05-26-2005, 10:04 AM | #251 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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February 29, 2012
FA Cup round 5: we play Middlesbrough on their pitch. They're currently 17th in the EPL and are 6-4 favourites to win this game. Our next game is an EPL game against Newcastle on March 4. They last played on February 13 and all of their players are well rested. Since that day, we have played three games, on February 16, 23, and 26. We let one of their players run free in the middle and they score. Down 0-1. The half ends with us down 0-1. They are outshooting us, but barely, 4(2) to 4(0). GRRR, Youssouf Hersi has decided to take the night out and is rated at 5. I pull him out and put in Fábio Rochemback and we go 4-2-2-2. They get a free kick just outside our penalty area in the 71st minute. The free kick goes just over the wall and Kasper Schmeichel stops, but he can't control the rebound. They score on the rebound. We're playing one freaking ugly second half. Final Score: 0-2 They outshot us 14(4) to 4(0), meaning they shut us down completely in the second half. There will be no more repeat of us winning the FA Cup this season. That loss today, with the loss in the Final of the League Cup, means we need to finish 6th or better in League play if we wanna be back in European competition next season... Jason Wilson suffered a gashed leg and at first I find it weird, since there were no mention of it in the game report. Turns out he played TWO GAMES in one day, anybody can say bug? He indeed had to leave the game with an injury in the second one, with the reserves. My head physio also tells me that César Augusto Fawcett is in need of a rest. Hrm, Tom Howell just got banned for one match after picking up a 5th yellow card so Fawcett's rest may have to wait... Rotherham withdraw their loan bid for Darren Evans. I guess it confirms their status as cheapskates then FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-26-2005, 10:06 AM | #252 |
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March 1st, 2012
The board are still delighted with my work as manager. Always nice to hear I come in 2nd for Manager of the Month. That is also always nice FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-26-2005, 12:48 PM | #253 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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March 4, 2012
League Match #29: we play Newcastle on their pitch. They are currently 15th and are 4-5 favourites to win this game. César Augusto Fawcett suffered a chest injury in training two days ago and is 3 days from being fully healthy. I sit him out and put Igor Biscan in the left fullback spot. Our next game is the first leg of the 2dn Knockout round of the EURO Cup, in 4 days. We need to start winning again, especially in league play! Newcastle's team morale is very low overall, lotsa "unh" tags... That scares me a little. I always fear games with teams below us in the standings... They show a 4-4-2 with heavy push by the wingers. This game is on TV and key men are presented as goalkeeper Shay Given for them and Fábio Rochemback for us. They comment that Roch is the type of player who can create something out of nothing. Football365.com's prediction is as follows: Q.P.R. find it difficult on their travels and I can't see that changing in this game. I've got to go for a Newcastle home win. It takes until 1:23 into injury before a goal is scored. It's a beautiful combination on their part that ends with a centered pass that's headed in. The half ends with us down 0-1. We're outshooting them 7(4) to 5(3) though. I'm very frustrated with our inability to convert chances into goals at the moment. In the 51st minute, Clemens Fritz goes deep to the right, almost to the corner kick spot, from where he centeres a nice ball to Youssouf Hersi. All alone, Hersi doesn't miss his chances and he silences the crowd with the equalizer. Fritz showed great vision with that pass. They take back the lead in the 68th minute as James Collins jumps up to head away a centered ball but their striker gets his head to it first and it goes to the back of the net. Down 1-2. That's a very frustrating goal as they're not doing anything in our half of the field in this second half of play. We're outshooting them 7(2) to 3(3) so far in the second half. HOLY MOLY!!! Fritz outdoes himself in the 77th minute. In what is easily the most amazing individual effort I've ever seen, he takes the ball from his right wing, all the way to the left wing, still ball at his foot, then back to the middle, where he beats another defender, before he buries it, top corner, for the equalizer. If I used to say that he "pulled a FRITZ", well that one has to be a FRITZ AND A HALF!!! His game stats show 15 runs past opponents, I'd say about 7 of them happened in that one sequence of play. That's how amazing it was... They go to a 4-2-4 formation in the 79th minute and it takes only one minute for it to pay off, but not really because of the formation. They score on a long range shot, from 25yards out. Down 2-3. But we're clawing our way back into the game in the 86th minute, when Fritz spots Ahmed Yahiaoui in the AMC spot, unmarked. He converts it to tie the game again, 3-3. Final Score: 3-3 We outshot them 21(10) to 12(7). I'll take the draw, but this was a very disappointing defensive meltdown on our part. Clemens Fritz is named Man of the Match with 17 runs past opponents, 1 goal, 2 assists and a rating of 10. Fábio Rochemback got rated at 8. We remain in 7th, one point from 6th, 6 away from 5th.
Darren Evans agrees to go on a loan to Heresford. Woah, following the game I take a furtive look at Julian Hudson's team report and what a surprise. He now thinks we have the squad to establish a safe mid-table position in the Premier Division even though he's concerned that depth beyond the first team is worryingly thin in areas. Up until a few days ago, he was still saying we had to improve in many places to achieve that. Look at this: He's also now rating Schmeichel as a 5 stars, while he was only rating him as a 2 stars a little while ago... Interesting... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-26-2005, 03:16 PM | #254 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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March 5, 2012
Fábio Rochemback and Clemens Fritz have been selected on the EPL Team of the Week. March 7, 2012 The report I just received from my scout regarding our next opponent in the EURO Cup, Polish side Wisla Krakow, isn't too impressive. I don't want to take anybody for granted, but I'm used to seeing terms like "impressive", "masterful", or even "world class" for some of the good teams in the EPL, or in European Competition, but look what he had to say about Wislaw Krakow: He believes their team is determined. He thinks they have a slow attack. "Determined"? I guess it's a nice trait, but it doesn't really instill fear into my heart. We'll see though... March 8, 2012 Burton want Justin Wall on loan. I again reject the proposal. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-26-2005, 03:18 PM | #255 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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March 8, 2012
EURO Cup, Knockout Round 2, leg 1: we play Wisla Krakow on their pitch. They are 5-4 favourites to win this game. Our next game will be the second leg, to be played in exactly one week. We start the two game series on the road and hopefully we can knock in a goal or two, given that away goals can have some value as a tiebreaker in the eventuality of a tie on aggregate after leg 2. Also, the winner of this round is through to the Quarter Final round. I decide to experiment with Ahmed Yahiaoui and even though he doesn't have the position in is possible position per se, I decide to start him in the AMC spot for Youssouf Hersi. Yahoo has got about everything you'd want in an AMC... This game is on TV and key men are presented as striker Tomasz Rozbicki for them - he has scored 14 goals in 26 games so far this season - and Fábio Rochemback. They again point out that Roch is the type of player that can create something our of nothing. Sports.pl's prediction: Sorry Wisla and Q.P.R. fans, I just can't separate these two sides. This goes down as a draw in my book. Ahmed Yahioui starts the game average but picks up his play starting with this great play in the 37th minute. He is the pivot in the middle of our midfield, first fielding a pass from the right from Stephen Pearson, playing it 1-2 with Marcus Kelly who sends it right back to him. He launches a precise strike just as he gets to the penalty area and scores the 1-0 goal! 1-0 is the halftime score. Shots are very tight at 3(2) for us, 3(0) for them. We've been close to their goal often but we're not shooting enough. The second half sees a bit more shots on goal, but it takes all the way to the 89th minute for us to add to our lead with a very late, but very important away goal. Clemens Fritz ran on the right win and found Quincy Owusu Abeyie away from the goal, almost to the corner kick spot. He centers it to Yahiaoui who is standing, unmarked, near the penalty spot. He scores his second of the game on a nice volley shot. Final Score: 2-0 We outshot them 11(6) to 8(1). Ahmed Yahiaoui is named Man of the Match with 2 goals, 5 shots on target out of 6, while completing 25 of 26 passes, 5 of them key passes. For all this, he got rated at 9. A great game for him! Marcus Kelly also got rated at 9 while Tom Howell and Danny Shittu both got rated at 8. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-26-2005, 03:19 PM | #256 |
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March 13, 2012
Igor Nadal Lázaro suffers a calf strain in training and it's first thought that he'll be missing two weeks. My physios recommend that I send him to see a specialist, which I do and he will be gone for three weeks attending physiotherapy. March 15, 2012 GRRRRR another gameday injury. This time, it's to David Marek Rozehnal who twisted his knee in training. He will miss one week. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-26-2005, 03:22 PM | #257 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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March 15, 2012
EURO Cup, Knockout Round 2, leg 2: we play Wisla Krakow at Loftus Road. They are 6-4 favourites to win this game. We're up 2-0 on aggregate. Our next game is in only three days, against 5th place Aston Villa. Ben Watson is match fit and I bring him back up with the senior squad. I start Ahmed Yahiaoui in the AMC spot again. This game is on TV and key men are the same as the previous game, with the same comments. In fact, the prediction is the same, but this time it's from Football365.com. Gotta say I could live with a draw this time around They show a 4-4-2 formation with long arrows on the wingers. Getting desperate early on? The first half goes scoreless, even though we are really controlling the ball movement with 59% possession, split 10-26-23 (our end-middle-their end). We're also outshooting them 7(2) to 5(5). They are quite accurate though and Kasper Schmeichel will need to stay alert. We take one in the 29th minute, as Danny Shittu heads a goal kick coming from their keeper far forward, in fact way over Quincy Owusu Abeyie's head. Abeyie is alone with the keeper and converts it for the 1-0 goal. We're up 3-0 on aggregate. Anthony Vanden Borre gets the ball on the centerline in the 69th minute. They are playing a very aggressive offside trap and he has to hold up play until he finds somebody who's onside. Ahmed Yahiaoui is one of them. VB sends him a perfect pass and YAHOOOOOOO!!!! A great banana shot from 30yards out gives Yahiaoui his 5th goal of the season already. We're up 2-0, 4-0 on aggregate. Clemens Fritz has to come off, injured, in the 75th minute. Ben Watson takes his place. In the 90th minute, as time dwindles down, Watson is called for a foul in our penalty area. PENALTY! They score to take one back, but it's too little, too late. Final Score: 2-1 (4-1 on aggregate) We outshot them 14(6) to 6(6), limiting them to that one shot on the penalty on the whole second half. Tom Howell is named Man of the Match with a rating of 8, but five others received ratings of 8: Schmeichel, Vanden Borre, Pearson, Kelly, and Yahiaoui. Ross McCormack had a down game, only rating at 6. Clemens Fritz suffered a groing strain and it will be 3 weeks of physiotherapy for him. We've been awarded $360k for the win and we're through to the Quarter Final. WEEHEE! FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-26-2005, 03:27 PM | #258 |
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March 16, 2012
The draw for the EURO Cup Quarter Final round happens. We will play Sevilla F.C. from Spain. Leg 1 will be played on their pitch on April 5, with leg 2 coming exactly one week later at Loftus Road. They were in Bolton's group during group play and they beat them 2-0 on Bolton's pitch. They seem to have 4 players with injuries serious enough (3 weeks/1 month) that they could possibly miss both legs. They just beat Czech Republic side Sigma Olomouc, twice straight, 2-0, and 1-0. The EURO Cup Semi Final draw also happens today (huh?). The winner of our series will play the winner of Austria Vienna vs At. Madrid. Looking at my reserves squad, I see that Jeppe Lund Curth is injured. Turns out he suffered a broken leg in training on March 7 and will miss the next 5 months. I swear I had nothing to do with it your honor, I swear I didn't call for the Golden Leg treatment on Mr Curth... March 17, 2012 Oxford want Justin Wall on loan. It's another no. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-27-2005, 10:06 AM | #259 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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March 18, 2012
League Match #30: we play Aston Villa at Loftus Road. They currently in 5th place and are 4-5 favourites to win this game. They have 52 points to our 46. This is a huge game for us! Our next game is in 8 days, when we'll play Arsenal on their pitch. Aston Villa last played on March 10 while we played on March 15. They get a free kick just outside our penalty area. Kasper Schmeichel stops the kick but can't keep the ball. They beat him on the rebound. Down 0-1. The half ends with us down 0-1 but we're very much in this game, with shots at 8(3) for us, 8(6) for thme. We're even winning possession with 56%, split 13-20-23. Ross McCormack is having another shitty first half. I'm so pissed at him I pull him and put Ahmed Yahiaoui next to Youssouf Hersi in a second AMC spot. This is turning ugly and in the 51st minute, they play a free kick forward to the edge of our penalty area. Not one guy goes to challenge him. James Collins is the closest, but he let his man go and they score. Down 0-2. In the 60th minute, Yahiaoui gets fouled in their penalty area. PENALTY!!! James Collins scores, giving us a way back into the game. Still down, now 1-2. We go back to a 4-1-2-1-2 as I pull Stephen Pearson out and put Yahiaoui to the right wing. Final Score: 1-2 We kept pushing like crazy, putting lots of pressure, but also lots of balls either over the bar, or very wide of goals. Final shots tally comes to 14(5) for us, 11(9) for them. Kasper Schmeichel and Youssouf Hersi both rates at 8. We keep our 8th place despite the loss, now 4 from 6th with 8 games to play. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 10:06 AM | #260 |
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March 25, 2012
Ouch, 11 players have been called up for international friendlies, all on March 28th. We play Arsenal on the 26th, then West Brom on the 31st. I usually don't restrict my players for international friendlies, but I seet 45 minutes restrictions on 6 of them: Ross McCormack, Stephen Pearson, Anthony Vanden Borre, Quincy Owusu Abeyie, Igor Biscan, and Ahmed Yahiaoui. With 7 games still to be played, Wolves are now assured to relegate to the Championship after only one season in the EPL. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-27-2005, 10:09 AM | #261 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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March 26, 2012
League Match #31: we play Arsenal on their pitch. They're currently in 5th place and are 1-2 favourites to win this game. That being said, they are in the middle of a pretty severe injury rash. Look what lineup they played in their last game looks like now: Date of injuries: Edu, 03/08 Deisler, 03/15 Mayer, 03/18 Schweinsteiger, 03/21 Johnson, 03/23 Henry, 03/26 Pazzini, 03/26 So all but two have happened during or since their last game on March 18. Our next game is in 5 days, when we'll play West Brom. César Augusto Fawcett suffered a bruised shin 4 days ago and is 2 more days away from being completely healthy. We go wit a 4-2-2-2 formation. They show their wide 4-2-3-1 formation to start the game. This game is on TV and key men are presented as being Ahmed Yahiaoui for us and Christopher Eagles for them. It is pointed out that the winger has created 6 goals in 37 games so far this season. Football365.com's prediction: Arsenal have got to be favourites for this one. The Gunners have been impressive at home recently and I expect them to have too much for Q.P.R. Ahmed Yahiaoui brings the ball into the box in the 19th minute. He's able to fire a quality shot on goal, but it's stopped. A defender tries a wild clearance to the back, but kicks it past his own keeper, AN OWN GOAL!!! Up 1-0! In the 39th minute, Stephen Pearson runs from the center to the right, bringing his defender out of his area. He gives the ball back to Ross McCormack, all alone in the middle. He scores an easy goal. Up 2-0!! The half ends on that 2-0 score. We're outshooting them 6(4) to 6(1) and we're winning possession, with a solid 57%. We are very much in this game, we just need to keep working hard. Ross McCormack suffered a minor injury in the first half and I pull him out. Quincy Owusu Abeyie goes in against his former team. We shut the lid airtight and we hold on in the second half for a sweet win!!! Final Score: 2-0 What a sweet win!!! We outshot them 11(6) to 8(2) on the game. Marcus Kelly is named Man of the Match with a rating of 8, but 6 others on the team also had ratings of 8: Schmeichel, Howell, Biscan, Pearson, Rochemback, and Yahiaoui. A great team effort!!! We move up to 7th, one point from 6th!
Bill Power just can't hide his delight with this win over our rivals... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... Last edited by FrogMan : 05-27-2005 at 10:11 AM. |
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05-27-2005, 10:13 AM | #262 |
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March 27, 2012
Joe Marshall's three month loan at Worksop ends and he comes back to the club. He says he's sad it's over and that he learnt a lot during his spell on loan over there. He is hoping that this increased experience will help his chance of establishing himself within the Q.P.R. squad. I doubt that, but I must say he had a good three monhts during that loan. He played 15 league games, conceding a reasonable 13 goals with 7 clean sheets and one Man of the Match mention. He averaged a form rating of 7.27. March 31, 2012 Oh crap, Kasper Schmeichel is being scouted by West Brom and Bolton. I see he has a minimum fee release clause that comes on at $4.8M while his value has soared to $6.4M. It was at only $3.2M only very recently. He wants $53k per week with a signing fee of $650k for a 3 year deal. Hudson thinks he's a useful member of our squad and recommends a wage up to $36k per week. We're $140k over our wage budget at the moment, and considering that Schmeichel is currently earning $6,600 per week, I offer him $38k per week with a signing fee of $900k. I remove the minimum fee release clause of $9.6M that he's asking for. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-27-2005, 10:23 AM | #263 |
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Hmm.
What can I say. I love these R's. But I'm a Gunner girl. Congrats on the win. I think you were definitely helped by their injuries, but hey, a win is a win, and it WAS by 2 goals, so good job!!! /tk
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March 31, 2012
League Match #32: we play West Brom at Loftus Road. They're currently in 8th place and are 5-4 favourites to win this game. It's a 7th vs 8th match, with both teams at 49 points on the season, one off 6th place Liverpool. Kim Källström, who will be joining us on July 1st, suffered some damage to a knee cartilage three days ago. He will miss this game and the coming month. That's a bummer. Our next game is the first leg of the 2nd Knockout round of the EURO Cup on April 5. César Augusto Fawcett will be away on international duty for that game, so I'll start him today as I try to keep Tom Howell as fresh as possible for our match against Sevilla. Marcus Kelly centers a great ball for Youssouf Hersi in the 8th minute. Hersi scores what looked like an easy goal and we're up 1-0. The half ends on that score and shots are very close, with us getting 3(3) and them 3(1). The ball is on our end a lot, and even though we're controlling it well, I don't like that... Up until the 58th minute, it's an ugly second half. In the 66th minute, César Augusto Fawcett plays a beautiful long pass for Quincy Owusu Abeyie. He's getting away from his defender when he gets his shirt pulled in the area. PENALTY!!! Fábio Rochemback's kick is STOPPED! They kick the rebound away from the area! They go to a 4-2-4 formation in the 82nd minute, but we take advantage of it on the wing, as Youssouf Hersi and Ben Watson switch position and Watson scores his first of the season to put us ahead 2-0. Final Score: 2-0 We outshot them 11(6) to 4(2). We really took off in the second half, then closed it tight in the last few minutes. Marcus Kelly is named Man of the Match with a rating of 8, but several others also got rated at 8: Schmeichel, Shittu (13/16 headers), Biscan (13/13 headers), Hersi, and Johnson. We temporarily move to 6th place, but Liverpool still has to play.
Danny Shittu suffered a bruised jaw in the game and will miss five days. Bill Power is extremely pleased with that win. Following that match, I terminate Jaco Van den Heever's loan and send him back to his club without him having played one minute with the senior squad. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 01:00 PM | #265 |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 1st, 2012
The board is still delighted with my work and as always, this makes me feel good Tom Howell is named the EPL Young Player of the Month for the third time this season. He had previously won that award in October and January. Looking back on the list of winner, I see that Craig Crane also won it in December, making it four months out of 8 with a Ranger as the winner... Clemens Fritz's amazing goal against Newcastle on March 24 comes in 2nd as Goal of the Month. I took a look at the winner and it was simply a top corner from long range. I may be biased, but I think Fritz's individual effort was simply much better... Igor Nadal Lázaro resumes full training following physiotherapy and the specialist who treatd him is optimistic that he's recovered fully from his injury. Woah, Liverpool is keeping up with us pace for pace as they won 2-0 against Arsenal. As a result, we drop back to 7th, one point off 6th, 3 points off 5th with six games to play. April 2, 2012 Clemens Fritz resumes full training following his physiotherapy and for him too, the specialist that treated him is optimistic he's recovered fully from his injury. Igor Biscan, Marcus Kelly, and Youssouf Hersi are all selected for the EPL Team of the Week. April 4, 2012 Kasper Schmeichel rejects our offer. I offer him $45k per week with a $1M signing fee, plus $10k per clean sheet. I never realized the wording on top of the contract nego screen. It reads that his agent says he will consider a 3 year contract with wages around $53k per week... In the Champions Cup, all four English teams are in the Quarter Finals... First legs are played: Arsenal 2-0 Roma Chelsea 1-0 Inter Liverpool 0-1 Barcelona Valencia 0-1 Man Utd FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-27-2005, 03:21 PM | #266 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 5, 2012
EURO Cup Quarter Final, leg 1: We play Sevilla on their pitch, in Spain. They are 4-5 favourites to win this game. While we have to deal with César Augusto Fawcett being away on international duty, they have several players unavailable for a slew of reasons: a centreback is suspended, their right winger is injured, an inner mid, a striker, and a right fullback are away on international duty. On top of that, they have another striker who'S just coming back from injury and isn't fully match fit. We go with the 4-2-2-2 formation with Ahmed Yahiaoui and Fábio Rochemback in the DMC spots. GRRRRR! Clemens Fritz got injured in training today. BUT HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINING TODAY!!! a chest injury and he'll miss 5 days. Jason Wilson is on the bench for this game and I see he is unhappy. Seems like he wants clarification on his role at the club. Read my lips: YOU... ARE... A... PROSPECT!!! okay, feel better with that out of my chest. They show a 4-4-2 formation with heavy push from the wingers to open up the game. This game is on TV and key men are presented as being Ahmed Yahiaoui for us and goalkeeper Esteban for them. It's pointed out that they've only conceded 28 goals in the 41 games the experienced goalkeeper has played in. Soccernet.com's prediction: Sevilla have enough about themselves to see off the threat of Q.P.R. Andrew Johnson gets a great chance in the 13th minute, when Quincy Owusu Abeyie centers a neat ball to his feet from the byline. He's in the 6 yard box but his shot is stopped!!! Stephen Pearson gets two yellows on 2 separate faults within five minute. It's an early shower for him and we'll have to finish the game with 10 men on the pitch, ugh... We switch formation to a 4-1-2-2 and I put Yahiaoui on the right wing. AJ kicks it over the bar on short range in injury time, ARRRGGG!!! The half ends scoreless, but we're very much in it, even with only 10 men. We're outshooting them 6(2) to 5(1). The referee started spray painting everything in sight on a bright yellow color. I tell the guys to go easy on their tackles. In the 51st minute, David Marek Rozehnal backs into a striker in our penalty area. PENALTY!!! They score to take the lead 1-0. OH CRAP! Craig Crane receives his second yellow of the match in the 61st minute, we're now down to 9 players on the pitch. We got to an exotic looking 3-2-2-1 formation. That's 3 DC, 2DMC, 2 wingers, 1 AMC, no strikers. We're still putting some pressure and their keeper has to make a few saves, as he does in the 76th minute, as he tips a ball over on a corner kick. They go to a 4-2-4 formation in the 82nd minute, but we are keeping them away from our goal. They get a centreback sent off in injury time. At least they'll have one suspended for the second leg. Final Score: 0-1 They outshot us 12(6) to 8(3) on the game, but we played a gutsy second half, especially being away and down two men for most of the second half. Instead of being down by 2 or 3, we're still coming home being at only a one goal disadvantage. A down game for many of our players though. Craig Crane and Stephen Pearson both rated at 6, mainly due to being sent off, while Tom Howell and David Marek Rozehnal also got rated at 6. The rest of the team rated at 7. Crane and Pearson both receive automatic one match ban for having been sent off. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 03:22 PM | #267 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 7, 2012
League games are played and we drop to 8th place.
April 8, 2012 Matt Cross requests to be transfer listed but I reject his request. I've realized that once a player has been put on the transfer list by request, there's actually no way to pull him from it. If I want to transfer list you kid, I'll do it myself... Kasper Schmeichel rejects our latest offer. I offer him what his agent says he'll consider, $53k per week, no signing fee. I doubt he'll accept, it's more of a test anyway. April 11, 2012 Wow, look at these results in the Champions Cup! Barcelone 1-4 (2-4 agg) Liverpool Inter 1-3 (1-4 agg) Chelsea Man Utd 3-1 (4-1 agg) Valencia Roma 1-2 (1-4 agg) Arsenal This means that all four English teams are through to the Semi Final round, woah! Anybody has ever seen this? Pretty amazing... April 12, 2012 Kasper Schmeichel rejects our offer, I decide to break off talks for now. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 03:25 PM | #268 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 12, 2012
EURO Cup Quarter Final, leg 2: We play Sevilla at Loftus Road. They're again 4-5 favourites to win this game. They lead the series 0-1 on aggregate goals. A reminder that away goals will be considered in case the teams are level after either 90 minutes, or extra time. We can't let them score today. We go to our regular 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Craig Crane and Stephen Pearson are both suspended for this game. Marcus Kelly starts on the right wing while Tom Howell will man the left wing. Ahmed Yahiaoui starts in the AMC spot as Youssouf Hersi got nicked during the week and his condition is a bit low. Clemens Fritz is back on the bench despite not being match fit. This match is on TV and key men are presented as Mario Alberto Santana for them and Kasper Schmeichel for us. They point out that we have conceded only 49 goals in the 52 games he has played in. Rivals.net's prediction: It will be a close encounter today but I think Sevilla will come out victorious. We come out with a roar and we go one up in as early as the 6th minute, on a great individual effort by Quincy Owusu Abeyie. Ross McCormack had played him a nice free kick forward. Abeyie took a shot that is stopped, but he fought the ball out of the keeper's grasp, only to bury it on his second attempt. Tom Howell interecepts a ball on the left wing in the 30th minute. He finds Ahmed Yahiahoui and YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!! He bends a nice one from 30 yards out to make it 2-0 on the game, 2-1 on aggregate. We can't let them score now, an equalizer would mean them going up on away goals... The half ends with us ahead 2-1 on aggregate goals. We're completely dominating them, outshooting them 13(10) to 3(1) and winning possession with 55%, but split 5-26-24. Ross McCormack has to leave the game injured in the 64th minute. Andrew Johnson comes in to take his place. As the game comes to a close, in the 90th minute, Danny Shittu plays a nice free kick forward to Youssouf Hersi who drives a bullet home, from 30 yards out. His 15th goal of the season has got to be the clincher. They described it as a long range piledriver. Not sure I understand it, but I sure like the term Final Score: 3-0 (3-1 on aggregate) We outshot them 19(13) to 4(1) on the game. Anthony Vanden Borre is named Man of the Match with a rating of 8, but four other also rated at 8: Fawcett, Shittu, Yahiaoui, and Abeyie. It's also good to see Clemens Fritz back on the field. We've been awarded $600k for the win and we're through to the Semi Final! We'll play At. Madrid, another Spanish side, in that Semi Final. The first leg is set to be played at Loftus Road on April 26, and the second on their picth on May 3. Anthony Vanden Borre suffered a damaged shoulder in the game and he'll miss two weeks. Ross McCormack suffered a damaged elbow and will miss one week. I see that Kasper Schmeichel wants $53k per week with a signing fee of $650k and a minimum release fee of $9.6M. I offer him just that. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 03:26 PM | #269 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 14, 2012
League games are played. We're still in 8th, with up to 2 games on hand over some other teams... In other news, Ipswich have clinched relegation to the Championship...
I rethink my approach to the Schmeichel situation and I withdraw my offer. See, the two teams currently scouting him are West Brom and Bolton, two EPL side, so they can't steal him before the reopening of the next transfer window, which coincides with the end of the season. I'm thinking that letting him go, with some new transfer budget, based on incoming final position money, and TV money of the beginning of next season, would be the perfect situation to bring in some crazy ass world class keeper... Because of that, I'll let him play under his current contract and won't bind myself to him for another 3 seasons, at least not just yet. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 03:29 PM | #270 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 15, 2012
League Match #32: we play Manchester City at Loftus Road. They're currently in 12th place and are evens favourites to win this game. They have many unhappy player on board, most of them believing the club is underachieving. Our next game is in 6 days when we'll go play Portsmouth on their pitch. Man City last played on the 7th while we last played on the 12th, yet the difference in condition isn't so big between the two teams. Stephen Pearson moves the ball on the wing in the 15th minute. He pumps it forward to Andrew Johnson who nods it to the center for Igor Nadal Lázaro who let's go a swift bullet. A great strike, top corner! Up 1-0. They get a free kick near our penalty area in the 44th minute. It's kicked hard and the ball gets deflected going through our wall. Schmeichel can't adjust for the deflection. Tied 1-1. 1-1 is the halftime score. We're outshooting them 6(2) to 4(1). Schmeichel plays a nice long kick for Lázaro in the 58th minute and Lázaro brilliantly nods it forward for AJ who's through on goal. As he gets inside the area, he goes to the right, beats the keeper with a low shot. Up 2-1! Two minutes into injury time, Ahmed Yahiaoui tries a shot from long range. His kick coming from 30 yards out is deflected in the goal by a deflected inside their penalty area. Up 3-1! Final score: 3-1 We outshot them 20(12) to 4(1). Talk about dominance in the second half as we controlled the ball for 67% of the half (split 6-23-38). Marcus Kelly is named Man of the Match with a rating of 10. Shittu, Yahiaoui, Hersi, AJ, and Lázaro all got rated at 8. Schmeichel only got rated a 6 though. We move up to 7th with 5 games to play. We're one point from 6th Liverpool, 5 points from 5th Birmingham with a game on hand, and 6 points from 4th Arsenal with also one game on hand.
James Collins suffered a sprained wrist and will miss one week. Q.P.R. chairman Bill Power could not hide his delight following the team's win over Manchester City. The impressive run of late season form has seen The Rs climb swiftly up the table and into the top half. After early season predictions of a mid-table finish, wans will be satisfied if the club can maintain its current run of form and remain above the mid-way mark. Arsène Wenger even goes with a "no grudges" comment, saying that he believes the best team won on Sunday. He also commented that he had a lot of time for me (huh?) and declared that if he were to lose to any manager, he would prefer to lose to me. That's nice! And some of my players think it is too, as Marcus Kelly, Ross McCormack and Anthony Vanden Borre all believe the team cannot fail to perform whilst under my guidance. Andrew Johnson is pleased to see that I'm getting the praise I deserve. April 16, 2012 Danny Shittu, Marcus Kelly, and Youssouf Hersi are all selected on the EPL Team of the Week. Liverpool drew with Chelsea in league play. We're now two points from them and the 6th place, with a game on hand.
FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-27-2005, 11:49 PM | #271 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ashburn, VA
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Quote:
Yikes! I don't think I've seen you report ANYBODY getting a 6 in a L-O-N-G time. Any reason he did got such a low performance rating? I looked at his info and it seems like he had good morale and form... /tk
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05-29-2005, 05:51 PM | #272 | |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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Quote:
keepers in general, maybe Schmeichel in particuylar, can be very finicky animals as far as form is concerned. A bad goal, then no other big shots to regain confidence and boom, bad form. Sometimes, I get the feeling that form isn't only how the player performed on the field, but also part of his ingame morale, as in how they feel. Maybe I'm wrong, but seomtimes when we get a very early goal, everybody goes to 5. I doubt it's because everyone is playing very badly, but mostly that everybody feels down that we're in a hole early on... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 10:05 AM | #273 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 21, 2012
League Match #34: we play Portsmouth on their pitch. They're currently 14th and are 6-4 favourites to win this game. Our next game is Leg 1 of the EURO Cup Semi Final against At. Madrid in 5 days. Ben Watson starts at AMC, Ahmed Yahiaoui is ready to jump in should he go down in flame... They have two injured starters, their right fullback and an inner mid, and many minor ones. For us, César Augusto Fawcett suffered a facial injury (what's that, a razor cut?!?) yesterday. He'll be healthy in two days and has a fairly low condition right now. Tom Howell starts in his place. Looking at possible milestones for this game I see that should they fail to win today, they will have gone more games without victory than at any other stage of the season, beating the previous record of 7 games without winning. Great, everything I need to jinx us... They're playing really long passes to open the game and they score an early goal in the 6th minutes after 3 long balls. Down 0-1. DAMN! Marcus Kelly has to leave the game injured in the 20th minute. Chris Chapman comes in. 3:09 into injury time, Tom Howell spots Igor Nadal Lázaro's run and swings him a sweet long pass. Lázaro is alone with the keeper and he doesn't miss his chance with the equalizer. Howell made that goal, a superb assist! The half ends with teams tied at 1. Shots are very close at 4(1) for us, 4(2) for them. Second half is another tight affair and we can't pull away, despite getting a bit more pressure on their goal. Final Score: 1-1 We outshot them 9(2) to 7(2). Tom Howell is named Man of the Match with a rating of 9, our only rating above 7. Both teams had great chances of winning it late in the game. Ahmed Yahiaoui put it wide for us and Yakubu for them, was almost alone but Danny Shittu's inch perfect tackle clear the danger. We'll never know if that tackle by Shittu was where he got injured but after the game, I get the report from my physio that he suffered a calf strain and he will miss 2 weeks. However, my physios all recommend to send him see a specialist, which I do, and the diagnosis is extended to three weeks of physiotherapy. I get another bad news from my Physio. Marcus Kelly's injury in the game was a back strain. Initially thought to be missing 3 weeks, I also send him see a specialist and it turns out he'll be able to have him ready in two weeks. Following that injury and since Kelly is a very well known player of our club, a journalist from the Daily Star approaches me with this question: Marcus Kelly injured himself in the match today and it looks as if he could be out for some time. Will he be missed? I tell him that it's definitely a blow to lose Marcus like that, but that I feel we've got adequate cover for him. We're in 7th following the draw, still with a game on hand over Liverpool in 6th. Liverpool also drew, 1-1 with Manchester City.
FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... Last edited by FrogMan : 05-30-2005 at 10:06 AM. |
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05-30-2005, 10:07 AM | #274 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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April 22, 2012
Julian Hudson reports to me that he has noted that Marcus Kelly has been in a buoyant mood over the past day or so. After consulting several members of the team, Hudson discovered that the left winger was delighted with the comments I made about him in the media recently. 9th place West Brom destroyed #5 Birmingham, 4-1, in league play. We're still in 7th place.
April 25, 2012 It's the first leg of the Champions Cup Semi Final round, with an all England cast: Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 10:19 AM | #275 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 26, 2012
EURO Cup Semi Final, Leg 1: we play At. Madrid (short for Club Athlético de Madrid) at Loftus Road. They are evens favourites to win this game. Interesting fact: they won the EURO Cup in 2010. They must not be too bad They seem to play a tactic similar to Arsenal's 4-2-3-1, a pretty wide formation. Their left AM is suspended for this game. Anthony Vanden Borre is being scouted by Liverpool and Manchester City. He's earning $57k per week at the moment and he still wants $93k (ouch!) with a signing fee of $1.1M. I offer him the max my team board will allow me to offer, which is $68k with a signing fee of $1.25M and a $4,000 appearance bonus. We go with the 4-2-2-2 formation with Rochemback and Yahiaoui in at DMC. Our next game is only in 3 days, when we'll play Middlesbrough in league play in between the two legs of this Semi Final. At. Madrid indeed show a 4-2-3-1 wide formation to start the match. This game is on TV and key men are presented as Ahmed Yahiaoui for us and Pablo for them. They've only conceded 20 goals in the 30 games that the centreback has played in. Football365.com's prediction: This game has draw written all over it. I just can't separate these two sides. I see that their left fullback's condition is at 80% for the start of the game, was as low as 68% before getting to the field. I move Stephen Pearson up and take off his forward arrow. The first half ends scoreless, but not because we're not pressuring them. We outshot them 9(2) to 5(1) and we're winning possession with 62%. We really spent the half not only on their side of the field, but even mostly inside their penalty area with kicks deflected left and right, always just enough to be out of target. Stephen Pearson suffered a minor injury and his condition has dipped to 73%. I pull him out and put Clemens Fritz in. Woah! That free kick from Ross McCormack, all of 40 yards out, looke like nothing, but it goes in for his 15th of the season! Up 1-0! Only 4 minutes later, we add to our lead on a great center from Tom Howell to the 6 yard box, where Andrew Johnson heads it in. Up 2-0!! Dang! David Marek Rozehnal throws himself in front of a kick in the 86th minute. The ball is deflected just enough for Kasper Schmeichel to be unable to get to it. Final Score: 2-1 We definitely turned the heat on in the second half, outshooting them 9(5) to 4(2) in the half, 18(7) to 9(3) on the game. I only hope that the late lucky away goal won't come back to haunt us in Leg 2. Their keeper is named Man of the Match with a rating of 8. For us, Pearson, Howell, AJ, McCormack all got rated at 8, while Yahiaoui had a downer with a 6. César Augusto Fawcett reaches the 3 yellow cards limit and will be banned for the next match. The $1.25M we received in gate receipt for that game ties a previous Q.P.R. record. GRRRR, following the game, I see that Everton and Manchester City are both scouting Fawcett. He's got a minimum release fee clause at $11M. He's paid $48k per week and would want $70k per week with a $800k signing fee for a 3 year deal, but this time without a minimum release fee clause. I offer him $60k with a 900k signing fee for a 3 year deal... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 12:32 PM | #276 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 28, 2012
League games are played and there are two potentially big breaks for us: Liverpool 1-2 Portsmouth Birmingham 1-3 Chelsea Liverpool and Birmingham are currently in 6th and 5th respectively, while we're hanging on to 7th place with 2 games on hand over Liverpool...
Sad day... Luton Town have officially been relegated from League Two FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 12:34 PM | #277 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 29, 2012
League Match #35: we play Middlesbrough at Loftus Road. They're currently in 17th place and are 6-4 favourites to win this game. I always fear a meltdown in games where we play teams lower in the league table. We can't let that happen. Clemens Fritz suffered a bruised head in training on April 27 and is three days away from being healthy. He's sitting out this one and Ahmed Yahiaoui will be the right wing backup. They last played on April 21 while we played on the 26th. They usually play a 5-3-2 formation but they show a bland 4-4-2 today. We let them come, almost invite them to come score, in the 43rd minute and they do. Down 0-1. The half ends with us down 0-1 and we're not in this game, not at all. They're outshooting us 7(3) to 1(1). Our guys seem burned out and it's only halftime. Ahmed Yahiaoui goes in for Stephen Pearson. We are on all out attack mode late in the game, with the wingers rushing to the goal, and it pays off in the 80th minute. Quincy Owusu Abeyie spots Igor Nadal Lázaro all alone in the box. Lázaro doesn't miss his chance and ties the game 1-1. For a tiny moment, I thought about lowering the guys' mentality, but thinking we had the momentum and we could score another quick one, I let the guys push it. Fatal mistake... They scored two in the final ten minute. The first in the 84th minute, as we let them run around at will, then another in the 90th minute as we were pushing very hard with little thought to what was going on behind. Having a stoopid referee that wasn't calling stuff didn't help matters either. Anthony Vanden Borre was nicked, no green cross, but his condition dropped to 40%, meaning he probably would not be ready for next game. Final Score: 1-3 They outshot us 12(6) to 5(3). All in all, the meltdown I feared would happen. The end of the game had me so pissed it took all of my self control not to hurl my pen accross the room as it started stuttering. It instead ended its life in the garbage can next to me... That loss dropped up to 8th place.
As I expected, Anthony Vanden Borre rejected our contract offer. I break off talks as I don't expect to be able to make him sign... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 12:35 PM | #278 |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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April 30, 2012
Youssouf Hersi is selected to the EPL Team of the Week. César Augusto Fawcett rejects our offer but he's willing to negotiate. I offer him $65k per week with a $850k signing fee for a 3 year deal without any minimum fee release clause. Igor Nadal Lázaro tells me he is content with his role at the club. He says I proved to him that he could be part of the first-team if he was patient and worked hard at it. May 1st, 2012 The Board are still delightd with my work as manager of the club. Tom Howell is selected as the EPL Young Player of the Month. It's his fourth monthly selection for that award after he won it in October, January, and March. Shit, Ahmed Yahiaoui suffered a damaged elbow in training. He will miss one week. Our next game is in two days... May 2, 2012 The second legs of the Champions Cup Semi Finals are played: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool (Liverpool through, 2-1 on aggregate scores) Man Utd 1-2 Chelsea (Chelsea through, 3-1 on aggregate) The Final will oppose Liverpool, current holders of the title, to Chelsea. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-30-2005, 12:38 PM | #279 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 3, 2012
EURO Cup Semi Final, Leg 2: We play At. Madrid on their pitch. They are evens favourites to win this game. We are ahead 2-1 on aggregate goals, but they did score one away goal. César Augusto Fawcett's suspension and all the injuries on our side are screwing things up. Tom Howell has to start at left fullback and Chris Chapman, despite not being match fit, starts on the left wing with Youssouf Hersi backing him up. Marcus Kelly is still attending physiotherapy. We go with the 4-2-2-2 again. We got two rough league games coming up after this one. First will be Liverpool on the 6th, then Chelsea on the 9th. We'll be running out of warm bodies if the injuries don't stop. This game is on TV and key players are presented as being Pablo for them and Fábio Rochemback for us. They comment that the midfielder can dominate the midfield if allowed the space. Soccernet.com's prediction: It's a close call but I've got to go with At. Madrid today. Q.P.R. will give it everything but At. Madrid should come out victorious. The first half is a nailbiter and it ends scoreless. They're outshooting us 3(2) to 2(0). It's a very close games so far, a game in which we're controlling the ball well, especially keeping it in the middle of the field. They've received 3 yellows already. Chris Chapman's condition has dropped to 71% and I pull him out. Youssouf Hersi comes in for a rare appearance at left wing. Kasper Schmeichel has been solid so far. Hersi intercepts a ball in the 51st minute and finds Quincy Owusu Abeyie alone in the area. Abeyie scores an important away goal to put us ahead 1-0 in the game, 3-1 on aggregate goals and tied on away goals at 1-1. Two minutes later, Abeyie suffers a minor injury. Ouch, his condition dips to 27%, how can he even walk off the field is a mystery... I pull him out. Stephen Pearson goes to the AMC spot and Clemens Fritz goes to the right wing as we go to a 4-2-2-1-1 formation. They play a throw in short in the 65th minute. It's centered and tipped in behind Schmeichel. Tied 1-1 on the game, ahead 3-2 on aggregate. Int the 67th minute, Pearson plays the ball to the right for Fritz. Contrary to his usual ways, Fritz doesn't run with it, but passes it right back to Pearson for a great one-two combination that has the defense mixed up. Pearson is alone with the keeper and scores his 5th of the season. Up 2-1 on the game, 4-2 on aggregate goals. In the 75th minute, we can see fans heading to the exits already. A minute later, the home team goes to a 4-2-4 formation. In the 79th minute, we let them move that ball from their goal to ours and they score to tie the game 2-2 and bring it to 4-3 for us on aggregate. This makes me nervous as they are getting hot, I can feel a shift in momentum... In the 87th minute, their keeper joins the offense on a corner but we deny them entry in the area. He does it again in the 90th minute. This time, the kick goes right to him and HE SCORES! ARRRGGGG!!!!! This goal could have almost counted as an own goal as James Collins knocked right in front of Schmeichel, effectively tipping it in the goal. This goal makes it 2-3 on the game, 4-4 on aggregate goals. We're ahead 2-1 on away goals, we only need to hang on for the injury time... AND WE DO!!! Final Score: 2-3 (4-4 on aggregate, 2-1 on away goals) SWEEEEETTT!!! and crazy! They outshot us 13(7) to 8(2) on the game. Not one of our players got rated above 7, Schmeichel even rating at 6. We definitely cooled off late in the game as we felt them taking over. We at least held on long enough to stay in it. Abeyie's postgame condition is at 38%. We get $1.25M for the win and we're through to the Final!!! In the other Semi Final, Spanish side Deportivo won 4-1 (5-2 on aggregate) over Dutch side Feyenoord. The Final between Q.P.R. and Deportivo will be played in Greece, at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. Fábio Rochemback has reached the limit of 3 yellows and will be suspended for the Final. Back to the clubhouse, I get the good news that César Augusto Fawcett put his day away from the field to good use: he has put pen to paper on a lucrative new 3 year deal worth $10.5M. Best of all, no more minimum release fee!!! FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 12:55 PM | #280 | |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: usually sunny SoCal
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hey, frogman, have you asked for more funds for wages?
too bad, you cna't get your stars signed.
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05-30-2005, 01:04 PM | #281 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 6, 2012
League Match #36: we play Liverpool at Loftus Road. They are currently 6th, only 2 points ahead of us. They are 4-7 favourites to win this game. They usually play a tight 4-2-3-1 formation but they have some injuries: one to one of their AMCs, one to Djibril Cissé who usually plays the lone striker spot, one to their left fullback and another F RLC is also injured. Yahiaoui's injury on our side is making things a bit tougher... It's a very big game for us... In the 4th minute, I see Gerrard being called by the referee, guess who is that referee... The second coming of Rob Styles, Tom Rigby!!! Easy tackling everyone!!! Gerrard got a yellow btw. HOT DAMN!!! in the next 2 and a half minutes, we received 3 yellows. First, Rochemback got pissed at Rigby for a call, yellow #1. Then Crane got called for pulling an opponent's shirt, yellow #2. Finally, McCormack got pissed at Rigby after the Crane yellow, yellow #3. AAAARRGGGG!!! COME ON GUYS! SHUT THE FUCK UP AND PLAY!!! Two tiny minutes later, Anthony Vanden Borre is pushed by Gerrard and huhoh. Gerrard could be in trouble here... AN HE IS!!! Second yellow, he is sent off! They go to a 4-4-1 formation. We get two more yellows in the 22nd minute. First Fawcett for backing into an opponent and then Rozehnal for pushing another. This is getting out of control... The half ends scoreless. We're outshooting them 5(4) to 2(0). We are controlling the ball but we're not getting near their goal. McCormack gets called for being offside in the 75th minute. Rochemback furious at Rigby. He gets away with a warning and I sigh. But no, Rochemback adds some more and keep talking shit to the ref. He collects his second yellow and is sent off. FUCKING MORON!!! I guarantee you he'll be docked some salary after the game. If I could do it in-game, I would... 1:48 into injury time, they get an injury and they're out os substitutions. They for to a 4-3-1 formation. Final Score: 0-0 AAAAAARRRRRGGGGG!!!!! We outshot them 10(4) to 4(1) which is huge for us against a team like Liverpool, but we just couldn't get through their wonderkeeper! We controlled the ball 66% of the second half, split 4-35-27... Said wonderkeeper is named Man of the Match with a rating of 9. We remain in 8th with the draw, but this could have been so much better with a win...
Back at the clubhouse, I fine Rochemback 2 big weeks of wage, that's $100k in wages. SHUT THE FUCK UP ON THE FIELD!!! sorry for that, I had to say it... On top of it, his sending off means he's suspended for our match against Chelsea, as if we had extra players we could spare... He feels the fine was unfair, that he has been treated unfairly... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 03:15 PM | #282 |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 7, 2012
Oh crap Anthony Vanden Borre tore a calf muscle in training. It's first thought that he'll miss up to three months, but my physios all recommend we have him have surgery to correct the problem. I send him to the OR and hear he'll miss 6 months recuperating. Ouch. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-30-2005, 03:17 PM | #283 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 9, 2012
League Match #37: we play Chelsea on their pitch. They're currently in 1st polace and are 4-7 favourites. They play the same kind of 4-2-3-1 formation that Liverpool plays and I will try to counter it with a 4-2-2-2. I firmly believe that this is the best formation to counter the 4-2-3-1, but we're running out of DMCs. Ben Watson and Igor Biscan start this game in the DMC spots. Marcus Kelly is back as the starting left winger. We're playing our match on hand today. An unlikely win would give us 6th place. We let them run early on. They come on the right wing, unchallenged, a swift pass forward, then a center and it's an easy goal. After only 5 minutes, we're down 0-1. We don't let them score another goal for the rest of the half but it's downright ugly. At the half, they're outshooting us 6(5) to nothing and we're having a very hard time simply getting the ball out of our defensive zone. Marcus Kelly is only rated at 6 at the half but was at 5 for a long while. I made a move that didn't turn out well. I wanted to move Tom Howell up to the left wing spot and sub Kelly out, replacing him with Fawcett. That would have left me with Howell on the wing and Fawcett at fullback. For some reason, it didn't register that way and some 20 minutes into the second half, I realized that Kelly was still in the game, but at the left fullback spot, while Fawcett was now in at left winger... I switched them up at that point. I also put in Youssouf Hersi in an MC position to replace Ben Watson, effectively giving us a 4-1-3-2 formation. In the 82nd minute, right after I asked the guys to go all out, trying to tie the game, Chelsea took advantage of the offensive mentality and scored the 0-2 goal. Two minutes later, they scored again. This time it got me pissed. I don't understand how asking the boys to try to score at all cost would mean that if the other team has the ball and is running on the right wing, you have to let them run all the way to your goal. Just don't get it... Final Score: 0-3 Ugly, ugly game. They outshot us 14(9) to 4(3). Tell me how a B team of ours could have competed with a team like Chelsea... The loss leaves us in 8th, position which we've basically clinched. We'll need a win and some luck to maybe get up to 7th and double luck to get all the way to 6th. Our guys are dead tired...
With that win, Chelsea has clinched the league title. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 03:22 PM | #284 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 12, 2012
League Match #38: We play Sunderland on their pitch in this last league game of the season. They're currently in 17th place and we're 6-4 favourites to win this game. They lost their last 4 games and are showing very poor morale at the moment. If we win this one, combined to losses for Birmingham, or a loss/draw for Liverpool, we could get up to 6th place. We go back to a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Fábio Rochemback will be suspended for our next game, the EURO Cup Final, so he'll see plenty of playing time today. Sunderland last played onf May 5, while we played on May 6, and May 9. First half goes scoreless, dang wonderkeeper! We outshot them 9(5) to 3(1) and we're eating them up, just not converting. We finally take the lead in the 48th minute, when Chris Chapman passes the ball to Igor Nadal Lázaro after a few nice moves. Lázaro spots Hersi who scores the 1-0 goal. Sadly, it may all be for naught, as Liverpool and Birmingham are both winning their respective games 2-0. Final Score: 1-0 We outshot them 21(9) to 5(1), unleashing everything on them in the second half. Their keeper is named Man of the Match with a rating of 8. Nobody got rated higher than 7 for us in that game. Birmingham and Liverpool both won and we finish the season in 8th place, one spot higher than last season, and we're given $14M for our final position. This 8th place is a new record high position for Q.P.R.
This final record for us compares pretty well with our 13 wins, 14 draws, 11 losses of a season ago. It's 3 more wins, converted from 2 draws and 1 loss. Even better is the fact we played much better defensive football. We had 57 goals for and 53 goals against last season. While we scored 6 less goals this year than last, we allowed 14 less goals this season. I think this was pretty good... Here is that graph how how we went through the season, position wise. Once we established our pace, around game 13, we never went any lower than 10th place. Trying to figure out who will qualify for European competition, here's what I can come up with: Champions League (top 4 in EPL/ 2 straight to group play, 2 in qualification) #1 Chelsea, #2 Man Utd, #3 Aston Villa, #4Arsenal EURO Cup (#5 EPL + FA Cup winner (runner-up if winner alredy qualified) + League Cup winner (next highest if winner already qualified) ) #5 Birmingham, Everton (League Cup), FA Cup winner (West Brom/Sunderland) EURO Vase (next two highest in EPL) #6 Liverpool, (#7 West Brom if they lose in FA Cup/ #8 Q.P.R if West Brom win FA Cup) So, following that, if West Brom win the FA Cup, they qualify for the EURO Cup as the Cup winners, and we get a spot in the EURO Vase. If on the other hand Sunderland win the FA Cup Final, they get the spot in the EURO Cup and West Brom is bumped to the Euro Vase, meaning we'd be out of European competition next season. The FA Cup Final will be played on May 26. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 03:24 PM | #285 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 14, 2012
Danny Shittu resumes full training following his physiotherapy treatment. The specialist who treated him is optimistic that he's recovered fully from his injury. It's the annual awards banquet of the EPL and we put on the spotlight. First, Marcus Kelly is named the English Players' Player of the Year, ahead of Man U's Cristiano Ronaldo, and Arsenal's José Antonio Reyes. He also was selected as the English Footballer of the Year, ahead of the same two players. Finally, he was the sole Ranger to make the EPL Team of the Year. Here's what that Team of the Year look like: The second Ranger to be celebrated today is Tom Howell. Tom is selected as the English Players' Young Player of the Year. Honestly, had it not been him, I would have cried foul. He had an amazing season. Man City's Steve Thompson and Everton's Andy James came 2nd and 3rd respectively. With that, we swept the two Player of the Year awards, sweeet! GO RANGERS! Finally, Chelsea's José Mourinho won the EPL Manager of the Year award, an award that usually goes to the manager who leads his team to the title, which Mourinho did this season. Surprisingly, to me at least, I came in 2nd for that award, despite Q.P.R. finishing a relatively low 8th place. This award, as far as I've seen in seasons past, usually went 1-2-3 to managers in the top 4, no matter how much money they had to spend. Nice to see people recognizing that I did great with the club I had. Third place wen to Manchester United's Vicente Del Bosque. Del Bosque led Man U to a second place, only 3 points from Chelsea. I feel great pride being listed with two great managers like that. GO ME!!!! FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... Last edited by FrogMan : 05-30-2005 at 03:25 PM. |
05-30-2005, 03:45 PM | #286 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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May 15, 2012
EURO Cup Final: we play Deportivo at Georgios Karaiskakis (Greece). They are 4-7 favourites and our odds of winning are at 4-1, not all that bad. I've seen worse. They usually play a 4-2-3-1 formation and we'll got with a 4-1-2-1-2 with Ahmed Yahiaoui at AMC. I may switch him to DMC and go to a 4-2-2-2 if it gets ugly early on. Fábio Rochemback is suspended for this game. They're a side used to be in the Champions Cup year in and year out. This will be a tough game. The game is on TV and key men are presented as Kasper Schmeichel for us and Carlos Tevez, and AMC for them. They comment that we've conceded only 61 goals in the 61 matches that Schmeichel has played in and I think "wow, 61 matches played!". They also add that Tevez has scored 12 goals in 19 games so far this season. Rivals.net's prediction: It will be a close encounter today but I think Deportivo will come out victorious. A great combination gives us the lead only 75 second into the game. We used the whole width of the field on that play, going from right to left and back to center, where Ahmed Yahiaoui buried it for the 1-0 goal! They go to a very narrow 4-1-2-1-2 formation in the 5th minute. It's 4 defenders, 1DMC, 2MC, 1AMC 2SC. They tie it through the middle in the 38th minute. James Collins deflected the pass but they were able to adjust to it and a striker found himself alone with Schmeichel to score. Tied 1-1. Dang!!! David Marek Rozehnal receives his second yellow of the game and is sent off. We go to a 4-1-2-1-1 formation. They flight one in from 30 yards out and it gets to the back of the net. It looked like a soft kick, nevertheless, we're down 1-2. The half ends with us down 1-2. They're outshooting us 9(4) to 7(6). Ross McCormack gets a free kick in the 55th minute and, from 30 yards out, he flights it over the wall and top corner! A BEAUTY! Tied again, 2-2! ARG! They center a ball to the edge of our penalty area in the 82nd minute and Collins can't stop him. Alone with Schmeichel, he beats him for the 2-3 goal. My heart sinks... And then I live again, as the ensuing kickoff is a crazy affair. We move the ball very well, maybe out of despair, and it goes from Howell to Fritz, to McCormack who bends one from long range, another top corner!!! TIED AGAIN!!! 3-3! This is CRAZY!!! After 90 minutes, it's 3-3. They're outshooting us 18(9) to 12(9) so far but we got to extra time. They get a player sent off for a second yellow in the 101st minute. 10 vs 10, we start picking up the pace with what little steam we have left. They go defensive, very defensive. At the half of extra time, they're still outshooting us, but now only 19(9) to 14(10). In the 107th minute, Andrew Johnson is ALL ALONE in their penalty area, BUT HE KICKS IT WIDE!!! Extra time ends tied 3-3. They're still outshooting us, but it's now 20(9) to 18(12). We had 62% possession in extra time (split 7-32-23) yet we couldn't convert that one winning goal. We go to penalty kicks. They kick first... Deportivo #1: Tevez.... GOAL! Q.P.R. #1: McCormack... it's saved! After 1: Q.P.R. 0, Deportivo 1 Deportivo #2: Riise.... GOAL! Q.P.R. #2: Collins... GOAL! After 2: Q.P.R. 1, Deportivo 2 Deportivo #3: Manu.... it's wide!!! Q.P.R. #3: Fawcett... it's saved!!! After 3: Q.P.R. 1, Deportivo 2 Deportivo #4: Bojinov.... kicks it over the bar!!! Q.P.R. #4: Hersi... it's saved!!! After 4: Q.P.R. 1, Deportivo 2 They win with a goal on that kick... Deportivo #5: Jorge Andrade.... he scores Final Score: 3-3 (1-3 on penalties) Sooooo close and sooooo frustrating... Clemens Fritz ends the game with a rating of 9 while Marcus Kelly and Ross McCormack both rated at 8. This loss leaves me feeling empty, despite a few good things that happened in our season. We had a better league record, improving on a strong first season. We were runners-up for the League Cup, and runners-up for the EURO Cup, yet, we have to rely on West Brom winning to get back in European Competition Still, as a whole, it was a better season than last year, we just don't have the trophy on the shelf to show for it... Here's how the media depicted the game: Quote:
FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-30-2005, 09:21 PM | #287 |
College Prospect
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Whitman, MA
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The thing with all the final spots of the CL being England is simply because of game setup. If your only running England, teams from England end up dominating every competetion, including international ones. It's always been that way in the game.
As to who will qualify for Europe, if Liverpool wins the CL over Chelski they'll bump Arsenal down to Euro Cup as it's coded in the game that CL winner auto qualifies regardless of league position. I'm thinking you would have gotten into the Euro Cup if you'd won it, as well, but I'm really not 100% for sure on that one. Tell
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FOOL - Ann Arbor Winged Lingerines FOOLX - Portland Axemen Hattrick - Fizzle United (222968) |
05-30-2005, 10:48 PM | #288 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: The State of Insanity
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Blargleflarz. stupid penalties
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05-30-2005, 11:23 PM | #289 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Wow, and I thought I got angry with the game
Okay I do, but yeah... Rough one losing the Euro Cup
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2006 Golden Scribe Nominee 2006 Golden Scribe Winner Best Non-Sport Dynasty: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) Rookie Writer of the Year Dynasty of the Year: May Our Reign Be Green and Golden (CK Dynasty) |
05-31-2005, 02:46 AM | #290 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Tough loss in the final but, wow, congratulations on the season. Great season, overall, not to mention improving the squad immensely.
Hopefully, AvB recovers properly. Hey, maybe we'll get a silver lining thingie and he'll re-ink during his rehab at a lower price tag. By the way, I love a ridiculous minimum fee so that's one possible way to sweeten the contract for the player. I mean, he's a heck of a player but if somebody wants to give you 50-60M for AvB then, hey, I'd say it's a good deal for the R's. |
05-31-2005, 07:51 AM | #291 |
High School JV
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Nova Scotia
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What a horrible way to end the month May!!!! First EaglesFan in the FA Cup and then Frog in the Euro Cup.
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It seems more like today than it did all day yesterday. |
05-31-2005, 10:11 AM | #292 |
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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May 18, 2012
Paul Davies' loan period at Cardiff ends and he comes back to Loftus Road. He fears he has no future with Q.P.R. and indicated he would be interested in a permanent move to Cardiff if ones become available. I can confirm you don't have much of a shot with us, good luck with that. Ross McCormack suffered a groin strain in training. It'll be three weeks of physiotherapy before he's completely healthy. May 20, 2012 Tom Howell is called up to the England U21 squad for the European U21 Championship that will go on from May 24 to June 3. Matt Cross requests to be transfer listed. I reject his formal request and then I transfer list him on my own. May 23, 2012 Chelsea beat Liverpool in the Champions Cup to complete the Double. I see that Fábio Rochemback got over his fine, he's not unhappy anymore and doesn't feel he's been treated unfairly. May it be a lesson to you my friend... May 24, 2012 Chris Chapman twists his knee in training, he's off for two weeks. Tom Howell was in magnificent form, impressing both pundits and managers for the entire match in England U21's 5-0 win over France U21. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-31-2005, 10:13 AM | #293 |
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May 26, 2012
The FA Cup Final, opposing West Brom and Sunderland, is played today. If you remember, and if my calculations are right, should West Brom win it, which is a very likely possibility given how sad newly demoted Sunderland look like at the moment, we will qualify for the EURO Vase. If Sunderland were to pull the upset, we'd be out of European Competition as West Brom would take the last EURO Vase spot. For that game, I do what I've never done before: I watched the game unfold live, even though my team wasn't involved. It was a very interesting experience. It started kind of slowly, with Tom Rigby as the referee. I tell you, he is Rob Styles' heir apparent... The first half ended scoreless with West Brom outshooting Sunderland 4(2) to 1(0). WB were really not dominating it though and all it would take there is one lucky goal by Sunderland and boom... Luckily for us, the boom went the other way and West Brom took control early on in the second half, scoring two in two minute around the 52nd minute. Sunderland were virtually dead when one of their players got sent off in the 80th minute. From then on, West Brom dominated them and added three quick goals in the last 10 minutes of the game, winning the game 5-0. Future Ranger Kim Källström finished the game with a rating of 8 and an assist. Right following the game, the European Qualifier from England are announced and I was right, we're indeed in the EURO Vase. Champions League (top 4 in EPL/ 2 straight to group play, 2 in qualification) #1 Chelsea, #2 Man Utd, #3 Aston Villa, #4Arsenal Euro Cup (#5 EPL + FA Cup winner + League Cup winner) #5 Birmingham, Everton (League Cup), West Brom (FA Cup winner) Euro Vase (next two highest in EPL) #6 Liverpool, #8 Q.P.R In other news, Tom Howell was again in magnificent form, impressing everybody for the whole as the left winger for the England U21 squad. England lost 0-1 to Switzerland. May 28, 2012 Outstanding performance again from 21yo wonderkid Tom Howell who played with great authority before later being replaced in England U21's 3-0 win over Finland. He started the game on the left wing. May 31, 2012 I begin the process of cleaning up our U18 squad, seeing who's worthy and who's not. Many are not and are given their free transfer. I see that Keigan Parker has lowered his demands to his current wage level of $25k. I take a look at my stable of strikers and I see AJ, McCormack, Abeyie, Lázaro, Wall, and Wilson, and I think "nah"... Taking a look at my reserves roster, I see Scott Donelly, a 24yo AM RC who's seen spot duty in the past. I compare him side by side with a player in whom I'd put many hopes in the past but who's not developping the way I'd like, Matt Cross. I'm surprised to see that Donnelly is comparing favorably well with Cross. On top of that, all my coaches seem very high in him, saying that he's got the best years ahead of him and we must strive to keep him at the club. His contract will run out in one month unless I sign him up to an extention. He's currently earning $1050 per week and want $6,600 per week as a first teamer. I just can't promise him first team play and while $6,600 isn't the end of the world, I'm not ready to pay him that much. I offer him $4,000 with a $20k signing fee as a player on rotation squad. To sweeten the deal, I set a pretty low minimum release fee clause at $800k, his current value. I'd see him as a older kind of project player. That, and he's a graduate from our youth program... David Marek Rozehnal is another one whose contract is running out in a month. He's now 31 and getting up there in age, but he's been providing us with solid depth in the last two seasons. He's currently earning $12k per week and is looking to boost this to $19.5k per week for the next two years as well as getting a $200k signing fee. Julian Hudson says that while he is a first team member, he thinks we could easily replace him and recommends a wage around his current wage of $12k. I decide to offer him a little more than his current wage while slashing in his requested signing fee. I offer him $14k per week with a signing fee of $140k for a 2 year deal that would bring him to 33 years of age. Tom Howell was in magnificent form again, this time getting selected as the Man of the Match in England U21's 2-0 win over Germany. He rated at 10 on the game, completing 55 of 65 passe, 7 of them key passes, winning 7 of 9 headers and adding 6 runs past opponents as their left winger for the whole game. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-31-2005, 10:21 AM | #294 | |
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Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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Quote:
Going into the offseason, I felt I wanted to wait to see if the board would provide a better wage budget, or if I'd have to beg for it. Thanks for the reminder, I asked for it in last night's playing session, coming to you soon on a message board near you As for getting the stars signed, well, it's not really that I can't get them signed. AvB still has a couple seasons left on his current contract, it's only that I'd like to sign him to an extention without the dang minimum release fee. Seeing how he is injured for a freaking long period of time, teams have cooled off on their interest for him, so it's not as big a priority for now. Still doesn't mean he's lowered his demands, but he will, I know it For everybody else who've posted comments, I'll get to them eventually, as I work my way through the unreported stuff. Speaking of which, there are only 20 5.5x8.5 pages of notes to put in here. I *could* be caught up by the end of the day, although I doubt it. Hope you're all still enjoying the read, there's good stuff to come still... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-31-2005, 12:06 PM | #295 |
College Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Florida
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hey... post a pic of Tom Howell's skills when you get a chance, he must be amazing.
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05-31-2005, 12:35 PM | #296 |
Hattrick Moderator
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Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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June 1st, 2012
The Board are still delighted with my work. June 2, 2012 Scott Donnelly rejects our first offer. He's not really saying what's wrong, but he's will to negotiate. I offer him $4,600 per week with a $32k signing fee as a player on squad rotation. I lower his minimum release fee to $500k. I send everybody home to rest. We'll have a long season next year, as the EURO Vase starts early in the Summer and can lead to spots in the EURO Cup, which will definitely be my goal... Ahmed Yahiaoui scores a goal, assists on another and is named Man of the Match in Frances 5-0 win over Poland in an internation friendly. He rated at 9 for that game. June 3, 2012 Darren Evans comes back from his loan and he's not even walking. He apparently tore a calf muscle while away on loan. My physios recommend to send him to the OR, which I do. He'll be spending the next 5 months recuperating from the surgery. Oomph... David Marek Rozehnal signs a new deal that will keep him at Loftus Road until June 30, 2014. It's mostly for depth, with Gianni Zuiverloon coming on board and James Collins playing a bit better. The England U21 squad wins 3-0 over Spain in the U21 European Championship Final. Tom Howell played well in the game without excelling. June 4, 2012 Scott Donnelly rejects our latest offer, I up my offer to $5,000 per week with a $48k signing fee. I add an appearance bonus of $3,200 for every appearance. June 5, 2012 Five players have been called up to represent their countries in EURO 2012: Czech Republic: David Marek Rozehnal Croatia: Igor Biscan Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel Wales: James Collins Scotland: Scott Pearson Looks like Ross McCormack's groin injury has cost him a spot on the Scotland squad... I'm sending all my three scouts to the competition that starts on June 10 with a Final to be played on July 1st. Scott Donnelly pens a new deal that will keep him at Loftus Road until June 30, 2016. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-31-2005, 12:38 PM | #297 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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June 10, 2012
Ross McCormack resumes full training after completing his physiotherapy course. The specialist who treated him is optimistic that he's recovered fully from his injury. June 15, 2012 The European club rankings are announce and wow, did we shot all the way up. If you remember, we were ranked 116th last season, well we moved up 84 places, all the way to 32nd!!! Looks like that being runner-up in the EURO Cup gave us tons of points! Here are the top 50 clubs:
And here are all the English clubs that are ranked. We come in 8th on this list this season while we were 20th one season ago...
Scott Pearson was named Man of the Match for Scotland in a 1-1 draw with Italy in EURO 2012. He was said to be in magnificent form, impressing pundits and managers for the whole game. June 16, 2012 The EURO Vase 2nd round draw happens. They say that Q.P.R. have been seeded for that round but I don't really know what that means, maybe that we got a bye for round 1. We will play the winner between two semi-pro team, Fylkir from Iceland, and Gotu Ífróttarfelog from Faroe Islands. They'll play their two legs on June 19 and June 26. For what it's worth, I'm learning about the EURO Vase as I go through in the game. Last season, Fulham and Man City both qualified for the EURO Cup by winning a EURO Vase Final. I say "a" EURO Vase Final since there are apparently three Finals, with three winners getting a spot in the EURO Cup. Betis won the third and final spot... FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-31-2005, 12:41 PM | #298 |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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June 18, 2012
Derby want Matt Cross on loan. They only want to pay 20% of his $33,000 weekly wage. No way I'm gonna take that kind of hit. I tell them it's 100%... June 19, 2012 Marcus Kelly is voted Q.P.R.'s Player of the Year by the supporters. It's his second time winning this award in the the last 3 season. Youssouf Hersi won it last season and Kelly had won it the season before that. We get a new batch of youngster. Basically, they're all crapsters... We receive $24.5M for Premier Division TV rights fo the forthcoming season, weehee!!! The board have announced dividends totalling $5.2M that will be paid to shareholders. It's the first time I see dividends being paid. I'm sure they like me with a third season in the Premiership in a row A new sponsorship deal worth $2.2M per year is announced. The deal is good for 3 years. This figure renders the previous deal laughable. Up to last season, we were getting $112k from sponsors The transfer budget is announced and even though we have close to $33M in the bank, I'm given only $4.6M to play with. Ouch... Bigger ouch is that the wage budget is only upped to $750k per week. We're way over that budget for the moment... I get the Board appraisal and they're delighted with my performance this season. They say that the team is expected to achieve a safe mid-table position within the Premier Division in the coming season, basically asking me to repeat this year's performance, which I think is certainly feasible. Heck, I'm thinking that a top 4 spot, with a place in the Champions Cup, is within reach... Whadda ya think? The average attendance of 20948 in the last season is a new Q.P.R. record high. I expect this record to fall as early as this season, as we'll play the whole season in our newly renovated stadium. The 7.87 average form rating over 46 appearances by Marcus Kelly is also a new Q.P.R. high record. Marcus has improved his record in the last three seasons, first setting it at 7.82 in 2009/10, then upping it to 7.86 in 2010/11, and now pushing it to 7.87 in 2011/12. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-31-2005, 12:45 PM | #299 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Join Date: Jan 2003
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June 19, 2012
Fylkir won their first leg of the first round of the EURO Vase, 3-1 over GÍ (please forgive me the use of the abbreviation ) June 21, 2012 As expected, Derby withdraw their loan bid for Matt Cross. That loan offer was an eye opener for me. $33,000 is way too much for what Cross brings to the club. June 25, 2012 Interesting... I had set a reminder to take a look at Bradford City's Scott Morgan, an 18yo promising centreback valued at $1.75M. I had set that reminder after one of my scouts had reported that he is a player with potential and I agreed with him (oh surprise). Even more interesting now, when I look at his transfer/contract details, I see he's got something that we (a) don't often see, and (b) is almost never active when you want to use it: a relegation release clause. It's set at $1.55M and look at that, Bradford City just got relegated from League One to League Two, hehe Simply to test the clause, I go to make an offer. The starting offer is his value, i.e. $1.75M and it says "offer must be accepted as it meets an active release fee". I try to lower the offer and yep, that text disappear as I get one notch below $1.55M... I offer them $1.55M. As for Scott Morgan, the player, he's already got great marking, very good tackling, is very aggressive and brave with decent positioning and teamwork. He could make a nice kid to groom for the future... June 26, 2012 It's time to register my list of players who will be eligible to play in the EURO Vase. Click to thumbnail below to see the rules of the EURO Vase. According to the rules the rules, the next time we'll be allowed to make any kind of swap will be on August 29, or right after the Vase and before the EURO Cup, if we qualify for it, so whoever we pick now is who we'll have available for the whole EURO Vase. One thing is not good though. We got two players coming up on July 1st in Kim Källström and Gianni Zuiverloon and I can't select them. This mean they'll have to get their match fitness for the new season with the reserve squad, bummer... Here's a list of who was eligible to be selected with who is "in". Don't ask me how it's sorted, I have no clue...
GÍ and Fylkir draw 1-1 in their second leg, meaning Fylkir are through 4-2 on aggregate goals. We'll play the first leg of Round 2 on their pitch on June 30 and leg 2 at Loftus Road a week later. Dang! Looking at that first leg in our team's list of fixtures, I see that Kasper Schmeichel will be away on international duty as Denmark will be playing in the Semi Final of EURO 2012. Looks like 18yo promising goalkeeper Wayne Alexander will probably make his debut in a continental competition. Good thing I selected 3 keepers in my list of 25 as Paul Davies would back him up. June 28, 2012 Our bid for Scott Morgan is accepted, as I expected it to be since they had no choice. I go to talk contract with the kid and I laugh inside. He's looking for a 3 year deal worth $1,950 per week with a $52k signing as a first teamer. Kind of different from what I'm seeing most of the time nowadays Julian Hudson says we could offer him a contract as high as $2,400 per week. I can't promise him first team status, so I up the offer a bit, to $2,200 per week, without touching the signing fee, but as a player on squad rotation. Denmark lost 0-1 to Turkey in the EURO 2012 Semi Final. We're playing in two days and I wonder if Kasper Schmeichel will be back in time for the first leg of our EURO Vase series against Fylkir. Schmeichel, who incidentally was the backup keeper for the whole Championship, did not see one minute of action for the whole Championship. FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-31-2005, 01:04 PM | #300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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Special note: I have decided to keep on posting in this thread instead of starting another one, since the "frog in Europe" theme still applies. Next step will be when there will be a frog in the Champions Cup...
June 30, 2012
EURO Vase Round 2, Leg 1: we play Fylkir on their pitch in Iceland. Maybe I should take some time and go say hello to lytic We're 4-6 favourites to win this game. I forgot to save the pregame roster, that's why you get the stripped down postgame version. It's a very early start to our season, as we're not used to play our first frienldies in June. The thing is though, this thing here is not a friendly, as we'll only have 7 subs on the bench and we'll be allowed to use only 3 of them. To compare, I usually never play someone for more than 45 minutes in any of at least our first 4 friendlies. Kasper Schmeichel is back with the team in time for the game, jumping off the plane almost in flight We move the ball easily and after only 48 seconds of play, Ross McCormack kicks a hard one high up top to make it 1-0. Oh boy, less than 90 second later and we're giving them the drill. Youssouf Hersi's long range kick hits the post but their keeper lets the ball slowly go behind his back to the left of the goal where McCormack is to apply the finish. Up 2-0. In the 10th minute, Hersi caps another excellent team move on our part and we're up 3-0. We're up 3-0 at the half and we're outshooting them 15(8) to 0(0). ouch. Ross McCormack misses his hat-trick in the 75th minute but Igor Nadal Lázaro is there for the rebound. Up 4-0. Final Score: 4-0 We outshot them 27(14) to 1(1) and that was on their pitch... Ross McCormack is named Man of the Match with a rating of 9 and two goals. César Augusto Fawcett and Youssouf Hersi also both got rated at 9 FM
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A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... Last edited by FrogMan : 05-31-2005 at 01:05 PM. |
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