[Butter]

October ‘07
Cash balance: $2,426,600

We open the month with a LONG layoff thanks to international action taking many of our players out of town. We begin play after 21 days off, finding ourselves in 19th place, but with 2 games in hand on the competition.

Oct. 20, Match 13 v. #15 Reading
We get off to a flying start, as in the 6th minute. Eagles breaks free down the right, then crosses low for Toure-Maman, who scores past the diving keeper. We keep hold of the match, and get a 2nd in the 40th minute, as Eagles flick on to Hagman finds him just onside… Hagman with a long run, then he gets around the keeper and scores to make it 2-0. Reading get one back in the 55th, as Opdal misses a punch and allows the header into the unprotected goal. Hagman puts it beyond doubt in the 71st, though, as he gets the ball just to the right of the box, then sends a magnificent tight cross to the far post, where Honore Kabongo is waiting… and he heads it into the back of the net. Balazs Borbely finally shows some of the skill I paid for over the summer, rating a 9 and earning man of the match honors for winning 17/18 headers, and making 14 pass interceptions.[/b]
Win, 3-1, up to 16th

Former EPL player Andy Cole is named new head coach at Tranmere.

Oct. 24, Match 14 v. #10 QPR
After a scrum in front of the box, Matt Jansen collects the ball and shoots early and low past the keeper and scores! Jansen puts us up 1-0 in the 16th minute with his first goal of the year. QPR get it back 5 minutes later though, as another bouncy ball winds up going in off the post. We head back into the lead off a corner kick in the 40th, as Kabongo’s corner finds Sarmov in the middle of the area… the keeper turns it away, but Hagman is there to score the rebound! And 2 minutes later, we strike again, this time Hagman the architect, as he passes low to Jansen, who hits it forward 10 yards for Eagles… Eagles runs onto it and powers a low shot in past the keeper to make it 3-1. QPR gets another goal in the 62nd, as Borbely leaves his man to attack the ball only to see the pass played in behind him, leading to an easy low shot past Opdal. And QPR get level in the 80th, as a wide open cross finds a wide open striker at the back post… and he heads it in. Both Sanou and Lavie to blame on that one. Tough lead to blow, as we take a single point from the Rangers.
Draw, 3-3, up to 15th

Oct. 27, Match 15 @ #2 Cardiff
Back to the 4-4-2 counter-attacking for this one. Hagman has a seat in favor of Kabongo and Christie up front today. Cardiff have yielded just 10 goals in 15 matches. Just before halftime, they yield their 11th, as we strike on a counter… Sarmov knocks a great ball ahead of Christie, who dribbles to the edge of the box then successfully chips the keeper to put us ahead in the 45th minute. Opdal picks up a minor injury midway through the 2nd half… Cuellar comes on for him. We back into a 4-5-1 with 20 minutes left, trying to cling to our sad goal advantage. Cuellar with two outstanding saves in injury time, as he stops a point blank header than keeps in front of it and stops the rebound attempt as well. We kill the clock and take the points! Balazs Borbely continues his Jekyll & Hyde season, winning another MoM in central defense.
Win, 1-0, up to 12th, 4 pts. out of 6th

I think we’re going to try out the ol’ attacking tactics at home/counter-attacking tactics on the road style for a bit and see where that gets us.

Danny Reed is setting our reserve team on fire… he has 16 goals in 15 appearances, and is averaging an 8 rating… our reserve team is solid, finally growing into respectability after a couple of very lean seasons. They’re at 10-1-1, and lying first in the Group 4 Reserves table.

Oct. 30, Match 16 @ #16 Leeds
Our team’s superior depth and conditioning should help show in this match, as Leeds have several tired looking bodies, while all of our starters begin the match at 95% stamina or better. In the 6th minute, some sloppy passing by Leeds is exposed, as Jansen sticks a toe in on a backpass to the keeper… the ball bounces free, and Hagman hits it from 25 yards at an open net to give us the lead. Hagman’s 10th of the year already. 2 minutes later, it’s Chris Eagles beating his man down the right, then sending in an early ball to the near post, where Matt Jansen heads it in to give us a 2-0 lead after just 8 minutes. Just 5 minutes later, Jansen with a great ball ahead of Hagman, he controls it, gets past 2 men, and slots it past the keeper for a 3-0 lead. The domination continues, as Hagman crosses this time for Jansen, and his header deflects in past a defender for a 4-0 lead in the 35th. Leeds pull one back on a corner kick in the 39th minute. Meanwhile, Simon Hagman scores again, after a great ball by Eagles… Hagman’s 2nd 3-goal-in-1-half performance this season. We take a 5-1 lead into the locker room. Leeds put in another in the 57th, off a free kick and volley in at the near post. In the 66th minute, Spurr with a great long ball that Jansen latches onto… he gets around the keeper, and scores it. Jansen with his hat-trick. Great timing on that run, and just a smart ball by Spurr. The scoring ends there, but not before Matt Jansen awakens… earning a 10 alongside Hagman’s 10.
Win, 6-2, up to 10th – 4 pts. behind 6th place Coventry

Appears we’re back on track, as we close out an undefeated October at 3-1-0. Simon Hagman continues to be the most exciting player in the league… he’s hit 12 goals already.