[Izulde]

I decided to keep going for now.

Transfer In - AMC ST Hakeem Islam - Pakistani - 30 years old
Yep, we're bringing a second Pakistan National Team member. 10 Off the Ball and Work Rate, 11 Finishing, and 14 Stamina. Obvious candidate to take over the captaincy. He'll start in the Shadow Striker role while George Russell is out.

@ Crawley Panthers (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinal)

13 - Hadley throws in to Wickens near the left touchline. Short pass to Long just outside the box, and the cross to Britton turns into a goal when the wall of defenders fails to do anything. 1-0

14 - Islam laterals to Long on the left wing and while the defender steals the ensuing entry into the box, Wickens gets it right back and the keeper's following deflection rolls right into the net. 2-0

30 - Garcia to Islam to Britton to Wickens and the keeper is too slow to stop the near-post poke of our leading scorer. 3-0

35 - Hoyle with the sudden steal and on the counter, Wickens runs Long's longball to the touchline. Keeper intercepts the cross but can only push it away in the rain... right into oBritton's feet for the easy score 4-0

Sanchez subs in for exhausted Long at the half.

Matching 9.4s for Jake Britton and Ben Wickens, with the former getting PotM. Ollie Long netted an 8.9 before he caught a breather.

Transfer In - DLC/WBL/Yellow MLC Shabir Khan - Pakistani - 30 years old
Yep, all three of Pakistan's National Team are now Mavericks. 10 Teamwork, 11 Acceleration and Stamina make him our new DL, dropping Nick Hadley to a bench role.

Hakeem Islam wants to be an assman after his playing days; the other two scouts. I'm here for all three coming on board our staff, even if Pakistan is terrible in terms of its soccer success.

Fascinating article about the situation from 2020:

Pakistan is the largest exporter of footballs but the game struggles for popularity within its borders - Sport360 News

And I just have to include this cool screenshot:



The other of the top five players are also playing for English clubs and in their 30s. Peeking at the nation's youth rating, it's not exactly the place to go shopping for newgen talent, but it's a little better than I expected.

vs Cuckfield Rangers III (1st)
Making up a game in hand here.

4 - Garcia to Islam to Wickens and the long-range shot is deflected. Ball rolls out and Britton barges in to bang in the medium-range rebound. 1-0

6 - Fluke goal by Watts. Okay. 2-0

18 - Back line got caught sleeping there. 2-1

37 - This is bullshit. Their fouls get a talking to. Ours get yellow cards. One of them is Wonder Wickens, who in this sequence shorts to Watts, who winds his way into the box before passing back to Wickens for the score. 3-1

64 - Hadley subs in for Khan; Sanchez for Islam

90 - They should have scored there. The ref is completely biased, by the way - two PKs we should have been awarded and got neither one.

Andrew Watts takes PotM with an 8.0, followed by Ben Wickens with a 7.6. Workmanlike win rather than the whizbangers we've gotten used to.

Still, a vital victory.

@ East Grinstead Town III (9th)
We get Russell back. Hadley is in at DL for tired Khan.

3 - Wickens is facing heavy pressure in the box, so he lays off to Russell. The goalie leaps out to stop it, but the ball squirts loose and Watts sinks the rebound for his fifth goal of the season. 1-0

11 - So.much.bad.passing. Wickens picks up a loose ball and runs untouched to put away the doubler, his 20th goal. 2-0

64 - Sanchez for Britton; England for O'Hara because both those starters have been trash today.

George Russell shakes off the rust for a 7.9 PotM nod, with Ben Wickens and Warren Garcia just behind at 7.8.

We pick up a new sponsorship deal worth about $1.4k a year over two years. Okay. More money is good.

@ Fairwarp (Malins Challenge Cup Semi-Final)

21 - Great strip by Siddiqui to start a counter. Watts' pass to Britton in the box results in a return because there's no opening. The cross is intercepted and the defender taps back to keeper... who drops the ball. Wickens of course buries the error. 1-0

31 - Just a phenomenal shot. Couldn't stop that one. First time in a while we've drawn after scoring first. 1-1

34 - Watts, the master of the fluke goal, everyone! Half of his six scores this year have been unintentional, including this one. 2-1

43 - Long sends it to Wickens' head for the nod-on to Russell. Our Shadow Striker can't find the shot so he lays off to Britton, who takes advantage of the keeper's dare. 3-1

At half, O'Hara is pulled for England, Khan slides over to the other DC spot, and Carter comes on at DL. Both our centre backs have been shit today.

63 - Britton takes a knock, so Islam is in.

84 - Garcia passes to Watts on the right wing. Andrew's been eating their lunch all game and they don't have anyone on him. Stupid. Dribble, cross, and there's Islam's first Mavericks goal! 4-1

This was the Andrew Watts (9.2) and George Russell (8.2) Show. On to the Final!

Jake Britton is out a couple weeks. Not that it matters much thanks to Pakistan.