FM2012 - 2 Live Crewe (And US Too!)

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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


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


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

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

[GoldenEagle]

Why couldn't you renew Asante's loan?

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

[Abe Sargent]

Rivalry Time.

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


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


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

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

Why couldn't you renew Asante's loan?

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

April has arrived. Matches:


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

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

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


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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

Final results:

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

Relegated are Hereford and Accrington.

We won with 96 points.


Stats:

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

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


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

[Abe Sargent]

Who is leaving


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

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

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

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


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



Players go on holiday for the summer.

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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

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

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

Cambridge and York got promoted to League 2.


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

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

[Abe Sargent]

Time to see what my new salary can do

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

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

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

Our three major new signings, one accidental, to major


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

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

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

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


Bunjaku




Carlos

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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

People that are leaving:

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to July

New players coming of Bosman:

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

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

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

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

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

McKee extended his contract with his club.


Larbi




Gonzalez





Daineche

[Abe Sargent]

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

Joe McKee has joined us

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

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


Beattie

[Abe Sargent]

Denmark won the Euro

My starting 11

Gk Carlos

DC Eric Addo

DC Hurita Ilunga

DC Nasser Daineche

MC Joe McKee

MC Simon Powell

MC Fabrice Jau

MR Kamel Larbi

ML Cristian Gonzalez

ST Shaun Miller

ST James Beattie


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

Salary is 35,686. Budget is 42,133


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

Players in the last year of their deal of note:


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


Shaun Miller

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

We have championship outfit Wigan in the League Cup.

The trial game is about to commence.

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

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

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

Compared to:

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


benali

[Abe Sargent]

Fiscal Value – Which players are worth the most?

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

Youth

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

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


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

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

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


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

[GoldenEagle]

How did you work the deal to get McKee back?

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

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

Any interest from bigger clubs in Nick Powell yet?

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

I move George Ray to Stalybridge on a loan



2012-13


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

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

How did you work the deal to get McKee back?

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

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

Any interest from bigger clubs in Nick Powell yet?

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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


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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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

Sept Games:

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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


October Games:

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


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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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


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


Meet our new player

I hand him #8 jersey

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


Quintin

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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


Welcome to November

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

November Games

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


Just three league games this month

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


We will host Coventry in the Paint Trophy.

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

Standings:

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

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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


Jan Games:

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


Stewart

[Abe Sargent]

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


Daineche and Dunsauskas in Team of Week.


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

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


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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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



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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

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

February –

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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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



Owen

[Abe Sargent]

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


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

[Alf]

Michael Owen. Geez !

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


March is here.

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

[Abe Sargent]

Originally Posted by Alf

Michael Owen. Geez !

I know

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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


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


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


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


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

[Abe Sargent]

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



Starting 11

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

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

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


Here we go,

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

[Abe Sargent]

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

The Last Matches of 2012-2013 Season

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


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


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