that day. Still, it's another win.

vs Cromer Town (Sterry Cup First Round First Leg)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Tom Hooper/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Wilson/Jomo Howell
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

This is bullshit that we draw the #1 team in our league for the first round. Not happy at all with this.

Garner replaces Brough's tired ass at half.

60 - Peltier for Howell; Potter for Wilson

What an absolute snore fest. Like a fucking dormouse, even.

Pasca Andrei Sorin gets hurt and is out 4 weeks. Not that he was gonna play, but you know.

@ St. Andrew's (6th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Robert Paratore/Anthony Wilson/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

42 seconds - Paratore lets it fly down the left flank for Peltier to run down and cross to Menayese. Sweet, swift, score! 1-0

7 - This is what happens when you throw 3 defenders at one guy. O'Brien, facing those obstacles after a pass from Peltier, outlets to Menayese who is all alone for his second goal of the game. 2-0

O'Brien gets badly dinged on his heel just before half, so Menayese to his position and now a Poacher, with Hooper coming on and changing to defensive forward at the break.

75 - Garner jumps in for exhausted Warrington

8.8 and PotM for Elvis Menayese obviously. And oh so close to multiple 7.5s, as we have 3 guys with 7.4 - Anthony Peltier, Robert Paratore, and Bobby Lofthouse.

Whilst we lose Jamie O'Brien for 2-3 weeks, the victory puts us in the plus side of goal differential, and we're now 2nd in the league. It's slowly starting to come together.

[Izulde]

Niall Forrester finally gets healthy, and now Anthony Wilson goes down for 5-6 weeks. We just can not keep a healthy roster on this team.

vs Lincoln Moorlands Railway (5th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Jordan Garner/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Robert Paratore/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Elvis Menayese

54 - Idzi for Paratore; Howell for Forrester

67 - O'Hanlon with the throw-in to Menayese in the far right corner of the box. The cross far post hits Howell's head for his first ever goal for us!! 1-0

Still no breakthrough game, but Jomo Howell is PotM with his 7.2 off the bench, and we get a couple 7.0s. We also march (har-har), or hop (hee-hee) into 1st place! Impressive to shut out one of the top scoring teams in the league here.

@ Mulbarton Wanderers (7th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Jackson Idzi/Shane Potter/Jomo Howell
S: Tom Hooper/Elvis Menayese

O'Hanlon moves up to MR, Christoforou switches to DR, and Massey comes in at DL, swapping out Howell at half.

53 - O'Brien comes on for Menayese. I meant to take out Hooper instead.

68 - Ugh. 0-1

87 - There that goes. 0-2

We drop to 2nd on goal differential as a result, and were looking at 3rd for a while there.

@ Cromer Town (Sterry Cup First Round Second Leg)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Jordan Garner/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Robert Paratore/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Elvis Menayese

We're playing a much more conservative, counter-attacking game with high structure and discipline for this rough away match against the top team in the league. Still bullshit that we get them first round, and the 0-0 draw on our own turf hurts. But if we can get past them here, we've a good shot at winning it all, I think.

13 - We suck at free kick defending. 0-1

Massey for Christoforou; Howell for Paratore at the break.

73 - Greening blasts one downfield to Menayese and he dribbles ere the cross to Hooper to finally snap that one's scoreless streak. I went Overload, but after this, I drop down to Standard, because the Counter just wasn't working. We're also at Structured now. 1-1

91 - We got screwed there. Menayese was totally onsides.

Brough moves up to MC and switches with Howell, Warrington coming in at DC as we give exhausted Idzi a break.

94 - We can't defend set pieces worth shit. 1-2

Hard to win when you get fucked over by the refs. We should have won that 2-1 in regulation, and I think despite the positive results of my team talk before extra time, that just deflated the shit out of us to get robbed.

It gets worse. I thought the top 2 promoted. Nope - you have to win the whole fucking thing to go up. Unbelievable.

vs Dersingham Rovers (3rd)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Rafail Christoforou/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

17 - The corner is headed away, but Peltier is right there to drill it in the corner of the net. 1-0

45 - Absolutely beautiful corner clearance by Warrington that Idzi picks up to start a counter. End move is Christoforou dribbling all the way down the left flank to almost the touchline before crossing to unmarked Peltier, and there's his second goal! 2-0

Hooper in for tired Forrester at half.

60 - Potter jumps in for Lofthouse and MC switch.

Finally a pair of 7.5+ guys, with Rafail Christoforou putting up a 7.8 and Anthony Peltier rocking the 8.9 for PotM. Unfortunately the Cromer Town juggernaut just won't stop, so after a third of the season is in the books, we're still 2nd on GD. They're +8 to our +2, so have been dominant.

Transfer In - DL/DC Adam Male (25)
Not the elite player I thought he would be because I went off the initial scouting report, but at 2.5*, he's still a terrific improvement at the spot (or so I'm hoping).

The good news is, we fend off one of our toughest challengers here.

@ Reepham Town (14th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Rafail Christoforou
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Glenn O'Hanlon/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

7 - Questionable PK, but we'll take it, and Menayese converts. 1-0

54 - Male runs up to take the clearance and pop it over the head of the defense and Menayese. It drops into box space, and O'Brien overcomes a lousy game to get there first and put it away! That's the kind of debut I like to see! 2-0

75 - Idzi for Lofthouse; Howell for Warrington

Solid up and down performances, but again, we have trouble becoming truly dominant. Adam Male gets a 7.4 in his debut and that's good enough for PotM! Exciting stuff.

Better yet, Cromer Town got upset 0-2, so they fall back 3 points of us, and we're in sole possession of 1st place for the first time this season!

[Izulde]

@ Mattishall (16th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

6 - Love seeing 'He showed great composure there' and it's Male who makes a timely interception. Later on, Peltier is on the right flank, getting pressured by two defenders, so he lays off even further right to O'Hanlon. The rocket cross clangs off the post, and Menayese shoots. It's deflected, but our Welsh striker stays with it and sinks the rebound. 1-0

21 - O'Brien is up against a wall of three defenders, so he kicks back to Idzi, who passes left to Forrester. Our team captain plays a perfect ball into the box, and by this time O'Brien has broken through. The Irish kid gets there first and puts it away with no problem. 2-0

40 - HE WAS OFFSIDES!!!! 2-1/B]

[b]42 - What the fuck?! You don't call that shit offsides, but claim O'Brien was offsides when he wasn't?! Fuck, I hate these road games.

50 - Idzi receives the throw-in and laterals to Lofthouse, who dribbles sideways a bit before laying it in perfectly for Menayese to scorch the keeper on the 1v1. 3-1

61 - Garner for Warrington and Hooper for Forrester

7.6 for Glenn O'Hanlon, 8.4 for Bobby Lofthouse, and 8.8 for PotM Elvis Menayese, who not only scored twice, but was everywhere on the pitch. Easily the most complete game we've played as a team all season long.

Mulbarton Wanderers have emerged as the new threat - just 3 points back, though I'm always happy to see Cromer Town settle for a draw.

vs Wivenhoe (5th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Jackon Idzi/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

44 - Peltier plays it right to a streaking O'Hanlon, and the firecracker shot is just barely deflected by the keeper. Goalie is still on the ground when O'Brien wins the footrace and scores. 1-0

62 - Garner for Warrington; Hooper for Menayese

90 - O'Hanlon makes a literal game saving clearance by moon shooting it all the way down the left flank to O'Brien. Two defenders on him, and he crosses to Hooper for the guaranteed victory goal. 2-0

Bobby Lofthouse PotM with a 7.7, and he continues to impress me lately, despite being rated our 6th best MC. The staff just really likes him out there. 7.6 for Jamie O'Brien and 7.5 for Adam Male, who has really solidified our backline since coming in. His late goal gave Tom Hooper a 7.1 off the bench.

vs Ellesmere (9th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

We've ourselves a nice 5 point cushion now. It really was just a matter of letting the team settle in and picking up Adam Male. Now of course, we'll probably lose.

Lazy play in the first half, so I tell the team off at halftime.

46 - Fierce Lofthouse longball into space has O'Brien there first for the first touch long strike that sizzles home. 1-0

53 - Hooper jumps on for Forrester

69 - A yellow and tiring means Idzi's out for Howell

88 - Rare misplay by Male costs us big time. 1-1

Well, not a loss, but it still snapped our win streak, and Cromer Town is back stalking us, just 3 points behind.

@ Scole United (14th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Rafail Christoforou
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Glenn O'Hanlon/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

6 - Our passes are looking a little sloppy, but Male passes to Menayese in the box. Like 5-6 guys are around him. Guess who they forgot to cover? O'Brien, who takes the short pass and slams it in. 1-0

20 - Iffy PK, but we'll take it. Menayese is probably the best all-around set piece taker in the league, so of course he has no problems converting. 2-0

45 - *Another* penalty *and* their player draws a red card! Menayese cheerfully converts this one too. 3-0

70 - Howell for O'Hanlon. Jomo's been complaining about not enough starts, so I really don't want to piss him off.

Every full-time starter except Greening (6.9) notched a 7.1 or higher. Three players with 7.5: Richard Warrington, Adam Male, and Anthony Peltier. 8.0 for Bobby Lofthouse, 7.9 for Jamie O'Brien and PotM Elvis Menayese takes home an 8.3. Yeah, I broke out the passionate joy for this one. Our best game yet.

Even better was Cromer Town getting beat 0-2 on their own turf, so halfway through the season, we have a 6 point lead!

Preseason favorite Eccleshall fired their manager. Considering they're sitting 13th right now, I'm not at all surprised.

Previous Positions
Keymer & Hassocks: In 1st place in Division Two after 7 games, but it's only by a point, and it's a tight race all throughout. They actually lost a couple games already.

Woodley Town: They only lasted one season up and are back down again. The Kestrels currently sit 3rd after 14 games, 2 points back of promotion, 5 of 1st place.

Chelmsford: After promoting back up, they're sitting 10th in the South right now through 17 games. They're also 10 points clear of relegation, and 9 behind the playoffs. 20 points behind the leaders. If the Clarets can hold serve, that would be their best finish since the 2014-15 season, when they also finished 10th.

Rotherfield: 11 games in, and they're in first place in the Mid Sussex Championship by a point. Four team race, with 4th place at 20 points. Much like Keymer & Hassocks, the moves I made set them up well to continue their dominance.

So that's two amateur teams I've built into powerhouses, and I'm hoping these March Town Hares can be the third. But this one I want to stay with and enjoy the ride to the top. Or however far I can get them.

[Izulde]

Elvis Menayese's 8 goals on the season breaks the old March Town United Hares season record in this universe. The previous high was 6, by one of the high potential players who's still hanging around.

@ Teversal (4th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

42 - O'Hanlon to Peltier and back again. Our DR dribbles all the way into the box on a 90 degree angle, and doesn't pass across until he's just outside the six yard box. The defender tries to clear, but Menayese blocks it with his body, and the ball rolls in to technically count as a goal. 1-0

Wilson will see his first game action after a long layoff, replacing tired Lofthouse at halftime.

53 - Hooper slides in for O'Brien, strikers and roles switch.

65 - Warrington suddenly veered off the striker as the pass came in. WTF? 1-1

66 - Immediate answer as Wilson passes forth to Peltier. The shot cracks off the woodwork, but it has the keeper out of the net, and Menayese quickly kicks in his 10th goal of the year on the rebound. 2-1

85 - Hooper lays it forward just enough ahead that Menayese can get to it and outrun the defense, cracking the shot from the half-circle for his hat trick! "Worth the price of admission alone" indeed. 3-1

7.6 for Anthony Peltier and 7.0 for Anthony Wilson off the bench. But this is all about Welsh rock star striker Elvis Menayese and his glamorous 9.5 hat trick in winning PotM.

vs Eccleshall (16th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Jordan Garner/Richard Warrington/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Alex Brough/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

Rough year for the preseason favorites. Fire their manager and they're now the worst team in the league. I smell a potential trap game here.

18 - Peltier intercepts and arcs a longball into the box for Menayese, who has everyone beat. The goal is easy as a Vegas hooker. 1-0

19 - Peltier dribbles into the box and I think he's going to shoot, but instead he veers wide right and crosses far post, where unmarked Forrester surprises the defense and scores his first Hares goal. 2-0

45 - Cool foot save by Greening

48 - We come out sloppy to start the half. Wilson slides on for Brough. 2-1

51 - Howell replaces Warrington, who was responsible for that goal.

70 - Like I said. Trap game. 2-2

vs Cromer Town (3rd)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Jackson Idzi/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

These guys are my archnemesis. If we can beat them for the first time this season here, that goes a long way to knocking them out of the title conversation.

16 - Male throws in to Lofthouse, who kicks it to Forrester for the first touch wingout back to Male. Cross finds Peltier to finally give our Trinidadan his first goal in a long time. 1-0

31 - Have I mentioned yet how much I hate these guys? 1-1

38 - Really, really, really hate them. 1-2

Brough moves up to MC to replace Idzi and Garner comes in at DC.

49 - Christoforou subs in for shitty O'Hanlon

Once again, we shit the bed against this team. And our lead is cut down to 4, thanks to a late own goal that rescued Mulbarton Wanderers.

@ Downham (5th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Rafail Christoforou
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Robert Paratore/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

22 seconds - Are.you.fucking.KIDDING.ME?! 0-1

22 - Howell for Paratore

39 - Hooper for Forrester

80 - Peltier passes to Menayese. Shot is blocked and Peltier gets it back, feeding Lofthouse in the box for his first ever goal for us. 1-1

I should tear them a new one, but they did step up their game in the second half and salvaged a draw out of it to maintain their 4 point edge. We're suddenly playing like ass right now though.

vs Harleston Town (7th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Adam Male/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Anthony Wilson/Anthony Peltier
S: Elvis Menayese/Jamie O'Brien

Hooper comes in for Forrester at the half. The team has stopped listening to me, though, which is worrying.

52 - O'Brien is injured, so Hooper moves up to ST and the usual switching. Lofthouse slides over to ML, O'Hanlon bumps up to MC, and Christoforou appears at DR.

And just like that, 2/3rds of the way through the season, our lead is chopped to just 2 points. We need to shake things up here.

[Izulde]

Jamie O'Brien is out of commission for 6-7 weeks. He's been inconsistent as fuck, but it's still a blow.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Ross Ibertson (27)
Took a gamble on him. He's not really worth it, argh! But he's another great corner taker to add to our arsenal. Probably our second best central midfielder overall, so perhaps he'll get a look.

Transfer In - MC Joseph Mensah (19)
For the first time all season long, we have a truly elite central midfielder. 4.5* and he rewrites the current abilities paradigm.As a matter of fact, he grades out as the best player on the entire squad. This is precisely the shot in the arm we needed.

Transfer In - MC Jay Brumpton (24)
Another upgrade at MC - we'll go in with fresh new central midfielders next game. Niall Forrester shows no interest in introducing him to the squad, so he'll lose his captain's band next year, and he'll furthermore lose his starting spot, as Bobby Lofthouse is considered our best ML now.

Transfer In - DL Matty Jones (28)
Absurdly fast and a big-time boost in talent at DL. Adam Male was good for a while, but not a long-term answer. Forrester again refuses to introduce him to the squad. So tempted to yank it right off him right now.

@ Woodbridge (12th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Joseph Mensah/Jay Brumpton/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Elvis Menayese

60 - Chez Heath, an original, replaces Menayese and Howell comes in for Lofthouse.

Strikers played like shit, but the rest of the squad was good enough to win. Thankfully, our 2 point lead holds.

Transfer In - ST Michael Kalonji (21)
Equal in ability to our Welsh star, so getting him is a huge relief. We finally have coverage for Jamie O'Brien, and a better overall player.

vs St. Andrew's (6th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Glenn O'Hanlon
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Joseph Mensah/Jay Brumpton/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

We so badly need a win right now. It's been a long time since we've gotten a victory.

59 - Jones longballs it to Lofthouse for the header to Menayese in the box. Finally, a freaking score. 1-0

74 - Howell at MR, Wilson replacing Brumpton

90 - FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!!%RHASDLFHLASHSDGOWRHTOWRHTOWERA 1-1

We fucking drop to 2nd even though we're equal on points and GD. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

I DID NOT FUCKING GO THROUGH THIS LONG ASS SEASON AND SPEND SO MUCH FUCKING TIME IN FRONT TO FUCKING PISS IT AWAY AT THE END OF THE YEAR!!!

@ Lincoln Moorlands Railway (9th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/Rafail Christoforou
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Joseph Mensah/Jay Brumpton/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

We're huge underdogs here because we haven't been able to buy a win.

13 - :( 0-1

23 - Fuck it. I'm overloading because our season's lost anyway if we don't win. Peltier hits the longball to Menayese and we get a goal. 1-1

Christoforou switches DL and O'Hanlon comes in, as does Wilson for Brumpton at half.

52 - Lofthouse crosses to all alone Peltier. First shot's deflected, but the rebound goes in!!! Time to go defensive. 2-1

We barely eke out the win on Anthony Peltier's 8.3 PotM. Mulbarton Wanderers got hammered 1-3 at their place, so we're back on top, and I'm just hoping the slump is *finally* over. Peltier also got his 8th assist of the season in this one, breaking the old March record of 7.

Transfer In - DLCR James Hammond (34)
A veteran presence to calm our backline down. 4.5* out of the DR spot, he blows away Glenn O'Hanlon and Rafail Christoforou, and is also our new best throw-in taker.

Transfer Out - Some Original Guy
Don't care.

vs Mulbarton Wanderers (2nd)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/James Hammond
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

Our entire season may well come down to this one right here, even though there's still 6 games left to play after we conclude the match, and still plenty of time for things to go haywire. Doesn't help that we lost to them last time.

8 - Booming kick by Mensah down to Kalonji, who parks on the touchline and passes back to Forrester. Scorching cross hits Menayse and his shot hits the net. 1-0

16 - Menayse cracks the corner and Brough bangs in the header with help from the post. His first goal in a Hares kit, and our first true corner goal of the season. Man, these boys are UP for it! 2-0

Jones gets carded just before half, so Male replaces him. I warn the guys not to get complacent.

60 - They start attacking, so we go defensive.

71 - Brumpton bumps tired Lofthouse

The three defenders who were there all game all grabbed 7.3 or higher, with Alex Brough the pick at 7.9. And of course, Elvis Menayse is hero of the match with his 8.2.

We're not out of the woods yet. 6 points up now, yes. But still 6 games to play. Not gonna lie, though - I'm literally shaking with relief after that one. Our boys came up huge just when we needed them to.

What a hell of a game!

[Izulde]

112 people came to that epic match with everything on the line, breaking the March attendance record from way back in 2016, which had 108 tickets sold. Elvis Menayese picks up his 5th PotM award of the season, breaking the old Hares mark of 4.

@ Dersingham Rovers (6th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/James Hammond
M: Niall Forrester/Bobby Lofthouse/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

This match got pushed back twice, so you know a short turnaround between games is coming. I also changed Mensah's role to a DLP to better fit his natural abilities.

6 - That's the kind of bomb you just can't do anything about. 0-1

24 - O'Hanlon in for Hammond

Forrester got dinged in the first half, so Lofthouse moves ML and Brumpton comes on at halftime. We're playing like garbage overall, however.

70 - Knew that penalty was coming. 0-2

90 - JFC. 0-3

Admittedly, 2 out of the 3 were impossibly lucky bombs, but come on, man. You can't drag ass out there like that. No matter if you have a now 5 point lead with 5 to play. Oh, and Niall Forrester is out 6-7 weeks to boot.

A couple of okay potential youth pulls, but nobody I want to invest in.

Then Tom Hooper gashes his leg and that's another 3-4 weeks. That Nigerian kid with the long injury? He was back for like 2 days and promptly got another long-term injury.

Another original player moves on.

vs Reepham Town (13th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/James Hammond
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Jay Brumpton/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

5 - Lofthouse plays it long left flank to Kalonji, and the cross has Menayese smashing the header in. 1-0

65 - O'Hanlon replaces Mensah; O'Brien swaps in for Menayese

It was the kind of game where Matty Jones' 7.1 was good enough for PotM. Sometimes winning ugly is just as good as anything else. Especially since Mulbarton Wanderers lost to the same nastily defensive team in Downham that we did.

4 games left. 8 point lead. We've bought ourselves some more breathing room. My assman informs me we need just 6 points out of those 4 games to guarantee the title and promotion.

Transfer In - DC Lee Hunter (22)
Slow player, but great in the air, and a big jolt of talent infusion at one of our weakest areas. Overall, this is the least talented team I'm ever had in a promotion position as we have just 6 players right now good enough for the next level, and only one player who has above next level potential - Anthony Peltier, who has Vanarama North/South upside.

I see Bojan Tetek is back with Keymer & Hassocks, as Lewis Haldane talked him into returning. When *I* try to get our Serbian to March, he says thanks but no thanks. I don't think he ever quite got over our PPA contract arguments at Chelmsford.

@ Wivenhoe (12th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Alex Brough/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Jay Brumpton/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

19 - Menayese twisted his ankle, and though I want to let him play out the half, he's clearly too hobbled by it to be effective, so O'Brien is in.

Warrington replaces tired Hunter at half.

77 - Mensah takes the free kick now that our Welsh hero is on the sideline. It connects with Warrington, who traps, controls, and fires in his first ever goal for us!!! 1-0

84 - Warrington almost had his second score on a corner kick, but instead it's deflected and the defender own goals it. Cool. 2-0

Richard Warrington was a freaking amazing sub, racking up a 7.8. James Hammond also netted a 7.8, but the PotM was Joseph Mensah's 7.9 outing.

The good news? With 3 games left, we're still up by 8 points, though Cromer Town's game in hand could cut that to 7. We also can't finish any worse than 3rd, which is an incredible single season turnaround.

The bad news? Elvis Menayese is out 6-7 weeks. Absolutely crushing injury to happen right now. :(

[Young Drachma]

Personally I've never been amazing at coming up with my own strategies for FM. I prefer to find a tactic on the SI forums and just plug-and-play and let my role be about finding the right players to fit the system and managing morale.

Same.

[Izulde]

Okay, so we're not alone. :D That said, I have made tweaks myself, and outright told the staff to go fuck itself with a couple of suggestions.

Once we have it sorted out one way or another how we'll place, I'll go through my usual purge. I hate having large rosters. Since we've made so many recent additions, we'll once again skip the transfer deadline.

Our point requirements are down to just 3, so a win or three draws would do it.

@ Ellesmere (7th)
G: Kyle Greening
D: Matty Jones/Alex Brough/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Jay Brumpton/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Jamie O'Brien

41 - Jones with the throw-in to Lofthouse. Cross-field pass to Peltier preludes a powerball down the middle of the pitch for Kalonji. The daring strike from 25 yards out hits the net to *finally* give him his first March Hares goal. 1-0

52 - Warrington for Hunter; Hooper for O'Brien

59 - Jones with a smooth interception and pass to Hooper. Short pass to Kalonji, and the shot is body blocked and bounces off to the side. Kalonji stays with it though, tracking the ball down and firing in a second time. This one's good, and he's doubled his Hares goals in one game! 2-0

8.0 for Anthony Peltier and of course 8.8 for PotM Michael Kalonji, who has DR of Congo bloodlines, stepping up with his best game when we needed it most.

WE'RE GOING UP TO EASTERN DIVISION ONE!!!!!

In the title writeup, the author notes "adds to the growing list of accomplishments in an already impressive coaching career." Granted, those successes have mostly been with amateur teams, or all of them, if you count that Woodley Town failed to promote after I got them within striking distance, but still.

Listing only the senior team members because I'm lazy:

Goalkeeper
Kyle Greening (19) (Wales) - 1.5/3
Mark Blackman (18) - 1.5/4

Logically, Blackman should be the starter. But I love my tradition of non-English keepers I've established in this dynasty - in fact I don't think I've started a single English goalie except in cases of injuries. Obviously finding a new one to take the mantle is a major priority. In fact, I've never before won a title in FM with this low-rated a pair of keepers.

Defenders Left
Rafail Christoforou (24) (Cyprus) 0.5/1
Adam Male (26) - 2/2
Matty Jones (28) - 2.5/2.5
James Hammond (34) - 0.5/0.5

I like Jones and Male as depth guys. As starters at the next level, not at all. We really need a new impact player here, but we spent most of the year trying to find one and failed. Still an area of critical upgrade need.

Defenders Center
Alex Brough (23) - 2/2.5
Richard Warrington (21) - 2.5/4
Male - 0.5/0.5
Jordan Garner (28) - 2/2
Hammond - 1/1
Lee Hunter (22) - 3.5/4.5
Pascal Andrei Sorin (22) (Romania) - 0.5/1.5

I can totally build around Warrington and Hunter, and I love how Brough keeps outperforming his talent level. I feel like we're okay here long-term, but I wouldn't mind a more ready talent if I find one. Sorin is out.

Defenders Right
Glenn O'Hanlon (31) - 2.5/2.5
Christoforou - 1.5/2
Hammond - 4/4
Sorin - 0.5/0.5

Elite right now, but when the wall hits, we're left scrambling to replace Hammond. O'Hanlon has been fairly good, but a young guy to be the heir apparent is an emergency need for next season.

Midfielders Right
Anthony Peltier (19) (Trinidad & Tobago) - 2.5/4
Chris Bailey (23) - 0.5/2.5
O'Hanlon - 0.5/0.5

I think Peltier is being drastically underrated by my staff. He stopped scoring a lot of goals after we brought in better strikers, but every game he's putting up good numbers. Our top assists guy, and one I expect to stay with us for quite a while. We really need depth here, however.

Midfielders Center
Brough - 0.5/1.5
Bobby Lofthouse (29) - 0.5/0.5
O'Hanlon - 0.5/0.5
Niall Forrester (23) - 0.5/4
Jackson Idzi (20) (Wales) - 1/3
Tom Hooper (23) - 0.5/3.5
Anthony Wilson (24) - 1.5/2
Joseph Mensah (20) - 3.5/3.5
Jay Brumpton (24) - 2/3.5
Robert Paratore (28) (Australia) - 2/2
Joe Dymond (19) - 5 silver/3.5
Ross Ibertson (27) - 1/1

Lot of bodies here, but very little talent. Mensah is the only player I see sticking around more than a couple seasons, and I'd really like to find a truly great partner for him. A lot of cuts happening here. This has been the toughest position all season long for us to find talent for, and will be a primary focus over the summer.

Midfielders Left
Lofthouse - 2/2
Forrester - 2/5
Hooper - 1/4.5

Forrester needs to develop greater consistency. He was too hot and cold this season. Loved what Lofthouse did, but he's not a long-term solution. If I can find a more ready now talent, I'll definitely take it, but it'd need to be of the 3.5 variety.

Strikers
Elvis Menayese (26) (Wales) - 3/3
Jamie O'Brien (19) (Ireland) - 2/3
Hooper - 0.5/4.5
Michael Kalonji (21) - 2.5/4
Chez Heath (24) - 0.5/2.5
Christian Voss (22) - 0.5/2.5

Lot of belief that Hooper can be elite, and Kalonji is very, very promising. Overall, we're solid here, and you can expect Heath and Voss to be cut immediately, which they are. I'd love to find someone who's elite right now in the offseason.

A ton of people cut, and I send my scout out to literally go over every single fully non-English and partially English keeper who has declared for a non-English team.

Don't feel like playing out the last two games right now. Will do that tomorrow.

[Izulde]

vs Mettishall (Doesn't matter what position)
G: Mark Blackman
D: Matty Jones/Alex Brough/Lee Hunter/Rafail Christoforou
M: Bobby Lofthouse/Jay Brumpton/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Jamie O'Brien

12 - Mensah hits Brough on the corner for the score. 1-0

54 - Hooper for Kalonji; Forrester for Lofthouse

91 - Terrible header clearance by the defense is into space, and Hooper is there first to net the 1v1 with seconds to go. 2-0

Alex Brough's 7.4 is PotM worthy, and Tom Hooper tacked on a 7.0 with his late goal. With nothing to play for, we're just going through the motions.

Dersingham Rovers win the Sterry Cup for the second time.

As we play out the string, here's what the Hares' All-Time Best 11 looks like:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/originalalltimeb11_zpsdzoodlzg.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/originalalltimeb11_zpsdzoodlzg.jpg.html)

Needless to say I expect quite a few of this year's March Town United Hares team to crash that pitiful party.

vs Scole United (16th)
G: Mark Blackman
D: Matty Jones/Alex Brough/Lee Hunter/Rafail Christoforou
M: Niall Forrester/Jay Brumpton/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

31 - Piss poor free kick defense. 0-1

Lofthouse on for Forrester whilst Hooper replaces Menayese at half.

62 - Kalonji kicks back to Brumpton for the pass up to Hooper. Four defenders on him, so he threads the needle into the box where Kalonji waits to slam it home. 1-1

83 - The ball bounces off the defender and Kalonji gets there first for the escape pass to Lofthouse. On his way to running off the pitch, he crosses it to Peltier, who sinks the go-ahead goal. 2-1

PotM and 8.2 for Jay Brumpton, 7.8 for Anthony Peltier, and 7.2 bench showing by Bobby Lofthouse. A tale of two halves as they got their shit together after an awful first half. In particular, yelling at the defense made them snap back in the final 45.

Good thing we did, because 168 people came to the last match of the season. Hopefully we can convert some of those into season ticket holders next season, and greatly improve on our lousy 6 of this year.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/march1sttitle_zpszagn1x3i.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/march1sttitle_zpszagn1x3i.jpg.html)

The title was obviously a lot closer than it looked, and I think if we lose to Mulbarton Wanderers, this ends up looking much different. That was the real turning point of the year - it officially announced we were out of our midseason slump and were in control of our destiny.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/marchstatsy1_zpsoqdcu5es.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/marchstatsy1_zpsoqdcu5es.jpg.html)

Not pictured: Lee Hunter with 6.68 in 4 appearances.

So that shattered the previous March single game attendance record by a ton, as you can imagine. Cromer Town set a league average attendance record with 108.

I set up a tutoring link between Jomo Howell and James Hammond to improve Jomo's on-pitch game, so we'll see how that one goes.

Only Bobby Lofthouse breaks into the All-Time 11, probably due to appearances. That'll change over the coming years.

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/marchy1awards_zpskkeuvpuh.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/marchy1awards_zpskkeuvpuh.jpg.html)

Anthony Peltier got a haircut, going from the Nerlens Noel flattop to the dreads. I'm terribly disappointed. :( I'm also stunned Elvis Menyaese only got 23% of the vote, and that Peltier won a majority. Not what I would have expected at all.

And then this bombshell hits:

http://i341.photobucket.com/albums/o395/Izulde08/CK2andsuch/marchsemipro_zpsv9l83r9q.jpg (http://s341.photobucket.com/user/Izulde08/media/CK2andsuch/marchsemipro_zpsv9l83r9q.jpg.html)

I was not expecting that at *all*. Come on, man. You guys spent five years at the next level and never went semi-pro, and the minute you promote back up, you're converting?!

They come in with a lowball $2.1k one year deal and are only willing to go up to $2.5k, getting mad when I ask for $3.5k and cutting off negotiations.

I get them to re-open it, and eventually talk them up to $2.8k on a one year contract. That's peanuts compared to what I was making at Woodley Town ($7k) and Chelmsford ($15k), but I hope they'll show me the love after next season.

So none of my players are willing to sign written contracts due to the low amounts set by the board, but I work on inking the key ones to PPA deals. I also lock down all of my staff on 2 year deals ranging from $3.5k to $4.3k.

I also have a couple players coming on amateur deals that were issued prior to the semipro upgrade.

After I lock down Elvis Menyaese, Richard Warrington, Jay Brumpton, Niall Forrester, Michael Kalonji, Joseph Mensah, and Anthony Peltier, I still have a little over $99k in our original wage budget of $128k. That means both starting strikers, my entire starting midfield, and one of my starting central defenders are all committed to the club for next season.

[Izulde]

We doubled our bank income with a $10.76k profit. And those cheapasses only gave me $2.8k. Ridiculous.

Players who love playing for March
Anthony Peltier

Players who love me as their manager
None

Oh well, at least Peltier has love for the Hares.

Transfer In - DL Elliott Norman (24) (Welsh)
Elite potential (5*), but he's just 1* currently. I don't care that he's behind our other DL - with that upside, he's going to run out there every single game and work on developing into the star he's capable of being. $50 PPA.

Transfer In - GK Adam Potton (24)
My run of non-English keepers likely ends here. I hate to do it, but there's scrubs galore there, and Potton at 3/4.5* is so far ahead of the other netminders, I have to do it. Unless a miracle happens. Amateur contract FTW.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Dan Murrall (20)
3.5/4* and we just made a significant upgrade in our central midfield, allowing us to push one of the starters down to the subs. Jay Brumpton, IOW. Amateur contract FTW.

No miracle. I even give Bojan Tetek more PPA money than he's asking for, and he's still staying with Keymer & Hassocks. I similarly whiff on the other old players I try to bring with me. V.V. frustrating.

We set a new March average attendance record last season of 93. Have to go all the way back to 2017 to see the last high average of 86. Anthony Peltier also smashed the average rating record with 7.23, blowing out the 6.98 set by Joe Dymond.

Oh that reminds me. After semipro promotion, March Town United Hares carry a value of $65k. Average ticket price is a steal at $8, season tickets are $128.

28 games in Eastern Counties Division One and the top two teams get to go up. I don't think we're ready for that yet, but we'll see what happens. Last season's meeting, we said we'd shoot for mid-table.

My staff recommends the 4-2-3-1 Wide, the 4-4-1-1, or the 4-5-1. I was actually considering the 4-5-1, given our central midfielder pickups, so we'll see how that goes. Who they think is going to play AMC in either the 4-2-3-1 Wide or the 4-4-1-1 is beyond me. We'll keep the flat 4-4-2 we used last year as a backup, even though we never got to Accomplished with it.

Anthony Peltier gets a sports hernia and is out 6-7 weeks. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: That definitely sidelines him for at least the preseason, and fucks us because we have no adequate cover.

Transfer In - DLCR/DM/MLCR Ben Rowe (17)
Versatile player and a real bargain at just $35 p/a. Will be our starting MR until Anthony Peltier comes back, but might see time as our starting ML after that. Upside is limited though at 3.5*. He carried a $1k value before we snapped him up on a free transfer from his previous club.

The board is so thrilled with my management of the finances, they've upgraded the transfer budget payout to 35%. Uh, great. But it's kind of useless when no one's signed a written deal, you know?

Promotion Odds
Braintree Reserves - Team Bury - King's Lynn Reserves - Leiston Reserves: 1-4

March Town United Hares - Needham Market Reserves: 1-2

IOW, there's 6 teams viewed as contenders to promote this year. We happen to be one of them, and are pegged to finish 6th. Which would also be the best Hares showing in this universe.

Jordan Garner damages ligaments during friendly season and he's out 10-12 months. Not a crippling blow or anything, but still an impact to our depth.

We finish 3-2 in friendlies, and shoot me now if I have to go through that crap again. Fortunately, I find the setting to let my assman handle it, so I never, ever have to suffer through those boring games ever again.

[Izulde]

Niall Forrester retains his captaincy, with Adam Potton taking the vice-captaincy from Adam Brough, simply because I don't see Brough being a starter on this team anymore.

If we win the league, the board will divvy out a whopping $2k in bonuses amongst the whole team. Jeez, these are cheap bastards.

After playing the 4-5-1 all preseason, my assman says we should go back to the 4-4-2 and run the same basic setup we did last year. No shit, really? I hate the way the 4-5-1 plays anyway.

The board wants a top half finish in the league, and to at least get to the Quarterfinal of the Eastern Counties League Cup. No pressure or anything.

vs Team Bury
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

10 - Hammond to Murrall to Peltier and in the box to Menaeyese for our first goal of the season. Murrall made a fantastic clearance to start the sequence, by the way, and impressed the hell out of me in friendlies with his long range shooting. 1-0

Rowe switches over to the right side, and Lofthouse comes in, giving Peltier a breather.

49 - Remember how it took forever for Kalonji to score his first goal with us last season? Not here, as Menayese hits him on the corner for the long header score. 2-0

59 - Brough in for Murrall and MC switch.

78 - Mensah wings it to Rowe right side, and the dribble and center connects with Kalonji for his second goal of the game! 3-0

Every full-time starter except Mensah, who had a 6.9, put up a 7 or better. Absolutely amazing performance by Adam Potton with 7.9, the best I've seen by a goalie yet in this universe. 7.7 for Lee Hunter, who I might finally pay now, 7.6 for Ben Rowe, who might become a personal favorite, 8.8 for Michael Kalonji, and 9.0 for Welsh still a star Elvis Menayese, Mr. PotM.

Fantastic statement win to open the year. That's our 6th league win a row, which breaks a team record. Lee Hunter raised his demands, the fucker, and he's insistent on being the highest paid player on the squad. GTFOH.

And fuck the supporters too, for only buying 6 season tickets again. Cheap ass bitches!

Okay, I'm disgruntled now. Break time while I ponder yelling at those jackass fans who won't pay out to support the Hares. Cheap board, cheap fans. If I wasn't so fucking determined to make this club balla as hell, I'd be looking for one where there's actually some damn support.

[Izulde]

By the way, after elevating the Hares to semipro status following that title, my reputation doubles from 5% to 10%.

@ Stowmarket (7th)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

7 - Mensah blasts the ball down the left flank for Rowe to pick up and cross to unmarked Menayese for the short header goal. 1-0

32 - Hammond throws it in to Menayese on the right side of the box. The Welshman dribbles back, then crosses to Jones. The keeper misjudges his jump, and there's our DL's first ever Hares goal. 2-0

56 - O'Brien subs in for Kalonji

61 - In comes Christoforou for Hammond

70 - Murrell to Rowe to O'Brien, and hello! 3-0

7.8 for Lee Hunter, who seems damn determined to get his money. 8.8 for Matty Jones, 7.7 for Daniel Murrall, 7.9 for Ben Rowe, and 9.0 with his second PotM for Elvis Menayese.

All right, Hunter, you fucking thief. Oh, now he doesn't want to talk to me. Whatever.

@ Leiston Reserves (17th)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

22 seconds - Murrall with the kickoff steal and pass to Kalonji. Out to Peltier on the outside of the box. Short pass in to Menayese, and the good times just keep on rolling. 1-0

30 - Mensah lofts it to Hammond, and the cross to Rowe sees the header shot clang off the post. No problem, as Menayese is there to slot in the rebound. 2-0

38 - I suppose it'd be silly to think we'd win everything 3-0. 2-1

At half, Christoforou replaces Jones; Rowe moves to DC and out with Warrington, whilst Forrester takes over at ML.

55 - Kalonji is knocked pretty badly, so O'Brien jumps in for him.

62 - FFS. Now I can't play the music video I wanted to. 2-2

I'll be nice and say we were unlucky there. There's no excuse for that type of fuckup, though. And we lose Michael Kalonji for 6-7 weeks on top of it.

vs Diss (19th)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Jamie O'Brien/Elvis Menayese

30 - Hey, thanks for the own goal on that corner! 1-0

42 - This is why I don't fucking pay your sorry ass, Hunter! Fucking PK. 1-1

Rowe flips right side, Forrester in, and Hunter's ass sits the fuck down for Brough.

52 - Mensah, you fucking moron. Don't push the keeper to disallow a goal. :mad:

75 - Mensah long balls it, and Rowe, who has been playing like a fucking moron in the second half, has to hustle like a rapper selling his shitty CD on the street for a donation. He does get the ball and the cross to Menash sees the only great player on this team head the fucker in. 2-1

85 - Forrester is all yeah, I'm gonna shoot this down left for O'Brien to get it, and then the Irish guy is all yeah I'm gonna cross it to the Welsh dude, and Menayese is all yeah, I'm going to fucking head this bitch in, because I'm fucking destroying this league. 3-1

8.4 for Joseph Mensah, 7.5 for Daniel Murrall, and 8.8 for PotM Elvis Menayese, who has like 6 goals in 4 games.

Luke Hunter can kiss his starting spot goodbye. Alex Brough is still the damn truth. Sorry I cut your vice captaincy bro.

4 games in and it's going to be a dogfight in the division. Lot of teams are starting out great. Including Welsham-le-Willows, who are in first after 5 games with 12 points. We have 10 after 4, and our game in hand is against the team below us.

Transfer Out - GK Kyle Greening - $4.5k
These midseason poaches are going to scare the shit out of me. Luckily, Greening was really our third best keeper, last season's title aside.

[Izulde]

@ Caister (3rd)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Jamie O'Brien/Elvis Menayese

Critical early season matchup for sure.

11 - Potton with the goal kick intended for Peltier, but it goes past him. Fortunately the Trinidadan tracks it down. His pass to Murrall also whiffs, but the intended target also gets to it first. Pass out to Rowe actually hits, and so does the cross, with Meanayese's header hitting the net. Defense cries offsides, and they were probably right to do so. 1-0

23 - Refs equal the bad call there. 1-1

43 - Brough boots it out to Rowe and the center to Menayese translates to a long kick goal. 2-1

At half, we switch to a 4-4-1-1 with Murrall at AMC to replace the injured O'Brien. Rowe switches right and Forrester on at ML. Brumpton takes the vacant MC spot.

64 - Rowe laterals to Brumpton, and the pass into the box to Menayese results in a hat trick!!! 3-1

9.0 for Ben Rowe, 7.9 for Dan Murrall, and of course 9.5 for PotM Elvis Menayese, who has become even better this year than he was last season.

Jamie O'Brien is down for 2-3 weeks.

Transfer Out - DL Adam Male - $5k
Wanted PT that I just couldn't give him, so off he goes to make some actual money.

vs Long Stratton (2nd)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Elvis Menayese

Back to back vital matches. Yeesh. Tom Hooper just got back from injury himself, so keeping our strikers healthy this year has been damned impossible.

29 - Ugh. 0-1

55 - Howell for Warrington; Hammond to DC and Christoforou in at DR.

Ben Rowe blew two easy shots that would have won us the game, so I'm not happy at all with the result, to say the least. A drop down to 2nd place now.

[Izulde]

@ Newmarket (18th)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Alex Brough/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Tom Hooper/Elvis Menayese

19 - Whatever. 0-1

32 - FUCK YOU! HOOPER WAS ONSIDES!

37 - We'll take that own goal. 1-1

47 - Absolutely shit free kick defending 1-2

Christoforou replaces Hammond; Howell in for Warrington at half and a whole lot of screaming.

46 - Menayese kicks out to Christoforou and gets it back on the longball in the box. They're screaming the goal is offsides but suck a dick. You already got a bullshit call earlier in the game. 2-2

72 - Awarded the PK and Menayese converts for his second goal of the game. 3-2

77 - Hooper intercepts a header interception on the goal kick with a header of his own and lays it to Menayese in the box. Dribble, dribble find spot. And there's the hat trick goal! 4-2

9.4 and PotM for Elvis Menayese obvs, but hat tips to Daniel Murrall (7.9) and Rafail Christoforou (7.2 off the bench).

Unfortunately we still drop to 3rd, as Saffron Walden won their game in hand earlier, so we're 3 points out of promotion places.

vs Hendon (10th)
G: Adam Potton
D: Matty Jones/Richard Warrington/Lee Hunter/James Hammond
M: Ben Rowe/Daniel Murrall/Joseph Mensah/Anthony Peltier
S: Michael Kalonji/Elvis Menayese

27 - Hammond longballs in the box for Kalonji, but it's headed away. Rowe is right there to get it, and he feeds Peltier in the box for his first goal of the year! The Trinidadan is back to his Nerlens Noel haircut btw, so yay. 1-0

39 - Fucking corner kicks. 1-1

49 - Howell for Hunter and Hammond takes the other DC spot, with Christoforou in at DR.

62 - Hammond blasts the free kick down the right flank, and Peltier gets there just before it crosses the touchline. Cross far post and Rowe kicks it into the wide open goal. 2-1

73 - Fuck this backline. 2-2

83 - Seriously, just fuck them. 2-3

We crash all the way down to 4th, and now we're way, way behind the curve.

Fuck it. I'm bored and irritated. Putting this one on the shelf for now.