When They Kick At Your Front Door: A Brixton FC Story (FM18) - Page 3

BrixtonFC · 09-08-2024, 09:02 PM

February 2019

I get knocked down but I get up again

I really don’t understand the training module of FM18. I can’t believe we continue to have bad training performances for players who are absolutely rocking it on the field. I did a little research and the only thing I can figure out is that players below the age of 23 get burnt out quickly. Maybe I need to have heavy match-to-match rotation and have only 5 or 7 players on the bench. We’ll give that a try.

At least Kemar is slaying it!

Financial Matters
We are doing quite well, thank you very much. Last month we made £169.5k bringing our season-to-date total to almost £335k. February should be good too with an appearance in the FA Cup at home.

Board Confidence
My untouchableness is now up to 88%. I’m getting pretty good at this.

Dynamics
With Pearson’s departure we are down to 7 Influential Players.

Player Development
I had great anticipation for this day. I knew it was coming and I’m very excited. My AssMan thinks Kemar Kirkpatrick “Is very well-suited to Premier League football.” That’s a Brixton product, people!

On the transfer front, Shamrock Rovers of Ireland’s Premier Division offer a contract to Declan McNulty. We’ll see if he decides to stay. He doesn’t have an option I can activate so we might could lose him. A team above us in the pyramid is leaking to the press they want Collopy, a DC in our U18s. However, “they are not expected to stand any chance whatsoever of being able to pull off such an audacious swoop.” My staff must have him pegged all wrong as teams keep talking about getting him. “Audacious” is a bit of a misnomer: He’s currently valued at a whopping £75.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this update, I’m going to go to 7 subs named, 3 used, unless there’s an injury after the third substitution. Now let’s see if our David-selves can take down a mini-Goliath. Considering there was no pre-match press conference I’m thinking that the match engine is not going to tip off that we’re going to win, as was my take on the Millwall match. Ergo, we lose this match. Also, an email on 1 February said that a good crowd of 4,700 fans were expected but in the pre-match screen I see that 5,239 have paid to attend.

FA Cup Fourth Round
vs. Bolton, 2 February 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Harding, Cullen, Jones, Macey

But wait! There’s a tunnel interview! A question about the team selection offering no surprises. “Of course not,” I retort, Calmly, “These are the best players I have and we’re quite capable, thank you very much.”

After 33’ of nothing-doing, I switch us up to Attacking, change Kemar to a Target Man-Attack, and have the wingers try early crosses. Bolton immediately get the chance with their right winger on a breakaway, one-on-one. Chicken Legg stonewalls him though and the ball is cleared.

At the break I tell the lads I’m not pleased with their performance. So of course that means we pick up two yellows in quick succession and by 58’ Hodgson has a bruised shin. Right after that Bolton get a corner and a long shot finds itself in the back of our net. Dammit. Four minutes later Bolton’s leftback picks up his second yellow and we have an excellent spot for a free-kick but we don’t even get an action sequence to see what happens.

Two minutes later Slim Shadi wants to show us what he learned earning his caps, sending in a low cross to the near post where a Nixon, streaking across the front of the goal 7 yards out, sends the tying score in with his left foot. I keep the pedal to the metal and make some swaps.

Just after the turning of 73’ Smith lobs a ball way into the right corner of the pitch from the middle of the field. Macey is able to out run everyone, pick up the ball, and start heading toward goal. Three yards out he tries an impossible angle shot that somehow makes it past the charging goalie but the ball bounces off the post. He recovers his own shot and puts it in.

Of course I switch back to Control and setup some instructions to see things out. In the fifth minute of six minutes of injury time Kemar (Mr. 6.5) gets a one-on-one and manages to miss the wide open goal. Phuq.

POM: Bolton’s Matthew Mitchell (1 goal, 2 key passes, 2 chances created)

We really had no business slaying that giant but our sling stones were true, mostly. I’d be happier if Kemar, a Premier League talent, would stop being super-streaky. His scout report says he’s Fairly Consistent. Damn FM. Turns out Hodgson’s bruised shin will keep him out for 3 days, max.

In even better news, we made £223.6k from the match, £173k of that from prize money. Almost 1,400 of those fans were from Bolton. Anybody’s money is good in Brixton.

There was a post-match presser and I blamed myself for the slow start. Three players, Macey, McAdam, and Legg, were pleased by my comments. The lads love me!

BrixtonFC · 09-08-2024, 09:07 PM

The Days Between
Val Water has signed with Limerick F.C., Irish Premier Division, and will join them the day after his contract with us expires.

In player development news, Mitchell Nightingale isn’t growing and is still only 181cm. Also, his speed isn’t going up. I don’t like my DCs to be slow. I don’t mind if my Regista is slow though. So I start training him as a DMC. Let us see how it goes.

Also, remember Bill Taylor from last month’s update? Hard working midfielder? On 4 February I get a training update email on him. “Squad’s general character has had a positive effect lately.” What does that mean? His Determination went up again, to 15, and his Personality has changed from Fairly Professional to Resolute. Hot damn!

This is ridiculous. The FA Cup Fifth Round draw happens the next day. Our options are Brighton, Burnley, Man City, Charlton, Everton, Man United, Reading, Southampton, Tottenham, Cardiff, Chelsea, Barnsley, Ipswich, Liverpool, Norwich, Arsenal, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Sunderland, or Wolverhampton. Any one of those should slaughter us. Or only hope is Charlton, and realistically we shouldn’t get a win even then. The draw is in and we travel to Everton, who these days are in the Championship. We better not win. Unregardless™ we are going to make a lot of money.

Paul Taylor completes his rehabilitation from shin splints but his Condition is down to 87% and his Match Fitness is all the way down to 49%. Gonna bring him back slowly.

I have a Dynamics update to report. Chick Legg has moved up to the Highly Influential Player rung. All part of my plan…

We faced Salisbury way back on 14 August and we embarrassed them quite thoroughly. C’mon, lads! Let’s give ‘em a repeat!

Southern First Division West
vs. Salisbury, 6 February 2019

Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Harding, McAdam, Jones, Cullen, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Pilcher, Thompson, Nixon, Thirlwell, Taylor

As simple as that, we get our lead just before 8’ with Macey sending a long pass to the right for Jones, who spies a Duckett heading to the far post and Daniel does not miss. (R.I.P. Duckett-Pearson, Pearson-Duckett. :-( ) To show the world we’re not just a wing-reliant team, Harding feeds Cullen up the middle, he sends one high up to Macey, who continues the center movement, scoring number two. Some more outstanding Vision and Passing by Cullen, trying to learn how to be an Attacking Midfielder, sees Duckett getting his brace.

At 60’ we get an easy penalty, not sure what happened, so Duckett attempts his hat trick and succeeds. I promptly move to the Diamond, move Nightingale up to Regista, put Taylor at Poacher, to get him some match fitness, and use Thompson as Shadow Striker. That sees out the match though Salisbury did threaten in the 87th until Nightingale made a great interception.

POM: Daniel Duckett (3 goals, 2 key passes, 2 chances created)

The Days Between
It is confirmed, at the end of the season Declan McNulty will join Shamrock Rovers. As I think about it though I realize I could probably just move him on now. I mean, he's really surplus to needs as I’m running a 4-5-1 for the youth team. Turns out there’s a “Sell Now” feature and when I click it, it defaults to £500. I drop it to zero and just like that he’s moving back to Ireland.

The next day Shamrock make an offer for Stephen Dunne. If he signs with them I’ll offer an early release too.

Southern First Division West
at Didcot, 9 February 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Smith, Thompson, Thirlwell, Rae
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, McAdam, Cullen, Jones, Taylor

Thirlwell boffs his first chance but in the 23rd he strikes gold with his second chance. Our second goal comes from a Thirlwell assist; a corner that goes right to Carroll at the top of the box, where he uses his right foot to send in a powerful shot. Thriller gets his second assist on a long bomb to Rae, who has just been unstoppable this year. Thriller’s third assist comes in the second stanza again from a corner. He sends it directly to Donaldson 25 yards out from the goal and bends it like Beckham over all the heads and into the far right, just squeaking between the goalie’s hands and the post. Amazeballs.

It’s no surprise that after I bring out the tired kids at 63’ that nothing much at all happens for the rest of the match.

POM: David Donaldson (1 goal, 3 key passes, 1 chance created)

I don’t understand why Marcus Thirlwell with his goal, 3 assists, 3 key passes, and 2 chances created didn’t get Player Of the Match.

In the stands for the match was Sheffield United’s coach, who was scoping out Robert Carroll. Make an offer, buddy!

BrixtonFC · 09-08-2024, 09:12 PM

The Days Between
Sure enough, Stephen Dunne signs with Shamrock very late Sunday and on Monday morning I offer an immediate transfer but they decline. Weird.

Lots of Dynamics changes of late! Now Peter Maguire is an Influential Player. His Determination and Leadership abilities are both 12 and his personality is Professional. Could he be the next Vice Captain?

But even better news comes in! Pilcher is “Potential Championship Talent”. This pleases me greatly.

Another league match at home. Time to add to our kitty. I’m switching Barlow and Nixon around to work on their respective new positions.

Southern First Division West
vs. North Leigh, 13 February 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Nixon, Smith, Hodgson, Barlow, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, McAdam, Donaldson, Jones, Macey

Ugh. Twelve minutes in Kirkpatrick gets called for a shove in the penalty area but I watched his avatar backpedal; he never laid hands on anybody. Poppycock! Legg juked to the right, the shooter shot to the left but hit the post and Jefcoate recovered the bounce. What luck! Nothing happens for us until right at 41’ Kemar recovers a stray ball way out right in Leigh’s end, his vision picks out a charging Barlow and we open the seal on this one. Over an hour in we get our second when it’s Hodgson way out right doing the crossing but Barlow again with the scoring. Naturally, I switch to Diamond and bring on fresh legs. With a one-on-one with 7 minutes to go Kemar once again sends the ball wide. Three minutes to go and a perfect cross from Macey sees Kemar getting all fancy, jumping up and kicking the ball. Right into the crossbar.

I ignore everyone else in the dressing room and admonish Kemar. He got fired up. Will that matter come next match? I doubt it.

POM: Terry Barlow (2 goals, 1 key pass)

The Days Between
Again the Shamrock Rovers come sniffing around a Brixton youth, this time offering DC Martin Duggan a contract for July. I was kind of hoping he’d stick around another year. We do have an option on him though I don’t think we’ll exercise it. If he takes his time to answer, say until Youth Intake Day, it’d make my life easier.

FA Vase Seventh Round
vs. Fleet Town, 16 February 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Cullen, Thompson, Macey, Rae
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Jefcoate, McAdam, Harding, Jones, Taylor

Well, that didn’t take long! Rae, naturally, scores at 1:50 courtesy of a fast break and a Thompson assist. Wow! So our corners of late have been going to players north of the 18-yard box. This time it’s Donaldson receiving the treat but he passes it to Macey who gets a 16-yard shot and gobbles the dessert. (Can you tell I’m hungry right now?) It doesn’t take long for Rae’s brace and I’m on Cloud Nine. Then Macey’s brace. Rae’s trick. Halftime. We see out the match peacefully.

POM: Alex Rae (3 goals, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 1 chance created)

BrixtonFC · 09-08-2024, 09:17 PM

The Days Between
Duggan does not waste time signing that contract with Shamrock. If I get a left-footed DC in youth intake I’ll offer him the chance to leave early.

In the FA Vase Quarter Final we get to face Maidenhead at home. They are Conference South but I’ll still worry about the match. Despite the scores of late we really aren’t performing well up front. Well, except Rae. He’s still a beast.

York’s scouting report shows that we are going to have a tough time as they are generally as good as us. Supposing Kirkpatrick gets his act together we should win.

FA Trophy Seventh Round
vs. York, 19 February 2019

Formation: Diamond (DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC, MR, ML, AMC, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Smith, Hodgson, Duckett, Nixon, Thirlwell, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, Harding, Jones, Macey, Rae

At 10’ Thirlwell tries a cross, psych! He tries to get it past the goalie. It almost worked. In the 13th the counter with a Regista works to perfection when Smith spies a flying Kirkpatrick. Kemar receives the pass about half way in to York territory and launches a nice placed shot over the goalie’s left shoulder. Six minutes later Thirlwell almost scores but is just a fraction to the right of the post. I worry not; Maguire feels inspired enough to be crossing from deep on the right line and his aim is true, finding Kemar for a header. Nixon takes us to three with a powerful long shot from just inside the box. Kemar’s hat trick is confirmed at 38:28. Then Thirlwell atones for his earlier sin by heading a Hodgson cross in.

I didn’t plan on writing any more even when York outplayed us for a minute and scored but then Thriller done gone crazy. I swapped out Kirkpatrick, bringing Macey in as a Deep Lying Forward and moving Marcus to Poacher. He received a pass way out to the left and dribbled along the endline, shooting from about six yards out. He gathers his own rebound, dribbles some more and fires from point blank putting us in seventh heaven. And look at that, Kemar got his act together.

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals, 1 key passes, 1 chance created)

The Days Between
Now that we’re in the FA Trophy Quarter Final, we need to find out who we are playing. Survey says…? We travel to Salford, in the Conference National North. I give us good odds.

Speaking of Salford, the very next day they make an offer for Rae. They offer £0 and I’m just puzzled. What the hell?

Sadly, I’m pretty sure Scott Thompson’s career with Brixton is over. On 22 February he suffered a calf strain during training and will be out 1 to 2 months. Considering the team depth, that he’ll need to get to Match Fit, and then new youths pushing some U18s into the Seniors, I just don't see a match in his future.

So…Everton’s scouting report is…tragic for us. Every player but one is five stars in Current Ability and Potential Ability. We better not win this.

The pre-match press conference isn’t overly long and the questions aren’t new to me. I just act like the Everton manager and I are equals, and that seems to satisfy the journos. He thinks the match will be entertaining.

FA Cup Fifth Round
at Everton, 23 February 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Smith, Cullen, Duckett, Rae

We never get a real chance. They get a cross early on but then nothing until we get a corner in the 64th. Our initial kick got cleared and as Pilcher tried to take it forward he got dispossessed and they got a breakaway. Their quality shined through and we go down a point. That’s all we have today despite winning the possession war. It’s the right results as we had no business going this deep in the FA Cup.

POM: Everton’s Paulo Fernandes (1 goal)

For our troubles of being someone’s punching bag, we made just over £430k. For the season we are getting close to £1 million in profit.

BrixtonFC · 09-08-2024, 09:21 PM

The Days Between
Excellent news rolls in on the Dynamics line. Daniel Duckett is now Highly Influential. I really thought he would leave us in January but seems there’s not a market for him. That means he has a high chance of being our Vice Captain next season with his 14 Determination and Leadership.

With one less cup to worry about, I can switch our attention to league match-ups more. A lot of players with declining Match Sharpness get to start as does Paul Taylor who’s still not fully back from his shin splints.

Southern First Division West
vs. Evesham, 27 February 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Cullen, McAdam, Jones, Donaldson, Duckett, Taylor
Subs: Legg, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Hodgson, Rae

I somehow manage to hit the pre-match pep rally right. What a change! What a relief!

Mr. Shin-Splints himself is the first hero to step up. After we defend a free kick we start moving slowly upfield when McAdam catches a glimpse of a darting Taylor up the middle. His pass is perfectly placed and Taylor drifts a little to the right with the ball and then cuts in toward goal and surprises the keeper with a shin-level blast. Shins. Though I’m not feeling real comfortable at 65’ I do the Diamond and swap some players. It almost pays off immediately but Jones hits the upright and the ball bounces right to the goalie. He also gets two consecutive headers but eventually the goalkeep punches the ball out of bounds. The victory is sealed when Jones of all people gets a header in off a Harding corner. I can relax now. Then Jones gets another goal from a Harding assist but it was Duckett at the corner who supplied Noah. Weird.

POM: Robbie Jones (2 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)

The Days Between
In preparation for Youth Intake Day I send two of my scouts to scour England and one to scour Scotland for new youth talent just in case our intake is less than stellar. Find me some gems, gentlemen!

The scouting report for Billericay comes in and considering they are in the Conference South, their team ain’t half bad.

Summary
Well, we had a good run of being undefeated but we finally lost. And rightfully so. Just as a good team should, we bounced back with a thorough victory. Nothing like drubbing an opponent to get Morale back up! We also saw the departures of some periphery figures just in time to clear space for Youth Intake Day. I have a Christmas list of wants from the new crew and I hope I’m not on Santa’s Naughty List.

BrixtonFC · 09-13-2024, 06:26 PM

It has come to my attention that the link in my signature has been wrong all along. I apologize to anybody who went to the website and were confused by what they were seeing. I've fixed it so it should now take you to club name eff see dot com, not club name dot come. It appears that I cannot edit all the previous iterations so I must hope that people won't continue to click on it. If anybody knows how to fix links in previous post, please PM me.

EDIT: I figured out how to fix the link. Sometimes I'm a nug. D'oh!

BrixtonFC · 09-15-2024, 04:53 PM

YOUTH INTAKE DAY 2019

Reasons to be cheerful, part 2

It’s the most wonderful time of the year while the kids practice jelling and all the scouts saying be of good cheer, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

It looks like we have a pretty good intake. One player can for sure immediately contribute and three more possibly could. Not sure what to do with three goalies when all we need is one.

Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 2
1. Alan Coates: Though he is Natural at MC and Competent at AMC, I’m excited about training him in DMC so he can be my Andrea Pirlo in the Regista role.

2. Gareth O’Keefe: This guy is going to be an amazing goalie. Hopefully his Ambitious personality won’t see him wanting to leave us quickly.

3. Tommy Watkins and Meilir Pugh: We got two great wingers, one on each side. If Duckett leaves us it’s not too much of a drop to Pugh, who might catch up to Duckie quickly. Watkins will shortly surpass the other AMRs: Andy Hodgson, Andy Robinson, and Ashley Hibbert.

4. Central Defenders: We got one each of footedness, with Kevin Jenkins on the right and Jose Parker on the left. (Is that José or Jo-see? No telling how the English would pronounce it. He doesn’t speak Spanish and is only of English nationality so I’m kind of at a loss.)

5. Speaking of Parker, I’m thankful that I’ve figured out my scouts aren’t really that good. They aren’t impressed with his Potential Ability but his defensive skills are pretty damned good. I’m guessing he’s better than my scouts believe.

6. Only one player with single-digit Natural Fitness and all the highly-rated youths are really good there and in Determination, Teamwork, and Work Rate.

7. Only four players have bad Personalities.

8. Lots of players are starting off with Players Traits. Six players have a total of eight traits.

9. A good spread of secondary nationalities with two being born in the Caribbean and one born in Nigeria.

10. Generally, from top to bottom, a high average of Teamwork and Work Rate scores.

On the flip side, we didn’t get any good DR, DL, STs. I won’t be signing DR Kevin Peters and if I can find a better DL and ST in other teams’ intake then I won’t sign Williams or Hollett either. Luckily our youths are automatically put on 6-week Trial contracts.

One weird thing that I noticed is that some of my players already have a Favoured Team that isn’t Brixton. Ian Barnett favors Bristol City but that’s because he’s from Bristol. That brings up another point; not all the players who were born in England are from London, a pretty cool change that proves our reputation is going up. Another example is Alan Coates, from York, who is a Manchester United supporter. Ungrateful twerp. :-D

I’m gonna hold off putting any of the youths in the Seniors for now. I want them to settle in and kind of hide them, in a fictitious bout of paranoia.

Player Cards

Alan Coates, MC
Like I said earlier, this kid is going to be amazing. Not Kemar Kirkpatrick-level amazing but he’s going to take us to the Premier League, I’m sure. For his age he has pretty darned good Mental Attributes and his Vision of 11 will be key to his success as a Regista. He has the Player Preferred Moves of Dictates Tempo (yay!) and Tries First Time Shots (boo!).

Gareth O’Keefe, GK
He’s got almost everything I ever wanted in a goalie. The height, the reflexes, the hands, not too one-footed, not eccentric. The only weakness I see is that his Balance is 5. I can’t believe his Free Kick Tacking is so high!

Tommy Watkins, M/AM R, ST C
He’s going to help us forget the name Steve Pearson. I wish he was a bit taller and had higher Determination; I'll have Macey mentor him when things with Thirlwell are over. Eventually I’ll get his ST up to Natural because I can’t let that Finishing and Composure go to waste.

Meilir Pugh, M/AM L
I do think he might surpass Duckett eventually though I wish his Determination was higher. In some ways he’s the opposite of Tommy Watkins: He’s tall, can’t hit the broadside of a barn. His name is unique, it’s Welsh and means “head ruler.” So, like a king?

Kevin Jenkins, D LC, DM
I’m highlighting this guy not because he’s freakin’ awesome but because he’s an anomaly, as I mentioned earlier. He has a poor Personality and Determination but his defensive skills for a central defender are pretty damn good for our level. Add to that our scouts aren’t impressed with him. If I can find him a good mentor to improve his weaknesses I could see him being with us a long time. Eventually I’ll get his DMC up to Natural so I can use him as a Half Back in a Defensive formation.

Youth Candidate Match
Future superstar Alan Coates, playing as the right midfielder in the Box-To-Box Midfield role pushes down his opposite during a cross in the box and Bill Taylor, the U18s Regista, shows just how cool, calm, and collected he is. Candidate Tommy Watkins shows how it’s done as a Poacher, heading down a clearance and running half the field before sinking his shot. This was all in the first 15’. Despite not being real quality players, the Candidates’ defense does a fine job, keeping the U18s from having an easy time retaining possession, until 80’ when McLeish gets a near-duplicate of Watkins’ goal, including distance covered and juking the GK out of his jock.

Scouting
As mentioned earlier, I needed some better options as DR, DL, and ST so I went to the Transfers > Youth Intake screen and eyeballed some players from some teams in the lower levels of the English pyramid. I found two for each position plus an unexpected AMC and added them to the Scouting Assignments list. I also scouted some local teams, notably the ones from last year (AFC Croydon, Bromley, Croydon, and Dulwich Hamlet) plus FCD Galicia, Rayners Lane, Farleigh, Worcester Park, Margate, and, just for kicks, Metropolitan Police, London’s finest.

I haven’t been using a Scouting Package for several months but to aid finding some gems for the needed positions I bought the England Youth Package for £9,000 a month. We can afford it now but I’ll probably turn it off in a couple of months.

When the scouting reports coming in for the lads mentioned two paragraphs up page, the news is not good. They are all mediocre at best and don’t want to come to Brixton. I’m just going to have to wait for the scouts to find their own gems.

Sundry Items
I decided that it’s ridiculous that we keep getting great youth so I took the drastic step of opening the editor and reducing our Junior Coaching and Youth Recruitment. If our next YID again is phenomenal I’ll drop the values even more (below 10). I also promise myself that I won’t approach the board about upgrading until we are confirmed to be gaining promotion to Conference National. If they do it on their own…then so be it.

What took you so long?!

I usually can knock out a monthly update about once a week in real life. Some factors can extend that. For the YID update I have to spend time getting the players card down to a reasonable size. This time around though there was another factor: I found a way to get those horrible player head-shots out of here. Midjourney, an AI image generator. Look at Gareth O’Keefe? What’s better, Before or After?

Before

After

I hope you like the change!

BrixtonFC · 09-30-2024, 07:05 PM

March 2019

I’m winning, and I don’t intend on losing again

Well bah-humbug! More crappy training results. Sigh.

Financial Matters
Hot damn! We made a smidge under £600k last month. See, I told you we could afford a scouting package.

Board Confidence
Still Untouchable, still 88%.

Dynamics
No changes. Of course, I didn’t put any new youths straight into the Seniors, so that helped.

Player Development
Thriller’s Determination is finally going up after being mentored by Macey for three months.

Now onto our first match of the month. I’m feeling confident we’ll maintain our winning ways and win the league soon.

Southern League Cup Quarter Final

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Smith, Nixon, Rae, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Harding, Taylor, Macey

Well, here’s a change. Our opponents are first to hit us with their rhythm stick, getting a goal in the 14th off a free kick that got headed down to the foot of a striker. Eleven minutes later the unique combo of Al-Ziod to Kirkpatrick equalizes matters. Before the half we take the lead courtesy of whom else but Rae. During the mid-term I command that they don’t get Complacent, with all but Smith and Shadi giving me the green thumbs up.

Shortly after the restart Kemar has a chance to increase our lead but the GK does a good job of denying him. At 60’ they tie us with a carpet burner from way out, about 22 yards. With Barlow and Nixon on yellow and looking ill-disciplined I have to switch to the Spade as I only have one MC on the bench. D’oh! But I don’t have enough wingers. Double d’oh! I have to move Rae to AML.

Luckily for us, their right back gets his second yellow in the 74th. Over the next few minutes Kemar and Rae put on a display of almost-good-enough but they are playing amateur hour, what a waste. In the 84th Spearing puts one in the back of the net but whomp, whomp, he’s offside.

I was fully expecting the match to end with us traveling to Billericay the following week but I am wrong, it’s extra time for us. In the 100th minute Rae, despite not being an AML, sends in a cross from the left but Harding can’t get his head on it properly and hits the crossbar. Kemar scores a minute later in the 107th; he will be England’s glory. I immediately get Defensive and start wondering if we’re cursed. We are not! Smith scores in the 117th sealing our victory.

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (2 goals, 3 key passes, 1 chance created)

I know, I know, I said I would only use three subs but the unexpected extra time but a temporary end to that. I couldn’t risk players getting injured with their Condition down in the 50s.

BrixtonFC · 09-30-2024, 07:15 PM

The Days Between

In the Southern League Cup Semi Final draw, we face Bath. Last year we lost to them in the same cup match. It was on penalties and Sam Martin, who is no longer with us, botched his attempt so badly that I refused to give him a new contract. I want revenge so bad I can taste it. Bath must go down in flames!

Another player rises up the ranks of Influence. Daniel Duckett is now a Highly Influential Player. In the same email I get notice that Ben Pope can be better than Tommy Watkins (doubtful), Adrian Lee can be much better than Gareth O’Keefe (doubtful), and Meilir Pugh can be much better than Daniel Duckett (much more believable).

A lot of our starters are still Tired from our last match so we see a lot of rotation today. As far as our standings go, if we lose out the rest of our games we’ll finish ninth in the league. I do not foresee that happening.

Southern First Division West
at Slimbridge, 5 March 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Cullen, McAdam, Hodgson, Donaldson, Duckett, Thirlwell
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Jones, Macey

It’s a calm, wet day in Slimbridge but the damp atmosphere does not dampen our players’ skills. Case in point, Thriller thrills the crowd before 3 minutes with a hell of a free kick, going in from 30 yards out. Despite that early indication, more things don’t happen until 32 minutes later when Donaldson sends a low cross across the face of the goal that the GK didn’t even try to punch or kick, which is a bad decision because Hodgson is at the far post to put matters to rest. Spot on 44’ Slimbridge increase their slim chances with a close-in shot after a free kick way out on our right wing.

At 67’ I switch to the Diamond and bring on Harding, Jones, and Macey for McAdam, Cullen, and Hodgson. We immediately squander a corner kick when Jones’ header goes high. It turns out my fretting was misplaced as right after 70’ Maguire sends an early, long cross to Thriller, who gets his brace. He then gets his hat trick in the 92nd when we get a penalty chance in the last seconds of the match.

POM: Marcus Thirlwell (3 goals, 1 key pass, 1 chance created)

The Days Between
A lot of scouting reports come in on the morning of the 9th. The two players that are slightly good would cost over £10,000 and they’re seriously injured anyway. FM2018 is definitely harder than FM2014 when it comes to finding and buying hidden gems.

Winchester is a mid-table team and we barely beat them in the first match back in early October. It took a subbed-on Nightingale to score in the 90th minute to lead us to victory. We best not have a repeat of that.

Southern First Division West
vs. Winchester, 9 March 2019

Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Nixon, Smith, Jones, Taylor, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Thirlwell, Macey

Another wet, calm, 13° C day, and just like in Slimbridge, we draw first blood. Tenth minute and a Kirkpatrick feed sees Taylor on a breakaway but he’s caught by two defenders who put the squeeze on him in the box. Nixon does not miss the resultant penalty shot. Kemar’s second attempt to help Taylor score a goal works in the 18th and spirits are high. Taylor’s second goal comes from a ludicrous Maguire cross from deep but comes at a cost of a bruised ankle for Taylor. He somehow was able to out leap Winchester’s right central defender who is massive, 204 cm, or in ‘merican parlance, 6’ 8”. That’s more ludicrous!

And so the match goes with us sloppy but them sloppier. I did have to bring Taylor off at the midway point so no hat trick for him. We have yet another game where the opposition loses a man due to a second yellow. And then another man goes off for a second yellow. A nice, normal day in South London.

POM: Paul Taylor (2 goals, 1 key pass)

I’m pleased that we did not have a repeat of the previous Winchester match.

BrixtonFC · 09-30-2024, 07:21 PM

The Days Between
Alas, the morning of the 13th sees more scouting reports of very good players who want nothing to do with us. Nobody like us, everybody hates us, I think we’ll go eat worms.

Our good streak must continue, I demand nothing else. I’m using the Club today to get some rotation and rest the wingers.

Southern First Division West
vs. Bitton, 13 March 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, Barlow, Cullen, Macey, Rae
Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Smith, Jones, Duckett, Thirlwell

My concerns rear their ugly head when Harding gets an early yellow but then they vanish when he sends in a lovely cross for Alex “All He Wants To Do is Score” Rae. 1-0. It doesn’t take long for Rae’s brace; I knew it was coming when Harding did a back-heel pass to Parker around midfield. Another Harding cross at 22:30 sees an early Rae triple. After that the game goes boring, fine by me, allowing me to switch to the Diamond at the two-thirds point and see out the game peacefully. We did pick up five yellow cards, not fine by me.

POM: Alex Rae (3 goals, 3 key passes)

I’d like to point out the Noah Harding had 2 assists, 5 key passes, and 5 chances created. These two have been great signings.

The Days Between
I believe it’s time to secure Rae’s services for a bit longer. His contract has an option year we can activate but I think he deserves better. I offer £600/week plus some good appearance, goal, and substitute bonuses, plus some wage gains for promotion and yearly reasons. He made an odd request that he gets a bonus year if he makes ten appearances and we gain promotion in the final year. FM2018 sure has some neat clauses. In the last 20 games his lowest rating is 6.4 and there was a 6.9 but everything else is 7.1 or higher, with 15 goals and 9 assists. A rich vein of form indeed.

Thirlwell’s mentoring is coming along nicely. His Determination is up to 7 and his personality is Spirited now.

I like this long streak of only league matches. We are getting nearer securing our promotion.

Southern First Division West
at Norwich United, 16 March 2019

Formation: Club
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, McAdam, Cullen, Taylor, Thirlwell
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Jones, Macey, Rae

The scoring starts with an unexpected contributor, Pilcher from open play, not a corner. He slotted one in from about 20 yards out but within the 18-yard box just after two minutes. In a very similar way Cullen gives us more clearance just before 7’. Taylor makes it 3-0 at 16, also from within the area. Having drastically slowed things down and changed up instructions to be less aggressive, we do not score anymore and give up a goal early in the second. Not worried.

POM: Teddy Cullen (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)

BrixtonFC · 09-30-2024, 07:27 PM

The Days Between
Another international call-up for The Jordanian Prince. He’ll miss five matches. I hope he gets his first international goal. Not to be outdone, though in the U19s, Kemar (England), McAdam (Northern Ireland), Nixon (Ireland), and surprisingly, Noah Harding (Wales) answer the call-up.

Salford are about the same as us as far as Starting XI go, so this could be a challenge. Hopefully we’ll do well.

FA Trophy Quarter Final
at Salford, 19 March 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Cullen, Jones, Macey

We start out strong and almost get a Nixon goal after 24 seconds. Just before 3’ though Maguire picks up a yellow and then sends in a cross into our own goal. He hangs his head in shame. I begin to believe that the fix is in when we start picking up yellows in quick succession with Nixon, Al-Ziod, and Smith getting their names taken. To make matters worse, Hodgson gets a gashed head.

After 33 minutes I feel the tide begin to turn when we get some good build-up culminating in a short cross from Nixon’s head to Kemar’s foot. Things get better when Salford’s right-back trips Duckett but Barlow can’t make use of the free kick. We proceed to get plenty of good but not great chances. After the break I give Hodgson five minutes to rectify his act but he doesn’t, so on comes Jones. We pull ahead in the 54th as Duckett stays wide after a corner on the left side, eventually getting a feed and crossing to Kemar’s head.

In the 59th Jones gets easily dispossessed and Salford’s left-back sends in a long-range pass allowing their striker to out-pace and out-class Spearing and Carroll, and uncharacteristically Chick Legg. I implore the lads to punch them back. Jones redeems himself some when again he loses possession but wins it back immediately and embarrasses that troublesome left-back. In the ensuing corner, Smith heads down Duckett’s kick to Carroll who puts us ahead for good. The next 35 minutes are generally uneventful except Al-Shadi pulls up lame with a pulled hamstring. We managed to play 10 minutes with him struggling to do much of anything. He’ll miss some international opportunities.

POM: Daniel Duckett (1 assist, 4 key passes, 4 chances created)

Hodgson’s gashed head will keep him on the bench for 7 to 12 days while Al-Shadi’s hamstring will sideline him for 8 days to 2 weeks. At least we’ve gotten away from the Lower Leg Injury Plague of 2018/2019.

The Days Between
FA Trophy Semi Final draw day! Our choices are AFC Fylde, Welling, or Whitehawk. I’m hoping for Whitehawk cuz it’s a cool name for a town and because in theory they are the weakest of the three. We get to face…Whitehawk as the visitors. Would really have preferred a home match, we’re not making much money this month.

We’re actually favored versus Maidenhead but just 4-5 odds.

FA Vase Quarter Final
vs. Maidenhead, 23 March 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Nightingale, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, Cullen, Donaldson, Macey, Rae
Subs: Webb, Day, Maguire, McAdam, Nixon, Jones, Thirlwell

After 12 minutes and 3 headers that have gone over the crossbar, I ask the lads politely to Concentrate. It takes another 10 minutes but finally Harding is able to sky one to a pacey Eddie and the Captain scores from up close. El Capitan gets an assist a few minutes later, doing a nice back-heel pass to Rae, who we all know by now knows how to score like a bawss. It doesn’t take long for Rae to get his brace in the second half after Jefcoate finally gets his fifth crossing attempt right. The good news come to a screeching halt in the 58th when Cullen pulls his groin (stop giggling!) and I’m forced to send McAdam in. At 68’ I replace Carroll and Harding with Nixon and Day; this necessitates moving Donaldson over to be the right Mezzala. And this is how we saw out this match peacefully.

POM: Alex Rae (2 goals, 3 key passes, 2 chances created)

Cullen’s injury news isn’t the worst with him expected to be out 5 to 10 days. I’m more concerned that after a relatively healthy 2018 we are experiencing a bad run of luck in 2019. Please, please, please, football gods, don’t kill my players.

The Sunderland boss was in the stands to watch Carroll. I’m sure his 7.4 rating piqued Sunderland’s interest even more.

I went back to the update when I signed Rae to take a look what I said about him at the time. Was he just filler or someone I thought would be so freakin’ awesome? Turns out I was worried about his Bravery and Strength but despite that, I thought he’d make a fine Target Man. His Bravery of 3 has not improved but his 5 Strength is now up to 9. I think adding the Trait “Knocks Ball Past Opponent” has really polished his game. He’s scored in the last 7 matches he’s started, scoring 12 goals and notching 9 assists. In short, I am a brilliant football manager.

BrixtonFC · 09-30-2024, 07:37 PM

The Days Between
No update would be complete without cup draw news. In the FA Vase Semi Final draw our choices are two Conference South teams, Billericay and Hungerford, and Totton, from our own league. We’ve beaten each team this season though the Billericay match was a bum-squeaker. We travel to Billericay, damn it.

On Sunday, 24 March, Thompson resumes training, having missed only 5 weeks or so. Looks like he’ll get some more Brixton matches in before his contract ends.

On the 25th my scouts find me a player who seemingly will sign but he’s not a DR, a DL, or a Striker. He is however a DMC that can be successfully retrained as a DC. I think he’ll fit nicely at DR. It’ll be a test just to see how long it takes to get him Natural there; can I do it in under a year? I offer him one-year contract with an option for us so I can keep him if I don’t get any DRs in next year’s Youth Intake.

We take on Cirencester next. Our worst possible finish in the league is 3rd. All we need is two more victories to seal our promotion fate. That would in theory come from an away match at Horndean. Do I throw this match (and the next) to clinch the title at home? NEVER!

Southern First Division West
vs. Cirencester, 27 March 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Barlow, Donaldson, Jones, Taylor, Duckett, Rae
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Smith, Thompson, Thirlwell, Macey

It takes 20 minutes for any action and it’s a corner for us that goes begging off Barlow’s foot. Our second corner comes from the other side but it’s Carroll’s head that is off target. Just before the half one of their three midfielders gets his second yellow just before Rae got into the box but nothing comes of the free kick. Paul Taylor picks up a minor injury at 65’ so I bring off him, all-a-sudden-shitty Rae, and Jones for Thompson, Thirlwell, and Macey. It takes 10 minutes but a cross from Jefcoate at left-back to Thirlwell at right-wing to put us on top. I go back to Control, having changed to Attacking at the intermission, and bite my nails for the first time in my life. Just after 90’ Thompson thieves the ball that their left centreback had trouble handling, dribbles out wide a little, feeds Thirlwell, who gets his brace as a sub. We should not have had to wait so long with a man advantage to score but I suppose a win is a win.

POM: Marcus Thirlwell (2 goals)

Taylor’s injury is much ado about nothing but Barlow picked up a bruised ankle in the waning minutes; he’ll be out only 1 to 2 days. Again with the lower leg injuries!!!

Immediately after the match Duckett’s agent once again came asking for a new contract. I just know I can’t afford Duckett so I Walk Away from the negotiations. This prompts Duckett to come knocking on my office door. I explain he still has time on his current contract, which he understands and leaves the office a little disappointed but understanding. He’s the only player listed as a club Legend so of course the fans will revolt when he leaves but that’ s also the reason I know he’ll cost us too much. Meilir Pugh has a higher potential anyway and is already rated as Conference South quality so I’m sure we’ll be fine out on the left wing, come what may.

The Days Between
An unexpected press conference pops up the day before out match against Horndean where we can clinch promotion. It was long. I didn’t count but I’d guess between 12 and 15 questions.

It’s a nice calm day in Horndean with temperatures at 10° C (51° F) and this is the day we win the league, bringing us closer to the ultimate prize of the Premiership. Way in the future. Thompson gets a rare second start in a row as a lot of midfielders are coming back from injuries or are out on international duty. He said “duty” heh heh.

Southern First Division West
at Horndean, 30 March 2019

Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Smith, Donaldson, Jones, Taylor, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Nightingale, Cullen, Thompson, Hodgson, Thirlwell

My moving speech falls flat as only Taylor gets motivated. I get stopped in the tunnel on the way to the pitch. I assure the journos we are up for the fight and will emerge victorious.

Just as expected, Macey leads us to an opening goal and my motivated buddy Taylor is the one who assists. It was a beautiful left-foot shot on the ground through traffic, even nutmegging one defender. Our second Macey goal was a funny one: Jones crossed from the right to Macey but Taylor cut in front, mishandling the ball but it goes right to Macey anyway, he blasts it so hard it bounces off the keeps hands and into the back of the net.
In the locker room I implore the squad to keep focus and not Complacent. The speech gets a great reaction and I add for Pilcher to be careful not to get a second yellow. Just over two minutes in Webb gets a rare goalie assist when he sends a long ball and the central defenders assume the goalie will get it and the goalie assumes the defenders will get it. That was Macey’s 100th goal for Brixton. Insane!

With 23 minutes left I switch us to the Diamond, bring off Smith, Duckett, and Donaldson for Nightingale (to practice the Regista), Hodgson, and Thirlwell. As expected, we get a great counterattack from a corner with Jones launching one way forward to Thirlwell who dribbles almost to the end of the field, crossing it to Macey for his 101st Brixton goal. Booyah!

POM: Eddie Macey (4 goals, 3 key passes, 1 chance created)

In Summary
We are the champions, again! Now that the league is won my focus turns to the remaining cups. I’ll probably use my preferred XI less in league matches until the end of the season. Related, Carroll picked up a bruised jaw near the end of the match so he won’t see the field for a week or more.

A lot of our success this month was from our opponents picking up a ludicrous amount of yellows and double yellows. Unfortunately, the injury bug continues to bite us. This has to be the result of me playing youngsters relentlessly, right? I must do better in April.

What took you so long?!
Vacation. It’s all I ever wanted. I took so time off to indulge my other hobbies and just kick my feet up and enjoy the shortening days.

Chas in Cinti · 10-01-2024, 02:00 PM

Great to get a run of updates, I'd been missing this one!

BrixtonFC · 10-17-2024, 07:58 PM

April 2019

We're better than them

I just can’t get the hang of training. I don’t remember having so much trouble last year. It’s gotta be because I’m using youth too much. I cut back everybody’s training Intensity Level back to Average in hopes of not another repeat.

Financial Matters
We lost almost £88k last month, which is not totally unexpected given that we are out of the FA Cup now. This brings our season total down to £845k in the green.

Board Confidence
Still Untouchable but up to 91% now. Nice.

Dynamics
Nothing has changed since Duckett became Highly Influential early last month.

New Players
Before our first match of the month the youth that we found on 25 March finally signs with us. Meet Jordan Nickson:

He’s really just a filler and experiment. I’ll try to get his DR up to Natural as quick as possible. His Pace, Tackling, Marking, and Positioning makes me think he can be a U18 player for 3 years. If I get him Natural at DR and he has grown to 183 cm by then I’ll try to get his DC as high as possible. For his age his Jumping Reach and Heading are pretty good. Hey! We have a player from Jordan and a player named Jordan.

BrixtonFC · 10-17-2024, 08:04 PM

We still have five players out on International Duty (giggle, giggle) and quite a few players still a bit knackered from Saturday’s game, ergo, we’ll have a lot of rotation. Our previous match against Taunton was pretty easy though we allowed some late goals when we got sloppy. I’m confident of getting a good result today.

Southern First Division West
at Taunton, 2 April 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Nightingale, Day, Jefcoate, Thompson, Cullen, Hodgson, Barlow, Duckett, Thirlwell
Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Smith, Donaldson, Jones, Rae

Thirlwell has a clear shot just 12 seconds in but it goes just wide. Just minutes later he picks up a bruised knee. In the tenth minute his gimpy knee leads him to being easily dispossessed and we just can’t get things going. Just. At half I crank up the volume and go Attacking. I have to take Thirlwell off in the 68th along with Day (yellow) and Jefcoate (stressed by Assertive half-time speech) for Rae, Pilcher, and Parker. We’ve been passing poorly all day sending balls right to the opponent. Luckily, at 70:07 Barlow gets a shot from 10 yards out and we get a lead. I immediately switch back to Control. The game is sealed in the 77th when Cullen gets a free kick in the arc, just outside the box. The wall defends the try but it goes right back to Cullen who one-shots it in, past the stunned goalie.

POM: Terry Barlow (1 goal, 3 key passes, 2 chances created)

I give them the “We got away with that” speech, firing most players up except Barlow. As for Not-So-Thrilling, I gave him the, “You squandered many chances” speech and he acknowledge his faults. I wonder if he would have performed better if he hadn’t been hurt so early. (The injury cleared up by the end of the match, by the way.)

The Days Between
The biggest news is that I elevated midfielder Bill Taylor to the Seniors. I gave him a talking to first, telling him how impressed we are and he deserves to train with the older players. He thanked me and then the game automatically dumped him in the U23. Pretty neat addition to Football Manager!

Not much else happened in the days between. We are currently free of injuries. Probably the first time in around 7 months; I’m including the U18s in this statement. Some nice scouting reports on youth strikers came in but none are exciting or want to come to South London. There is one, Mark Marshall, who I might take a stab at if the upcoming Youth Departures lists don’t pan out.

Oh, these MoFoers again. The ones who erred in selling us Pilcher. Who we beat 3-0 back in late November. Who are currently the worst team in the league. Let’s send them home with more embarrassment! Carroll is coming back from his bruised jaw and will come on in the second half. And Bill Taylor gets his first start. I hope he does his family proud.

But wait! Before the match begins I get an email from my Player Liaison Officer who informs me that Spearing no longer wishes to leave Brixton, that he’s happy to stay. Evidently teams are no longer pursuing him. That’s somewhat of a relief. I still think I’ll bring in a DC in the summer to act as a mentor and a Vice Captain.

Southern First Division West
vs. Bristol MF, 6 April 2019

Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Day, Jefcoate, Smith, Bill Taylor, Jones, Paul Taylor, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Webb, Parker, Carroll, Thompson, Cullen, Thirlwell, Rae

My pre-match speech only excites Bill Taylor so I’m hoping he puts in a star performance. It turns out though that the other Taylor has the magic touch, getting a goal before 10 minutes from a Jones cross. Jesus, in the 25th minute Smith pulls his groin and begs to come off. On comes Cullen. A few minutes later Macey gets fouled in the box and Bill Taylor of all people gets the shot, he does have a 13 Penalty Taking attribute though. HE SCORES ON HIS DEBUT!!! Macey then makes it three for me with a weak effort which was rightfully called an own goal by an MF defender.

Pilcher and Macey spent a good portion of the first half looking Uninterested but Shane got his act together so only Eddie got some stern words. Eddie doesn’t improve and gets subbed out at 68’ for Rae, who gets another sub goal with 10 minutes to play.

POM: Robbie Jones (1 assist, 2 key passes, 2 chances created)

The news on Smith’s groin isn’t too bad, out for 5 to 10 days.

BrixtonFC · 10-17-2024, 08:09 PM

The Days Between
On the morning of 9 April I get some more player development news but it’s all old news. It came from my AssMan but you can also get these emails from your Head of Youth Development. My AssMan is a better judge of ability and potential than my HOYD. AssMan.

Legg can tie the record for clean sheets in the league if he attains one in the match. Totton are currently second in the league but we destroyed them in our previous meeting. Lettuce continue that trend.

Southern First Division West
at Totton, 9 April 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Nightingale, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Harding, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Jefcoate, Thompson, McAdam, Thirlwell, Rae

The scoring starts in a weird way in the fourth. Nixon is out to the left just outside the big box and crosses it to Kemar but the cross was low and went into a defender and right under the goalie. A goal’s a goal, as my gramma used to say. That was the only action sequence in the first 45 minutes but in the extra minute Totton’s right centreback (with a 15 Long Throw rating) launches from the right sideline into our box but Legg rises above and immediately throws it to Carroll who manages to get it to Barlow. Barlow sends in a long pass from our half of the center circle. Macy and Kemar are in the clear with Kemar getting to it first. They run for the goal and Kemar opts for the shot on goal and succeeds beautifully.

As per usual, I swap out bodies at 65’ with Kemar, Harding, and Spearing bowing out for some chaps who need match fitness, namely Thirlwell, Thompson, and Pilcher. Shortly thereafter Parker gets a cross from the byline and Nixon seals his POM performance with a beauty of a header into the ceiling of the net. I switch to Defensive at 75’ after Totton get two corners and almost ruin Chicken Legg’s clean sheet. Woohoo! In the 87th Thriller sends a prayer of a free kick into the box where one of their strikers gets his grubby paws on the ball and Nixon gets his brace. Or so I thought. He was acting like an American football kicker and tried to put it through the uprights. Le Sigh. Despite that, he still gets POM.

POM: Mark Nixon (1 goal, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)

Chick ties the record for league clean sheets but I think I’ll give Webb the next league start so in theory Chick will break the record at the end of the month, on the 27th. Three of our next four matches are cups, and much to my dismay, I realize all of them are away. We’re gonna be in the red again this month. I also realize at this time that we haven’t conceded a goal in six matches. Damnnnnnnn…

The Days Between
The scouting report for Bath comes in and I am optimistic. I’d be more optimistic if we were at home but alas, that’s not the story. The media prediction then comes in and the subject lines reads, “Bath face difficult Brixton challenge”. They have 7-2 odds of winning.

I am going with a slightly unusual starting XI, with Bill Taylor as my Box-To-Box Midfielder and Teddy Cullen as my Deep Lying Playmaker. I’d rather have Terry Barlow and Mark Nixon on the field but they are a bit tired. Because of the importance of this match I want my Captain on the pitch so Macey gets the start as my right Winger. No way in hell I’m not going to have Kemar up top.

Southern League Cup Semi Final
at Bath, 13 April 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Bill Taylor, Cullen, Macey, Paul Taylor, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Smith, Barlow, Jones, Thirlwell

I gave the “let’s get revenge” speech and most of the kids responded favorably. I hope that carries through into the match. Aside from an early yellow for each team nothing happens until the 27th minute when Maguire gets a cross into Taylor in the six-yard box but his initial and rebound shots go right to the goalie. Ten minutes later Macey has to be immediately subbed for a potential foot injury. I swear we are cursed. On the restart Maguire throws it in to Paul Taylor, who has no business being on the sideline but he dribbles down to the byline anyway and sends in a cross to Duckett at the far post. Their right back is able to intercept the pass, heading it upfield. But Bath are cursed as it goes right to Bill Taylor who’s standing on the 18-yard line and his powerful shot goes into the lower left corner of the goal. Again, I’m a genius for moving him up to the Seniors. In the 43rd the newly-on Thriller also gets a long range goal after we counter-attack from a Bath free kick. Carroll was the beast who disrupted their play and sent the stolen ball upfield. This gave Carroll a thirst for blood and a minute later he boots one in after a corner kick. In the third minute of stoppage time we get a free kick down in Bath’s end which ultimately ends with Carroll passing to Kemar for a very short-ranged goal.

In the second half everything is calm and in the 64th I use my two remaining subs to switch out the midfielders who are the most exhausted. Within seconds we get another counter-attack, this time up the left side, ending with a Duckett-Jefcoate-Kemar triple play for our fifth goal. This Kirkpatrick kid with his headers…he might pan out some day. He gets his hat trick in the 72nd when Bath’s two central defenders try to play cute with the ball and he steals it and doesn’t cockup this one-on-one. We end the match with 28 shots on goal, 16 of them on target. Yowza!

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals)

We got our revenge on Bath but at what cost?! Macey. Poor Eddie Macey. Out 4 to 6 weeks for a Twisted Ankle. Damn this is bad. No Captain and our Vice Captain just ain’t that good. Dammit.

BrixtonFC · 10-17-2024, 08:16 PM

The Days Between
Thinking about Macey being out, I’ve mused about the following: We are down to four healthy strikers in the Seniors. I might promote Derek McLeish from the U18s. This would leave only one Natural Striker in the U18s in Jamie Hopkinson. Ergo, I’m going to train Tommy Watkins to be a Striker until he becomes Natural at it. Ashley Hibbert will remain training in AMR until that is Natural, then switch to Striker.

Oh joy. We get to face Totton again, this time in the Southern League Cup Final. Despite the 3-0 victory last week it wasn’t the most pleasing of games. Grrrrrr

My coaches recommend that Chick Legg get trained to remove the Trait “Avoids Using Weaker Foot” and I start his training on 15 April. Hopefully it’s relevant. He doesn’t make many mistakes and I’m not sure any of them have come from using his left foot but it doesn’t hurt to try.
Good news comes in about Robert Carroll! My HOYD thinks he’ll be Championship quality. I know I said earlier that my HOYD is not as good a judge as my AssMan but I still take this as an accurate assessment as he’s rated 5 stars.

Spearing again comes around asking for a new contract. I ask Carroll to resolve the matter and he does. (Carroll isn’t a team leader but he is Highly Influential so I guess that’s why the game engine chose him to have the talk. Not to mention that on the field they have a great partnership.)

Fairford are 17th on the table and if they win they could move all the way up 13th. I don’t see that happening. We’re going with the Spade again to get Hodgson some match fitness. For the same reason I’m giving Webb a start despite getting an email about Legg breaking the clean-sheet record.

Southern First Division West
vs. Fairford, 17 April 2019

Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Donaldson, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Jones, Rae
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Jefcoate, Harding, McAdam, Thirlwell, Paul Taylor

Exactly at 2’ Hodgson crosses from the right to Day of all people and as if he were some kind of striker he sends in a screamer just above the carpet to the bottom right corner. Exactly 20 minutes later our second goal comes up the middle with Donaldson intercepting their GK’s long kick, sending it forward to Rae who then has such a perfect pass it leaves Nixon mano-a-mano and he beats the goalie. Our third is from a corner with Hodgson, Donaldson, and Rae doing the short, simple passing so perfectly, ultimately getting the ball to Jones’ right foot. Jones gets his brace early in the second and it’s a pleasant day in South London.

POM: Robbie Jones (2 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)

The Days Between
Despite having already faced Billericay I still read the scouting report when it comes in. I notice that their starting GK doesn’t enjoy big matches. I plan to exploit that somehow.

We’re slight favorites against Billericay, with 6-4 odds. It took extra time at home to beat them last time and boy do I hope today’s match is easier.

FA Vase Semi Final
at Billericay, 20 April 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Bill Taylor, Barlow, Thirlwell, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Nightingale, Parker, Smith, Hodgson, Duckett, Paul Taylor

Oh no. Carroll is Confused by my “you deserve to be in the finals” speech and when I directly address him to cheer him up he remains confused. Ouch. Despite all these instructions to play short passes in a Control mentality my players often just hoof it forward. Like when Harding booted one towards our opponents’ goal from about a third of the way into our territory. Luckily Thriller is able to direct the ball so it continues toward the goal, he then out runs the defenders to catch up to Kemar who had already beaten his man. Faced with the prospect of trying a goal or passing to Kemar, Thriller chose wisely and Kemar puts us in the lead. Twenty-two minutes later Kemar returns the favor and Thriller gets his goal, beating a one-on-one. Ten minutes after switching to the Diamond, the combo of Kemar to Paul Taylor gets a shot on goal but it’s blocked at point blank. This leaves the goalie completely out of position when Barlow bangs the rebound in. “Confused” Carroll finished the game with an 8.4 rating. Couldn’t have been too confused!

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (1 goal, 1 assist, 5 key passes, 3 chances created)

BrixtonFC · 10-17-2024, 08:23 PM

The Days Between
The Whitehawk scouting report brings relief. I think we’ll be able to handle them, even though the pre-match hype machine says the odds are even.

I want another trophy and Whitehawk stands in my way getting to the FA Trophy Final. Go get them, gentlemen!

FA Trophy Semi Final
at Whitehawk, 23 April 2019

Formation: Club
Starting XI: Legg, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Cullen, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Rae
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, Harding, McAdam, Paul Taylor, Kirkpatrick

Rae has been in a slump since he signed that contract so I was a bit hesitant to give him the start. But 30 seconds (yes, seconds) in he receives a Nixon pass and gets a great shot off before the central defenders can crash in on him. Slump over! In the 24th minute, Day doubles our lead with a header directly from a Duckett corner kick. Whitehawk strike back 27 seconds after the restart but their right striker was offsides. Close call!

In the 67th Jefcoate gets called for pulling that right striker down in the box. Chicken Legg dives the wrong way and our lead is now in question. I had to make some changes, the two with yellows plus recent misfit Jefcoate, which pays off when Shadi feeds Nixon who again feeds Rae and I’m back on comfortable footing. We end up with 64% possession but I worry about the 7 on-target shots out of 25 attempts.

POM: Alex Rae (2 goals)

Whitehawk somehow managed to have 7 yellow cards but no player was sent off. Our opponents aren’t usually that adept.

The Days Between
Not much of anything at all happens until a couple hours before our match with Bideford. Our U18 squad is in their league final, hosting Stoke’s U18s. It’ll be interesting to see how many fans attend. Oh wow! 658 fans! And we won on penalties, after 9 rounds. Crazy stuff!

This match is kinda machts nichts to me. It’s a league match, sure, and we can keep our perfect record going but if we lose, we lose. Next week Legg with get his chance at home to get the clean-sheet record.

Southern First Division West
at Bideford, 27 April 2019

Formation: Club
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Bill Taylor, McAdam, Paul Taylor, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Legg, Parker, Nightingale, Thompson, Jones, Duckett, Thirlwell

It takes 15 minutes but McAdam gets a rare goal courtesy of Paul Taylor, fed by Bill Taylor (no relation) on a post-corner breakaway. Then seven minutes later it’s Shadi to Kemar. Then it’s déjà vu all over again with Bideford getting a goal after we fail to properly clear a corner. Then we strike back via Bill Taylor’s assist to Kemar.

My speech at the break is all about complacency and everyone get motivated except Spearing and McAdam, who actually gets stressed. And sure enough, 93 seconds after play resumes we give up a goal off a lovely cross to their striker’s head. Ping pong. In the 54th another Taylor assist and Kemar goal. Then not ping pong but more like punch to the gut. Kemar gets number four from a ridiculously long cross from Maguire, who was being swarmed by opponents.

Just before I can change up to the Diamond, Kemar picks up a twisted knee (see, we are cursed, another lower body injury!) and comes off. Despite being set to counter-attack, we manage to score our final goal off a free kick down on the left side, deep in Bideford territory. It was an interesting combo of Harding-Spearing-Thirlwell-Spearing.

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (4 goals)

That twisted knee for Kemar? Turns out it was merely a flesh wound. He had no red or orange “Inj” marker after the match.

BrixtonFC · 10-17-2024, 08:25 PM

The Week Between
Oh finally! An end to the two-matches-per-week biz. The lads can finally have some down time.

In Summary
Another highly successful month with no loses and us still alive in all our remaining cups. Those victories were all fair and square, no gifting of opponents being sent off.

What took you so long?!
Life, man. Plus I realized I was playing these matches very quickly and not actually taking time to enjoy matters. Also, I spent a good amount of time setting up my spreadsheet of what I can Roster Management where I project the next couple years and where each player will be. I generally schedule things out to 5 or 6 years in the future. This becomes super-important when you are in the Premier and need to figure out if that new youth intake is going to start when he’s 18 or 21.

Here’s what my DR projection looks like:

BrixtonFC · 10-23-2024, 04:57 PM

May 2019

I get by with a little help from my friends

Training Matters
I give up. What the hell am I doing wrong?! I think I might just have to hand training over to my staff. But wait! What if now that we are playing only once a week the lads won’t be so tired and do better in training. Let us see.

Financial Matters
We lost almost £77k last month. Still have over £12.5m in the bank.

Board Confidence
Still Untouchable, up to 93% now. Hot damn! I am awesome. (Never mind the Sugary Daddy stuff.)

Dynamics
No new tales to tell.

Player Development
Some months back I worried how Marcus Thirlwell’s tutoring wasn’t really producing effects. I am happy to announce that his Determination is up to 9. His time with Macey should end around the middle of May so there is hope still that he hits the double digits.

I get an unusual loan offer on 4 May. A team called Swallownest F.C. who are way down in the 10th level of the English football pyramid want to take on U18s bench-rider Grant Appleton until the end of the season as a starting MC. They are fourth in their league and 8 points back from promotion with 3 matches to play. Godspeed, Grant. May they find victory from your feet.

Now let’s go get Chick Legg that clean-sheet record!

Southern First Division West
vs. St. Ives, 4 May 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Barlow, Smith, Nixon, Taylor, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Harding, Hodgson, Duckett, Thirlwell

The match starts quickly and 27 seconds in Kemar gets tackled from behind in the box and Nixon comes in for the penalty shot, this time he gets it right. It takes just under 23 minutes to get our second goal. Kemar for some reason took the corner kick, sending it directly to Barlow who is nowhere near goal. Doesn’t matter. He launches one in from way out in right field, 25 yards away. Five minutes later Kemar gets that goal he was denied at the start, courtesy of a long-range pass from Jefcoate. Pilcher gets one from a free kick and our first half ends- Wait! Scratch that. Pilcher gets two from free kicks late in the first half. The man is on fire!

The final half of the match sees us move to the Diamond at 60’ and Kemar getting his brace after a hella-slow counterattack. He had two opportunities to get a trio but he was getting sloppy near the end. And Legg gets the clean-sheet record!

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (2 goals, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 1 chance created)

I was expecting an email after the match celebrating Legg’s 20th clean sheet. I did not receive one. All that misplaced hype…

Earlier in the morning my U18s had a friendly against the youths of a team called Chipping Sodbury. What a weird name! I would also say Swallownest F.C. is silly name. England be funny, yo.

The Week Between
Appleton accepts the offer to go out on loan. I wish him well and tell him it’s a chance to showcase his skills, to which he agrees. He’ll end up only getting two matches but Swallownest are on a righteous winning streak, 5 games, scoring 14 goals and conceding 1.

As the season end draws near, and the transfer window too, our players are starting to draw interest from teams higher up the pyramid. Namely, Exeter wants Spearing, Oxford for Kemar, Paul Taylor to Accrington, and Hereford lusts for Nightingale. I’m pretty open to these ideas but Kemar will only leave on a loan and Nightingale won’t leave at all as I feel Spearing and Carroll will leave.

It’s wonderful to have everyone with their Condition at 97% or higher. Well, except Macey, who’s working his way back from his twisted ankle.

Southern First Division West
at North Leigh, 11 May 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Cullen, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Legg, Parker, Day, Taylor, Jones, Thirlwell, Macey

A walk in the park, this one. We demoralize them with 3 goals in 6 minutes early on. They never really find their sea legs and we add two in the latter half to make sure they don’t get any crazy ideas.

POM: Mark Nixon (2 goals)

In a post-match press conference all the questions are about players leaving. Also, Webb’s agent comes asking for a new contract. Not today, bub, you’ve got two years left on your current contract. (And I really want to sell him off soon anyway.)

BrixtonFC · 10-23-2024, 05:02 PM

The Week Between
More transfer speculation comes rolling in. The fact that Norwich is linked to Kemar is interesting. They are mid-table Championship these days. We’re getting close to Premier League teams being interested. Nonetheless, I’d be willing to send him there on loan.

Before our Wimborne match Kemar is finally linked to a Premier team. It’s Newcastle, who are in the relegation zone with one last match to play. They need to beat Tottenham and West Brom need to lose to Southampton for that to happen.

I’m loving these weeks when we have only one match. Most of the players are either Superb or Fully Fit in their Sharpness. Today we are moving to the Club formation to get some MCs some extra work. The subs are chosen so we can switch to the Diamond for the final third of the match when we have the lead, naturally.

Southern First Division West
vs. Wimborne, 18 May 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Bill Taylor, Barlow, Nixon, Rae, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Maguire, Day, Harding, Hodgson, Jones, Macey

Again our scoring starts with a Nixon penalty kick; it was Rae being fouled this time. However, that’s all the news that’s fit to print for the first half. Kemar is rating 6.4 and nobody else is in the 7s except Nixon. Ergo, “I am not happy with your performance out there.” It takes 8 minutes for Rae to respond to my admonition. Day picks one up in garbage time and Kemar ends with a 6.2 rating. I am not pleased. Wimborne get a goal in extra time because Barlow got lazy. I am pissed.

POM: Terry Barlow (1 assist, 3 key passes, 2 chances created)

How Barlow got the POM is beyond me. I also fine Kemar a week’s pay for his 6.2, which he accepts as fair.

The Days Between
Back to mid-week matches. I need a “grumposaurus” emoji.

Thirlwell’s mentoring by Macey comes to an end on 19 May. I deem it moderately successful. His Determination went from 4 to 9 and his Personality went from Balanced to Spirited. I’ll probably use Macey to mentor Meilir Pugh or Tommy Watkins next and then pay a revisit to Thriller. (Pugh and Tommy both have 11 Determination and Balanced personalities.) The squads’ personalities can rub off onto some players so I’m hoping that happens with Thriller to get his Determination into the double digits.

Our penultimate league match. Because we have a cup final on Saturday, the second stringers get their starts on Tuesday.

Southern First Division West
at Swindon Supermarine, 21 May 2019

Formation: Club
Starting XI: Webb, Nightingale, Day, Smith, Maguire, Jefcoate, Harding, Cullen, Thompson, Paul Taylor, Macey
Subs: Legg, Parker, Pilcher, McAdam, Jones, Duckett, Thirlwell

Another match where the first goal comes off a penalty. This time Harding gets the honor. It doesn’t take long for Taylor to get on the board too and things are going well. His brace comes from a classic Brixton move: Wait for two defenders to get confused and start debating on whose ball it is then pounce on the ball and score.

To start the second half the Supermarines out-Control us and get a farcical goal, their dude was feet offside. A few minutes later a prayer of a high lob by Maguire to short-stuff Macey results in the defenders on either side of Eddie holding him down. I let Eddie take the shot, denying Taylor his hat-trick, because Macey’s playing uninspired and needs the boost of confidence.

But then we allow a second goal from a free kick near the byline. Their left centreback outjumped Day and Thompson. I still switch to Diamond at 60’ and Macey’s header for goal comes 12 minutes later. How he was able to out leap the defender is beyond me. Their defender is 13cm taller and 3 points better in Jumping Reach.

POM: Paul Taylor (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 key pass, 1 chance created)

BrixtonFC · 10-23-2024, 05:07 PM

The Days Between
Oh goodie! A press conference. This one is for the Southern League Cup. The journalists kept asking questions about Totton’s manager. I don’t pay attention to other managers, especially this far down the pyramid. But I pretend like we’re friends. That seems to satisfy them.

There’s a cliché in the realm of NFL talking heads. It goes something like this: It’s hard to beat the same team three times in a season. I hope you’re sitting down when I drop this bombshell. NFL sportscasters are worthless and aren’t really that accurate. Shocking, I know. Totton does not have a prayer.

Southern League Cup Final
vs Totton, 25 May 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Taylor, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Nightingale, Smith, Jones, Taylor, Thirlwell

I start with the “Don’t it for the fans” speech, which motivates Kemar, Barlow, and Carroll. I hope that carries through to the match. In the tunnel a journo asks why Duckett get’s the Captain’s armband. “He merits it.”

My motivational speech does nothing. We can’t penetrate their defense and they hit us on the counter. Attacking we must go! Nine minutes later Hodgson misses a chance to equalize but the shot goes wide. A third of the way into the match Hodgson redeems himself by sending a short, simple pass to Kemar at the near post and he squeaks one in. Three minutes later Hodgson gets his second assist after sending a cross across the mouth of the goal to a wide-open Duckett. In the 38th Kemar once again fails to convert a 1-v-1. A minute later he makes up for it by sinking a Duckett pass. I think our opponents were expecting a cross to the opposite post as they left Kemar alone right in front of the goal. And we finish the half with a Duckett cross to the middle where Nixon is able to outleap everyone and head in a goal.

At the half I praise the crew and dial back on the aggressiveness. Everyone responds favorably to my praise but Carroll.

Twelve minutes into the second half Nixon receives a Barlow pass just to the right of the penalty spot, does a weird pirouette, and launches a screamer into the back of the net. I was going to swap him out at 65’ but now he’s on a hat trick! So then I take out Kemar (preservation), Spearing (yellow card), and The Jordanian Prince (low condition) for Thirlwell, Nightingale, and Parker.

And we win our first Southern League Cup!!!

POM: Daniel Duckett (1 goal, 2 assists, 4 key passes, 5 chances created)

Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the FA Cup Final. I bring this up because the match took place at Wembley Stadium at 1500. We played at the same venue at the same time. Another ramification of using a non-official database to start your FM save.

The Days Between
Our next match is against Welling for the FA Trophy. Welling are 23rd of 24 teams in the Conference National and are going to get relegated. The scouting report on them is very favorable for us. They’ve only scored 33 goals all year and have been in poor form recently. They have a fairly decent squad but pales in comparison to ours. Most of their better players are loanees.

Around 18,000 spectators have arrived today. All I hear is “chi-ching” as we get half of the gate receipts. :-) Now to give them a performance! (Due to tiredness I’m not fielding the best squad. I hope that doesn’t bite me in the hindquarters.)

FA Trophy Final
vs Welling, 28 May 2019

Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Webb, Nightingale, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, Smith, Cullen, Macey, Rae
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Pilcher, McAdam, Jones, Duckett, Kirkpatrick

My dressing room speech goes over like a fart in a church with nobody motivated and Carroll actually getting confused. What part of, “You deserve to win the trophy and I expect you to win it” is so confusing? Ingrates.

Well, at least Carroll’s confusion didn’t last long! In the 12th he hoofs one forward and as it flies over everyone’s head, Rae sprints after it, collects it, and sends the goalie one way but sends the ball the other way. Twenty minutes later it’s Carroll again, feeding Smith who gets an assist off Cullen’s goal. Teddy ran around a mass of people in front of the goal and surprised the goalie. Twas awesome.

We remain two up at the break and I tell the lads I’m proud. I warn Macey that he needs to do better. I also Calmly tell Nightingale not to pick up a second yellow.

Macey ain’t done nuttin’, actually getting worse but I really want Kemar to rest. At 68’ I go to the formation that is a girl’s best friend and take off Nightingale, Smith, and Carroll for Jones, Duckett, and Pilcher. And wholey moley, Macey scores on a breakaway initiated by Pilcher’s long boot forward. The goal was a beauty, going over the goalies fingers but below the crossbar. Ten minutes later, Macey is showing me my doubting is unfounded, kicking in a close-range Rae pass that he headed down from a Jones cross.

YES!!! Another trophy for Brixton and the lads!

POM: Alex Rae (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 2 chances created)

Excellent, another bit of hardware and we made £86k. Back in the black for the month.

BrixtonFC · 10-23-2024, 05:08 PM

The Days Between
As our final league match is coming up I get the privilege to attend a press conference. Yeah me! I try to avoid giving Mangotsfield “bulletin board material” and at the same time express confidence in my team. Let’s see how those scoundrels in the press manipulate my words. Actually, they didn’t really do that. “…confident of getting result.” Yep, I expect to win.

What I didn’t say is that I’ll be fielding the team of the future. A couple of kids from the Seniors and the rest from the U18s who will probably be starters next year. I foresee a massive sell-off come June and July. I gotta make the game a little harder, more realistic, so I’ll pretty much take any offer except for some true gems. (cough)Kemar(cough)

Speaking of Kemar…and stop me if I said this before, but, I plan to loan him out next year. Hopefully he’ll go to a Premier League team. I don’t know how we’ll keep him so I imagine I’ll have to sell him with a £10 million buy-back clause.

In Summary
Has there ever been a team who had three matches in a four-match span that sees all opening goals coming from penalties? I’m glad we have! It’s almost as if the referees are my friends! We have almost completed a perfect league season and secured two trophies. I’m feeling confident we’ll close out the season with two wins and I’ll go down in the annals of history as the best football manager* ever.

* In the 8th level of the English pyramid. See, I can be humble.

BrixtonFC · 11-05-2024, 03:29 PM

June 2019

I'm so dissatis-, dissatis-, dissatisfied

We have two more matches before our season is over. A league one and the FA Vase Final versus Hungerford. After those are done I’ll be neck-deep in figuring out the roster, meaning who to elevate from the U18s, who to sell on from the Seniors, and giving out new contracts, both players and staff.

Let’s take care of those matches before I do the normal beginning of the month thing.

Here we’ll see the youth of tomorrow. I have Kemar in there because if he can manage a hat trick he’ll lead the league in goals and then should get a POM award, pulling into the league lead too.

It’s a beautiful day in South London with the temperature at 17° Celsius, 63° Fahrenheit, with high clouds. The stadium is nearly half full with 3,415 tickets sold. Did the fans come to watch an undefeated season or the new kids on the block?

Southern First Division West
vs. Mangotsfield, 1 June 2019

Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Gareth O’Keefe, Tom Johnstone, Shane Pilcher, Mitchell Nightingale, Dean Rice, Bill Taylor, Alan Coates, Tommy Watkins, Mark Nixon, Meilir Pugh, Kemar Kirkpatrick
Subs: Adrian Lee, Angelino Ferreira, Kevin Jenkins, Tasos Noulas, Paul Taylor, Marcus Thirlwell, Ashley Hibbert

I promised myself I would only Praise and Encourage the team today. I get that opportunity right after 8’ when Nixon’s long range shot gets deflected by the GK right to Kemar’s left foot. Brixton up, 1-0. Four minutes later Maggotsfield get a corner and Bill Taylor “shoved” an opponent in the back. Dammit! I wanted O’Keefe to get a clean sheet on his debut! HOLY SHEET! He blocked it!!!

I guess one good turn deserves another, and the refs are still my friends, so we get a penalty call after 21’. Kemar steps up… And bounces it in off the underside of the crossbar! Brixton up, 2-0! By the way, the guy who committed the penalty was the one who got stonewalled by O’Keefe.

We go into the half feeling good. Except Pugh. He missed an absolute sitter and is rating at 6.3. I tell the lads they were great, singling out our awesome goalie and giving Pugh a little “I have faith in you” pep-talk.

Oh my! Five minutes into the second Rice sends in a prayer of a cross and Kemar is somehow able to head it in from an impossible angle at the far post. We shift to the Diamond at 55’ so I bring off Mr. Hat-Trick Guy, Pilcher, and Nixon for Paul Taylor, Ashley Hibbert, and Kevin Jenkins. And thus ends the match and league play.

POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals, 1 key pass, 1 chance created)

What a wonderful season! We are stocked with great young players and I’m feeling fine. I’d like to point out that our Regista/Ball Winning Midfielder/Deep Lying Playmaker Alan Coates performed a 9.0 match, nabbing 3 key passes and 3 chances created. He’s gonna be amazing.

The Days Between
The scouting report for Hungerford gives me great hope. On paper they are not better than us. And just like another team who should not be mentioned, their best players are in on loan. Later on I learn we are 4-7 odds to win.

The FA Vase pre-match press conference is really short. “Does winning this before make your job easier or harder.” Neither. “Your U23 manager might leave to go to some po-dunk club nobody has ever heard of, not even their owner’s own mother. Should he go?” Next question.

Here it is, lads! Final match of the season, some more beautiful hardware up for grabs, chance to end the season on the highest of notes!

I’m gonna take advantage of all 12 sub slots just to give as many players a chance to get in on the good stuff before they ride off into the sunset, for the summer.

Over 6,100 fans have shown up at Wembley on a hot London day (82° F!) with no breeze to cool things down. Let us watch the hot action of the Hunger game!

FA Vase Final
vs. Hungerford, 4 June 2019

Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Cullen, Barlow, Thirlwell, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Legg, Parker, Maguire, Day, Jefcoate, Harding, Smith, Hodgson, Paul Taylor, Jones, Macey, Rae

My speech barely registers with the squad with only Cullen and Duckett motivated. In the tunnel I’m forced to lie about this being Legg and Day’s last match. Legg will be around. Day, no.

After 14’ of nothing I prepare to Shout “Get creative!” when a highlight begins. After some sloppy passing, Nixon is able to thread the eye of the needle, passing to Kemar for our opening salvo. Brixton up, 1-0. I do get by with a little help from my refs. Cullen sends in a free kick and Duckett gets shoved to the ground. Thriller makes it Brixton up, 2-0. Not two minutes later one of their guys mugs Duckett on the sideline and gets a straight red. Again, I evidently am related to the refs. Jesus. At 55’ a Hungryman picks up his second yellow. I wonder how much I’m paying them?

At 60’ I swap EVERYONE. In the 72nd we get another penalty from another free kick. This is embarrassing. Harding makes it Brixton, 3-0. They do get four shots on goal and manage to miss them all from close range. Then the match ends.

Very unsatisfying. Of the 22 players to get time, only three had a 7.0 or higher rating. Two goals off penalties. Two opponents sent off. We should have dominated them even if I kept the Control Mentality for the whole match. I mean, look at the POM and what he accomplished.

POM: Teddy Cullen (7.2, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)

I can’t even feign interest in the post-match presser, giving the most blasé answers possible. The players don’t seem to notice as their Morale is Perfect to a man.

Nonetheless, it was a tremendously successful season. Really hard to be mad when you’ve run the table. All while allowing less than half a goal per match and scoring almost 4 goals. I doubt (and hope) we don’t have such an easy time next season.

BrixtonFC · 11-05-2024, 03:42 PM

Now onto the beginning of the month stuff and the off-season.

Training Matters
According to my AssMan, five players had Impressive Performances on the training front for the season. Sadly Carroll won’t be around next year. Nixon might go too. Clubs are hella interested in a lot of my youths.

Financial Matters
We made just a smidge over £11,000 in May, not too bad considering our general trend. For the season, we made £650,000.

We get a new kit sponsor. We’re now advertising for someone to the tune of £11,000 per annum. I guess it’s better than a kick to the shins but still not a lot of money.

Board Confidence
I am Untouchable at 100% confidence. Damn, I’m good!

After the lads go on holiday the Board asked for a meeting to discuss “improving our youth level.” They want to gauge my opinion on whether to strive to achieve a higher grade for the academy setup. Damn skippy, I do!

Dynamics
Again, nothing new to report. For now...

Player Development
By the beginning of June, Jordan Nickson has already become Competent at DR. Methinks he has a high Versatility. Thirlwell did not advance at all in his Determination after the tutoring by Macey ended.

Five players get a call up for some summer action. Al-Ziod for Jordan, Kemar and Robert Carrol for England U19s, Simon McAdam for Northern Ireland U19s, and Noah Harding for Wales U19s. A couple days later Gareth O’Keefe is summoned by Ireland for the U21s, which is insane as he won’t turn 17 for another six months! Mark Nixon also will play for Ireland but for the U19s.

Shadi’s first game with the Jordanian seniors see him getting a goal and a 7.4 rating. Too bad he won’t be with us much longer.

Gary Ferguson gets a call-up for the Euro U19 Championship representing Scotland. Good on, ya!

Contracts
Twelve player contracts are up for renewal with four of them having contract extension available to me. I trigger Chick Legg, Marcus Thirlwell, Liam Roberts, and Gary Ferguson. I already know the six MCs I’m gonna rock with next year so Ferguson was only kept to be a U23 body. Chris Day, Robbie Jones, and Scott Thompson won’t be offered new contracts. Andy Hodgson and Shadi Al-Ziod have triggers but I plan on selling them off. I need to offer new contracts to Noah Harding, Derek McLeish, and Ryan Collopy.

On the staff side of matters, one of the scouts is up but he’s pitiful so I’ll let him walk. I want to renew a Physio, the U18 AssMan, and my only U18 Coach. The U18 Physio is only rated at 13 in that skill so his best hope is I can’t find someone better.

New Players
I need a new Vice Captain. I want that next one to also be a mentor. Because we are for sure going to lose Spearing and Carroll I want a central defender, preferably left-footed. It takes a while to find one who meets my needs and wants to come to Brixton. It’s going to cost us a pretty penny. Well, 80,000 pounds to be exact. He comes to us from a team in Ireland’s First Division, which is the second level of the Irish pyramid. He surprisingly doesn’t ask for a high wage despite his high price. You’re probably asking yourself if I paid too much. I did. There just aren’t a lot of left-footed DCs who can mentor and want to come down this far in the English pyramid.

He has an interesting spread of abilities. Not particularly great on things germane to a centreback but really good in a lot of other places. I might try to get his MC up to Accomplished but I’ll leave DMC as is.

I decide to do a little scouting myself. I decide to see if there are any cheap, young talented lads out there. I set the search parameters to this:

Only 10 players fit the bill and I have my scouts report on them all. I eventually learn none of them want to come to Brixton.

Offers & Departures
After having put a lot of players on the Transfer List only Spearing and Carroll were drawing much interest. A lot of interest. Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone swooped in late for Carroll and he signs with them on 16 June.

I transfer listed Al-Ziod, even though he was under a month left with us, and he signed a pre-contract with Aston Villa on 16 June. Good luck, Prince! (Villa is 5th in the Championship.)

On 14 June Ipswich came in with an offer for Mark Nixon but as it was only £2,800 I denied it. He immediately pitched a fit and I had to remind him he was still on contract. He didn’t like that I upped his asking price to £10,000. Over the rest of the month Barnsley would pop in every couple days with the same offer as Ipswich. Sigh. How droll.

Oh damn. I knew Kemar was going to draw interest. I didn’t think Arsenal would be the first to put in an honest-to-god offer. On the day before his 17th birthday they arrive with a very low-ball bid so I have to upgrade it, knowing that he’ll get pissed like Nixon. I ask for £1 million, 40% sell-on fee, and £10 million buy-back clause. They repeat their first offer and I end negotiations. There must be a glitch in the matrix because Kemar didn’t come asking for anything. I forgot to mention this earlier: For the season he had 62 goals across all matches. Amazing.

An offer even came in for Nightingale. It’s from Hereford and only £2,000. He’s in my plans for a while yet so I say no. Tuesday, 18 June I get an email about who’s going up to and down to the English Regional Premier Divisions. Hereford, the team pursuing Nightingale are one of the teams coming down. Why would Mitchell want to go there? I have no fears of losing him.

Spearing is moving on to Exeter, a League One side, for the lowly fee of £5,000.

Duckett agrees to a move to Swindon for £10,000 in League One.

New Staff
I need to replace one scout as his contract is almost over. I opened the Staff Search tool and narrowed it down to Scout and immediately noticed this guy.

Pablo Nickerson is a Model Professional American, has good judging abilities, and has a maximum Determination and Adaptability. He’d be an ideal Chief Scout. However, he only wants to be Director of Football. I do have an opening there and will need one soon when I start trying to off-load some players. I offer £350 per week, two years, and a 10% promotion wage raise. He joins us on 3 June.

Also, the board, without telling me, seriously upped the number of staff I can have. I can have 3 more U18 coaches, 4 more U23 coaches, and 3 more scouts. Oh yeah!

On the other side of the coin, some of my staff might be leaving as journalists keep asking about the interest they are drawing. Notably my U23s Manager, Mick Hunter, has been linked to Maldon & Tiptree. They are no Brixton, don’t know why he’d want to go there. They are at the level we are currently at but in a few weeks the official promotion up will happen and we’ll be above them. On 11 June he departs for Chesham, a similar team to M&T.

I offer my U18 manager, Reggie Jeffries, a new contract to replace Mick. I found a good candidate to be our new U18 manager but he has no desire to be the U23 manager, hence my elevation of Jeffries.

The board allows me to have three more U18 coaches and four U23 coaches. I eventually manage to find some that aren’t complete shit. Quite a few of them are European, which is pretty cool because I’ll get their scouting knowledge. Not that it matters yet, we can still only scout UK and Ireland. They hail from Austria, Belgium, Faeroe Islands, Netherlands, Slovakia, and of course England.

Team Rankings
For the EPL fans in the house, here are the ranking in this AU:
1. Man United
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Man City
5. Chelsea
6. Tottenham
7. West Ham
8. Leicester
9. Southampton
10. Stoke

We are now 348th, a mighty big jump from 694th last year.

Sundry Items
Tuesday, 25 June we advance to the new season. One of the items that I have to immediately address is the board wants to meet to make available more money for my AssMan’s wages. Odd.

The Brexit news comes in and like I said some years back, nothing will change in the world of association football.

That Was Then, This Is Now
Welcome to a new segment, one in which I re-examine something I once said and we’ll see if I was wrong or right.

Let’s go back to my very first update when I introduced the team to the world. This is what I had to say about our only right midfielder Steve Pearson:
“He’s not that good except his speed and Teamwork.”

He stayed with us for a season and a quarter or so and in that time he made 46 appearances, scoring 17 goals, making 19 assists, and winning 5 Player of the Match awards, for an average rating of 7.76.

I was wrong. He was good.

And we made £20,000 when we sold him on to Brentford, in the Championship.

The start of the season is upon us! The lads report on 1 July and we are going to see a lot of squad turnover but I still predict a promotion.

BrixtonFC · Yesterday, 06:21 PM

July 2019

Hope springs eternal

Financial Matters
It really takes a bite out of your bottom line when you have to pay out bonuses for winning the league and cups. We shell out around £114,000 but I’m more than happy to do that.

Board Confidence
As the game resets itself for the new season I take a hit on board confidence. This is because I’m no longer getting credit for all those wins. It bothers me not as I’m still Untouchable but only at 90%.

Dynamics
With the departures of Day, Carroll, and Duckett we are down to one Highly Influential Player, that being Chick Legg. Hopefully Jefcoate will graduate up from the Influential Player group. I’m hoping that O’Shea is in one of those groups by the time I have to pick the new Vice Captain.

Player Matters
Little-used David Donaldson moves on to Tranmere, who just got themselves back into League Two. We made a whopping £800 off the move.

On 5 July Nixon takes a walk to Barnsley. I don’t recall approving this transfer as it included a friendly and I had already set up all the friendlies I wanted for the pre-season. I’m surprised it was only £3,000. I don’t drink so it couldn’t have been that. I doubt I’ll ever figure out what happened.

Oh danggggg. On 14 July Wrexham declare their interest in Macey. This is an unexpected development. I hope he doesn’t want to leave.

Millwall, in the Championship, arrive at Brockwell Park on 19 July with a respectable offer for Paul Taylor. An initial fee of £2,500 along with £3,000 in two installments, £2,000 more after 10 league matches, £2,000 after 10 league goals, and 40% of the next sale. Things are a bit crowded at striker and Paul wants to go. I say yes and play the waiting game. I have to wait over a week but he finally agrees on 27 July. Good luck, Paul, you’ve been a wonderful player here.

Pilcher comes to me on 20 July saying he wants to go to Blackpool. They haven’t made an actual offer for him of late so I ask Macey to flex his captaincy and convince Pilcher to drop the matter for now. It works. So of course four days later, Leeds, now in the Premier League try to low-ball us to unsettle him.

On 23 July I put Kemar on the Loan List as I want him to get Premier League experience because he’ll stagnate if he stays with us. He of course gets upset but I explain that it’s just a loan, not a permanent move, and I need to do this for his development. He agrees with me.

BrixtonFC · Yesterday, 06:31 PM

New Players
I need one, possibly two, left backs and let me tell you, nobody worth a darn wants to come to us. I also need a defensive midfielder and a striker for the U18 squad and I’m having no luck there. I’ve scouted over 50 players.

Back in early April I mentioned signing a youth striker named Mark Marshall. I finally made an offer of £1,000 for him on 8 July. I just wasn’t finding any good youth strikers and need one in the U18s as I only have one there. I promised him we’d get promoted this year and offered £300 per week; he agrees on 10 July.

Youngster Ibrahim Agu picked up a gashed leg in training on 9 July which leaves us thin on the right wing for the next 6 to 14 days, and Mark Marshall hasn’t signed yet, so I go hunting for a trialist. My search parameters are “Unattached” and “Accomplished at either MR or AMR.” I found this chap.

He agrees not four hours later and I now have 4 weeks to determine if he’s worth keeping around. Now that I know that a squad’s personality can rub off on a fellow squaddie I’m not worried about his 7 Determination. I’m very happy to see that he is “very well suited to Southern Premier football” and that he “could improve a lot in the future.”

Of course 10 hours later Mark Marshall signs. :-D

I can’t seem to find a U18 DL worth a damn so I finally pull the trigger on this left wingback Steve Pike. I sure hope he can learn DL. It costs me £2,000 to lure him away from AFC Telford. I think once O’Shea has finished mentoring Nightingale, Pike will get some love.

He signs with us on 13 July. I don’t immediately elevate Rice to the Seniors as I need him on the bench for the U18 match on 14 July.

BrixtonFC · Yesterday, 06:35 PM

I also need another trialist at central midfield. I offer Unambitious Glyn Davies who looks promising. If only I could find a mentor for him. Oh dang. Turns out he’s already suited for Conference South and can improve a lot. Now I need a mentor in the midfield! By 25 July I decided to make a permanent offer. In his four matches he’s rated 9.3, 8.3, 7.5, and 7.3. Pretty impressive.

Trial Day is announced on 16 July so I send my chief scout to take a gander. The scouting reports come in four days later and all of them but one are super expensive (£35-50k p/w) and/or have significant gaps in their game. The one who was good just wouldn’t get playing time to justifying bring him in.

Scouting meetings take place at 2345 every other day. At first I think the late night delirium has gotten to me when I see this kid available for a free. I could use an extra left winger and super-sub for the left side...

My scout thinks he’ll ask for £240 per week, max, so I offer £250 for two years when I notice he came up through Chelsea’s academy, figuring he’s gonna get lots of interest, so I want him to sign quickly. Sure enough, four hours later Chester, in the Conference North, make an offer. Dammit. A couple days later, League One side Bristol Rovers offer Wharton a contract. Our chances of landing him plunge. Maybe if he signs with them I’ll try to take him on loan. He signs on 25 July but goes immediately into their senior team. Drat.

Knowing I didn’t have any true defensive midfielders in the U18s I offered a trial to a youngster who’s already on a £5 per week youth contract with a team at the same level of the pyramid as Brixton. On the 50th anniversary of man landing on the Moon I offer him a professional contract. Nathan Kingdon has the audacity of telling me he doesn’t want to play at Brixton so I have to make him an “amazing”offer. Dude, I’m doing you a favor plucking you from obscurity! Still, I make him a standard offer for Brixton. If he accepts, I will owe Halesowen £5,000 with another £8,000 possible in other clauses. Yes, I’m starting to flex Brixton’s Sugar Daddy status about. He agrees on 23 July.

BrixtonFC · Yesterday, 06:39 PM

Friendlies

This training camp I try not to have too many patsies. I schedule the usual weaklings but add some Conference South, Conference National, League Two, and of course League One Swindon due to the mystery trade of Nixon.

6 July vs. Glebe: 7-3 Macey starts things off quick getting three in the first 9 minutes and 39 seconds. Bill Taylor gets two as a Box-To-Box Midfielder. Glebe pulls one back though due to my bad instructions. The other Taylor even gets on the score sheet.
9 July vs. Wokingham: 4-0 Leary and Paul Taylor, Watkins, and Pugh get on the scoreboard on a rather ho-hum match.
12 July at Aldershot: 3-0 They are 2 levels above us but the scout report says they aren’t better than us. Rae gets a groin injury and Coates gets two goals as a BBM. Kemar even gets one.
15 July vs. Croydon: 2-0 Sloppy weather but not sloppy play from McLeish with two headers.
18 July at Canvey Island: 6-1 Thirlwell and Rae impress, beating 1-on-1s easily. O’Keefe surrenders his first penalty shot.
21 July vs. Cambridge: 4-0 The scoring starts with another goal from the BBM position. I am pleased.
24 July at Southend Manor: 4-0 Don’t let the score mislead you, we were generally crap. Our captain missed a penalty against a crap team and his 90th minute goal leads to an undeserved 7.3 rating. He was as low as 5.4 beforehand.
27 July at Aylesbury: 4-0 Thirlwell is on fire, getting a hat trick before a third of the match has passed and fourth shortly after the restart.
30 July at Dulwich Hamlet: 5-0 A match against our neighbors sees Macey find his mojo again. Hot prospect Coates continues his top-notch thieving in the midfield.

Sundry Items
Seasons tickets sold should be around 400, which is better than last year’s 230. Tickets prices went up to £8 from £6 last year. Still a bargain. By 21 July the numbers are up to 387 so we’re getting closer but my assistant also notes that another 100 are expected to sell. That’d be great to have close to 500.

The Season Ahead
We are 1-5 odds to get promoted and 3-2 odds to win the division. If my math is correct, and it rarely is, the Southern League Premier Division sees the top two teams getting promoted to the Conference National League South.

In similar news, on 31 July I have to decide on win bonuses. The middle tier for winning the league is £75k and the domestic cups is £375k. That’s a lot of money. I opted for the highest tier of the league, £105k, but opt for the low end on the cups, £225k.

That Was Then, This is Now
Let us look back two years to our batch of youth players who made up the bulk of the initial squad. I never really planned for them to be around for a long time as I expected “real” youth academy graduates and spot signings for leadership and mentoring would be the way we formed.

GK: Robert Webb, Carl Friend. Both are still with us, with Webb in the Seniors and Carl in the U18s. I hope to off-load them soon.

DR: Tom Johnstone, Peter Maguire. Tom started a couple of matches for the Seniors early in our first year but was sent down to the U18s when Shadi Al-Ziod arrived. He’ll get more starts this year in the Seniors. Peter started a lot of games for the Seniors but he’s gonna be sold off as Tom and Kevin Parker have higher potential.

DL: Kevin Parker, James Jefcoate. Kevin has been a wonderful utility player at full back the first two years and will start at DR this year. Jefcoate split time starting with Al-Ziod but now will be our primary DL.

DC: Ricky Spearing, Robert Carroll. These two gents were the rocks in the center of our defense for two years but they drew attention to themselves and now are playing higher up the pyramid and in Scotland. We only got £10,000 for them combined but I think the game engine did a better job of figuring out “reality” for transfers in the 7th level of English football.

DMC: Connor Smith, Simon McAdam. Connor started many games for us defending in the middle of the field but as more midfielders came in he didn’t get as many starts. I’ve moved him to DC to be our third or fourth choice there. Simon kind of had a similar trajectory but I’m looking to offload him now.

MC: Terry Barlow, Teddy Cullen, David Donaldson. Terry was another stalwart in the midfield but too lost playing time as other, better MCs came in. Teddy got some time starting but David got less. They are both gone and I hope to move Terry soon.

MR: Steve Pearson. He was a beast for us for one and one-third seasons but £20,000 from Brentford was too good to pass up.

ML: Daniel Duckett. Another beast on the wings but got two whole seasons in before going to Swindon for £10,000. I had forgotten he got 36 assists for us in our first year.

ST: Paul Taylor, Ben O’Donnell. Paul was a good player for us, having some good streaks of scoring. Ben had an amazing inaugural season with us getting 38 goals, eclipsed only by Captain Eddie Macey. Brighton’s offer of £45,000 was way too good to turn down.

Our initial batch was amazing. If our youth academy ever produces great defenders eventually Parker, Johnstone, Jefcoate, and Smith will too depart.

After our last friendly I’m going to start training three new formations just to make our fight a little bit harder. Despite that, and having let a lot of regulars go, I’m still optimistic we’ll be able to win the league.

09-08-2024, 09:02 PM	#101
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	February 2019 *I get knocked down but I get up again* I really don’t understand the training module of FM18. I can’t believe we continue to have bad training performances for players who are absolutely rocking it on the field. I did a little research and the only thing I can figure out is that players below the age of 23 get burnt out quickly. Maybe I need to have heavy match-to-match rotation and have only 5 or 7 players on the bench. We’ll give that a try. At least Kemar is slaying it! Financial Matters We are doing quite well, thank you very much. Last month we made £169.5k bringing our season-to-date total to almost £335k. February should be good too with an appearance in the FA Cup at home. Board Confidence My untouchableness is now up to 88%. I’m getting pretty good at this. Dynamics With Pearson’s departure we are down to 7 Influential Players. Player Development I had great anticipation for this day. I knew it was coming and I’m very excited. My AssMan thinks Kemar Kirkpatrick “Is very well-suited to Premier League football.” That’s a Brixton product, people! On the transfer front, Shamrock Rovers of Ireland’s Premier Division offer a contract to Declan McNulty. We’ll see if he decides to stay. He doesn’t have an option I can activate so we might could lose him. A team above us in the pyramid is leaking to the press they want Collopy, a DC in our U18s. However, “they are not expected to stand any chance whatsoever of being able to pull off such an audacious swoop.” My staff must have him pegged all wrong as teams keep talking about getting him. “Audacious” is a bit of a misnomer: He’s currently valued at a whopping £75. As I mentioned at the beginning of this update, I’m going to go to 7 subs named, 3 used, unless there’s an injury after the third substitution. Now let’s see if our David-selves can take down a mini-Goliath. Considering there was no pre-match press conference I’m thinking that the match engine is not going to tip off that we’re going to win, as was my take on the Millwall match. Ergo, we lose this match. Also, an email on 1 February said that a good crowd of 4,700 fans were expected but in the pre-match screen I see that 5,239 have paid to attend. FA Cup Fourth Round vs. Bolton, 2 February 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Harding, Cullen, Jones, Macey But wait! There’s a tunnel interview! A question about the team selection offering no surprises. “Of course not,” I retort, Calmly, “These are the best players I have and we’re quite capable, thank you very much.” After 33’ of nothing-doing, I switch us up to Attacking, change Kemar to a Target Man-Attack, and have the wingers try early crosses. Bolton immediately get the chance with their right winger on a breakaway, one-on-one. Chicken Legg stonewalls him though and the ball is cleared. At the break I tell the lads I’m not pleased with their performance. So of course that means we pick up two yellows in quick succession and by 58’ Hodgson has a bruised shin. Right after that Bolton get a corner and a long shot finds itself in the back of our net. Dammit. Four minutes later Bolton’s leftback picks up his second yellow and we have an excellent spot for a free-kick but we don’t even get an action sequence to see what happens. Two minutes later Slim Shadi wants to show us what he learned earning his caps, sending in a low cross to the near post where a Nixon, streaking across the front of the goal 7 yards out, sends the tying score in with his left foot. I keep the pedal to the metal and make some swaps. Just after the turning of 73’ Smith lobs a ball way into the right corner of the pitch from the middle of the field. Macey is able to out run everyone, pick up the ball, and start heading toward goal. Three yards out he tries an impossible angle shot that somehow makes it past the charging goalie but the ball bounces off the post. He recovers his own shot and puts it in. Of course I switch back to Control and setup some instructions to see things out. In the fifth minute of six minutes of injury time Kemar (Mr. 6.5) gets a one-on-one and manages to miss the wide open goal. Phuq. POM: Bolton’s Matthew Mitchell (1 goal, 2 key passes, 2 chances created) We really had no business slaying that giant but our sling stones were true, mostly. I’d be happier if Kemar, a Premier League talent, would stop being super-streaky. His scout report says he’s Fairly Consistent. Damn FM. Turns out Hodgson’s bruised shin will keep him out for 3 days, max. In even better news, we made £223.6k from the match, £173k of that from prize money. Almost 1,400 of those fans were from Bolton. Anybody’s money is good in Brixton. There was a post-match presser and I blamed myself for the slow start. Three players, Macey, McAdam, and Legg, were pleased by my comments. The lads love me! __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-08-2024, 09:07 PM	#102
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Val Water has signed with Limerick F.C., Irish Premier Division, and will join them the day after his contract with us expires. In player development news, Mitchell Nightingale isn’t growing and is still only 181cm. Also, his speed isn’t going up. I don’t like my DCs to be slow. I don’t mind if my Regista is slow though. So I start training him as a DMC. Let us see how it goes. Also, remember Bill Taylor from last month’s update? Hard working midfielder? On 4 February I get a training update email on him. “Squad’s general character has had a positive effect lately.” What does that mean? His Determination went up again, to 15, and his Personality has changed from Fairly Professional to Resolute. Hot damn! This is ridiculous. The FA Cup Fifth Round draw happens the next day. Our options are Brighton, Burnley, Man City, Charlton, Everton, Man United, Reading, Southampton, Tottenham, Cardiff, Chelsea, Barnsley, Ipswich, Liverpool, Norwich, Arsenal, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Sunderland, or Wolverhampton. Any one of those should slaughter us. Or only hope is Charlton, and realistically we shouldn’t get a win even then. The draw is in and we travel to Everton, who these days are in the Championship. We better not win. Unregardless™ we are going to make a lot of money. Paul Taylor completes his rehabilitation from shin splints but his Condition is down to 87% and his Match Fitness is all the way down to 49%. Gonna bring him back slowly. I have a Dynamics update to report. Chick Legg has moved up to the Highly Influential Player rung. All part of my plan… We faced Salisbury way back on 14 August and we embarrassed them quite thoroughly. C’mon, lads! Let’s give ‘em a repeat! Southern First Division West vs. Salisbury, 6 February 2019 Formation: Spade Starting XI: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Harding, McAdam, Jones, Cullen, Duckett, Macey Subs: Legg, Maguire, Pilcher, Thompson, Nixon, Thirlwell, Taylor As simple as that, we get our lead just before 8’ with Macey sending a long pass to the right for Jones, who spies a Duckett heading to the far post and Daniel does not miss. (R.I.P. Duckett-Pearson, Pearson-Duckett. :-( ) To show the world we’re not just a wing-reliant team, Harding feeds Cullen up the middle, he sends one high up to Macey, who continues the center movement, scoring number two. Some more outstanding Vision and Passing by Cullen, trying to learn how to be an Attacking Midfielder, sees Duckett getting his brace. At 60’ we get an easy penalty, not sure what happened, so Duckett attempts his hat trick and succeeds. I promptly move to the Diamond, move Nightingale up to Regista, put Taylor at Poacher, to get him some match fitness, and use Thompson as Shadow Striker. That sees out the match though Salisbury did threaten in the 87th until Nightingale made a great interception. POM: Daniel Duckett (3 goals, 2 key passes, 2 chances created) The Days Between It is confirmed, at the end of the season Declan McNulty will join Shamrock Rovers. As I think about it though I realize I could probably just move him on now. I mean, he's really surplus to needs as I’m running a 4-5-1 for the youth team. Turns out there’s a “Sell Now” feature and when I click it, it defaults to £500. I drop it to zero and just like that he’s moving back to Ireland. The next day Shamrock make an offer for Stephen Dunne. If he signs with them I’ll offer an early release too. Southern First Division West at Didcot, 9 February 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Smith, Thompson, Thirlwell, Rae Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, McAdam, Cullen, Jones, Taylor Thirlwell boffs his first chance but in the 23rd he strikes gold with his second chance. Our second goal comes from a Thirlwell assist; a corner that goes right to Carroll at the top of the box, where he uses his right foot to send in a powerful shot. Thriller gets his second assist on a long bomb to Rae, who has just been unstoppable this year. Thriller’s third assist comes in the second stanza again from a corner. He sends it directly to Donaldson 25 yards out from the goal and bends it like Beckham over all the heads and into the far right, just squeaking between the goalie’s hands and the post. Amazeballs. It’s no surprise that after I bring out the tired kids at 63’ that nothing much at all happens for the rest of the match. POM: David Donaldson (1 goal, 3 key passes, 1 chance created) I don’t understand why Marcus Thirlwell with his goal, 3 assists, 3 key passes, and 2 chances created didn’t get Player Of the Match. In the stands for the match was Sheffield United’s coach, who was scoping out Robert Carroll. Make an offer, buddy! __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-08-2024, 09:12 PM	#103
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Sure enough, Stephen Dunne signs with Shamrock very late Sunday and on Monday morning I offer an immediate transfer but they decline. Weird. Lots of Dynamics changes of late! Now Peter Maguire is an Influential Player. His Determination and Leadership abilities are both 12 and his personality is Professional. Could he be the next Vice Captain? But even better news comes in! Pilcher is “Potential Championship Talent”. This pleases me greatly. Another league match at home. Time to add to our kitty. I’m switching Barlow and Nixon around to work on their respective new positions. Southern First Division West vs. North Leigh, 13 February 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Nixon, Smith, Hodgson, Barlow, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, McAdam, Donaldson, Jones, Macey Ugh. Twelve minutes in Kirkpatrick gets called for a shove in the penalty area but I watched his avatar backpedal; he never laid hands on anybody. Poppycock! Legg juked to the right, the shooter shot to the left but hit the post and Jefcoate recovered the bounce. What luck! Nothing happens for us until right at 41’ Kemar recovers a stray ball way out right in Leigh’s end, his vision picks out a charging Barlow and we open the seal on this one. Over an hour in we get our second when it’s Hodgson way out right doing the crossing but Barlow again with the scoring. Naturally, I switch to Diamond and bring on fresh legs. With a one-on-one with 7 minutes to go Kemar once again sends the ball wide. Three minutes to go and a perfect cross from Macey sees Kemar getting all fancy, jumping up and kicking the ball. Right into the crossbar. I ignore everyone else in the dressing room and admonish Kemar. He got fired up. Will that matter come next match? I doubt it. POM: Terry Barlow (2 goals, 1 key pass) The Days Between Again the Shamrock Rovers come sniffing around a Brixton youth, this time offering DC Martin Duggan a contract for July. I was kind of hoping he’d stick around another year. We do have an option on him though I don’t think we’ll exercise it. If he takes his time to answer, say until Youth Intake Day, it’d make my life easier. FA Vase Seventh Round vs. Fleet Town, 16 February 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Cullen, Thompson, Macey, Rae Subs: Legg, Maguire, Jefcoate, McAdam, Harding, Jones, Taylor Well, that didn’t take long! Rae, naturally, scores at 1:50 courtesy of a fast break and a Thompson assist. Wow! So our corners of late have been going to players north of the 18-yard box. This time it’s Donaldson receiving the treat but he passes it to Macey who gets a 16-yard shot and gobbles the dessert. (Can you tell I’m hungry right now?) It doesn’t take long for Rae’s brace and I’m on Cloud Nine. Then Macey’s brace. Rae’s trick. Halftime. We see out the match peacefully. POM: Alex Rae (3 goals, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 1 chance created) __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-08-2024, 09:17 PM	#104
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Duggan does not waste time signing that contract with Shamrock. If I get a left-footed DC in youth intake I’ll offer him the chance to leave early. In the FA Vase Quarter Final we get to face Maidenhead at home. They are Conference South but I’ll still worry about the match. Despite the scores of late we really aren’t performing well up front. Well, except Rae. He’s still a beast. York’s scouting report shows that we are going to have a tough time as they are generally as good as us. Supposing Kirkpatrick gets his act together we should win. FA Trophy Seventh Round vs. York, 19 February 2019 Formation: Diamond (DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC, MR, ML, AMC, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Smith, Hodgson, Duckett, Nixon, Thirlwell, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, Harding, Jones, Macey, Rae At 10’ Thirlwell tries a cross, psych! He tries to get it past the goalie. It almost worked. In the 13th the counter with a Regista works to perfection when Smith spies a flying Kirkpatrick. Kemar receives the pass about half way in to York territory and launches a nice placed shot over the goalie’s left shoulder. Six minutes later Thirlwell almost scores but is just a fraction to the right of the post. I worry not; Maguire feels inspired enough to be crossing from deep on the right line and his aim is true, finding Kemar for a header. Nixon takes us to three with a powerful long shot from just inside the box. Kemar’s hat trick is confirmed at 38:28. Then Thirlwell atones for his earlier sin by heading a Hodgson cross in. I didn’t plan on writing any more even when York outplayed us for a minute and scored but then Thriller done gone crazy. I swapped out Kirkpatrick, bringing Macey in as a Deep Lying Forward and moving Marcus to Poacher. He received a pass way out to the left and dribbled along the endline, shooting from about six yards out. He gathers his own rebound, dribbles some more and fires from point blank putting us in seventh heaven. And look at that, Kemar got his act together. POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals, 1 key passes, 1 chance created) The Days Between Now that we’re in the FA Trophy Quarter Final, we need to find out who we are playing. Survey says…? We travel to Salford, in the Conference National North. I give us good odds. Speaking of Salford, the very next day they make an offer for Rae. They offer £0 and I’m just puzzled. What the hell? Sadly, I’m pretty sure Scott Thompson’s career with Brixton is over. On 22 February he suffered a calf strain during training and will be out 1 to 2 months. Considering the team depth, that he’ll need to get to Match Fit, and then new youths pushing some U18s into the Seniors, I just don't see a match in his future. So…Everton’s scouting report is…tragic for us. Every player but one is five stars in Current Ability and Potential Ability. We better not win this. The pre-match press conference isn’t overly long and the questions aren’t new to me. I just act like the Everton manager and I are equals, and that seems to satisfy the journos. He thinks the match will be entertaining. FA Cup Fifth Round at Everton, 23 February 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Smith, Cullen, Duckett, Rae We never get a real chance. They get a cross early on but then nothing until we get a corner in the 64th. Our initial kick got cleared and as Pilcher tried to take it forward he got dispossessed and they got a breakaway. Their quality shined through and we go down a point. That’s all we have today despite winning the possession war. It’s the right results as we had no business going this deep in the FA Cup. POM: Everton’s Paulo Fernandes (1 goal) For our troubles of being someone’s punching bag, we made just over £430k. For the season we are getting close to £1 million in profit. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-08-2024, 09:21 PM	#105
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Excellent news rolls in on the Dynamics line. Daniel Duckett is now Highly Influential. I really thought he would leave us in January but seems there’s not a market for him. That means he has a high chance of being our Vice Captain next season with his 14 Determination and Leadership. With one less cup to worry about, I can switch our attention to league match-ups more. A lot of players with declining Match Sharpness get to start as does Paul Taylor who’s still not fully back from his shin splints. Southern First Division West vs. Evesham, 27 February 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Cullen, McAdam, Jones, Donaldson, Duckett, Taylor Subs: Legg, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Hodgson, Rae I somehow manage to hit the pre-match pep rally right. What a change! What a relief! Mr. Shin-Splints himself is the first hero to step up. After we defend a free kick we start moving slowly upfield when McAdam catches a glimpse of a darting Taylor up the middle. His pass is perfectly placed and Taylor drifts a little to the right with the ball and then cuts in toward goal and surprises the keeper with a shin-level blast. Shins. Though I’m not feeling real comfortable at 65’ I do the Diamond and swap some players. It almost pays off immediately but Jones hits the upright and the ball bounces right to the goalie. He also gets two consecutive headers but eventually the goalkeep punches the ball out of bounds. The victory is sealed when Jones of all people gets a header in off a Harding corner. I can relax now. Then Jones gets another goal from a Harding assist but it was Duckett at the corner who supplied Noah. Weird. POM: Robbie Jones (2 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created) The Days Between In preparation for Youth Intake Day I send two of my scouts to scour England and one to scour Scotland for new youth talent just in case our intake is less than stellar. Find me some gems, gentlemen! The scouting report for Billericay comes in and considering they are in the Conference South, their team ain’t half bad. Summary Well, we had a good run of being undefeated but we finally lost. And rightfully so. Just as a good team should, we bounced back with a thorough victory. Nothing like drubbing an opponent to get Morale back up! We also saw the departures of some periphery figures just in time to clear space for Youth Intake Day. I have a Christmas list of wants from the new crew and I hope I’m not on Santa’s Naughty List. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-13-2024, 06:26 PM	#106
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	It has come to my attention that the link in my signature has been wrong all along. I apologize to anybody who went to the website and were confused by what they were seeing. I've fixed it so it should now take you to club name eff see dot com, not club name dot come. It appears that I cannot edit all the previous iterations so I must hope that people won't continue to click on it. If anybody knows how to fix links in previous post, please PM me. EDIT: I figured out how to fix the link. Sometimes I'm a nug. D'oh! __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com Last edited by BrixtonFC : 09-13-2024 at 06:29 PM.

09-15-2024, 04:53 PM	#107
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	YOUTH INTAKE DAY 2019 *Reasons to be cheerful, part 2* It’s the most wonderful time of the year while the kids practice jelling and all the scouts saying be of good cheer, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It looks like we have a pretty good intake. One player can for sure immediately contribute and three more possibly could. Not sure what to do with three goalies when all we need is one. Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 2 1. Alan Coates: Though he is Natural at MC and Competent at AMC, I’m excited about training him in DMC so he can be my Andrea Pirlo in the Regista role. 2. Gareth O’Keefe: This guy is going to be an amazing goalie. Hopefully his Ambitious personality won’t see him wanting to leave us quickly. 3. Tommy Watkins and Meilir Pugh: We got two great wingers, one on each side. If Duckett leaves us it’s not too much of a drop to Pugh, who might catch up to Duckie quickly. Watkins will shortly surpass the other AMRs: Andy Hodgson, Andy Robinson, and Ashley Hibbert. 4. Central Defenders: We got one each of footedness, with Kevin Jenkins on the right and Jose Parker on the left. (Is that José or Jo-see? No telling how the English would pronounce it. He doesn’t speak Spanish and is only of English nationality so I’m kind of at a loss.) 5. Speaking of Parker, I’m thankful that I’ve figured out my scouts aren’t really that good. They aren’t impressed with his Potential Ability but his defensive skills are pretty damned good. I’m guessing he’s better than my scouts believe. 6. Only one player with single-digit Natural Fitness and all the highly-rated youths are really good there and in Determination, Teamwork, and Work Rate. 7. Only four players have bad Personalities. 8. Lots of players are starting off with Players Traits. Six players have a total of eight traits. 9. A good spread of secondary nationalities with two being born in the Caribbean and one born in Nigeria. 10. Generally, from top to bottom, a high average of Teamwork and Work Rate scores. On the flip side, we didn’t get any good DR, DL, STs. I won’t be signing DR Kevin Peters and if I can find a better DL and ST in other teams’ intake then I won’t sign Williams or Hollett either. Luckily our youths are automatically put on 6-week Trial contracts. One weird thing that I noticed is that some of my players already have a Favoured Team that isn’t Brixton. Ian Barnett favors Bristol City but that’s because he’s from Bristol. That brings up another point; not all the players who were born in England are from London, a pretty cool change that proves our reputation is going up. Another example is Alan Coates, from York, who is a Manchester United supporter. Ungrateful twerp. :-D I’m gonna hold off putting any of the youths in the Seniors for now. I want them to settle in and kind of hide them, in a fictitious bout of paranoia. Player Cards Alan Coates, MC Like I said earlier, this kid is going to be amazing. Not Kemar Kirkpatrick-level amazing but he’s going to take us to the Premier League, I’m sure. For his age he has pretty darned good Mental Attributes and his Vision of 11 will be key to his success as a Regista. He has the Player Preferred Moves of Dictates Tempo (yay!) and Tries First Time Shots (boo!). Gareth O’Keefe, GK He’s got almost everything I ever wanted in a goalie. The height, the reflexes, the hands, not too one-footed, not eccentric. The only weakness I see is that his Balance is 5. I can’t believe his Free Kick Tacking is so high! Tommy Watkins, M/AM R, ST C He’s going to help us forget the name Steve Pearson. I wish he was a bit taller and had higher Determination; I'll have Macey mentor him when things with Thirlwell are over. Eventually I’ll get his ST up to Natural because I can’t let that Finishing and Composure go to waste. Meilir Pugh, M/AM L I do think he might surpass Duckett eventually though I wish his Determination was higher. In some ways he’s the opposite of Tommy Watkins: He’s tall, can’t hit the broadside of a barn. His name is unique, it’s Welsh and means “head ruler.” So, like a king? Kevin Jenkins, D LC, DM I’m highlighting this guy not because he’s freakin’ awesome but because he’s an anomaly, as I mentioned earlier. He has a poor Personality and Determination but his defensive skills for a central defender are pretty damn good for our level. Add to that our scouts aren’t impressed with him. If I can find him a good mentor to improve his weaknesses I could see him being with us a long time. Eventually I’ll get his DMC up to Natural so I can use him as a Half Back in a Defensive formation. Youth Candidate Match Future superstar Alan Coates, playing as the right midfielder in the Box-To-Box Midfield role pushes down his opposite during a cross in the box and Bill Taylor, the U18s Regista, shows just how cool, calm, and collected he is. Candidate Tommy Watkins shows how it’s done as a Poacher, heading down a clearance and running half the field before sinking his shot. This was all in the first 15’. Despite not being real quality players, the Candidates’ defense does a fine job, keeping the U18s from having an easy time retaining possession, until 80’ when McLeish gets a near-duplicate of Watkins’ goal, including distance covered and juking the GK out of his jock. Scouting As mentioned earlier, I needed some better options as DR, DL, and ST so I went to the Transfers > Youth Intake screen and eyeballed some players from some teams in the lower levels of the English pyramid. I found two for each position plus an unexpected AMC and added them to the Scouting Assignments list. I also scouted some local teams, notably the ones from last year (AFC Croydon, Bromley, Croydon, and Dulwich Hamlet) plus FCD Galicia, Rayners Lane, Farleigh, Worcester Park, Margate, and, just for kicks, Metropolitan Police, London’s finest. I haven’t been using a Scouting Package for several months but to aid finding some gems for the needed positions I bought the England Youth Package for £9,000 a month. We can afford it now but I’ll probably turn it off in a couple of months. When the scouting reports coming in for the lads mentioned two paragraphs up page, the news is not good. They are all mediocre at best and don’t want to come to Brixton. I’m just going to have to wait for the scouts to find their own gems. Sundry Items I decided that it’s ridiculous that we keep getting great youth so I took the drastic step of opening the editor and reducing our Junior Coaching and Youth Recruitment. If our next YID again is phenomenal I’ll drop the values even more (below 10). I also promise myself that I won’t approach the board about upgrading until we are confirmed to be gaining promotion to Conference National. If they do it on their own…then so be it. What took you so long?! I usually can knock out a monthly update about once a week in real life. Some factors can extend that. For the YID update I have to spend time getting the players card down to a reasonable size. This time around though there was another factor: I found a way to get those horrible player head-shots out of here. Midjourney, an AI image generator. Look at Gareth O’Keefe? What’s better, Before or After? Before After I hope you like the change! __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-30-2024, 07:05 PM	#108
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	March 2019 *I’m winning, and I don’t intend on losing again* Well bah-humbug! More crappy training results. Sigh. Financial Matters Hot damn! We made a smidge under £600k last month. See, I told you we could afford a scouting package. Board Confidence Still Untouchable, still 88%. Dynamics No changes. Of course, I didn’t put any new youths straight into the Seniors, so that helped. Player Development Thriller’s Determination is finally going up after being mentored by Macey for three months. Now onto our first match of the month. I’m feeling confident we’ll maintain our winning ways and win the league soon. Southern League Cup Quarter Final Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Smith, Nixon, Rae, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Harding, Taylor, Macey Well, here’s a change. Our opponents are first to hit us with their rhythm stick, getting a goal in the 14th off a free kick that got headed down to the foot of a striker. Eleven minutes later the unique combo of Al-Ziod to Kirkpatrick equalizes matters. Before the half we take the lead courtesy of whom else but Rae. During the mid-term I command that they don’t get Complacent, with all but Smith and Shadi giving me the green thumbs up. Shortly after the restart Kemar has a chance to increase our lead but the GK does a good job of denying him. At 60’ they tie us with a carpet burner from way out, about 22 yards. With Barlow and Nixon on yellow and looking ill-disciplined I have to switch to the Spade as I only have one MC on the bench. D’oh! But I don’t have enough wingers. Double d’oh! I have to move Rae to AML. Luckily for us, their right back gets his second yellow in the 74th. Over the next few minutes Kemar and Rae put on a display of almost-good-enough but they are playing amateur hour, what a waste. In the 84th Spearing puts one in the back of the net but whomp, whomp, he’s offside. I was fully expecting the match to end with us traveling to Billericay the following week but I am wrong, it’s extra time for us. In the 100th minute Rae, despite not being an AML, sends in a cross from the left but Harding can’t get his head on it properly and hits the crossbar. Kemar scores a minute later in the 107th; he will be England’s glory. I immediately get Defensive and start wondering if we’re cursed. We are not! Smith scores in the 117th sealing our victory. POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (2 goals, 3 key passes, 1 chance created) I know, I know, I said I would only use three subs but the unexpected extra time but a temporary end to that. I couldn’t risk players getting injured with their Condition down in the 50s. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-30-2024, 07:15 PM	#109
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between In the Southern League Cup Semi Final draw, we face Bath. Last year we lost to them in the same cup match. It was on penalties and Sam Martin, who is no longer with us, botched his attempt so badly that I refused to give him a new contract. I want revenge so bad I can taste it. Bath must go down in flames! Another player rises up the ranks of Influence. Daniel Duckett is now a Highly Influential Player. In the same email I get notice that Ben Pope can be better than Tommy Watkins (doubtful), Adrian Lee can be much better than Gareth O’Keefe (doubtful), and Meilir Pugh can be much better than Daniel Duckett (much more believable). A lot of our starters are still Tired from our last match so we see a lot of rotation today. As far as our standings go, if we lose out the rest of our games we’ll finish ninth in the league. I do not foresee that happening. Southern First Division West at Slimbridge, 5 March 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Cullen, McAdam, Hodgson, Donaldson, Duckett, Thirlwell Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Jones, Macey It’s a calm, wet day in Slimbridge but the damp atmosphere does not dampen our players’ skills. Case in point, Thriller thrills the crowd before 3 minutes with a hell of a free kick, going in from 30 yards out. Despite that early indication, more things don’t happen until 32 minutes later when Donaldson sends a low cross across the face of the goal that the GK didn’t even try to punch or kick, which is a bad decision because Hodgson is at the far post to put matters to rest. Spot on 44’ Slimbridge increase their slim chances with a close-in shot after a free kick way out on our right wing. At 67’ I switch to the Diamond and bring on Harding, Jones, and Macey for McAdam, Cullen, and Hodgson. We immediately squander a corner kick when Jones’ header goes high. It turns out my fretting was misplaced as right after 70’ Maguire sends an early, long cross to Thriller, who gets his brace. He then gets his hat trick in the 92nd when we get a penalty chance in the last seconds of the match. POM: Marcus Thirlwell (3 goals, 1 key pass, 1 chance created) The Days Between A lot of scouting reports come in on the morning of the 9th. The two players that are slightly good would cost over £10,000 and they’re seriously injured anyway. FM2018 is definitely harder than FM2014 when it comes to finding and buying hidden gems. Winchester is a mid-table team and we barely beat them in the first match back in early October. It took a subbed-on Nightingale to score in the 90th minute to lead us to victory. We best not have a repeat of that. Southern First Division West vs. Winchester, 9 March 2019 Formation: Spade Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Nixon, Smith, Jones, Taylor, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Thirlwell, Macey Another wet, calm, 13° C day, and just like in Slimbridge, we draw first blood. Tenth minute and a Kirkpatrick feed sees Taylor on a breakaway but he’s caught by two defenders who put the squeeze on him in the box. Nixon does not miss the resultant penalty shot. Kemar’s second attempt to help Taylor score a goal works in the 18th and spirits are high. Taylor’s second goal comes from a ludicrous Maguire cross from deep but comes at a cost of a bruised ankle for Taylor. He somehow was able to out leap Winchester’s right central defender who is massive, 204 cm, or in ‘merican parlance, 6’ 8”. That’s more ludicrous! And so the match goes with us sloppy but them sloppier. I did have to bring Taylor off at the midway point so no hat trick for him. We have yet another game where the opposition loses a man due to a second yellow. And then another man goes off for a second yellow. A nice, normal day in South London. POM: Paul Taylor (2 goals, 1 key pass) I’m pleased that we did not have a repeat of the previous Winchester match. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-30-2024, 07:21 PM	#110
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Alas, the morning of the 13th sees more scouting reports of very good players who want nothing to do with us. Nobody like us, everybody hates us, I think we’ll go eat worms. Our good streak must continue, I demand nothing else. I’m using the Club today to get some rotation and rest the wingers. Southern First Division West vs. Bitton, 13 March 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, Barlow, Cullen, Macey, Rae Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Smith, Jones, Duckett, Thirlwell My concerns rear their ugly head when Harding gets an early yellow but then they vanish when he sends in a lovely cross for Alex “All He Wants To Do is Score” Rae. 1-0. It doesn’t take long for Rae’s brace; I knew it was coming when Harding did a back-heel pass to Parker around midfield. Another Harding cross at 22:30 sees an early Rae triple. After that the game goes boring, fine by me, allowing me to switch to the Diamond at the two-thirds point and see out the game peacefully. We did pick up five yellow cards, not fine by me. POM: Alex Rae (3 goals, 3 key passes) I’d like to point out the Noah Harding had 2 assists, 5 key passes, and 5 chances created. These two have been great signings. The Days Between I believe it’s time to secure Rae’s services for a bit longer. His contract has an option year we can activate but I think he deserves better. I offer £600/week plus some good appearance, goal, and substitute bonuses, plus some wage gains for promotion and yearly reasons. He made an odd request that he gets a bonus year if he makes ten appearances and we gain promotion in the final year. FM2018 sure has some neat clauses. In the last 20 games his lowest rating is 6.4 and there was a 6.9 but everything else is 7.1 or higher, with 15 goals and 9 assists. A rich vein of form indeed. Thirlwell’s mentoring is coming along nicely. His Determination is up to 7 and his personality is Spirited now. I like this long streak of only league matches. We are getting nearer securing our promotion. Southern First Division West at Norwich United, 16 March 2019 Formation: Club Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, McAdam, Cullen, Taylor, Thirlwell Subs: Legg, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Jones, Macey, Rae The scoring starts with an unexpected contributor, Pilcher from open play, not a corner. He slotted one in from about 20 yards out but within the 18-yard box just after two minutes. In a very similar way Cullen gives us more clearance just before 7’. Taylor makes it 3-0 at 16, also from within the area. Having drastically slowed things down and changed up instructions to be less aggressive, we do not score anymore and give up a goal early in the second. Not worried. POM: Teddy Cullen (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 chance created) __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-30-2024, 07:27 PM	#111
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Another international call-up for The Jordanian Prince. He’ll miss five matches. I hope he gets his first international goal. Not to be outdone, though in the U19s, Kemar (England), McAdam (Northern Ireland), Nixon (Ireland), and surprisingly, Noah Harding (Wales) answer the call-up. Salford are about the same as us as far as Starting XI go, so this could be a challenge. Hopefully we’ll do well. FA Trophy Quarter Final at Salford, 19 March 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Harding, Cullen, Jones, Macey We start out strong and almost get a Nixon goal after 24 seconds. Just before 3’ though Maguire picks up a yellow and then sends in a cross into our own goal. He hangs his head in shame. I begin to believe that the fix is in when we start picking up yellows in quick succession with Nixon, Al-Ziod, and Smith getting their names taken. To make matters worse, Hodgson gets a gashed head. After 33 minutes I feel the tide begin to turn when we get some good build-up culminating in a short cross from Nixon’s head to Kemar’s foot. Things get better when Salford’s right-back trips Duckett but Barlow can’t make use of the free kick. We proceed to get plenty of good but not great chances. After the break I give Hodgson five minutes to rectify his act but he doesn’t, so on comes Jones. We pull ahead in the 54th as Duckett stays wide after a corner on the left side, eventually getting a feed and crossing to Kemar’s head. In the 59th Jones gets easily dispossessed and Salford’s left-back sends in a long-range pass allowing their striker to out-pace and out-class Spearing and Carroll, and uncharacteristically Chick Legg. I implore the lads to punch them back. Jones redeems himself some when again he loses possession but wins it back immediately and embarrasses that troublesome left-back. In the ensuing corner, Smith heads down Duckett’s kick to Carroll who puts us ahead for good. The next 35 minutes are generally uneventful except Al-Shadi pulls up lame with a pulled hamstring. We managed to play 10 minutes with him struggling to do much of anything. He’ll miss some international opportunities. POM: Daniel Duckett (1 assist, 4 key passes, 4 chances created) Hodgson’s gashed head will keep him on the bench for 7 to 12 days while Al-Shadi’s hamstring will sideline him for 8 days to 2 weeks. At least we’ve gotten away from the Lower Leg Injury Plague of 2018/2019. The Days Between FA Trophy Semi Final draw day! Our choices are AFC Fylde, Welling, or Whitehawk. I’m hoping for Whitehawk cuz it’s a cool name for a town and because in theory they are the weakest of the three. We get to face…Whitehawk as the visitors. Would really have preferred a home match, we’re not making much money this month. We’re actually favored versus Maidenhead but just 4-5 odds. FA Vase Quarter Final vs. Maidenhead, 23 March 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Nightingale, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, Cullen, Donaldson, Macey, Rae Subs: Webb, Day, Maguire, McAdam, Nixon, Jones, Thirlwell After 12 minutes and 3 headers that have gone over the crossbar, I ask the lads politely to Concentrate. It takes another 10 minutes but finally Harding is able to sky one to a pacey Eddie and the Captain scores from up close. El Capitan gets an assist a few minutes later, doing a nice back-heel pass to Rae, who we all know by now knows how to score like a bawss. It doesn’t take long for Rae to get his brace in the second half after Jefcoate finally gets his fifth crossing attempt right. The good news come to a screeching halt in the 58th when Cullen pulls his groin (stop giggling!) and I’m forced to send McAdam in. At 68’ I replace Carroll and Harding with Nixon and Day; this necessitates moving Donaldson over to be the right Mezzala. And this is how we saw out this match peacefully. POM: Alex Rae (2 goals, 3 key passes, 2 chances created) Cullen’s injury news isn’t the worst with him expected to be out 5 to 10 days. I’m more concerned that after a relatively healthy 2018 we are experiencing a bad run of luck in 2019. Please, please, please, football gods, don’t kill my players. The Sunderland boss was in the stands to watch Carroll. I’m sure his 7.4 rating piqued Sunderland’s interest even more. I went back to the update when I signed Rae to take a look what I said about him at the time. Was he just filler or someone I thought would be so freakin’ awesome? Turns out I was worried about his Bravery and Strength but despite that, I thought he’d make a fine Target Man. His Bravery of 3 has not improved but his 5 Strength is now up to 9. I think adding the Trait “Knocks Ball Past Opponent” has really polished his game. He’s scored in the last 7 matches he’s started, scoring 12 goals and notching 9 assists. In short, I am a brilliant football manager. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

09-30-2024, 07:37 PM	#112
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between No update would be complete without cup draw news. In the FA Vase Semi Final draw our choices are two Conference South teams, Billericay and Hungerford, and Totton, from our own league. We’ve beaten each team this season though the Billericay match was a bum-squeaker. We travel to Billericay, damn it. On Sunday, 24 March, Thompson resumes training, having missed only 5 weeks or so. Looks like he’ll get some more Brixton matches in before his contract ends. On the 25th my scouts find me a player who seemingly will sign but he’s not a DR, a DL, or a Striker. He is however a DMC that can be successfully retrained as a DC. I think he’ll fit nicely at DR. It’ll be a test just to see how long it takes to get him Natural there; can I do it in under a year? I offer him one-year contract with an option for us so I can keep him if I don’t get any DRs in next year’s Youth Intake. We take on Cirencester next. Our worst possible finish in the league is 3rd. All we need is two more victories to seal our promotion fate. That would in theory come from an away match at Horndean. Do I throw this match (and the next) to clinch the title at home? NEVER! Southern First Division West vs. Cirencester, 27 March 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Barlow, Donaldson, Jones, Taylor, Duckett, Rae Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Parker, Smith, Thompson, Thirlwell, Macey It takes 20 minutes for any action and it’s a corner for us that goes begging off Barlow’s foot. Our second corner comes from the other side but it’s Carroll’s head that is off target. Just before the half one of their three midfielders gets his second yellow just before Rae got into the box but nothing comes of the free kick. Paul Taylor picks up a minor injury at 65’ so I bring off him, all-a-sudden-shitty Rae, and Jones for Thompson, Thirlwell, and Macey. It takes 10 minutes but a cross from Jefcoate at left-back to Thirlwell at right-wing to put us on top. I go back to Control, having changed to Attacking at the intermission, and bite my nails for the first time in my life. Just after 90’ Thompson thieves the ball that their left centreback had trouble handling, dribbles out wide a little, feeds Thirlwell, who gets his brace as a sub. We should not have had to wait so long with a man advantage to score but I suppose a win is a win. POM: Marcus Thirlwell (2 goals) Taylor’s injury is much ado about nothing but Barlow picked up a bruised ankle in the waning minutes; he’ll be out only 1 to 2 days. Again with the lower leg injuries!!! Immediately after the match Duckett’s agent once again came asking for a new contract. I just know I can’t afford Duckett so I Walk Away from the negotiations. This prompts Duckett to come knocking on my office door. I explain he still has time on his current contract, which he understands and leaves the office a little disappointed but understanding. He’s the only player listed as a club Legend so of course the fans will revolt when he leaves but that’ s also the reason I know he’ll cost us too much. Meilir Pugh has a higher potential anyway and is already rated as Conference South quality so I’m sure we’ll be fine out on the left wing, come what may. The Days Between An unexpected press conference pops up the day before out match against Horndean where we can clinch promotion. It was long. I didn’t count but I’d guess between 12 and 15 questions. It’s a nice calm day in Horndean with temperatures at 10° C (51° F) and this is the day we win the league, bringing us closer to the ultimate prize of the Premiership. Way in the future. Thompson gets a rare second start in a row as a lot of midfielders are coming back from injuries or are out on international duty. He said “duty” heh heh. Southern First Division West at Horndean, 30 March 2019 Formation: Spade Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Smith, Donaldson, Jones, Taylor, Duckett, Macey Subs: Legg, Maguire, Nightingale, Cullen, Thompson, Hodgson, Thirlwell My moving speech falls flat as only Taylor gets motivated. I get stopped in the tunnel on the way to the pitch. I assure the journos we are up for the fight and will emerge victorious. Just as expected, Macey leads us to an opening goal and my motivated buddy Taylor is the one who assists. It was a beautiful left-foot shot on the ground through traffic, even nutmegging one defender. Our second Macey goal was a funny one: Jones crossed from the right to Macey but Taylor cut in front, mishandling the ball but it goes right to Macey anyway, he blasts it so hard it bounces off the keeps hands and into the back of the net. In the locker room I implore the squad to keep focus and not Complacent. The speech gets a great reaction and I add for Pilcher to be careful not to get a second yellow. Just over two minutes in Webb gets a rare goalie assist when he sends a long ball and the central defenders assume the goalie will get it and the goalie assumes the defenders will get it. That was Macey’s 100th goal for Brixton. Insane! With 23 minutes left I switch us to the Diamond, bring off Smith, Duckett, and Donaldson for Nightingale (to practice the Regista), Hodgson, and Thirlwell. As expected, we get a great counterattack from a corner with Jones launching one way forward to Thirlwell who dribbles almost to the end of the field, crossing it to Macey for his 101st Brixton goal. Booyah! POM: Eddie Macey (4 goals, 3 key passes, 1 chance created) In Summary We are the champions, again! Now that the league is won my focus turns to the remaining cups. I’ll probably use my preferred XI less in league matches until the end of the season. Related, Carroll picked up a bruised jaw near the end of the match so he won’t see the field for a week or more. A lot of our success this month was from our opponents picking up a ludicrous amount of yellows and double yellows. Unfortunately, the injury bug continues to bite us. This has to be the result of me playing youngsters relentlessly, right? I must do better in April. What took you so long?! Vacation. It’s all I ever wanted. I took so time off to indulge my other hobbies and just kick my feet up and enjoy the shortening days. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com Last edited by BrixtonFC : 10-17-2024 at 07:58 PM.

10-01-2024, 02:00 PM	#113
Chas in Cinti High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH	Great to get a run of updates, I'd been missing this one! __________________ Email: [email protected]

10-17-2024, 07:58 PM	#114
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	April 2019 *We're better than them* I just can’t get the hang of training. I don’t remember having so much trouble last year. It’s gotta be because I’m using youth too much. I cut back everybody’s training Intensity Level back to Average in hopes of not another repeat. Financial Matters We lost almost £88k last month, which is not totally unexpected given that we are out of the FA Cup now. This brings our season total down to £845k in the green. Board Confidence Still Untouchable but up to 91% now. Nice. Dynamics Nothing has changed since Duckett became Highly Influential early last month. New Players Before our first match of the month the youth that we found on 25 March finally signs with us. Meet Jordan Nickson: He’s really just a filler and experiment. I’ll try to get his DR up to Natural as quick as possible. His Pace, Tackling, Marking, and Positioning makes me think he can be a U18 player for 3 years. If I get him Natural at DR and he has grown to 183 cm by then I’ll try to get his DC as high as possible. For his age his Jumping Reach and Heading are pretty good. Hey! We have a player from Jordan and a player named Jordan. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-17-2024, 08:04 PM	#115
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	We still have five players out on International Duty (giggle, giggle) and quite a few players still a bit knackered from Saturday’s game, ergo, we’ll have a lot of rotation. Our previous match against Taunton was pretty easy though we allowed some late goals when we got sloppy. I’m confident of getting a good result today. Southern First Division West at Taunton, 2 April 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Nightingale, Day, Jefcoate, Thompson, Cullen, Hodgson, Barlow, Duckett, Thirlwell Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Smith, Donaldson, Jones, Rae Thirlwell has a clear shot just 12 seconds in but it goes just wide. Just minutes later he picks up a bruised knee. In the tenth minute his gimpy knee leads him to being easily dispossessed and we just can’t get things going. Just. At half I crank up the volume and go Attacking. I have to take Thirlwell off in the 68th along with Day (yellow) and Jefcoate (stressed by Assertive half-time speech) for Rae, Pilcher, and Parker. We’ve been passing poorly all day sending balls right to the opponent. Luckily, at 70:07 Barlow gets a shot from 10 yards out and we get a lead. I immediately switch back to Control. The game is sealed in the 77th when Cullen gets a free kick in the arc, just outside the box. The wall defends the try but it goes right back to Cullen who one-shots it in, past the stunned goalie. POM: Terry Barlow (1 goal, 3 key passes, 2 chances created) I give them the “We got away with that” speech, firing most players up except Barlow. As for Not-So-Thrilling, I gave him the, “You squandered many chances” speech and he acknowledge his faults. I wonder if he would have performed better if he hadn’t been hurt so early. (The injury cleared up by the end of the match, by the way.) The Days Between The biggest news is that I elevated midfielder Bill Taylor to the Seniors. I gave him a talking to first, telling him how impressed we are and he deserves to train with the older players. He thanked me and then the game automatically dumped him in the U23. Pretty neat addition to Football Manager! Not much else happened in the days between. We are currently free of injuries. Probably the first time in around 7 months; I’m including the U18s in this statement. Some nice scouting reports on youth strikers came in but none are exciting or want to come to South London. There is one, Mark Marshall, who I might take a stab at if the upcoming Youth Departures lists don’t pan out. Oh, these MoFoers again. The ones who erred in selling us Pilcher. Who we beat 3-0 back in late November. Who are currently the worst team in the league. Let’s send them home with more embarrassment! Carroll is coming back from his bruised jaw and will come on in the second half. And Bill Taylor gets his first start. I hope he does his family proud. But wait! Before the match begins I get an email from my Player Liaison Officer who informs me that Spearing no longer wishes to leave Brixton, that he’s happy to stay. Evidently teams are no longer pursuing him. That’s somewhat of a relief. I still think I’ll bring in a DC in the summer to act as a mentor and a Vice Captain. Southern First Division West vs. Bristol MF, 6 April 2019 Formation: Spade Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Day, Jefcoate, Smith, Bill Taylor, Jones, Paul Taylor, Duckett, Macey Subs: Webb, Parker, Carroll, Thompson, Cullen, Thirlwell, Rae My pre-match speech only excites Bill Taylor so I’m hoping he puts in a star performance. It turns out though that the other Taylor has the magic touch, getting a goal before 10 minutes from a Jones cross. Jesus, in the 25th minute Smith pulls his groin and begs to come off. On comes Cullen. A few minutes later Macey gets fouled in the box and Bill Taylor of all people gets the shot, he does have a 13 Penalty Taking attribute though. HE SCORES ON HIS DEBUT!!! Macey then makes it three for me with a weak effort which was rightfully called an own goal by an MF defender. Pilcher and Macey spent a good portion of the first half looking Uninterested but Shane got his act together so only Eddie got some stern words. Eddie doesn’t improve and gets subbed out at 68’ for Rae, who gets another sub goal with 10 minutes to play. POM: Robbie Jones (1 assist, 2 key passes, 2 chances created) The news on Smith’s groin isn’t too bad, out for 5 to 10 days. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-17-2024, 08:09 PM	#116
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between On the morning of 9 April I get some more player development news but it’s all old news. It came from my AssMan but you can also get these emails from your Head of Youth Development. My AssMan is a better judge of ability and potential than my HOYD. AssMan. Legg can tie the record for clean sheets in the league if he attains one in the match. Totton are currently second in the league but we destroyed them in our previous meeting. Lettuce continue that trend. Southern First Division West at Totton, 9 April 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Nightingale, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Harding, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Jefcoate, Thompson, McAdam, Thirlwell, Rae The scoring starts in a weird way in the fourth. Nixon is out to the left just outside the big box and crosses it to Kemar but the cross was low and went into a defender and right under the goalie. A goal’s a goal, as my gramma used to say. That was the only action sequence in the first 45 minutes but in the extra minute Totton’s right centreback (with a 15 Long Throw rating) launches from the right sideline into our box but Legg rises above and immediately throws it to Carroll who manages to get it to Barlow. Barlow sends in a long pass from our half of the center circle. Macy and Kemar are in the clear with Kemar getting to it first. They run for the goal and Kemar opts for the shot on goal and succeeds beautifully. As per usual, I swap out bodies at 65’ with Kemar, Harding, and Spearing bowing out for some chaps who need match fitness, namely Thirlwell, Thompson, and Pilcher. Shortly thereafter Parker gets a cross from the byline and Nixon seals his POM performance with a beauty of a header into the ceiling of the net. I switch to Defensive at 75’ after Totton get two corners and almost ruin Chicken Legg’s clean sheet. Woohoo! In the 87th Thriller sends a prayer of a free kick into the box where one of their strikers gets his grubby paws on the ball and Nixon gets his brace. Or so I thought. He was acting like an American football kicker and tried to put it through the uprights. Le Sigh. Despite that, he still gets POM. POM: Mark Nixon (1 goal, 2 key passes, 1 chance created) Chick ties the record for league clean sheets but I think I’ll give Webb the next league start so in theory Chick will break the record at the end of the month, on the 27th. Three of our next four matches are cups, and much to my dismay, I realize all of them are away. We’re gonna be in the red again this month. I also realize at this time that we haven’t conceded a goal in six matches. Damnnnnnnn… The Days Between The scouting report for Bath comes in and I am optimistic. I’d be more optimistic if we were at home but alas, that’s not the story. The media prediction then comes in and the subject lines reads, “Bath face difficult Brixton challenge”. They have 7-2 odds of winning. I am going with a slightly unusual starting XI, with Bill Taylor as my Box-To-Box Midfielder and Teddy Cullen as my Deep Lying Playmaker. I’d rather have Terry Barlow and Mark Nixon on the field but they are a bit tired. Because of the importance of this match I want my Captain on the pitch so Macey gets the start as my right Winger. No way in hell I’m not going to have Kemar up top. Southern League Cup Semi Final at Bath, 13 April 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Bill Taylor, Cullen, Macey, Paul Taylor, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Smith, Barlow, Jones, Thirlwell I gave the “let’s get revenge” speech and most of the kids responded favorably. I hope that carries through into the match. Aside from an early yellow for each team nothing happens until the 27th minute when Maguire gets a cross into Taylor in the six-yard box but his initial and rebound shots go right to the goalie. Ten minutes later Macey has to be immediately subbed for a potential foot injury. I swear we are cursed. On the restart Maguire throws it in to Paul Taylor, who has no business being on the sideline but he dribbles down to the byline anyway and sends in a cross to Duckett at the far post. Their right back is able to intercept the pass, heading it upfield. But Bath are cursed as it goes right to Bill Taylor who’s standing on the 18-yard line and his powerful shot goes into the lower left corner of the goal. Again, I’m a genius for moving him up to the Seniors. In the 43rd the newly-on Thriller also gets a long range goal after we counter-attack from a Bath free kick. Carroll was the beast who disrupted their play and sent the stolen ball upfield. This gave Carroll a thirst for blood and a minute later he boots one in after a corner kick. In the third minute of stoppage time we get a free kick down in Bath’s end which ultimately ends with Carroll passing to Kemar for a very short-ranged goal. In the second half everything is calm and in the 64th I use my two remaining subs to switch out the midfielders who are the most exhausted. Within seconds we get another counter-attack, this time up the left side, ending with a Duckett-Jefcoate-Kemar triple play for our fifth goal. This Kirkpatrick kid with his headers…he might pan out some day. He gets his hat trick in the 72nd when Bath’s two central defenders try to play cute with the ball and he steals it and doesn’t cockup this one-on-one. We end the match with 28 shots on goal, 16 of them on target. Yowza! POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals) We got our revenge on Bath but at what cost?! Macey. Poor Eddie Macey. Out 4 to 6 weeks for a Twisted Ankle. Damn this is bad. No Captain and our Vice Captain just ain’t that good. Dammit. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-17-2024, 08:16 PM	#117
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Thinking about Macey being out, I’ve mused about the following: We are down to four healthy strikers in the Seniors. I might promote Derek McLeish from the U18s. This would leave only one Natural Striker in the U18s in Jamie Hopkinson. Ergo, I’m going to train Tommy Watkins to be a Striker until he becomes Natural at it. Ashley Hibbert will remain training in AMR until that is Natural, then switch to Striker. Oh joy. We get to face Totton again, this time in the Southern League Cup Final. Despite the 3-0 victory last week it wasn’t the most pleasing of games. Grrrrrr My coaches recommend that Chick Legg get trained to remove the Trait “Avoids Using Weaker Foot” and I start his training on 15 April. Hopefully it’s relevant. He doesn’t make many mistakes and I’m not sure any of them have come from using his left foot but it doesn’t hurt to try. Good news comes in about Robert Carroll! My HOYD thinks he’ll be Championship quality. I know I said earlier that my HOYD is not as good a judge as my AssMan but I still take this as an accurate assessment as he’s rated 5 stars. Spearing again comes around asking for a new contract. I ask Carroll to resolve the matter and he does. (Carroll isn’t a team leader but he is Highly Influential so I guess that’s why the game engine chose him to have the talk. Not to mention that on the field they have a great partnership.) Fairford are 17th on the table and if they win they could move all the way up 13th. I don’t see that happening. We’re going with the Spade again to get Hodgson some match fitness. For the same reason I’m giving Webb a start despite getting an email about Legg breaking the clean-sheet record. Southern First Division West vs. Fairford, 17 April 2019 Formation: Spade Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Donaldson, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Jones, Rae Subs: Legg, Maguire, Jefcoate, Harding, McAdam, Thirlwell, Paul Taylor Exactly at 2’ Hodgson crosses from the right to Day of all people and as if he were some kind of striker he sends in a screamer just above the carpet to the bottom right corner. Exactly 20 minutes later our second goal comes up the middle with Donaldson intercepting their GK’s long kick, sending it forward to Rae who then has such a perfect pass it leaves Nixon mano-a-mano and he beats the goalie. Our third is from a corner with Hodgson, Donaldson, and Rae doing the short, simple passing so perfectly, ultimately getting the ball to Jones’ right foot. Jones gets his brace early in the second and it’s a pleasant day in South London. POM: Robbie Jones (2 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created) The Days Between Despite having already faced Billericay I still read the scouting report when it comes in. I notice that their starting GK doesn’t enjoy big matches. I plan to exploit that somehow. We’re slight favorites against Billericay, with 6-4 odds. It took extra time at home to beat them last time and boy do I hope today’s match is easier. FA Vase Semi Final at Billericay, 20 April 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Bill Taylor, Barlow, Thirlwell, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Nightingale, Parker, Smith, Hodgson, Duckett, Paul Taylor Oh no. Carroll is Confused by my “you deserve to be in the finals” speech and when I directly address him to cheer him up he remains confused. Ouch. Despite all these instructions to play short passes in a Control mentality my players often just hoof it forward. Like when Harding booted one towards our opponents’ goal from about a third of the way into our territory. Luckily Thriller is able to direct the ball so it continues toward the goal, he then out runs the defenders to catch up to Kemar who had already beaten his man. Faced with the prospect of trying a goal or passing to Kemar, Thriller chose wisely and Kemar puts us in the lead. Twenty-two minutes later Kemar returns the favor and Thriller gets his goal, beating a one-on-one. Ten minutes after switching to the Diamond, the combo of Kemar to Paul Taylor gets a shot on goal but it’s blocked at point blank. This leaves the goalie completely out of position when Barlow bangs the rebound in. “Confused” Carroll finished the game with an 8.4 rating. Couldn’t have been too confused! POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (1 goal, 1 assist, 5 key passes, 3 chances created) __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-17-2024, 08:23 PM	#118
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between The Whitehawk scouting report brings relief. I think we’ll be able to handle them, even though the pre-match hype machine says the odds are even. I want another trophy and Whitehawk stands in my way getting to the FA Trophy Final. Go get them, gentlemen! FA Trophy Semi Final at Whitehawk, 23 April 2019 Formation: Club Starting XI: Legg, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Cullen, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Rae Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, Harding, McAdam, Paul Taylor, Kirkpatrick Rae has been in a slump since he signed that contract so I was a bit hesitant to give him the start. But 30 seconds (yes, seconds) in he receives a Nixon pass and gets a great shot off before the central defenders can crash in on him. Slump over! In the 24th minute, Day doubles our lead with a header directly from a Duckett corner kick. Whitehawk strike back 27 seconds after the restart but their right striker was offsides. Close call! In the 67th Jefcoate gets called for pulling that right striker down in the box. Chicken Legg dives the wrong way and our lead is now in question. I had to make some changes, the two with yellows plus recent misfit Jefcoate, which pays off when Shadi feeds Nixon who again feeds Rae and I’m back on comfortable footing. We end up with 64% possession but I worry about the 7 on-target shots out of 25 attempts. POM: Alex Rae (2 goals) Whitehawk somehow managed to have 7 yellow cards but no player was sent off. Our opponents aren’t usually that adept. The Days Between Not much of anything at all happens until a couple hours before our match with Bideford. Our U18 squad is in their league final, hosting Stoke’s U18s. It’ll be interesting to see how many fans attend. Oh wow! 658 fans! And we won on penalties, after 9 rounds. Crazy stuff! This match is kinda machts nichts to me. It’s a league match, sure, and we can keep our perfect record going but if we lose, we lose. Next week Legg with get his chance at home to get the clean-sheet record. Southern First Division West at Bideford, 27 April 2019 Formation: Club Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Bill Taylor, McAdam, Paul Taylor, Kirkpatrick Subs: Legg, Parker, Nightingale, Thompson, Jones, Duckett, Thirlwell It takes 15 minutes but McAdam gets a rare goal courtesy of Paul Taylor, fed by Bill Taylor (no relation) on a post-corner breakaway. Then seven minutes later it’s Shadi to Kemar. Then it’s déjà vu all over again with Bideford getting a goal after we fail to properly clear a corner. Then we strike back via Bill Taylor’s assist to Kemar. My speech at the break is all about complacency and everyone get motivated except Spearing and McAdam, who actually gets stressed. And sure enough, 93 seconds after play resumes we give up a goal off a lovely cross to their striker’s head. Ping pong. In the 54th another Taylor assist and Kemar goal. Then not ping pong but more like punch to the gut. Kemar gets number four from a ridiculously long cross from Maguire, who was being swarmed by opponents. Just before I can change up to the Diamond, Kemar picks up a twisted knee (see, we are cursed, another lower body injury!) and comes off. Despite being set to counter-attack, we manage to score our final goal off a free kick down on the left side, deep in Bideford territory. It was an interesting combo of Harding-Spearing-Thirlwell-Spearing. POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (4 goals) That twisted knee for Kemar? Turns out it was merely a flesh wound. He had no red or orange “Inj” marker after the match. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-17-2024, 08:25 PM	#119
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Week Between Oh finally! An end to the two-matches-per-week biz. The lads can finally have some down time. In Summary Another highly successful month with no loses and us still alive in all our remaining cups. Those victories were all fair and square, no gifting of opponents being sent off. What took you so long?! Life, man. Plus I realized I was playing these matches very quickly and not actually taking time to enjoy matters. Also, I spent a good amount of time setting up my spreadsheet of what I can Roster Management where I project the next couple years and where each player will be. I generally schedule things out to 5 or 6 years in the future. This becomes super-important when you are in the Premier and need to figure out if that new youth intake is going to start when he’s 18 or 21. Here’s what my DR projection looks like: __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-23-2024, 04:57 PM	#120
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	May 2019 *I get by with a little help from my friends* Training Matters I give up. What the hell am I doing wrong?! I think I might just have to hand training over to my staff. But wait! What if now that we are playing only once a week the lads won’t be so tired and do better in training. Let us see. Financial Matters We lost almost £77k last month. Still have over £12.5m in the bank. Board Confidence Still Untouchable, up to 93% now. Hot damn! I am awesome. (Never mind the Sugary Daddy stuff.) Dynamics No new tales to tell. Player Development Some months back I worried how Marcus Thirlwell’s tutoring wasn’t really producing effects. I am happy to announce that his Determination is up to 9. His time with Macey should end around the middle of May so there is hope still that he hits the double digits. I get an unusual loan offer on 4 May. A team called Swallownest F.C. who are way down in the 10th level of the English football pyramid want to take on U18s bench-rider Grant Appleton until the end of the season as a starting MC. They are fourth in their league and 8 points back from promotion with 3 matches to play. Godspeed, Grant. May they find victory from your feet. Now let’s go get Chick Legg that clean-sheet record! Southern First Division West vs. St. Ives, 4 May 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Barlow, Smith, Nixon, Taylor, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Maguire, Nightingale, Harding, Hodgson, Duckett, Thirlwell The match starts quickly and 27 seconds in Kemar gets tackled from behind in the box and Nixon comes in for the penalty shot, this time he gets it right. It takes just under 23 minutes to get our second goal. Kemar for some reason took the corner kick, sending it directly to Barlow who is nowhere near goal. Doesn’t matter. He launches one in from way out in right field, 25 yards away. Five minutes later Kemar gets that goal he was denied at the start, courtesy of a long-range pass from Jefcoate. Pilcher gets one from a free kick and our first half ends- Wait! Scratch that. Pilcher gets two from free kicks late in the first half. The man is on fire! The final half of the match sees us move to the Diamond at 60’ and Kemar getting his brace after a hella-slow counterattack. He had two opportunities to get a trio but he was getting sloppy near the end. And Legg gets the clean-sheet record! POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (2 goals, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 1 chance created) I was expecting an email after the match celebrating Legg’s 20th clean sheet. I did not receive one. All that misplaced hype… Earlier in the morning my U18s had a friendly against the youths of a team called Chipping Sodbury. What a weird name! I would also say Swallownest F.C. is silly name. England be funny, yo. The Week Between Appleton accepts the offer to go out on loan. I wish him well and tell him it’s a chance to showcase his skills, to which he agrees. He’ll end up only getting two matches but Swallownest are on a righteous winning streak, 5 games, scoring 14 goals and conceding 1. As the season end draws near, and the transfer window too, our players are starting to draw interest from teams higher up the pyramid. Namely, Exeter wants Spearing, Oxford for Kemar, Paul Taylor to Accrington, and Hereford lusts for Nightingale. I’m pretty open to these ideas but Kemar will only leave on a loan and Nightingale won’t leave at all as I feel Spearing and Carroll will leave. It’s wonderful to have everyone with their Condition at 97% or higher. Well, except Macey, who’s working his way back from his twisted ankle. Southern First Division West at North Leigh, 11 May 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Cullen, Smith, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Legg, Parker, Day, Taylor, Jones, Thirlwell, Macey A walk in the park, this one. We demoralize them with 3 goals in 6 minutes early on. They never really find their sea legs and we add two in the latter half to make sure they don’t get any crazy ideas. POM: Mark Nixon (2 goals) In a post-match press conference all the questions are about players leaving. Also, Webb’s agent comes asking for a new contract. Not today, bub, you’ve got two years left on your current contract. (And I really want to sell him off soon anyway.) __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-23-2024, 05:02 PM	#121
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Week Between More transfer speculation comes rolling in. The fact that Norwich is linked to Kemar is interesting. They are mid-table Championship these days. We’re getting close to Premier League teams being interested. Nonetheless, I’d be willing to send him there on loan. Before our Wimborne match Kemar is finally linked to a Premier team. It’s Newcastle, who are in the relegation zone with one last match to play. They need to beat Tottenham and West Brom need to lose to Southampton for that to happen. I’m loving these weeks when we have only one match. Most of the players are either Superb or Fully Fit in their Sharpness. Today we are moving to the Club formation to get some MCs some extra work. The subs are chosen so we can switch to the Diamond for the final third of the match when we have the lead, naturally. Southern First Division West vs. Wimborne, 18 May 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Al-Ziod, Bill Taylor, Barlow, Nixon, Rae, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Maguire, Day, Harding, Hodgson, Jones, Macey Again our scoring starts with a Nixon penalty kick; it was Rae being fouled this time. However, that’s all the news that’s fit to print for the first half. Kemar is rating 6.4 and nobody else is in the 7s except Nixon. Ergo, “I am not happy with your performance out there.” It takes 8 minutes for Rae to respond to my admonition. Day picks one up in garbage time and Kemar ends with a 6.2 rating. I am not pleased. Wimborne get a goal in extra time because Barlow got lazy. I am pissed. POM: Terry Barlow (1 assist, 3 key passes, 2 chances created) How Barlow got the POM is beyond me. I also fine Kemar a week’s pay for his 6.2, which he accepts as fair. The Days Between Back to mid-week matches. I need a “grumposaurus” emoji. Thirlwell’s mentoring by Macey comes to an end on 19 May. I deem it moderately successful. His Determination went from 4 to 9 and his Personality went from Balanced to Spirited. I’ll probably use Macey to mentor Meilir Pugh or Tommy Watkins next and then pay a revisit to Thriller. (Pugh and Tommy both have 11 Determination and Balanced personalities.) The squads’ personalities can rub off onto some players so I’m hoping that happens with Thriller to get his Determination into the double digits. Our penultimate league match. Because we have a cup final on Saturday, the second stringers get their starts on Tuesday. Southern First Division West at Swindon Supermarine, 21 May 2019 Formation: Club Starting XI: Webb, Nightingale, Day, Smith, Maguire, Jefcoate, Harding, Cullen, Thompson, Paul Taylor, Macey Subs: Legg, Parker, Pilcher, McAdam, Jones, Duckett, Thirlwell Another match where the first goal comes off a penalty. This time Harding gets the honor. It doesn’t take long for Taylor to get on the board too and things are going well. His brace comes from a classic Brixton move: Wait for two defenders to get confused and start debating on whose ball it is then pounce on the ball and score. To start the second half the Supermarines out-Control us and get a farcical goal, their dude was feet offside. A few minutes later a prayer of a high lob by Maguire to short-stuff Macey results in the defenders on either side of Eddie holding him down. I let Eddie take the shot, denying Taylor his hat-trick, because Macey’s playing uninspired and needs the boost of confidence. But then we allow a second goal from a free kick near the byline. Their left centreback outjumped Day and Thompson. I still switch to Diamond at 60’ and Macey’s header for goal comes 12 minutes later. How he was able to out leap the defender is beyond me. Their defender is 13cm taller and 3 points better in Jumping Reach. POM: Paul Taylor (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 key pass, 1 chance created) __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-23-2024, 05:07 PM	#122
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between Oh goodie! A press conference. This one is for the Southern League Cup. The journalists kept asking questions about Totton’s manager. I don’t pay attention to other managers, especially this far down the pyramid. But I pretend like we’re friends. That seems to satisfy them. There’s a cliché in the realm of NFL talking heads. It goes something like this: It’s hard to beat the same team three times in a season. I hope you’re sitting down when I drop this bombshell. NFL sportscasters are worthless and aren’t really that accurate. Shocking, I know. Totton does not have a prayer. Southern League Cup Final vs Totton, 25 May 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Barlow, Taylor, Hodgson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Webb, Parker, Nightingale, Smith, Jones, Taylor, Thirlwell I start with the “Don’t it for the fans” speech, which motivates Kemar, Barlow, and Carroll. I hope that carries through to the match. In the tunnel a journo asks why Duckett get’s the Captain’s armband. “He merits it.” My motivational speech does nothing. We can’t penetrate their defense and they hit us on the counter. Attacking we must go! Nine minutes later Hodgson misses a chance to equalize but the shot goes wide. A third of the way into the match Hodgson redeems himself by sending a short, simple pass to Kemar at the near post and he squeaks one in. Three minutes later Hodgson gets his second assist after sending a cross across the mouth of the goal to a wide-open Duckett. In the 38th Kemar once again fails to convert a 1-v-1. A minute later he makes up for it by sinking a Duckett pass. I think our opponents were expecting a cross to the opposite post as they left Kemar alone right in front of the goal. And we finish the half with a Duckett cross to the middle where Nixon is able to outleap everyone and head in a goal. At the half I praise the crew and dial back on the aggressiveness. Everyone responds favorably to my praise but Carroll. Twelve minutes into the second half Nixon receives a Barlow pass just to the right of the penalty spot, does a weird pirouette, and launches a screamer into the back of the net. I was going to swap him out at 65’ but now he’s on a hat trick! So then I take out Kemar (preservation), Spearing (yellow card), and The Jordanian Prince (low condition) for Thirlwell, Nightingale, and Parker. And we win our first Southern League Cup!!! POM: Daniel Duckett (1 goal, 2 assists, 4 key passes, 5 chances created) Tottenham beat Manchester United 1-0 to win the FA Cup Final. I bring this up because the match took place at Wembley Stadium at 1500. We played at the same venue at the same time. Another ramification of using a non-official database to start your FM save. The Days Between Our next match is against Welling for the FA Trophy. Welling are 23rd of 24 teams in the Conference National and are going to get relegated. The scouting report on them is very favorable for us. They’ve only scored 33 goals all year and have been in poor form recently. They have a fairly decent squad but pales in comparison to ours. Most of their better players are loanees. Around 18,000 spectators have arrived today. All I hear is “chi-ching” as we get half of the gate receipts. :-) Now to give them a performance! (Due to tiredness I’m not fielding the best squad. I hope that doesn’t bite me in the hindquarters.) FA Trophy Final vs Welling, 28 May 2019 Formation: Club (DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l) Starting XI: Webb, Nightingale, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Jefcoate, Harding, Smith, Cullen, Macey, Rae Subs: Legg, Maguire, Pilcher, McAdam, Jones, Duckett, Kirkpatrick My dressing room speech goes over like a fart in a church with nobody motivated and Carroll actually getting confused. What part of, “You deserve to win the trophy and I expect you to win it” is so confusing? Ingrates. Well, at least Carroll’s confusion didn’t last long! In the 12th he hoofs one forward and as it flies over everyone’s head, Rae sprints after it, collects it, and sends the goalie one way but sends the ball the other way. Twenty minutes later it’s Carroll again, feeding Smith who gets an assist off Cullen’s goal. Teddy ran around a mass of people in front of the goal and surprised the goalie. Twas awesome. We remain two up at the break and I tell the lads I’m proud. I warn Macey that he needs to do better. I also Calmly tell Nightingale not to pick up a second yellow. Macey ain’t done nuttin’, actually getting worse but I really want Kemar to rest. At 68’ I go to the formation that is a girl’s best friend and take off Nightingale, Smith, and Carroll for Jones, Duckett, and Pilcher. And wholey moley, Macey scores on a breakaway initiated by Pilcher’s long boot forward. The goal was a beauty, going over the goalies fingers but below the crossbar. Ten minutes later, Macey is showing me my doubting is unfounded, kicking in a close-range Rae pass that he headed down from a Jones cross. YES!!! Another trophy for Brixton and the lads! POM: Alex Rae (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 2 chances created) Excellent, another bit of hardware and we made £86k. Back in the black for the month. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

10-23-2024, 05:08 PM	#123
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	The Days Between As our final league match is coming up I get the privilege to attend a press conference. Yeah me! I try to avoid giving Mangotsfield “bulletin board material” and at the same time express confidence in my team. Let’s see how those scoundrels in the press manipulate my words. Actually, they didn’t really do that. “…confident of getting result.” Yep, I expect to win. What I didn’t say is that I’ll be fielding the team of the future. A couple of kids from the Seniors and the rest from the U18s who will probably be starters next year. I foresee a massive sell-off come June and July. I gotta make the game a little harder, more realistic, so I’ll pretty much take any offer except for some true gems. (cough)Kemar(cough) Speaking of Kemar…and stop me if I said this before, but, I plan to loan him out next year. Hopefully he’ll go to a Premier League team. I don’t know how we’ll keep him so I imagine I’ll have to sell him with a £10 million buy-back clause. In Summary Has there ever been a team who had three matches in a four-match span that sees all opening goals coming from penalties? I’m glad we have! It’s almost as if the referees are my friends! We have almost completed a perfect league season and secured two trophies. I’m feeling confident we’ll close out the season with two wins and I’ll go down in the annals of history as the best football manager* ever. * In the 8th level of the English pyramid. See, I can be humble. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

11-05-2024, 03:29 PM	#124
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	June 2019 *I'm so dissatis-, dissatis-, dissatisfied* We have two more matches before our season is over. A league one and the FA Vase Final versus Hungerford. After those are done I’ll be neck-deep in figuring out the roster, meaning who to elevate from the U18s, who to sell on from the Seniors, and giving out new contracts, both players and staff. Let’s take care of those matches before I do the normal beginning of the month thing. Here we’ll see the youth of tomorrow. I have Kemar in there because if he can manage a hat trick he’ll lead the league in goals and then should get a POM award, pulling into the league lead too. It’s a beautiful day in South London with the temperature at 17° Celsius, 63° Fahrenheit, with high clouds. The stadium is nearly half full with 3,415 tickets sold. Did the fans come to watch an undefeated season or the new kids on the block? Southern First Division West vs. Mangotsfield, 1 June 2019 Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c) Starting XI: Gareth O’Keefe, Tom Johnstone, Shane Pilcher, Mitchell Nightingale, Dean Rice, Bill Taylor, Alan Coates, Tommy Watkins, Mark Nixon, Meilir Pugh, Kemar Kirkpatrick Subs: Adrian Lee, Angelino Ferreira, Kevin Jenkins, Tasos Noulas, Paul Taylor, Marcus Thirlwell, Ashley Hibbert I promised myself I would only Praise and Encourage the team today. I get that opportunity right after 8’ when Nixon’s long range shot gets deflected by the GK right to Kemar’s left foot. Brixton up, 1-0. Four minutes later Maggotsfield get a corner and Bill Taylor “shoved” an opponent in the back. Dammit! I wanted O’Keefe to get a clean sheet on his debut! HOLY SHEET! He blocked it!!! I guess one good turn deserves another, and the refs are still my friends, so we get a penalty call after 21’. Kemar steps up… And bounces it in off the underside of the crossbar! Brixton up, 2-0! By the way, the guy who committed the penalty was the one who got stonewalled by O’Keefe. We go into the half feeling good. Except Pugh. He missed an absolute sitter and is rating at 6.3. I tell the lads they were great, singling out our awesome goalie and giving Pugh a little “I have faith in you” pep-talk. Oh my! Five minutes into the second Rice sends in a prayer of a cross and Kemar is somehow able to head it in from an impossible angle at the far post. We shift to the Diamond at 55’ so I bring off Mr. Hat-Trick Guy, Pilcher, and Nixon for Paul Taylor, Ashley Hibbert, and Kevin Jenkins. And thus ends the match and league play. POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals, 1 key pass, 1 chance created) What a wonderful season! We are stocked with great young players and I’m feeling fine. I’d like to point out that our Regista/Ball Winning Midfielder/Deep Lying Playmaker Alan Coates performed a 9.0 match, nabbing 3 key passes and 3 chances created. He’s gonna be amazing. The Days Between The scouting report for Hungerford gives me great hope. On paper they are not better than us. And just like another team who should not be mentioned, their best players are in on loan. Later on I learn we are 4-7 odds to win. The FA Vase pre-match press conference is really short. “Does winning this before make your job easier or harder.” Neither. “Your U23 manager might leave to go to some po-dunk club nobody has ever heard of, not even their owner’s own mother. Should he go?” Next question. Here it is, lads! Final match of the season, some more beautiful hardware up for grabs, chance to end the season on the highest of notes! I’m gonna take advantage of all 12 sub slots just to give as many players a chance to get in on the good stuff before they ride off into the sunset, for the summer. Over 6,100 fans have shown up at Wembley on a hot London day (82° F!) with no breeze to cool things down. Let us watch the hot action of the Hunger game! FA Vase Final vs. Hungerford, 4 June 2019 Formation: Spade Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Cullen, Barlow, Thirlwell, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick Subs: Legg, Parker, Maguire, Day, Jefcoate, Harding, Smith, Hodgson, Paul Taylor, Jones, Macey, Rae My speech barely registers with the squad with only Cullen and Duckett motivated. In the tunnel I’m forced to lie about this being Legg and Day’s last match. Legg will be around. Day, no. After 14’ of nothing I prepare to Shout “Get creative!” when a highlight begins. After some sloppy passing, Nixon is able to thread the eye of the needle, passing to Kemar for our opening salvo. Brixton up, 1-0. I do get by with a little help from my refs. Cullen sends in a free kick and Duckett gets shoved to the ground. Thriller makes it Brixton up, 2-0. Not two minutes later one of their guys mugs Duckett on the sideline and gets a straight red. Again, I evidently am related to the refs. Jesus. At 55’ a Hungryman picks up his second yellow. I wonder how much I’m paying them? At 60’ I swap EVERYONE. In the 72nd we get another penalty from another free kick. This is embarrassing. Harding makes it Brixton, 3-0. They do get four shots on goal and manage to miss them all from close range. Then the match ends. Very unsatisfying. Of the 22 players to get time, only three had a 7.0 or higher rating. Two goals off penalties. Two opponents sent off. We should have dominated them even if I kept the Control Mentality for the whole match. I mean, look at the POM and what he accomplished. POM: Teddy Cullen (7.2, 2 key passes, 1 chance created) I can’t even feign interest in the post-match presser, giving the most blasé answers possible. The players don’t seem to notice as their Morale is Perfect to a man. Nonetheless, it was a tremendously successful season. Really hard to be mad when you’ve run the table. All while allowing less than half a goal per match and scoring almost 4 goals. I doubt (and hope) we don’t have such an easy time next season. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

11-05-2024, 03:42 PM	#125
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	Now onto the beginning of the month stuff and the off-season. Training Matters According to my AssMan, five players had Impressive Performances on the training front for the season. Sadly Carroll won’t be around next year. Nixon might go too. Clubs are hella interested in a lot of my youths. Financial Matters We made just a smidge over £11,000 in May, not too bad considering our general trend. For the season, we made £650,000. We get a new kit sponsor. We’re now advertising for someone to the tune of £11,000 per annum. I guess it’s better than a kick to the shins but still not a lot of money. Board Confidence I am Untouchable at 100% confidence. Damn, I’m good! After the lads go on holiday the Board asked for a meeting to discuss “improving our youth level.” They want to gauge my opinion on whether to strive to achieve a higher grade for the academy setup. Damn skippy, I do! Dynamics Again, nothing new to report. For now... Player Development By the beginning of June, Jordan Nickson has already become Competent at DR. Methinks he has a high Versatility. Thirlwell did not advance at all in his Determination after the tutoring by Macey ended. Five players get a call up for some summer action. Al-Ziod for Jordan, Kemar and Robert Carrol for England U19s, Simon McAdam for Northern Ireland U19s, and Noah Harding for Wales U19s. A couple days later Gareth O’Keefe is summoned by Ireland for the U21s, which is insane as he won’t turn 17 for another six months! Mark Nixon also will play for Ireland but for the U19s. Shadi’s first game with the Jordanian seniors see him getting a goal and a 7.4 rating. Too bad he won’t be with us much longer. Gary Ferguson gets a call-up for the Euro U19 Championship representing Scotland. Good on, ya! Contracts Twelve player contracts are up for renewal with four of them having contract extension available to me. I trigger Chick Legg, Marcus Thirlwell, Liam Roberts, and Gary Ferguson. I already know the six MCs I’m gonna rock with next year so Ferguson was only kept to be a U23 body. Chris Day, Robbie Jones, and Scott Thompson won’t be offered new contracts. Andy Hodgson and Shadi Al-Ziod have triggers but I plan on selling them off. I need to offer new contracts to Noah Harding, Derek McLeish, and Ryan Collopy. On the staff side of matters, one of the scouts is up but he’s pitiful so I’ll let him walk. I want to renew a Physio, the U18 AssMan, and my only U18 Coach. The U18 Physio is only rated at 13 in that skill so his best hope is I can’t find someone better. New Players I need a new Vice Captain. I want that next one to also be a mentor. Because we are for sure going to lose Spearing and Carroll I want a central defender, preferably left-footed. It takes a while to find one who meets my needs and wants to come to Brixton. It’s going to cost us a pretty penny. Well, 80,000 pounds to be exact. He comes to us from a team in Ireland’s First Division, which is the second level of the Irish pyramid. He surprisingly doesn’t ask for a high wage despite his high price. You’re probably asking yourself if I paid too much. I did. There just aren’t a lot of left-footed DCs who can mentor and want to come down this far in the English pyramid. He has an interesting spread of abilities. Not particularly great on things germane to a centreback but really good in a lot of other places. I might try to get his MC up to Accomplished but I’ll leave DMC as is. I decide to do a little scouting myself. I decide to see if there are any cheap, young talented lads out there. I set the search parameters to this: Only 10 players fit the bill and I have my scouts report on them all. I eventually learn none of them want to come to Brixton. Offers & Departures After having put a lot of players on the Transfer List only Spearing and Carroll were drawing much interest. A lot of interest. Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone swooped in late for Carroll and he signs with them on 16 June. I transfer listed Al-Ziod, even though he was under a month left with us, and he signed a pre-contract with Aston Villa on 16 June. Good luck, Prince! (Villa is 5th in the Championship.) On 14 June Ipswich came in with an offer for Mark Nixon but as it was only £2,800 I denied it. He immediately pitched a fit and I had to remind him he was still on contract. He didn’t like that I upped his asking price to £10,000. Over the rest of the month Barnsley would pop in every couple days with the same offer as Ipswich. Sigh. How droll. Oh damn. I knew Kemar was going to draw interest. I didn’t think Arsenal would be the first to put in an honest-to-god offer. On the day before his 17th birthday they arrive with a very low-ball bid so I have to upgrade it, knowing that he’ll get pissed like Nixon. I ask for £1 million, 40% sell-on fee, and £10 million buy-back clause. They repeat their first offer and I end negotiations. There must be a glitch in the matrix because Kemar didn’t come asking for anything. I forgot to mention this earlier: For the season he had 62 goals across all matches. Amazing. An offer even came in for Nightingale. It’s from Hereford and only £2,000. He’s in my plans for a while yet so I say no. Tuesday, 18 June I get an email about who’s going up to and down to the English Regional Premier Divisions. Hereford, the team pursuing Nightingale are one of the teams coming down. Why would Mitchell want to go there? I have no fears of losing him. Spearing is moving on to Exeter, a League One side, for the lowly fee of £5,000. Duckett agrees to a move to Swindon for £10,000 in League One. New Staff I need to replace one scout as his contract is almost over. I opened the Staff Search tool and narrowed it down to Scout and immediately noticed this guy. Pablo Nickerson is a Model Professional American, has good judging abilities, and has a maximum Determination and Adaptability. He’d be an ideal Chief Scout. However, he only wants to be Director of Football. I do have an opening there and will need one soon when I start trying to off-load some players. I offer £350 per week, two years, and a 10% promotion wage raise. He joins us on 3 June. Also, the board, without telling me, seriously upped the number of staff I can have. I can have 3 more U18 coaches, 4 more U23 coaches, and 3 more scouts. Oh yeah! On the other side of the coin, some of my staff might be leaving as journalists keep asking about the interest they are drawing. Notably my U23s Manager, Mick Hunter, has been linked to Maldon & Tiptree. They are no Brixton, don’t know why he’d want to go there. They are at the level we are currently at but in a few weeks the official promotion up will happen and we’ll be above them. On 11 June he departs for Chesham, a similar team to M&T. I offer my U18 manager, Reggie Jeffries, a new contract to replace Mick. I found a good candidate to be our new U18 manager but he has no desire to be the U23 manager, hence my elevation of Jeffries. The board allows me to have three more U18 coaches and four U23 coaches. I eventually manage to find some that aren’t complete shit. Quite a few of them are European, which is pretty cool because I’ll get their scouting knowledge. Not that it matters yet, we can still only scout UK and Ireland. They hail from Austria, Belgium, Faeroe Islands, Netherlands, Slovakia, and of course England. Team Rankings For the EPL fans in the house, here are the ranking in this AU: 1. Man United 2. Liverpool 3. Arsenal 4. Man City 5. Chelsea 6. Tottenham 7. West Ham 8. Leicester 9. Southampton 10. Stoke We are now 348th, a mighty big jump from 694th last year. Sundry Items Tuesday, 25 June we advance to the new season. One of the items that I have to immediately address is the board wants to meet to make available more money for my AssMan’s wages. Odd. The Brexit news comes in and like I said some years back, nothing will change in the world of association football. That Was Then, This Is Now Welcome to a new segment, one in which I re-examine something I once said and we’ll see if I was wrong or right. Let’s go back to my very first update when I introduced the team to the world. This is what I had to say about our only right midfielder Steve Pearson: “He’s not that good except his speed and Teamwork.” He stayed with us for a season and a quarter or so and in that time he made 46 appearances, scoring 17 goals, making 19 assists, and winning 5 Player of the Match awards, for an average rating of 7.76. I was wrong. He was good. And we made £20,000 when we sold him on to Brentford, in the Championship. The start of the season is upon us! The lads report on 1 July and we are going to see a lot of squad turnover but I still predict a promotion. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

Yesterday, 06:21 PM	#126
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	July 2019 *Hope springs eternal* Financial Matters It really takes a bite out of your bottom line when you have to pay out bonuses for winning the league and cups. We shell out around £114,000 but I’m more than happy to do that. Board Confidence As the game resets itself for the new season I take a hit on board confidence. This is because I’m no longer getting credit for all those wins. It bothers me not as I’m still Untouchable but only at 90%. Dynamics With the departures of Day, Carroll, and Duckett we are down to one Highly Influential Player, that being Chick Legg. Hopefully Jefcoate will graduate up from the Influential Player group. I’m hoping that O’Shea is in one of those groups by the time I have to pick the new Vice Captain. Player Matters Little-used David Donaldson moves on to Tranmere, who just got themselves back into League Two. We made a whopping £800 off the move. On 5 July Nixon takes a walk to Barnsley. I don’t recall approving this transfer as it included a friendly and I had already set up all the friendlies I wanted for the pre-season. I’m surprised it was only £3,000. I don’t drink so it couldn’t have been that. I doubt I’ll ever figure out what happened. Oh danggggg. On 14 July Wrexham declare their interest in Macey. This is an unexpected development. I hope he doesn’t want to leave. Millwall, in the Championship, arrive at Brockwell Park on 19 July with a respectable offer for Paul Taylor. An initial fee of £2,500 along with £3,000 in two installments, £2,000 more after 10 league matches, £2,000 after 10 league goals, and 40% of the next sale. Things are a bit crowded at striker and Paul wants to go. I say yes and play the waiting game. I have to wait over a week but he finally agrees on 27 July. Good luck, Paul, you’ve been a wonderful player here. Pilcher comes to me on 20 July saying he wants to go to Blackpool. They haven’t made an actual offer for him of late so I ask Macey to flex his captaincy and convince Pilcher to drop the matter for now. It works. So of course four days later, Leeds, now in the Premier League try to low-ball us to unsettle him. On 23 July I put Kemar on the Loan List as I want him to get Premier League experience because he’ll stagnate if he stays with us. He of course gets upset but I explain that it’s just a loan, not a permanent move, and I need to do this for his development. He agrees with me. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

Yesterday, 06:31 PM	#127
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	New Players I need one, possibly two, left backs and let me tell you, nobody worth a darn wants to come to us. I also need a defensive midfielder and a striker for the U18 squad and I’m having no luck there. I’ve scouted over 50 players. Back in early April I mentioned signing a youth striker named Mark Marshall. I finally made an offer of £1,000 for him on 8 July. I just wasn’t finding any good youth strikers and need one in the U18s as I only have one there. I promised him we’d get promoted this year and offered £300 per week; he agrees on 10 July. Youngster Ibrahim Agu picked up a gashed leg in training on 9 July which leaves us thin on the right wing for the next 6 to 14 days, and Mark Marshall hasn’t signed yet, so I go hunting for a trialist. My search parameters are “Unattached” and “Accomplished at either MR or AMR.” I found this chap. He agrees not four hours later and I now have 4 weeks to determine if he’s worth keeping around. Now that I know that a squad’s personality can rub off on a fellow squaddie I’m not worried about his 7 Determination. I’m very happy to see that he is “very well suited to Southern Premier football” and that he “could improve a lot in the future.” Of course 10 hours later Mark Marshall signs. :-D I can’t seem to find a U18 DL worth a damn so I finally pull the trigger on this left wingback Steve Pike. I sure hope he can learn DL. It costs me £2,000 to lure him away from AFC Telford. I think once O’Shea has finished mentoring Nightingale, Pike will get some love. He signs with us on 13 July. I don’t immediately elevate Rice to the Seniors as I need him on the bench for the U18 match on 14 July. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

Yesterday, 06:35 PM	#128
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	I also need another trialist at central midfield. I offer Unambitious Glyn Davies who looks promising. If only I could find a mentor for him. Oh dang. Turns out he’s already suited for Conference South and can improve a lot. Now I need a mentor in the midfield! By 25 July I decided to make a permanent offer. In his four matches he’s rated 9.3, 8.3, 7.5, and 7.3. Pretty impressive. Trial Day is announced on 16 July so I send my chief scout to take a gander. The scouting reports come in four days later and all of them but one are super expensive (£35-50k p/w) and/or have significant gaps in their game. The one who was good just wouldn’t get playing time to justifying bring him in. Scouting meetings take place at 2345 every other day. At first I think the late night delirium has gotten to me when I see this kid available for a free. I could use an extra left winger and super-sub for the left side... My scout thinks he’ll ask for £240 per week, max, so I offer £250 for two years when I notice he came up through Chelsea’s academy, figuring he’s gonna get lots of interest, so I want him to sign quickly. Sure enough, four hours later Chester, in the Conference North, make an offer. Dammit. A couple days later, League One side Bristol Rovers offer Wharton a contract. Our chances of landing him plunge. Maybe if he signs with them I’ll try to take him on loan. He signs on 25 July but goes immediately into their senior team. Drat. Knowing I didn’t have any true defensive midfielders in the U18s I offered a trial to a youngster who’s already on a £5 per week youth contract with a team at the same level of the pyramid as Brixton. On the 50th anniversary of man landing on the Moon I offer him a professional contract. Nathan Kingdon has the audacity of telling me he doesn’t want to play at Brixton so I have to make him an “amazing”offer. Dude, I’m doing you a favor plucking you from obscurity! Still, I make him a standard offer for Brixton. If he accepts, I will owe Halesowen £5,000 with another £8,000 possible in other clauses. Yes, I’m starting to flex Brixton’s Sugar Daddy status about. He agrees on 23 July. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

Yesterday, 06:39 PM	#129
BrixtonFC Mascot Join Date: Sep 2023	Friendlies This training camp I try not to have too many patsies. I schedule the usual weaklings but add some Conference South, Conference National, League Two, and of course League One Swindon due to the mystery trade of Nixon. 6 July vs. Glebe: 7-3 Macey starts things off quick getting three in the first 9 minutes and 39 seconds. Bill Taylor gets two as a Box-To-Box Midfielder. Glebe pulls one back though due to my bad instructions. The other Taylor even gets on the score sheet. 9 July vs. Wokingham: 4-0 Leary and Paul Taylor, Watkins, and Pugh get on the scoreboard on a rather ho-hum match. 12 July at Aldershot: 3-0 They are 2 levels above us but the scout report says they aren’t better than us. Rae gets a groin injury and Coates gets two goals as a BBM. Kemar even gets one. 15 July vs. Croydon: 2-0 Sloppy weather but not sloppy play from McLeish with two headers. 18 July at Canvey Island: 6-1 Thirlwell and Rae impress, beating 1-on-1s easily. O’Keefe surrenders his first penalty shot. 21 July vs. Cambridge: 4-0 The scoring starts with another goal from the BBM position. I am pleased. 24 July at Southend Manor: 4-0 Don’t let the score mislead you, we were generally crap. Our captain missed a penalty against a crap team and his 90th minute goal leads to an undeserved 7.3 rating. He was as low as 5.4 beforehand. 27 July at Aylesbury: 4-0 Thirlwell is on fire, getting a hat trick before a third of the match has passed and fourth shortly after the restart. 30 July at Dulwich Hamlet: 5-0 A match against our neighbors sees Macey find his mojo again. Hot prospect Coates continues his top-notch thieving in the midfield. Sundry Items Seasons tickets sold should be around 400, which is better than last year’s 230. Tickets prices went up to £8 from £6 last year. Still a bargain. By 21 July the numbers are up to 387 so we’re getting closer but my assistant also notes that another 100 are expected to sell. That’d be great to have close to 500. The Season Ahead We are 1-5 odds to get promoted and 3-2 odds to win the division. If my math is correct, and it rarely is, the Southern League Premier Division sees the top two teams getting promoted to the Conference National League South. In similar news, on 31 July I have to decide on win bonuses. The middle tier for winning the league is £75k and the domestic cups is £375k. That’s a lot of money. I opted for the highest tier of the league, £105k, but opt for the low end on the cups, £225k. That Was Then, This is Now Let us look back two years to our batch of youth players who made up the bulk of the initial squad. I never really planned for them to be around for a long time as I expected “real” youth academy graduates and spot signings for leadership and mentoring would be the way we formed. GK: Robert Webb, Carl Friend. Both are still with us, with Webb in the Seniors and Carl in the U18s. I hope to off-load them soon. DR: Tom Johnstone, Peter Maguire. Tom started a couple of matches for the Seniors early in our first year but was sent down to the U18s when Shadi Al-Ziod arrived. He’ll get more starts this year in the Seniors. Peter started a lot of games for the Seniors but he’s gonna be sold off as Tom and Kevin Parker have higher potential. DL: Kevin Parker, James Jefcoate. Kevin has been a wonderful utility player at full back the first two years and will start at DR this year. Jefcoate split time starting with Al-Ziod but now will be our primary DL. DC: Ricky Spearing, Robert Carroll. These two gents were the rocks in the center of our defense for two years but they drew attention to themselves and now are playing higher up the pyramid and in Scotland. We only got £10,000 for them combined but I think the game engine did a better job of figuring out “reality” for transfers in the 7th level of English football. DMC: Connor Smith, Simon McAdam. Connor started many games for us defending in the middle of the field but as more midfielders came in he didn’t get as many starts. I’ve moved him to DC to be our third or fourth choice there. Simon kind of had a similar trajectory but I’m looking to offload him now. MC: Terry Barlow, Teddy Cullen, David Donaldson. Terry was another stalwart in the midfield but too lost playing time as other, better MCs came in. Teddy got some time starting but David got less. They are both gone and I hope to move Terry soon. MR: Steve Pearson. He was a beast for us for one and one-third seasons but £20,000 from Brentford was too good to pass up. ML: Daniel Duckett. Another beast on the wings but got two whole seasons in before going to Swindon for £10,000. I had forgotten he got 36 assists for us in our first year. ST: Paul Taylor, Ben O’Donnell. Paul was a good player for us, having some good streaks of scoring. Ben had an amazing inaugural season with us getting 38 goals, eclipsed only by Captain Eddie Macey. Brighton’s offer of £45,000 was way too good to turn down. Our initial batch was amazing. If our youth academy ever produces great defenders eventually Parker, Johnstone, Jefcoate, and Smith will too depart. After our last friendly I’m going to start training three new formations just to make our fight a little bit harder. Despite that, and having let a lot of regulars go, I’m still optimistic we’ll be able to win the league. __________________ For the full effect: https://brixtonfc.com

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