Level 23: Keymer & Hassocks (FM 16)

[Izulde]

Thanks to Greyfriars, I hunted down the Level 23 English mod. There's only one team available at the lowest level, a 9 team league called the Mid Sussex Football League Division 10. So, say hello to Keymer & Hassocks. It took me a while to figure out the staff search function's location, and my scout sucks ass, so I literally went out and signed the tallest players I could. The shortest guy on the roster is 6'4.

Goalkeepers
Tahj Bell (24) - 2.5/4 - Bermuda - 2 caps, 3 U20 caps
Melvin Minter (20) - 3.5/4
Nathan Dennis (19) - 1.5/4

Defender Left
Lee Thomas (24) - 0.5/1.5
Callum Richings (19) - 1/4

Defender Center
Miguel Pascal-Johnson (19) 4/4
Philip Ojapah (26) - 4/4
Liam Francis (25) - 3/3
Chris Abbott (20) - 2/4

Defender Right
Lee Close (22) - 4/5
Luke Murden (20) - 4/4
Jordan Browne (21) - 2.5/4.5
Richings - 1/4

Defensive Midfielder
Ojapah - 2.5/2.5
Pascal-Johnson - 2/4
Browne - 0.5/2

Left Midfielder
Michael Martin (19) - 2/4
Thomas - 0.5/0.5
Jack Colley (22) - 0.5/2

Center Midfielder
Mark Bell (25) - 2/2
Abbott - 1.5/4
Richings - 1/4
Martin - 2.5 silver/4

Right Midfielder
Greg Hackett (19) - 3.5/4
Bell - 1.5/1.5
Colley - 0.5/1

Attacking Midfield Left
Martin - 3/4
Thomas - 0.5/0.5
Colley - 0.5/2

Attacking Midfield Center
N/A

Attacking Midfield Right
Andrew Osei-Siribour (23) - 3.5/5
Bell - 2/2
Hackett - 2/4
Johnathan Woolf (26) - 1.5/1.5
Colley - 0.5/0.5

Striker
Osei-Siribour - 2.5/5
Josh Tennant (21) - 1.5/4
Craig Hughes (27) - 1.5/1.5
Colley - 0.5/0.5
Hackett - 2.5 silver/1

So we're weak at DL, MC, and ST, and can use a variety of possible tactics. I have a vanilla 4-4-2 right now, but change to a 4-1-2-3 DM Wide to see how that does, and take advantage of the powerhouse AML/AMR pairing of Martin and Osei-Siribour.

I'm also going with Bell over Martin in the net, based on the idea that international experience matters.

I very stupidly forgot to put in subs for our last friendly, and Tahj Bell went down for 6-7 weeks. More disastrously, I had to put an outfield player in goal, and we went from 1-0 lead to 1-2 loss as a result. Oops.

We sell a grand total of 5 season tickets! 5! Must be the friends and family of like 5 players. All three of our goalies are now injured after Melvin Minter goes out 5 weeks. Ridiculous.

Transfer In - DL Sam Gore - 26
Transfer In - DL Marcel McKie - 30
These two guys represent massive upgrades on one of the weakest areas of our team. McKie is a better player physically, so he'll get the start, but he can also slot over to DC if need be.

Transfer In - DM Danny Leonard (19)
Fantastic upgrade at the DM spot, and one that allows us to move Pascal-Johnson to his more suited DC position. Not an area of huge need by any means, but any time you can upgrade your talent level, you go for it.

Transfer In - MC Michael Phillips (32)
Our first really old guy, but the improvement in talent was simply too much to ignore. Well, 30 year old McKie is older too, but yeah, you get the general idea.

Transfer In - ST Bode Anidgube (19)
Leaps and bounds above everyone else on the roster as a striker with a fabulous for this level 12 finishing. He'll fit in beautifully in the Poacher role our setup calls for, I think.

Transfer In - MC Karl Beckford (30)
We're starting to get a nice mix of youth and veteran savvy on the squad now, and Beckford will pair with Phillips to fix our last major, gaping hole in terms of talent on the roster.

Well, suddenly our DR and our two wingers don't look so great in comparison, but we'll keep rolling with it for now. Lee Close is now considered our worst starter at 2*, which I can live with.

Marcel McKie goes out 4-5 weeks shortly before our first real match. And oh, neat! My assman makes team instruction suggestions before the game. I take a couple, ignore the rest.

We lost $294 our first month. Lovely. How the hell are we supposed to make money?!

Worse yet, we're expecting a grand total of 10 people in our 1,000 seat stadium for the Tester Challenge Cup.

Oh, which reminds me!

Finances: Okay
Value: $20k
Stadium: Adastra Park
Capacity: 1,000
Training facilities: Poor
Youth facilities: Basic
Junior coaching: Minimal
Youth recruitment: Limited

Coaching Attributes: All 5, save 1 in Technical and 11 Working with Youngsters
Mental Attributes: Adaptability 5, Determination 8, Player Knowledge 1, Youngster Knowledge 1, Man Management 4, Level of Discipline 2, Motivating 11

[law90026]

Can't wait for another Izulde FM dynasty.

[Izulde]

vs Hartlefield II (Tester Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Bode Anidugbe

These guys won their first league match 7-2! Going to be a real tester all right. Har har!

10 - Osei-Siribour deflects a pass, snags the rebound, and charges all the way down the right flank before crossing to Anidugbe. The shot's deflected, but the rebound sinks home, and HELLO HOT START!!! 1-0

48 - Brilliant interception by Close, and the pass is on to Osei-Siribour. Against like three defenders, he launches a long ball to Anidugbe. No magic this time, but there's a corner, and Beckford hits it right on Ojapah's head for the insurance!!! 2-0

57 - Richings and Browne replace Gore and Close respectively at the fullback spots.

Phillip Ojapah wins PotM with a sensational 8.0 showing. Not only did he garner the goal, but he dominated in the air. 7.5 for Karl Beckford and 7.2 for Michael Phillips - not to mention the 7.1 for Bode Anidugbe.

But it's a costly win, as Andrew Osei-Siribour, the architect of much of our success in that game, goes out 4-5 weeks with a chest injury.

@ Stones II
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

We're the only team who has yet to play a single game in the league, so here's our debut. Stones II drew their first and only contest.

14 - Hackett has the ball on the right side of the box and centers to Andigube, the defense swarming our striker. He lays off to Martin, who niftly pirouettes around the defender and fires it home! The announcers rave about Andigube's setup of the strike. 1-0

27 - Phillips backtracks to fetch a loose ball and sends it to Gore. The cross to Anidugbe, and the sliding shot sinks in! 2-0

29 - Hackett grabs an intercepted ball and crosses to Martin, who traps, dribbles, and goes to cross, but we get the fluke goal instead! 3-0

47 - Gore is beat out for a ball, and there's nothing we could do about that one. 3-1

61 - Richings is in for Gore, who has stunk. Pascal-Johnson slides up to DM, and Abbott comes in at DC, replacing the tired Leonard.

82 - Midfield play caps off with Beckford firing it out to Close on the far right wing. Then there's a cross behind the defense, and no one's paying attention as Andigube sneaks up and puts it away, the goalie never even looking in his direction. DI-ZAMN! 4-1

9.0 for Michael Phillips, 7.9 for Greg Hackett, 8.8 for Michael Martin, and 9.2 for PotM Bode Andigube, who has been exactly the type of poacher I hoped he would be!

Now of course we'll probably lose our next five games. Oh, and we didn't get any money for that cup win we had, I don't think. Boo.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by law90026

Can't wait for another Izulde FM dynasty.

Thanks! As much as I bitch about the hell of amateur clubs and the annual summer raids, it's pretty damn cool to try and build up the ranks. And at this level, I'll imagine I'll deal with it for a while. It's like playing D-League in DDS games. I just hope some of these guys will stick around for a few seasons.

Mark Bell is out for 7-9 weeks. Not a big deal. He's a backup.

Transfer In - DR Szymon Sidorowicz (27)
Yeah, I'm always addicted to non-native players. Say hello to this Polish vet, who pretty much is instantly one of the best players on the squad, and our third non-English guy (Bermudan goalie obvs, and Michael Martin, our AML starter, is Northern Irish).

A decent crowd is now 10 people. Cute.

vs Fairwarp II (5th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

4 - We're playing way soft, Tai. 0-1

14 - Beautiful rainbow by Hackett, and it's picked up by Andigube. Defense is toast, and Andigube puts on that heat! 1-1

18 - Lousy defense on that corner kick 1-2

57 - Close in for our disappointing Pole, Abbott for Ojapah

90 - Hackett gets the ball deep in our half, and it's shot out far down the right line to Close. The cross to Martin, but the center to Anidgube is intercepted. No problem, as Martin gets it right back and hits the late equalizer himself. 2-2

FUUUUUUUCK!!!! BODE ANIDGUBE IS OUT 5-6 WEEKS WITH A HAMSTRING INJURY!!!!!!

Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!!!!

Transfer In - DC Chris Saunders (27)
A Welshman this time, who can play several different positions. For now, he'll get a crack at starting at DC, though he's also our first backup option at MC.

We made $27 last month. Yay.

@ Scaynes Hills II (6th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Andrew Osei-Siribour

The one good thing about our hero's injury is that it allows us to delay the decision over who should be our starting AMR. Hackett has been balla as fuck in replacement of Osei-Siribour, who is great himself.

60 - Ojapah in for a tired Saunders.

72 - Abbott goes on for an injured Phillips

90 - After a long buildup down the middle of the pitch, (and just our second highlight of the game), Osei-Siribour sprays it to Hackett on the right side of the box. A cross to Martin later, we have yet more late game heroics! 1-0

It's the kind of game where Tahj Bell's 7.1 wins PotM. Matching 7.1s come for Sam Gore and Gene Hackett, with Michael Martin just under at 7.0.

Michael Phillips is out 4-5 weeks. There's like 4 teams who have 7 points now, including us, but we have a game in hand on most of them. The 2nd place team (we're technically in 1st) also has a game in hand. BTW, the top 2 teams in the league promote. Just so you know.

Transfer In - ST Jesse Darko (22)
The Austrian kid isn't quite at Bode's level, but his ceiling is higher (3.5/5). Also much more a target man than a poacher, but whatever. He'll slot in as the starter for the time being.

Transfer In - MC Ryan Richefond (19)
Not only is he a young kid rather than our old dudes, he's immediately our best midfielder. *Very* jazzed to get him, and he'll step into our ever-shifting lineup as well.

vs Hartlefield II (6th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

I decided it's best to ride the hot hand, similar to how Gore took over for McKie and hasn't really looked back. We're expecting 20 people to show up to this one, which is a damn banner crowd. Funny what winning does.

49 - Osei-Siribour on for the injured Darko. Can't keep strikers healthy. It's been a boring game, by the way.

61 - McKie on for the terrible Gore

89 - Hackett has had a rough game so far, but the opponents make the curious decision to head back out of the goal box. Hackett intercepts, the long ball goes to Osei-Siribour, and with just one defender between him and the keeper, he nails it! Yet another miracle late goal. 1-0

Nice debut for Ryan Richefond, quietly picking up PotM with 7.4 on his debut as he controlled the midfield. 7.3 for Danny Leonard, who never shows up in highlights ever. 7.2 for Miguel Pascal-Johnson, 7.0s for Szymon Sidorowicz and Andrew Osei-Siribour.

Minor injury for Jesse Darko - out 9-12 days.

Nutley II passes up for first with their own game in hand, but we're both 3 points up on 3rd place, so I don't really mind it. Actually, scratch that. Three teams with 10 points each, but 1st and 2nd both have games in hand.

We lost $969 last month. Fans love the Michael Martin signing, but hate on Sam Gore. Guess we need to stop scouting players and go with what we have available to us.

25% of the way through the season. I really want to promote, in hopes that we'll start getting bigger crowds.

[Izulde]

@ Ringmer III (9th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

This team has a big fat 0 points in 4 games, so we need to win here.

23 - McKie with the throw-in to Anidugbe in the box, who passes it right back. The high ball to Hackett, and the header just manages to find the net! 1-0

A little disappointing to only be up by 1 at the break, as we've been getting a lot of good looks at the net.

57 - Osei-Siribour in for the injured again Anidugbe. Ugh.

61 - 20 million clearances, but we never get the ball back, and finally one goes in. 1-1

66 - Ojapah on for the ineffectual Saunders

70 - Sidorowicz receives the pass on the right wing, and the long cross to the far post finds Osei-Siribour's head for the go-ahead goal. 2-1

79 - Interception of an interception by Richefond, and the immediate pass to Osei-Siribour. Two defenders on him, and he very calmly kicks it past both and into the net!!! 3-1

7.9 for Szymon Sidorowicz, 7.6s from Marcel McKie and Danny Leonard, 8.9 for PotM Ryan Richefond, 8.0 for Greg Hackett, and 8.6 for supersub Andrew Osei-Siribour. Exactly the kind of win we needed.

Average attendance at our games has been 16 people, 6th best in the league out of 9 teams.

vs Nutley II (3rd)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

Our most important match of the year to date. Win this one, and we've got ourselves a great cushion on the promotion places. Lose, and it's back into the dogfight.

6 - Richefond intercepts a header to start a counter-move that culminates in Martin receiving a long cross, then crossing in turn to Hackett for the easy-breezy score. I love how my attacking wingers are working in this setup. 1-0

6 - And they immediately answer 1-1

9 - Fucking awful defending on that free kick 1-2

41 - Bell goes down, giving Dennis his first crack.

43 - Anidugbe has it on the left wing and backpasses to Martin. A booming kick to a wide open Hackett sees a just before half tying header score. 2-2

51 - Osei-Siribour jumps on for the exhausted Anidugbe

60 - All alone is Beckford in their half. The pass to Hackett, and he threads it through FOUR defenders, the needle finding the unmarked Osei-Siribour for the go-ahead goal!!! 3-2

62 - McKie throws it in to Martin and has an immediate giveback. Near post cross to Osei-Siribour, and here's a little more insurance! 4-2

Ryan Richefond grabs a 7.5, Greg Hackett a PotM 9.1, Michael Martin a cool 7.7, and a dazzling 8.6 off the bench for Andrew Osei-Siribour.

We lose Tahj Bell for 3 months to a dislocated shoulder. I think I like Nathan Dennis better than Melvin Minter, because Minter's handling is a negative, and that always scares me.

vs Crawley Cobras II (Tester Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Jesse Darko

We decided to give some starters a rest today to ensure they stay fresh down the stretch in league play.

18 - Osei-Siribour and Sidorowicz play give and go on the right side of the pitch before our Polish right defender crosses to Martin. The shot clangs off the bar, but the Northern Irishman is there for his own rebound, and this goes in. 1-0

61 - Tennant in for Darko; Francis for Pascal-Johnson. We really need to give Martin a break too, but I have no AML players on the bench.

80 - Osei-Siribour passes into the box for Tennant. Shot is blocked, but Osei-Siribour gets the deflection and plays a pristine pass into space, allowing Tennant to virtually walk it in! 2-0

81 - Phillips slides down to DM, allowing Richings to take over at MC. Leonard is not only tired, he has a yellow card.

85 - Well that was just stupid, sloppy work on Dennis's part. 2-1

7.1 for Szymon Sidorowicz, 7.5 for Karl Beckford, 7.4 for Andrew Osei-Siribour and 7.6 for PotM Michael Martin.

We continue to bleed money even though we're literally not paying anyone. $450 in the red.

@ Rotherfield III (4th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Anidugbe is out with a cold, so Darko gets the call again. Close has been bitching about lack of PT, and he's one of the highest potential guys, so I give him a start to shut him up.

3 - Great job directing traffic by Beckford, the temporary captain for the game. He laterals to Richefond for the forward pass to Martin. A seamless feed into the box sees Darko just beat the defense for the Austrian's first goal for us. 1-0

7 - [b]Hackett[b] burns past everyone on the right wing, and I thought his cross to Darko meant the striker's second score, but nope! Fluke goal. Lulz. 2-0

48 - Just before half, Richefond is knocked out, requiring us to move Saunders up to MC and Pascal-Johnson in at DC.

Second half is whatever. Lot of low 7s here, with the only standout being Greg Hackett's 7.7 for PotM.

We lose Ryan Richefond for 3 months with a torn groin muscle. Ouch on so many levels.

The hits just keep coming. Michael Martin and Andrew Osei-Siribour will miss our next game with the flu, and Bode Anidugbe strains his thigh, missing a month at least.

On the plus side, we're up 6 points on 2nd and 3rd place heading into the halfway game of the year.

[Izulde]

vs Ashurst Wood III (3rd)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Michael Phillips/Karl Beckford
AM: Jack Colley/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Note: Nathan Dennis has been starting these last several games in net - I just keep forgetting to change that in the copy/paste. Oops.

51 - We're playing like ass until Phillips intercepts, shoots it out to Hackett for the long, long right wing run. The center to Darko, and we finally look a little alive out there. 1-0

53 - Amazing interception work by Close to start a counter that sees Hackett backpass to Beckford, and there's the boomer sooner down the middle of the pitch. Darko has everyone beat, and the goal is easy. 2-0

54 - Thomas on for Colley; Richings for McKie.

58 - Complete left side meltdown. 2-1

77 - Tennant relieves an exhausted, amazeballs Darko.

7.4 for Greg Hackett and 8.8 for PotM Jesse Darko. We really didn't play that well at all.

Our first good training report as Austrian striker Jesse Darko had a great month.

Yay, we made $156 last month, our biggest profit to date, I think?

Interesting. Brackley Town, a semi-pro team in Vanarama National League North (think Conf North/South), fired their manager, and I'm on the shortlist of candidates. That's literally a 14 league jump! I'm nowhere near ready for that - besides I like what I'm building here.

That doesn't stop from my being mentioned as the odds-on favorite to get the Concord Rangers job in the South.

vs Stones II (6th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Chris Saunders/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Michael Phillips is out with a sports hernia - hence the shiftings.

34 - Lollygagging we are, but here Close has the throw-in to Hackett for the center to a Darko score. Incidentally, Anidugbe is fully cleared to play, but I don't trust his injury-proneness, and Darko has been on fire for us lately. 1-0

71 - Leonard winning the ball like he's supposed to, and a short pass to Saunders later, a moonshot finds Darko for the scissors strike and relaxing second goal. Pascal-Johnson moves up to DM, with Abbott hopping in at DC after the score. 2-0

A bevy of 7s, standouts being Lee Close (7.3), Chris Saunders (8.7), Greg Hackett (7.2), and PotM Jesse Darko (8.8).

LOL! Sam Gore calls my man management skills dreadful. Sorry, dude. But you sucked ass when I gave you a shot, and Marcel McKie has you beat.

A bunch of bench players are pissed. Chris Abbott in particular is furious. Whatever, man. You just earned yourself a demotion in this team meeting of six guys. Tahj Bell, who will be back in the nets next game, says he has my back, though, even if he wasn't part of the discussions.

vs Scaynes Hills II (2nd)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Chris Saunders/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

7 and 9 point leads respectively over this team and the 3rd place one, plus I have a game in hand.

59 - Ojapah for Pascal-Johnson; Anidugbe for Darko; Richings for Saunders. It's been a boring as hell game.

That ends our winning streak, and I tell the team off for their shoddy play. Not a single damn highlight all game.

@ Heath Rangers (Tester Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Marcel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Szymon Sidorowicz/Luke Murden
DM: Miguel Pascal-Johnson
M: Mark Bell/Karl Beckford
AM: Lee Thomas/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Bode Anidugbe

Massive lineup changes due to health optimization, including a couple guys getting debuts for us. Heath Rangers is a level ahead of us, so this will be a good barometer for next season.

4 - Beckford on the corner, and Pascal-Johnson's header is deflected. Keeper is still on the ground, so Sidorowicz puts in the rebound, giving our Polish defender his first ever goal for us! 1-0

26 - Recovering his own cleared corner is Beckford, kickstarting a fabulous team move that ends with Osei-Siribour kicking back to Murden for the perfect jump shot to Anidugbe, and with only the keeper to beat, it's easy. 2-0

33 - 3 defenders on a guy and a deflection, and Murden can't get there fast enough to clear the rebound. 2-1

41 - Poor Murden. His debut and he gets hurt, so on comes Richings.

55 - Richings moves to DL; Sidorowicz to DR; Pascal-Johnson to DC, and Leonard comes in at DM, because McKie is just stinking out there.

83 - Beckford with the perfect corner to [b]Ojapah[b] for the kick-in, and we've got this wrapped up. 3-1

Ton of 7s, most notable of which are PotM Phillip Ojapah's 7.6, Mark Bell's 7.5, and Andrew Osei-Siribour's 7.4. I feel like Karl Beckford's 7.3 is criminally underrated here.

Luke Murden is out 3-4 months, which really sucks for him.

@ Fairwarp II (7th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Marcel McKie/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

We're very closely to having promotion wrapped up, so we're going full-strength lineup here.

24 - Martin makes an exceptional interception and hoofs it down the pitch into the box. The defense gets there first, but the keeper is too slow getting out of the box to get the backpass, and Anidugbe laughs as he scores. 1-0

62 - Saunders to MC for the tired Richefond and Pascal-Johnson jumps in as the DC.

Lee Close wins PotM with a 7.6, followed by 7.2 for Marcel McKie and 7.1 for Greg Hackett. Just another quiet, solid win.

Jordan Browne, Lee Thomas, Jack Colley, and Josh Tennant all show improved potential. Showing a decline in potential is Callum Richings. Things to note for the future.

So Marcel McKie and Josh Tennant thinks there's a lack of squad harmony. Whatever. Blow it out your asses. Hilariously enough, McKie thinks his main rival, Sam Gore, doesn't deserve a spot on the team.

In response, Marcel McKie skips a training session, and accepts the subsequent warning. What is it with my DL players all being prima donnas?

@ Hartlefield II (4th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Lee Thomas/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Bode Anidugbe

The Thomas start is a fuck you to McKie and Gore. That also earns me a tunnel interview where the reporter rides my ass about Thomas starting.

7 - Terrible pass by Leonard gives it away, and the score came on the left side. Oops. 0-1

[b]38/b] - Gorgeous interception courtesy of Close, who is then on the receiving end of a long pass on the wing via Richefond. Cross to Anidugbe later, and we're tied. 1-1

50 - [b]Pascal-Johnson[/b takes over at DM; Richings at DL, because I'm sick of shit play.

72 - Anidugbe hurt again. Darko in.

What a complete assbag of a second half.

Nonetheless, we manage to win the championship!



Honestly, I don't think it was down to me despite all the praise I'm getting. I really think it was the fact that our talent level is just too strong here.

@ Stones II (Tester Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Lee Thomas/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

Our top striker is of course hurt again, so we fight on for cup glory with our Austrian.

54 - Osei-Siribour for the mistaken-prone Hackett.

62 - Pascal-Johnson in for Leonard, who is going to lose his starting spot next game. That's two straight horrid games.

70 - Beckford sends it out to Martin for the cool cross to Darko as we finally snap free. 1-0

It's the kind of game where we have clusters of 7s, and the only notable standout is Jesse Darko's 7.4. Regardless, we're through to the championship, and that's what matters.

[Izulde]

Youth Intake
Our youth players are all hot garbage, with only one player who looks like he might be even remotely quality when he develops, so I sign him, Carl Gill, a DR, and leave the rest alone.

vs Ringmer III (9th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Lee Thomas/Chris Saunders/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richefond/Karl Beckford
AM: Michael Martin/Greg Hackett
ST: Jesse Darko

A bore draw. No highlights. We played well enough to win, too.

Nathan Dennis, Greg Hackett, and Josh Tennant all get potential upgrades.

@ Nutley II
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Markel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Lee Francis/Jordan Browne
DM: Miguel Pascal-Johnson
M: Chris Abbott/Mark Bell
AM: Jack Colley/Jonathan Woolf
ST: Josh Tennant

We play these guys again for the Tester Challenge Cup soon, so I decide to go with a shits and giggles B team lineup.

27 - Ojapah nails them in the box, and they convert the first PK of the year. 0-1

35 - Injuries mean Osei-Sibiour at AMR and Richings replacing Francis

43 - Abbott sends it to Colley just outside the box, and the volley shot goes in. 1-1

46 - These guys suck at corner defense. 1-2

61 - Browne with the beautiful far post cross to Colley, and it's in. 2-2 Backline shuffles with Leonard at DM, Pascal-Johnson and McKie at DC, Richings at DL. All to sit down Ojapah's asstacular 5.8 rating, the worst by far of anyone this season.

74 - [b]Bell] to Leonard to Abbott, and the howitzer long strike of the last sizzles home! 3-2

9.0 for PotM Chris Abbott and 8.8 for Jack Colley, two of the biggest members of Team Anti-Izulde. Good for them. I think I'll stick with this B lineup the rest of the season, just to give these dudes chances to show they deserve to challenge for starting spots next year.

We made a whopping profit of $2.03k last month! Daaaamn!

@ Ashurst Wood III (5th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Markel McKie/Phillip Ojapah/Liam Francis/Jordan Browne
DM: Miguel Pascal-Johnson
M: Chris Abbott/Mark Bell
AM: Jack Colley/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Josh Tennant

3 - Colley and McKie with the give and go before the latter's far post cross to Osei-Siribour, starting for the lost for the season Woolf. It's like candy. 1-0

18 - Ojapah will never play another game for us. 1-1

27 - Neither will Tennant after flubbing a wide open shot.

36 - Another sitter Tennant missed.

44 - McKie with the longer header into the box. Colley wins the race and crosses to Osei-Siribour for a late first half score. Colley is making it really difficult for us, and of course, we love O-S. 2-1

53 - Oh look, another Tennant stinker.

54 - Osei-Siribour out to Browne. Center to Colley and boom town! 3-1 Let's go ahead and put in Darko and Leonard, pulling Pascal-Johnson back to DC. I can't stand watching Tennant and Ojapah anymore.

73 - Leonard on the corner. Pascal-Johnson's diving shot is pushed away, but Bell rings in the finish. 4-1

76 - Beautiful interception and rainbow pass by Browne, and damn sure Darko isn't going to flub like Tennant. 5-1

9.0 for Jordan Browne, 7.9 for Miguel Pascal-Johnson, 8.2 for Marcel McKie, 8.1 for Mark Bell, 8.5 for Chris Abbott, 9.0 for Andrew Osei-Siribour, 9.1 for PotM Jack Colley.

vs Rotherfield III (4th)
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richeford/Karl Beckford
AM: Jack Colley/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Jesse Darko

We'll go with this lineup for the last game of the regular season and the championship match.

2 - After losing the ball, Osei-Siribour gets it back and crosses to Colley, who dribbles and rifles the shot in. 1-0

32 - Leonard to Richefond, and the latter's pass into the box has Darko beating everyone, because that's what the Austrian does. 2-0

8.1 for Ryan Richefond, 7.6 for Andrew Osei-Siribour, and 8.2 for PotM Jack Colley. We're great at AML between him and Michael Martin.

Another potential increase for Nathan Dennis.

vs Nutley II (Tester Challenge Cup Final
G: Tahj Bell
D: Sam Gore/Miguel Pascal-Johnson/Szymon Sidorowicz/Lee Close
DM: Danny Leonard
M: Ryan Richeford/Karl Beckford
AM: Jack Colley/Andrew Osei-Siribour
ST: Jesse Darko

LET'S GO GET THE DOUBLE AND MY FIRST EVER CUP WIN!!!!

27 - We just got flat out outjumped on that one. 0-1

53 - Martin at AML; Anidugbe at ST.

Unbelievable. Our only loss of the year, and it costs me my first ever cup trophy.

[Izulde]

I've never dominated a league like I have this one. Pretty cool to see, though as I said before, it's down to talent level being way overpowered for the 23rd level.

Summer raiding time begins now.

Team meeting goes great, with only Marcel McKie and Bode Anidugbe unhappy that I'm shooting for a mid-table finish next season. I'm not planning on replacing any of these guys, either. I want to see how they go.

Our new jersey sponsor is worth $1.1k a year, a slight uptick from last season's $1.05k a season.

Transfer Out
Lee Thomas - Non-contract
Miguel Pascal-Johnson - $8.5k
Jonathan Woolf - $3.5k
Sam Gore - $10k
Luke Murden - $4.8k
Melvin Minter - $3.5k
Liam Francis - $9.5k
Chris Abbott - $9.5k
Josh Tennant - $5.5k
Craig Hughes - $6.5k
Bode Anidugbe - $12k
Jack Colley - Non-contract
Jordan Browne - Non-contract
Callum Richings - $6k
Michael Phillips - $20k!

Transfer In - GK Bojan Tetek - 18 (Serbian)
Major upgrade in the net over Bell both in terms of current and in terms of potential. In fact, the battle for backup keeper is going to be very interesting to watch between the Bermudan and Nathan Dennis. No question Tetek outclasses them both, however.

Transfer In - AML/AMR/ST James Tricks (23)
Strictly a depth signing so we have a body at AML to back up our Northern Irishman. Will be our third striker as of right now too, after all the defections.

Goalies
Bojan Tetek - 3.5/4
Tahj Bell - 2/2
Nathan Dennis - 1/4

Defenders Left
Marcel McKie - 1.5/1.5
Ryan Richefond - 4.5 silver/2.5

Defenders Center
Chris Saunders - 4/4
Szymon Sidorowicz - 2.5/2.5
Phillip Ojapah - 2.5/2.5
McKie - 0.5/0.5

Defenders Right
Sidorowicz - 4/4
Lee Close - 4/5
Richefond - 2.5/4
Saunders - 1/1

Defensive Midfielders
Danny Leonard - 4/4
Richefond - 2/4
Saunders - 2/2
Ojapah - 1.5/1.5
Karl Beckford - 1/1

Central Midfielders
Richefond - 4.5/4.5
Beckford - 3.5/3.5
Saunders - 2/2
Mark Bell - 0.5/0.5
Michael Martin - 1.5 silver/1.5

Attacking Midfielder Left
Martin - 2/4
James Tricks - 0.5/2

Attacking Midfielder Right
Andrew Osei-Siribour - 2.5/4.5
Greg Hackett - 1.5/3.5
Bell - 1/1
Tricks - 0.5/2

Strikers
Jesse Darko - 4/5
Osei-Siribour - 2/4.5
Tricks - 0.5/2
Hackett - 2.5 silver/0.5

We come back to win our first friendly, but then lose Phillip Ojapah for 2 months with a broken collarbone, and Lee Close signs an $8.5k deal. Karl Beckford also shows decreased ability as age starts catching up to him.

Tahj Bell gets a $5k deal, Marcel McKie $13.75k. Mark Bell goes off for $11k, Danny Leonard for $16.25k. Also leaving is Andrew Osei-Siribour on a $15k contract, and suddenly gray guys are flooding our roster again.

Need to stop and think of what to do next. This is killing me, Smalls.

[Izulde]

We lose our second friendly 1-2, having to play gray guys.

Transfer In - DLCR Greg Tindle (27)
A 1.5/1.5 at DC, his best position, he's kind of a garbage player, but I'll stick him at DL just to get rid of the ghost player there.

Even with our mangled roster, we're with a bunch of other teams at 5000-1 and projected to finish 3rd behind the two clear-cut favorites. And then Szymon Sidorowicz takes $16.25k and leaves.

Two friendlies later, Chris Saunders gets $11.25k and leaves town.

Transfer In - MC Billy Wales (23)
Raw, but very promising young player who already has great passing skills for this level. He'll immediately step in as a starting central midfielder because we can't get a damned DM in here for the life of us, requiring Richefond to play there.

Transfer In - DC Adie Hawes (28)
We desperately need a starting DC thanks to Ojapah's injury and all the defections. Hawes isn't great, but he's serviceable, and that's good enough for our crying need for bodies.

Transfer In - DC Tom Roberts (27)
Will be a backup once Ojapah gets back, but now, he's a starter, allowing us to shift Tindle over to DL and finally clear out all of our ghost players. Again, serviceable.

Transfer In - MRC George Zuerner (27) Thai
He stinks. He really does. But he can half-ass play on the wings, so for now he'll see a lot of PT playing different roles as a reserve - including striker.

...And out goes Karl Beckford on a $16k contract.

Transfer In - DL Sam Fisk (27)
He's literally a hair better than Tindle at DL, so he's the starter. Not much to say other than that.

Transfer In - DL/ST Adam Murray (27)
Weird player, but one whom becomes our backup striker by default. Jesse Darko didn't score at all during friendly season, by the way.

The board expects us to win everything. That means I'm probably going to be fucked over by expectations as per usual with these types of mod setups.

On the other hand, we experience an astronomical leap in ticket sales, going from 5 last season to 24 this year. THE HASSOCKS HYPE IS REAL, YO!!!!

Greg Hackett takes a $12k contract out of nowhere, and the scotch tape project continues. Michael Martin gets a sports hernia and is out 6-7 weeks. FML.

Ryan Richefond gets a last minute $16k deal and I have to completely junk our preferred formation now.

@ Handcross Village III
G: Bojan Telek
D: Sam Fisk/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
M: Jamie Tricks/George Zuerner/Billy Wales/Ghost Player
S: Jesse Darko/Adam Murray

Yep, a flat 4-4-2.

26 - We're awarded a PK, and I flip the fuck out when ghost player Milo John is selected to take it. He converts, however, and if we win, I need to sign his ass. 1-0

45 - Darko passes to Tricks in the far left of the box. The keeper is tricked by Tricks into coming out, and the cross to OMFG GHOST PLAYER JOHN AND THE SHOT IN THE OPEN NET IS GOOD! 2-0

9.1 for ghost hero of the game Milo John, 8.0 for Billy Wales, and 8.2 for Jesse Darko, as we pull the win out of our ass the first time ever playing the 4-4-2. AND WITH A FRIGGING GHOST GUY!

Transfer In - DR/DM Robert Evans (26)
He's as vanilla as his name, but he can play a lot of different positions - DR/DC/MR/DM. In fact, he's rated as our top DR guy right now, but I'd rather play and develop Gill, thanks.

Transfer In - ST Luke Barlone (28)
Our second best striker, and since we're probably changing to the 4-4-2 for the foreseeable future, he's a great defensive forward, which is what we have next to Darko as the Target Man.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Joakim Ehui (24) (France)
Raw, but sky-high potential according to my best rater of talent. Although on the other hand, he's a bit old at 24, so that may be false scouting. Who knows? Anyway, he'll play.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Niko Muir (27)
Depth signing.

New sponsorship deal! Worth a whole $60 a year for two years!

$500 profit. Jesse Darko gets signed away on a $31.5k deal. Damn. Phillip Ojapah leaves, too, for a much more modest $8.5k.

@ Itfield Galaxy III (Parsons Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Sam Fisk/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: George Zuerner/Billy Wales
AM: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
S: Luke Barlone

Note that with this raiding, the only guys on the team who were last year are Nathan Dennis and Michael Martin. Oh, and Carl Gill, who was our lone youth pull worth anything.

4 - Fucking shot barrage. 0-1

60 - Tindle for Hawes; Murray for Barlone.

70 - Ehui with the cross to Tricks and it's in!!!! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN, YOU COCKSNIFFING BUTTMUNCHER?! THAT SHIT WAS NOT FUCKING OFFSIDES!!!!!!

Fucking bullshit. Now the board is going to fucking ride my ass because we were supposed to win this fucking pissant cup, and we got knocked out in the first round.

[Izulde]

I brought in a striker, but he stinks, so I'm not going to report on him.

80 tickets expected for the next match. That's what a level jump gets you.

vs Scaynes Hill II (7th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Sam Fisk/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: George Zuerner/Billy Wales
AM: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
S: Luke Barlone

20 - Ehui picks up a cleared header and crosses near post to Barlone, and the shot whistles in. Maybe we can salvage something out of this season yet. 1-0

Both our central midfielders are already wiped at half, so we switch to a 4-4-2 Diamond with Muir as the AMC advanced playmaker, and Murray as a Defensive Forward.

69 - Interesting note that they've been pushed back and have abandoned their attacking shape. Have we found ourselves a new formation?

73 - Gill with the throw-in to Muir, who lofts a ball in the middle of the box for Murray to score! 2-0

Matching 7.4s for Nico Muir and Joakim Ehui, but PotM goes to 8.0 Carl Gill.

Transfer In - DL Dan Okoije - 19 (Nigerian)
Can't tackle worth shit (5), but my staff thinks he's a major upgrade over Sam Fisk at the slot.

Transfer In - DR/MR/AMR Jordan Lymn (18)
Plays all along the right side, and at DR, he'd be one of our top players. But I think I might try him at MR instead in our 4-4-2 Diamond, because he likes to Get Forward Whenever Possible, and I just see that spelling disaster if he's on defense.

Transfer In - MC/AMC/DM Jordan Neild (24)
A rockstar as a central midfielder and good at DM too. AMC he's kind of meh, so I'm thinking of flipping back to the 4-4-2. That allows us to get Wales back in too, and our strongest overall lineup.

Transfer In - ST/AMCLR Alando Lewis (24)
We tried to get this kid before, but he finally inks with us this time. A phenomenal defensive forward in any two striker setup we decide to use. It's a tough choice between 4-4-2 and the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide for our next match. Alternatively, he can be our new AMR in the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide setup.

Tom Roberts is out 4 weeks with a foot injury.

Transfer In - ST/AMC Owen Kabodi (23)
Say hello to our new starting poacher striker. He's not a great finisher compared to some of the guys we've had in the past, but he's younger and loads better overall than Luke Barlone.

@ Crawley Cobras II (1st)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okoije/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

Great to get Michael Martin back from injury finally. Obviously this is going to be a huge early season match, and I'd really like us to win this. We probably won't though, given how many new starters we have. But we'll see.

Tricks replaces the tired Martin after a dull first half.

58 - Murray replaces the lackluster and tiring Kabodi

59 - Phenomenal impact by Okoije as he finds Hawes' head for the score on a corner! 1-0

75 - Gill makes a booming clearance to Murray, who passes back to Evans given how many opponents are around. The short pass to Neild and right back to Evans for the popper in the box that's so beautifully placed, it's *just* enough for Murray to beat the keeper and hit the insurance! 2-0

81 - Evans with the spray to Lewis on the wing, and then there's a long, far post cross to Wales, and BAMTOWN! 3-0

So many phenomenal performances. Of the 7.5+ variety we have 8.3 by PotM Adie Hawes, 7.5 by Dan Okojie, 8.2 by Robert Evans and Billy Wales.

We made $815 last month, and for the first time, the report is that our finances are stable, rather than expected to drop. Very, very cool. I'm Very Secure, even though they're mad about the Cup loss.

Carl Gill is showing an increased ability, which isn't surprising. He's been consistently outperforming his scouted assessment, which is why I'm comfortable just leaving him there.

[Izulde]

vs Cuckfield Rangers D'ment (5th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

3 - Lewis's free kick to Kabodi ends up bouncing around. Tindle gets it from Lewis in the scrum. Shot's blocked and the ball continues to bounce. Finally it pops out, and Tindle slots it in! 1-0

46 - Okojie throws it in to Martin, who short passes to Wales. Then a center to Gill in the half-circle, and the audacious shot goes home! That's two goals by two defenders, neither one of which is a header. 2-0

54 - They missed the wide-open shot. Wow! Tricks hops in for Martin

8.2 for PotM Carl Gill, 7.8 for Greg Tindle, and 8.1 for Billy Wales.

vs AFC Bolnore (10th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okoije/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

59 - We switch to the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide. Murray in for Hawes, who just got a yellow, and Barlone replaces Lewis at striker. Neild drops to DM, and Kabodi takes over at MC.

73 - I push for an Overload. We can not be drawing to this shit a team at home.

82 - Kabodi fetches a clearance and passes it to Neild. The 30 yard strike sinks into the net! 1-0

85 - That was bullshit. Fucker was offsides. 1-1

vs Crawley United (Mid Sussex Junior Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okoije/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
AM: Nico Muir
S: Luke Barlone/Alando Lewis

Lot of tired people today, so we pop out the 4-4-2 Wide Diamond to give folks rest.

4 - They're doing a lot of double and triple-teaming, so Muir sends it back to Evans, who kicks it out to Ehui. It's sent into the box by the Frenchman, and Lewis dribbles a bit before finding his spot and hitting it. 1-0

32 - Muir and Gill play back and forth before the former short passes to Tricks in the half-circle. And here's the magic trick strike for a score! 2-0

51 - Tetek just saved our asses with a comeback grab.

68 - Murray hops in for the injured Lewis, and Tindle spells a tired Okojie

77 - Post robbed them. We're damned lucky not to be tied right now.

8.5 for Robert Evans, 9.0 for PotM Joakim Ehui, 8.2 for Jamie Tricks, and 8.7 for Nico Muir. Glad to see my use of the Diamond pay off.

$2.23k profit last month. Robert Evans is a dude they love, but they're also pissed about the draw from last league match. We're tied for 1st at 13 points, and have a big game coming up next. First two finishers promote BTW.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

Nice job with Keymer & Hassocks so far. I figured your team would be pretty well cleaned out during the close season. On the other hand, the coffers should be bursting with cash, so the board won't be on your case for mismanaging the finances.

Good luck in your quest for a second promotion! I'll be following along.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Greyfriars Bobby

Nice job with Keymer & Hassocks so far. I figured your team would be pretty well cleaned out during the close season. On the other hand, the coffers should be bursting with cash, so the board won't be on your case for mismanaging the finances.

Good luck in your quest for a second promotion! I'll be following along.

Thanks There's not really any finances to mismanage at this level. It's only when you go semi-pro and can actually offer contracts where you get yourself in hot water.

And yeah, summer raiding season is always a thing when you're an amateur side. Like I've said before, it's playing in the D-League in the DDS games.

@ Buxted III (4th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

63 - Tricks in for Martin; Murray for Kabodi

No real highlights to speak of. Just a very dull game. We played great, but we just couldn't crack them open.

Transfer In - AMCL/ML Chris Shephard - 27
Massive upgrade for the AMC in our diamond 4-4-2, and truth be told, he's better right now than Michael Martin in our ML/AML spots. But Martin has more upside and is our longest serving player.

vs Auckfield United U21s (9th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

37 - Rainbow by Wales is ahead of Kabodi, who chases it down, and on his way to the backline, crosses to Lewis, who beats two defenders to kick it right in the net. 1-0

57 - Ehui is in for Lymn; Roberts for Hawes.

71 - Neild short passes to Gill, the latter playing with a damaged foot. Our only youth signing last year shrugs off his injury to crack a vicious long shot. It's pushed away, and Lewis wins the race to the ball and fires in the rebound. 2-0

Great game all around. Our 7.5+ performers - Carl Gill - 7.8, Jordan Neild - 7.5, Billy Wales - 8.1 (he had an 8.4 our draw last game too), and with an 8.8, PotM Alando Lewis, who shredded everyone out there, despite playing a defensive forward role.

Carl Gill's foot injury puts him out for 4 weeks. That's tough, given how great the kid has been for us.

@ Heath Rangers (Tester Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Jamie Tricks/Joakim Ehui
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Owen Kabodi/Luke Barlone

Lot of guys need rest - hence the above lineup and the 4-4-2 Diamond.

Tindle goes on for Okojie after a highlightless half.

56 - Murray on for Kabodi

64 - Hawes jacks one from midfield all the way down to the left wing where Tindle snappily crosses to Barlone for the goal we needed. 1-0

It's the kind of game where Joakim Ehui's 7.3 is good for PotM and most people were clustered around the 7 mark.

vs Ixfield Galaxy III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

57 - Tricks slots on for Martin; Kabodi drops to MC and switches spots with Wales, letting Barlone in at ST and sitting the tired Neild

90 - It looked like last second heroics, but Tricks sees his shot deflected, and he was offsides anyway. So on to extra time we go!

96 - Wales sprays back to a fast-charging Tindle, who boots one just far enough away from the keeper for Barlone to bang in what should be the game-winner. 1-0

Solid all-around showings, with Greg Tindle picking up PotM with 7.9 and Robert Evans netting a 7.5 for some masterwork play out of the DMC slot.

We're back to league play with our next game. But it's nice to put together a couple cup wins and keep the board happy that we're on track to meet trophy expectations.

[Izulde]

@ Cuckfield Rangers III (9th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Tom Roberts/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Michael/Joakim Ehui
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

Murray comes on for an exhausted Lewis at half. No highlights.

56 - Muir on for Ehui.

83 - Are you fucking kidding me, Hawes?! Own goal! 0-1

Absolutely ridiculous to lose that game. We're now going to be in a dogfight for our position, and have looked lackluster our last few league games out.

$1.28k profit.

Jordan Neild breaks his arm and is out presumably almost two months.

vs Copthorne IV (Middle Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/George Zuerner
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

2 - Throw-in by Okojie to Wales. The rainbow shot in space for Kabodi to have only the keeper to beat, and he *finally* gets his first goal for us! 1-0

6 - Okojie on the corner. Hawes header crosses it to the feet of Tindle for another fast score. So pretty! 2-0

16 - Kabodi misses two shots he should have destroyed the goalie with. I'm starting to think maybe he's not the one who should be our solo striker.

18 - Perfect cross by Okojie into the box for Lewis, but the score's offsides. Bullshit, but whatever.

21 - A clean booming goal kick by Tetek to Lewis for the dribble and drop pass for Kabodi to sink. 3-0

49 - Just when I thought the Lymn to Lewis to Kabodi connection would result in the first hat trick for my player in this universe, the offside whistle blows.

70 - Murray in for Hawes; Tindle slides to DL and Murray jumps on at DC.

81 - That's not why I put you guys in! Total collapse by the central defense. 3-1

7.8 for Dan Okojie, 8.2 for Adie Hawes, 9.0 for PotM Billy Wales, 8.5 for Alando Lewis, and 8.8 for Owen Kabodi.

2nd vs Handcross Village III (4th)
G: Bojan Telek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/George Zuerner/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

There's a team with 1 point ahead of us. 2nd and 3rd are both tied, but we're at least making up a game in hand we have on Heath Rangers. If we can beat these guys today, we'll truly make it a 3 team race, as they're presently 5 points back of us for that 4th slot.

2 - Here's Lymn throwing it in to Gill (his first game back BTW), and getting the ball back, then long crossing it to Kabodi for the header goal. 1-0

5 - Gill throws it in to Lewis, gets it back, and just like the previous goal, crosses it, only this time it's Martin whose head finds the score. That's our Northern Irishman's first goal of the year by the by, after banging them in regularly for us last season. 2-0

10 - Gill runs the ball down on the right flank, dribbles into the box and takes a shot. Deflected, but he angles in the rebound shot for another goal! You can't tell it's his first game back. He's been on fire just like he was all season long. 3-0

15 - Stupid play by Tindle allows them to get one back. 3-1

At the half, Tindle moves to DL and Roberts slides in at DC, as Okojie has a yellow.

50 - Bullshit fluke goal.

59 - Gill makes a fantastic interception of a goal kick, and the chain starts up the right flank - header to Lymn, on to Lewis and then the cross to Kabodi, whose shot deflects off the keeper and into the net. 4-2

60 - Tricks in for tired Martin

66 - VERY questionable PK call on Roberts and of course they hit it. 4-3

73 - Lot of chippiness in the middle, and they frankly should have scored, but we did just enough to fight it off.

75 - Zuerner with the short pass to Wales, who feeds it into the box for Lewis. One, two dribble, and bam! 5-3

83 - Tricks ices it with a perfect corner kick to Hawes' head. 6-3

8.2 for Carl Gill, 7.8 for Adie Hawes, 9.0 for PotM Jordan Lymn, 9.0 for Billy Wales, 8.4 for Michael Martin, 9.0 for Alando Lewis, and 8.9 for Owen Kabodi, who seems to have finally snapped out of his slump.

That was also a record-breaking performance for both the team and the league in the amount of goals scored, as you can well imagine.

Transfer In - MC Ash Walker (24)
Is he on the level of Billy Wales and Jordan Neild? Well, he's currently considered equal to Wales, but long-term future, there's no questioning the first two are the best. However, he's so far ahead of George Zuerner it's ridiculous. So Walker will walk his ash right into Neild's spot while the latter is out.

Big match coming up next. Through 9 league games, or the halfway mark, it's:

Us - 20 points
Crawley Cobras II - 20 points
Heath Rangers - 18 points
Handcross Village III - 12 points
AFC Bolnore - 12 points

So big gap between the first three teams and everyone else. This isn't going to be last season, where we had everything wrapped up ridiculously early, unless I miss my guess.

[Northwood_DK]

Fun read.

Not sure I enjoy the complete rebuield every season, but I guess that's the nature of the lower leagues. Would have loved to see the progress of some of the players from the first season.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Northwood_DK

Fun read.

Not sure I enjoy the complete rebuield every season, but I guess that's the nature of the lower leagues. Would have loved to see the progress of some of the players from the first season.

Thanks. And yep, it's the nature of the beast with an amateur side. Makes getting to semi-pro so much more worth it, however. As for the guys who left, a lot of them are getting a ton of starts on their higher division clubs. The one guy who has been better than average is Lee Close, with a 6.98 rating in league play for Cambridge City in the Southern League Premier Division, a step below Vanarama North/South (Conference North/South for the old name). CC is currently 9th in the league.

A day after complaining about lack of PT, Luke Barlone strains his back and will miss more than a month. Bojan Tetek picks up a sports hernia that will have him out almost two months, so once again, Nathan Dennis is going to get a long run in the net.

vs Heath Rangers (3rd)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Ash Walker/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

Obviously a key match here.

45 - How's that for a debut?! Walker intercepts a pass, dribbles forward, and pops a high ball into the box for Kabodi to kick in! 1-0

56 - Murray on for Tindle, who is having a lousy game.

64 - We'll try Tricks as the poacher; Kabodi the defensive forward, with Lewis catching a break.

68 - Wide open shot for Kabodi that clangs off the upper bar. No excuse for that.

72 - Hawes completely blew that interception. 1-1

77 - Dribbling down the middle of the pitch is Martin, who passes it to Tricks. The feed to Kabodi is clean as can be, and we go back up. 2-1

93 - They damn near scored with seconds left, but Murray made a vital interception and clearance to save us.

7.8 for Ash Walker and 8.9 for PotM Owen Kabodi. 7.2 for both Billy Wales and Michael Martin. Not our prettiest win, but we'll take it, given how critical this one was.

Side note: 111 people showed up for the big game, which is our highest attendance since 239 came to see our friendly vs Southend United U21s, whom we drew 1-1. You know, the League 2 Southend United youth team? Those are also our only two triple digit attendances so far in this universe. Our biggest last season? 25 people. Average attendance to date this year? 79. Our lowest so far? 57 in the Junior Challenge Cup Third Round. Level jumps matter, folks.

$1.84k profit. Still just Very Secure.

@ Scaynes Hill II (10th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

Against our fellow Level 23 promoters. We're in 1st, they're in last. Lovely symmetry. Decided to try something a little different by plugging Neild in at DM.

1 - ...WTF?!

43 - Wow, we're playing like shit. 0-2

53 - Tindle is yanked to DL; Murray in at DC; Lymn on for Gill

58 - Wales to Martin to Kabodi, and the string shot sinks despite a defender in his face. A glimmer of a chance. 1-2

67 - Lymn with the great interception and give to Walker. Out to Lewis, who dribbles into the box, drawing a double-team that makes for an easy dump-off to Kabodi for a picturesque equalizer on the one and one. 2-2

81 - Walker wins the ball at midfield and sends it to Lewis. The pass to Kabodi, and the shot whistles by the defense just inside the box for the hat trick and the monster comeback! 3-2

7.4 for Billy Wales, 8.5 for Alando Lewis, and of course 9.4 for PotM hat-trick hero Owen Kabodi. Major props to Jordan Lymn and Adam Murray for stabilizing the backline off the bench and earning 6.9s, however.

Better still, Crawley Cobras II were stunned at home by AFC Bolnore, and Heath Rangers could only manage a draw hosting AFC Uckfields U21s. The defeat here punches Scaynes Hill II 5 points away from the safe zone, and they're in deep trouble I'd say.

Transfer In - DCR Jack Cook (21)
I haven't been overly thrilled with the play we've been getting out of the backline, and Cook represents a nice upgrade in the middle, where he'll replace Greg Tindle and allow us much more flexibility off the bench.

vs Crawley Cobras II (2nd)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

We're 5 points clear as a result of the second Cobras' loss last game, so this is immaterial in terms of our standings. But salting away more points would be great.

26 - Neild wins the loose ball and absolutely hammers it down the left wing, where Kabodi catches it just prior to the touchline. Keeper's looking at him, so he cooly crosses to Lewis for the pants down score. 1-0

33 - Wales kicks it out to Lymn dancing on the sideline, and another sharp cross sees Martin knocking it in for his second goal of the year. 2-0

54 - Walker on for a tiring Wales

64 - That may have been one of the more insane goals I've seen. Lymn gets the ball back after Gill loses it and shoots a high arcing cross that I swear is going to go out for a goal kick. But Martin just gets to the touchline in time and his counter cross intended for Lewis instead bounces off the bar and goes in! 3-0

79 - Lewis is in the box and he passes it out to Lymn. The center is poorly cleared out by the defense, making it easy for Lewis to snake his way back in for yet another goal by us! 4-0



That's the kind of blowout win you just sit and smile about. Maybe I spoke too soon about an early wrap-up not happening this year? 6 league games left, and we're 7 points ahead of 2nd, 8 ahead of 3rd.

[Izulde]

@ Handcross Village III (Tester Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Owen Kabodi/Jordan Lymn
S: Luke Barlone/Alando Lewis

Coming so soon off our last match, we had to make some adjustments here.

7 - Fantastic takeaway by Kabodi in the position he rarely plays, and the long ball is perfectly placed for Lewis to run by the defense and torch the keeper on the 1 v 1! 1-0

13 - That looked offsides to me. 1-1

26 - Lewis draws the double-team and he wings it out to Lymn, who is completely unmarked. But instead of taking it itself, the right midfielder crosses far post, where Martin pops up out of nowhere to head it in! 2-1

35 - Carted off with another injury is Barlone, and Tricks gets the call.

65 - We've been training Gill at DC, so he moves there and Lymn drops to DR, meaning Hawes is off, and Ehui comes in at MR. Reckless? Fuck yes. Do I care? No.

7.8 for Jordan Lymn, 7.9 for Owen Kabodi, 7.5 for Michael Martin, and PotM honors go to Alando Lewis and his 8.2.

@ Cuckfield Rangers D'ment (7th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

So happy to *finally* have our Serbian goalie and team captain back!

6 - Lots of beautiful passing here that gets started by Cook's exceptional intercepting header. Final series sees Martin kick it out to Okojie on the left wing, and it's a line drive cross to the far post space. Charging past them all is Lewis, and it's in. 1-0

40 - Lewis dribbles down the right flank lalalalala, and then the slow riser that drops in the six yard box. Opposing keeper comes out to get it, but Kabodi beats him to the punch. BAM! 2-0

53 - Tindle for Cook; Evans for Neild

65 - Want to know the difference between Tetek and Dennis? The former just made a diving save the latter never would have gotten to.

83 - The post robbed our opponents there. Should have scored.

8.2 for Dan Okojie, 7.6 for Ash Walker, and 8.4 for PotM Alando Lewis. A lot of 7+ performances up and down the lineup.

vs Crawley Panthers (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

These guys may be a level up, but we're expected to smash them.

13 - Sigh. Just a perfectly placed shot after a DFK 0-1

26 - Our defensive line was way too far up on that one. Time to drop them all the way back, so as not to get caught out (the first non assman change I've made in match btw) 0-2

37 - Okojie to Martin to Kabodi diagonal. Our top scorer dribbles until he finds his spot, takes his shot, and we needed that one a lot. 1-2

52 - I've had about all I can tolerate of this shit backline, so Evans goes in for b]Gill[/b] and Tindle replaces Cook.

85 - Martin on the corner to Wales, and the shot bounces off the keeper and in! 2-2

91 - After a lot of back and forth and movement around the pitch, Kabodi has the perfect setup on a feed from Lewis... and blows the shot.

108 - Total and complete BS penalty call on Neild and they convert. 2-3

119 - Okojie kicks it back to Hawes, who pops it up on the wing to Martin over the DL head. The cross into the six yard box sees Kabodi net the dramatic equalizer!!! 3-3

PK Shootout
Kabodi... BLOCKED! Fuuuuuuck. Our best player misses?! WTF?!

Them... BLOCKED! Is everyone just sucking because they're tired?

Okojie... IN! 1-0 There we go!

Them... IN. 1-1

Tindle... JUST BARELY IN! 2-1 I seriously thought it was blocked.

Them... JUST BARELY IN. 2-2 See Tindle's shot.

Lewis... IN! 3-2

Them.. IN WITH A SHOT JUST ABOVE TETEK'S REACH. 3-3 That shot was just fucking impressive. My begrudging hat tip to them on this one.

Tetek... IN! IN IN IN!!!! 4-3 GOOOOAAAAALLLIEEEEE MAAAAAGGGIIIICCC!!!!

AND TETEK BLOCKS THE FINAL PK TO PUT US THROUGH AFTER SCORING THE GAMEWINNER HIMSELF!!!!! TEAM CAPTAIN! DOING IT BOTH WAYS!!!!!

Basically, the defense assbagged it, and our offense bailed us out - 8.9 for Ash Walker, 7.7 for Billy Wales, 7.8 for Alando Lewis, 9.0 for PotM Michael Martin, and 8.8 for Owen Kabodi.

vs Buxted III (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Owen Kabodi/Joakim Ehui
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

Some changes on the right wing in our flat 4-4-2 today. Ehui really wants some starts, and he's been great whenever we've put him in, and I like the French guy. After Gill stunk it up last game, Lymn will take over for him at DR, rather than play the usual MR.

16 - Rocket shot. 0-1

40 - We got fucking SCREWED there. THE FUCKING DEFENDER SPIKED LEWIS FROM BEHIND AND THEY DIDN'T CALL THE DAMN PK!!!!

47 - Tired of this bullshit, Okojie jams a corner to Hawes' head, the aerial shot *just* staying below the crossbar. 1-1

Neild is having a shit day, so I yank him for Walker, and Martin's probably got a concussion, so Tricks comes in, both at halftime.

87 - Last 10 minutes have been nuts, with both teams going into attack mode to try and get the 3 points. Hawes fucks up the interception, and they make us pay for it. 1-2

Lot of shots we should have made, but it was just janky as hell the way we played today.

4 games left in league play. We're up by 7 and 8 points respectively on 2nd and 3rd - enough of a cushion that we can afford a couple more setbacks, but we really probably should have just played for the draw. Mathematically, we can't finish any worse than 4th.

$1.58k profit last month, still very secure, and they love the Ash Walker signing.

vs Fairwarp II (Tester Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
DM: Robert Evans
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

30 - Lymn gets the ball back after his corner kick is cleared, and he lofts it high in the air. Wales wins the header fight and bangs it in! 1-0

58 - Neild is on for tired Wales and switches places with Walker.

59 - Nevermind! Neild down to DM, Kabodi jumping to MC, and Barlone up at striker after Evans gets a yellow.

Kind of a sluggish game. Jordan Lymn was amazing with his 8.0 PotM outing, but after that we drop to Adie Hawes with 7.2 and Billy Wales with 7.1.

Doesn't matter much, though. We're back in the finals with a shot at redemption for last year's lone loss.

Interestingly enough, our opponents will be the team that required PKs to beat Scayne Hills II, who promoted up with us and is still languishing in last, 4 points out of the safety spot.

[Young Drachma]

Reading you suckers made me get FM16 just so I could play in the lower leagues too.

[Izulde]

Youth Intake
Much better crop this year, and they draw 1-1 against the players already on the squad. The best two players are selfish and/or injury-prone though, so I pass on them. What I do sign - Scott Reed, who has three position versatility up the middle (DC/DMC/MC) and is a natural Ballwinning Midfielder, exactly what we want our DMs to be. He also has the highest upside there of any our guys (3*). He'll probably start at DM the rest of the season.

The other signing, Robert Warrell, has 3* potential at ML, MR, AML, and AMR, and will likely replace Jamie Tricks as our top winger reserve so he can grow into that ability.

There's twin brothers strikers, but of the two, Eddie Claridge is the only one who might possess enough upside to be adequate some day, so he gets the contract.

@ AFC Bolnore (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Michael Martin/Alando Lewis
S: Owen Kabodi

4 - A couple shots here by Kabodi fail to sink, and the ensuing corner doesn't work either. But we spend a lot of time building a move deep in their half, and finally Martin hits it near the touchline where a completely alone Okojie makes a brilliant near post cross to Kabodi. This time, there's no stoppage. 1-0

17 - I find Kabodi frustrating sometimes. Misses easy shots, like here where he has a beautiful 1 v 1 on a feed from Lewis.

51 - Tindle replaces the disappointing Lymn at DR, even though Greg kind of sucks there.

59 - Reed drops to DC, Neild to DM, and Walker comes in at MC, because Hawes is sucking ass out there.

78 - Buildup on the right side caps off with Okojie hitting a screamer to Wales in the box. Center to the penalty area, and this time Kabodi isn't shanking it like he's done five or six times this game. 2-0

8.0 for Dan Okojie, 8.3 for Billy Wales, and 9.0 for PotM Owen Kabodi. Just a good, solid win after the substitutions. And we officially clinch promotion to Level 21 as Crawley Cobras II got a draw at home!

@ AFC Uckfield U21s (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Jordan Lymn
DM: Scott Reed
M: Michael Martin/Robert Warrell
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Owen Kabodi

Getting some PT in to the kids and Shephard, who hasn't gotten much of a chance because of how little we use the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide, and how comfortable we are with Martin. Team meeting before this to get the players hyped to clinch a second straight title bombed. Oh well.

6 - Just shoddy defending there. 0-1

32 - Warrell is facing heavy pressure in the box, so he lays off to Lymn, who hits a cross. Defense jumps up, but mistimes it, and Martin's there on the drop to put it away. 1-1

33 - Reed intercepts with his head on the start of their next possession. End result, Lewis centers and it's cleared, but Shephard is right there 20 yards away. Just outside the half-circle, and the crack tumbles into the net with an assist from the crossbar! First ever goal for us, too. 2-1

60 - Tindle comes on for lacksadasical Cook; Barlone for bleh Kabodi.

66 - Barlone is facing pressure in the box, so he wings it out left where Warrell is unguarded. The cross back to Barlone's head, and he nods it in! 3-1

79 - We let them get too many chances in the penalty box, and paid for it. 3-2

Still, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN OUR SECOND STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH TWO GAMES TO GO!

8.4 each for Scott Reed and Michael Martin, but PotM honors go to Chris Shephard's 9.0 Just missing the 7.5 cutoff is Robert Warrell with a 7.4 debut and impressive assist.



The transfer deadline sees a bunch of clubs try to pry away Carl Gill from us and Grant Hudson from Heath Rangers respectively. Both young backline players stayed, though we did try to steal Hudson ourselves, thanks to his off the charts physical attributes.

@ Ardingly II (Mid Sussex Junior Junior Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Jordan Lymn
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

5 - Phenomenal intercepting header by Hawes on the free kick, and Lewis takes the ball all the way down the right side of the field. Short kickback to Lymn, and the longball sees Kabodi split two defenders for the score. 1-0

12 - Martin launches a counter by getting on a goal kick and sends it up to Kabodi on the left wing, just outside the box. The cross to Lewis, and the tumbling header is in, Lewis falling into the net himself! 2-0

26 - We're awarded a PK on a handball, and unlike the other Cup match, this one Kabodi isn't going to miss! 3-0

29 - Okojie with the ground pass to Martin. *Very* nifty behind the back pass by the Northern Irishman to Kabodi. I think our star striker is taking the shot, but no! It's actually a layoff to Lewis for another goal! 4-0

54 - By this point, Martin and Neild both have yellow cards, and I don't want to let this squad back in the game, so Warrell and Reed respectively go in.

61 - Okojie throws in to Warrell, gets it back, passes to Wales, and the drop into the box is there for Lewis to firmly hoof in his hat trick!!! 5-0





So the quality isn't great, but I just *had* to show that amazing goal. Now we're playing for two cups, baby! (though the board also wanted us in on the Pearson).

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Reading you suckers made me get FM16 just so I could play in the lower leagues too.

Welcome. Honestly, as much as I bitch about amateur sides sometimes, having to reconstitute the roster during summer raiding season makes for a lot of fun for me, though I do think I end up signing players that are overpowered for this level, and so not really any tactical genius on my part.

Makes just getting to semipro a real accomplishment, and I'm always intrigued to see if I can get players to stick around. I think the only reason Michael Martin has lasted two seasons is because he got a major injury before anyone could sign him. I fully expect he'll be gone next summer.

[Izulde]

Carl Gill and Owen Kabodi get potential boosts; Jordan Lymn a potential decrease.

@ Heath Rangers (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Chris Shephard/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Owen Kabodi/Alando Lewis

19 - Shephard on the free kick, and Wales gets just enough ahead to kick it in the corner. 1-0

39 - We're rightly awarded a PK, but Shephard flubs it.

Warrell switches to the left side and Lymn comes in, benching Shephard at the half.

63 - Barlone replaces Lewis, who is having a garbage game.

73 - Meh. Whatever. 1-1

79 - Lymn gets the ball out on the wing and makes a superlative cross that hits the penalty box at the same time as Barone's foot for the go-ahead goal. 2-1

80 - Lymn clears it on a corner. Warrell gets it and screams the laser all the way down the pitch to Kabodi, who crosses far post where the defense never sees Barlone coming. BOOMSHAKALAKA! 3-1

Luke Barlone (8.5 + PotM) and Billy Wales (8.2) really powered the team today, though we had a number of 7+ performances. In spite of the loss, Heath Rangers officially promote up with us.

With one game to go, fellow promotees Scayne Hills II has fought back to 18 points and out of the drop, but Cuckfield Rangers D'Ment, AFC Uckfield U21s, and Handcross Village III are all just behind at 17 points.

Owen Kabodi picks up a heel injury that takes him out of the last, meaningless game of the regular season. Billy Wales has seen his ability increase, as well he should - he's got the best average rating of any player in the league. In fact, the 9 players with the highest average rating in the league are all from Keymer & Hassocks!

vs Cuckfield Rangers III (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Scott Reed
M: Robert Warrell/Joakim Ehui
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Luke Barlone/Alando Lewis

These guys are one of the only teams to beat us, so I want to curbstomp them.

5 - Okojie throws in to Barlone and gets it back. Short lateral to Reed just touching the box. He centers to Shephard and the shot's deflected, but Barlone bangs in the rebound. 1-0

27 - Eh, we just got out-jumped on that corner 1-1

Tindle for Cook; Lymn for Gill at half, as our backline has been a mess outside of Okojie.

75 - Barlone and Warrell play give and go, the former dribbling out to the left box boundary before centering to Lewis for the goal. 2-1

One of those games where you go from PotM Chris Shephard's 8.3 to Luke Barlone's 7.4. It also costs us Alando Lewis for 4 weeks with a foot injury, knocking him out of the Tester Challenge Cup Final.





Just a couple quick snapshots to give you an idea how dominant we were. I won't go extensively into detail with end season review anymore, because it takes a ton of time and summer raids are a thing. I'll wait until (if) we get to semi-pro and can build actual stability.

@ Stones II (Tester Challenge Cup Final
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Owen Kabodi/Luke Barlone

If we lose to a damn Level 23 side, I'm going to be pissed.

3 - Okojie boots a diagonal to the head of Barlone, but the bar robs him. Ball's bouncing around, and it's Kabodi who wins the scrum, poking it in the net. 1-0 One thing I've noticed just in the first couple minutes - Neild is UP for this game.

24 - Kabodi steals a sloppy pass, and shorts it to Barlone. Back a bit to Wales and the ball forth to Martin on the left wing of the box. Center to Kabodi, and it's in. 2-0

46 - We're moving the ball all around the pitch, and suddenly Kabodi finds himself triple-teamed. Spray out to isolated Warrell on the wing, strong cross into the box where Kabodi has sprinted ahead of everyone for the FIRST HALF HAT-TRICK! 3-0

Tindle shifts to DR, and Reed comes in at the break, because Lymn has a yellow, and damned if I let them back in.

57 - They get one back, as the ball's flying everywhere. Murray steps in for tiring Barlone.

7.5s for Robert Warrell and Michael Martin, 8.1 for Billy Wales, and of course 9.5 for PotM Owen Kabodi, who came back in time from injury to secure...

MY FIRST EVER CUP TROPHY IN FM!!!!!!!!!!!



As you can see, we pocketed $750 for the trophy, our first ever cup prize money!

vs AFC Ringmer II (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Greg Tindle/Jordan Lymn
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Joakim Ehui
S: Owen Kabodi/Luke Barlone

Robert Warrell sustained a nasty, Jupiter-sized bruise the day before the match, so the Frenchman Joakim Ehui gets the call last second.

44 - They've been marking us heavy all game, including this one where Martin just manages to escalate it to Kabodi. Despite a guy on his ass, he wins the battle and feeds it into the box where Barlone has breathing room and blasts it in. 1-0

45 - And they answer right back before the half. Both teams are playing great 1-1

46 - Wales delivers it to Kabodi, who dribbles into the box. He's trying to line drive pass, but puts too much mustard on it, and it somehow whistles into the very corner of the net. Okay, we'll take that! 2-1

62 - Walker on for Wales; Reed for Hawes

70 - Great save by Tetek on a booming free kick, and then he blasts it all the way down the pitch to Martin, the Northern Irishman burning the defense en route to far post crossing to Kabodi. The opposing keeper fumbles helplessly as our scoring machine sings it home! 3-1

7s almost everywhere, with Michael Martin's 7.6, Billy Wales' 7.7, and PotM Owen Kabodi's 9.1 the standouts.





HELL YEAH!!!! Just out of curiosity, if we'd also won the Parsons Cup, would that have been the quadruple? The queble? Ah well, I'm fucking thrilled with a treble, no matter how low rent. Oh yeah, another $750 for that title, meaning we pocketed $1.5k just in prize money alone this year.

I'm going to *hate* the summer raiding season. I've really grown attached to this group of guys.



Hilariously, despite not having played a single minute there for us, Billy Wales is listed as the DM on our All-Time Best 11. We also see Michael Martin a reserve, despite 38 games with the club, the highest of anyone by far. (Though I can't dispute Alando Lewis and Greg Hackett there instead). [More curious: Bojan Tetek and Tajh Bell have the same average rating (6.81), but Bell is the starter pick despite much fewer starts. Weird.

Our average home attendance was 87 fans, smashing last year's marks by a crap ton.

I screw up the team meeting at the end of the season. Everyone is mad because I'm not expecting us to finish in the top half at the next level. They're not even happy with mid-table. Well shit, guys. It's enough I got the board on my ass - you don't need to do the same! So all the good feelings crash from happy to just Okay.

Well, fuck. Not a good thing to do heading into summer.

[Izulde]

Wow!

The board would like to meet to discuss potentially buying Adastra Park!

Of course I'm all for it. That can only help our bottom line, rather than having to pay rental space. It's 1,000 seater that's been only filling 8% on average, but with each level, ticket sales have increased.

I forgot to note it in the first season, but right now, average ticket price is $8, season tickets are $113, and we have 24 season ticket holders. Everything is the lowest level of facilities, too. Right now, we have $14.5k in the bank, which seems awfully low to buy the stadium.

We get a huge upgrade in the scouting department, firing our 5 Current/4 Potential Chief Scout and hiring a 12/12 guy.

Time for summer raiding.

And yet, by the time preseason starts, everyone is still here. Staff is recommending formation changes, but I'm not down with that right now. We'll roll with what's served us so far.

Oh, neat! The protests about Qatar have caused the 2022 World Cup to be moved to Morocco.

Speaking of, I missed sometime last season when Dan Okojie declared for Nigeria, so he technically counts in our non-English category now.

We romp through our first friendly, 5-1. I really want my assman to take over, because friendlies are boring as shit.

It's after that first one we get our first defection.

Transfer Out
Adam Murray - $7.5k

East Grinstead Mavericks are 1-10 favorites to win the Mid Sussex Division Eight. Everyone else is 5000-1, and we and Heath Rangers are respectively first and second of the Others.

0-0
2-0 W
2-1 W but this friendly win is devastating as we lose Owen Kabodi for 7-8 weeks to strained ankle ligaments and Nathan Dennis 4-5 weeks to a foot injury.

And all of a sudden, looking at our team, we've some holes to address. And I begin to see why the coaches recommended a new formation.

But more on that next time. Four weeks to go until the season starts. And knock on wood, but this has been the single quietest summer raiding season ever for one of my teams, and the only dude we lost was a guy who was our 4th/5th striker option at best, and buried deep on the DC depth chart as well.

[Izulde]

But you know what? Screw it. We'll just ride forth with what we have for now, and adjust as needed.

Bojan Tetek and Billy Wales will retain their respective roles as captain and vice-captain from last season.

Transfers Out
ST Owen Kabodi - $16.25k
DR/MR Jordan Lymn - $10.5k
Joakim Ehui - $3.5k
Greg Tindle - $9k

We sell 25 season tickets, 1 more than last year. The raids also came rather late this offseason, but they were considerable, to say the least.

Transfer In ST Reece Passmore - 17
10 Finishing/11 Composure/15 Determination/12 Teamwork. My staff is eh on him, but I think he's someone who can do something despite limited physical abilities.

@ AFC Ringmer II
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

3 - [b]Warrell/b] kicks it back to Wales for the boot way out on the wing to Gill. The high, far post cross sees Lewis score with no trouble at all. 1-0

5 - Martin short passes to Lewis just outside the box. He's being triple-teamed, so he lays off to Passmore, who dribbles through the open space into the box. Goalie starts coming out, and there's the smooth debut goal! 2-0

7 - Our defense may need more work 2-1

17 - Seriously?! 2-2

24 - Both Martin and Lewis have blown wide open shots, which isn't like them at all.

Walker replaces Neild; Evans is on for Cook at half.

76 - Unfucking believable. 2-3

80 - Great takeaway by Gill and the jackhammer down the field to Passmore, who traps and controls it. Triple team again, and he threads the needle forward into the box to Lewis for the score. 3-3

Ridiculous to tie that game and nearly lose it. We should have won.

We've lost around $900 so far this year over the first two months, but the board still likes me.

Transfer In - DLCR James Crane (27)
The three position backup replacement for Greg Tindle. Not great by any shakes, but he'll do.

@ Crawley Panthers (Parsons Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Adie Hawes/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

You may recall we suffered an embarrassing loss here in the first round last season. I'd like to avoid a repeat, especially given we're once again expected to win all the things.

9 - Wales with the wing out to Warrell who whips the near post cross to Lewis for the first score. To be honest, we got away with one there. He was offsides. 1-0

Walker comes in for an exhausted Wales at the half.

53 - Passmore belts a 25 yarder into space, and the defense wins. But the backpass to the goalie is sloppy slow, and Lewis beats the keeper for his second strike of the contest! Tricks slides in for Martin after the score. 2-0

85 - Brutal collision between Hawes and one of their guys, knocking both out of the game. Crane hops on.

7s everywhere in this solid victory, the highlights coming from Carl Gill (7.5), Robert Warrell (7.8), and PotM Alando Lewis (8.8).

Oh, and Sam Fisk leaves for another team. He just could never crack our rotation after his initial looks.

vs Linfield IV (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

48 - Neild shoots it on the far right wing to Gill, and Lewis charges forward on the center cross to kick it in after a frustrating first half. 1-0

50 - Warrell dribbles down the right flank and then diagonal line drives a pass into the box, where Lewis repeats the diagonal kick, right into the net! 2-0

57 - Barlone on for Passmore

71 - Roberts bombs it down the line for Barlone on the right wing. Lewis gets the cross and 7/10 splits the shot between defenders for his hat trick Pumpy Tudors styo! 3-0

78 - Neild wants a rest, so Walker walks on.

How dominant was this win? Only Reece Passmore had less than a 7 among the starters. 7.5+ guys: Carl Gill (7.9), Robert Warrell (8.2) and of course PotM Alando Lewis with his 9.5.

Nico Muir snapped up an $11.5k offer to go, after Fisk just got another non-contract. Neither player could force their way into our plans, so it doesn't matter. Just kind of funny, really.

Not funny is Adie Hawes taking a $6k contract. I'm not exactly happy with how Jack Cook has been doing, and this just creates more pressure on us at DC.

Transfer In - ST Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson (22)
I had no real intention of signing another striker, as I'm happy with our three man rotation there, but this kid is absolutely incredible. Like, the best striker to ever put on a Keymer & Hassocks jersey if my scouts are right.

vs Crawley United (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
M: Michael Martin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

37 seconds - Lewis kicks back to Gill, and the header setup sees the defense outmuscle our newest striker. But then Warrell intercepts inside the box for the quick, short pass to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and it's a debut goal barely a half-minute after he stepped on the field! 1-0

7 - Fucking central defense. 1-1

19 - Warrell takes the lateral cross from Martin and dribbles all the way to the sideline before he booms a pass to Lewis in the box. Defense is right in his face, but our leading scorer calmly drills the ball right through it all and into the net. 2-1

58 - Walker for Wales; Crane for Roberts

8.4 for PotM Robert Warrell, who was just incredible all game long. 7.6 for Michael Martin as well.

We're now solely alone in 1st place, though a couple teams with 4 points have a game in hand on us. Nice way to bounce back from the first game stupidity.

[Brian Swartz]

By my calculations, you only need another 20 consecutive promotions(or something like that) to reach the EPL. I wonder what the odds are of you getting half that far before you have a season or two of rough sledding, curse the fact that you keep playing FM even though 'nothing works', 'supertactics R crapola' and other similar sentiments, and swear you don't ever want to play again.

Until the next time you do, that is :P

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

By my calculations, you only need another 20 consecutive promotions(or something like that) to reach the EPL. I wonder what the odds are of you getting half that far before you have a season or two of rough sledding, curse the fact that you keep playing FM even though 'nothing works', 'supertactics R crapola' and other similar sentiments, and swear you don't ever want to play again.

Until the next time you do, that is :P

Hopefully by then my reputation will be enough that someone else will hire me. I've had quite a few teams continue to be rumored they want me.

Which reminds:

Initially:

Coaching Attributes: All 5, save 1 in Technical and 11 Working with Youngsters
Mental Attributes: Adaptability 5, Determination 8, Player Knowledge 1, Youngster Knowledge 1, Man Management 4, Level of Discipline 2, Motivating 11

Now? Attacking 11, Defending 9, Fitness 5, Goalkeepers 7. Tactical 11, Technical 4, Mental 10, Working with Youngsters 11

Adaptability 5, Determination 9, Player Knowledge 7, Youngster Knowledge 5, Level of Discipline 2, Man Management 8, Motivating 11

Nice increases.

The team stuff is much the same as start, but our team value has doubled from $20k to $40k

Michael Martin finally leaves after getting $10k. There's a lot of players who have been sniffed around and keep rejecting offers to stay. Martin was one of them, until he finally got a five figure deal. And so our longest serving player departs.

Bojan Tetek and Carl Gill have good training. We made $2.13k last month and are back in the black for the year.

Transfer In - AMLR/MLR/ST Josh Dawkin (25) - Welsh
A selfish player unfortunately, but this dude is the truth as an upgrade on the left side. In fact, he steps in as one of our best players.

@Furngate (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Carl Gill
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

12 - We're awarded a PK and Fortnam-Tomlinson blows it.

29 - Dawkin kicks it up to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. We're awarded another PK, and this time it's Roberts who steps up. He converts. 1-0

38 - Fortnam-Tomlinson is knocked, so Lewis moves to the striker spot, and Warrell comes in at AMR.

55 - Two great interceptions by Wales, once to start a move and run down the right flank, the other after Lewis has the ball knocked away. Back to Lewis in the box, where he's being hemmed in on the touchline by two defenders. No problem, as it's a diagonal feed back a bit to the far post, where Dawkin waits to slam in the debut goal. 2-0

89 - HE WAS OFFSIDES!!! WHAT THE FUCK?! 2-1

92 - Bullshit PK given to them by Okojie, and they convert for a fucking RETARDED ASS draw. 2-2

I told them off for that one, you can be damned sure.

Transfer In - DL George Brislen-Hall (24)
Elite player who not only replaces Dan Okojie as our DL, he re-shuffles the talent pecking order on the squad.

Transfer In - DR/MR Jack McFarlane (23)
Another major talent upgrade, this time at DR. It also means I can move Carl Gill to DC, where I've been training him and he's reached competent. That means bye to Jack Cook as a starter.

@ East Grinstead Mavericks (Malins Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis

13 - Wales twisted his ankle, but he's going to play until half.

32 - My instinct was right, as Wales passes it to McFarlane just outside the right side of the box, our new DR muscling out the defender to get the ball. Center to Lewis, and we've the score. 1-0

Walker walks on for Wales at half.

47 - Outheaded on corner 1-1

59 - Tricks on for Dawkin's shit game.

64 - Brislen-Hall booms the free kick into the right side of the box, and I think it's going to be a goal kick when Gill saves the ball, pivots, and fires a diagonal in! 2-1

86 - Brislen-Hall whistles a ball *just* over the head of the defender, and it bounces into space for Lewis to pick it up in the box and trash the keeper on the 1 v 1 3-1

7.7 for Carl Gill in his debut start at DC (He's up to Competent there), 8.7 for George Brislen-Hall, and 8.8 for PotM Alando Lewis.

We lose Billy Wales for 5-6 weeks and Carl Gill decreases in potential. Awesome.

@ Lindfield III (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Scott Reed
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

15 - Wide open for Fortnam-Tomlinson and he cracks the post.

21 - Fucking awful attempt at clearance. 0-1

52 - Brislen-Hall throw-in to Reed and gets it back. The longball to the box, where Fortnam-Tomlinson gets there first, and this time his diagonal shot sings home. 1-1

58 - Crane for Roberts; Zuerner for Walker

92 - Dawkin on the corner, and Crane gets it in the scrum. No shot available, so he circles around and short passes to Zuerner, who short passes to Reed, and the shot is home for the dramatic late win!!!! 2-1

7.7 for deserved PotM Scott Reed; 7.6 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. Nice to show that we have some fightback in us after all, after I shredded the team at half.

[Izulde]

Transfer In - DC/DM/MR Jack Walder (27)
I've been looking for a better starting defensive midfielder, and though Walder isn't a huge upgrade, he's still appreciably better than anyone else we have here. He's also better than Ash Walker as a backup MC.

Transfer In - DC Jerel Ifil (35) - Saint Lucian
Veteran with 2 caps to his credit and the best central defender we've had in quite some time. Interestingly enough, he hates Dulwich Hamlet after playing there the last two seasons. Guess things went sour there. I try to get him to tutor Carl Gill, or any of our young defenders, but he isn't buying it.

@ Cuckfield Rangers III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

3 - They should have scored there.

26 - OFFSIDES ASSHOLE! 0-1

30 - Warrell drops a tight arc into the middle of the box, and Dawkin gets there first to put it away. 1-1

Crane goes in for Ifil at the half.

59 - Barlone in for Fortnam-Tomlinson

62 - Here's an amazing intercepting header by Walder down to Dawkin. Back to Walder and the laser into the box. Defense gets there first, but the backpass is weak, and Lewis laughingly darts forward to shoot it by the goalie. 2-1

8.2 and PotM for Josh Dawkin, 7.6 for Alando Lewis in a ho-hum game for us.

@ Ifield Galaxy III (Parsons Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Ash Walker/George Zuerner/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

6 - Intercepting header by the defense outside their box, but Lewis intercepts right back, sending the header to Fortnam-Tomlinson just outside the half-circle. The 25 yard strike sings true! 1-0

11 - Our Thai midfielder, Zuerner, gets waxed at midfield, dropping both him and the opponent. Ball squirts loose. Walker's first, and zooms it down outside the right side of the box where Lewis picks it up for the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Easy double, and just in this game, F-T's doubled his season goal output for us. 2-0

39 - Ugh. McFarlane with an own goal. 2-1

41 - "You don't save those!" Indeed, you don't, though Ifil deserves much of the blame for a shitty pass. 2-2

42 - Ifil own-goaled that like somebody fucking paid him to do it. What the fuck?! 2-3

At half, I chew everyone out.

46 - Walker wings it to Warrell, and there's the whipping cross seeing Fortnam-Tomlinson rising like the sun and scorching the header hat-trick in. 3-3

48 - Crane on for Gill

61 - Walder in for Zuerner

63 - SHIT! Lewis is knocked out with injury, and Barlone goes on.

83 - Cut on Barlone's hand, but we're out of subs.

93 - FUCK! FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!! 3-4

Piling on to that bullshit, we lose Alando Lewis for 4 weeks. He's only the best player on the whole damn team. And a day later? Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson pulls his hamstring and is gone for 4-5 weeks. Well, SHIT!

Robert Evans leaves on a non-contract and we lost $425 last month.

vs East Grinstead Mavericks (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Carl Gill/Jack Cook
DM: Scott Reed
M: Jack Walder/Jordan Neild
AM: James Tricks/Robert Warrell
S: Reece Passmore

Between injuries and tiredness, we're having to throw a makeshift lineup together for this one.

At half, Walder slides down to DM and Walker comes on, as Reed got blasted in the face.

57 - Barlone in for Passmore.

And yeah. It's the kind of game where Bojan Tetek wins PotM with an 8.1, because we played like shit all first half, and just couldn't find an opening in the second. Good news is, we still picked up a point on 2nd place.

This is the first really bad stretch we've had in my tenure. BTW, Reed is out 12-15 days with the face hit. Let's hope we can bounce back.

[Izulde]

@ Barcome II (Malins Challenge Cup 2nd Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Luke Barlone/Reece Passmore

Let's see how we go with neither of our starting strikers or our best central midfielder.

35 - Tetek with the blasted goal kick to Passmore. Double team starts closing, but the feed into the box finds a probably offsides Barlone for the score. 1-0

43 - McFarlane throws it in to Passmore, and he line drives it far post for a streaking Dawkin to slam it home! That's two assists for Passmore, BTW. 2-0

Walker replaces an exhausted Neild at the half.

54 - Zuerner comes in for Walder.

57 - Brislen-Hall throws into Barlone and gets it back, then crosses to Passmore. But the double team jumps and clears out the header. Problem being, the ball bounces down in the middle of the box, where Walker gets it, dribbles back to find his angle, and fires home his first ever goal for us! 3-0

60 - Warrell is the second man to get the ball after a throw-in, and he shoots it on down the line for Passmore. Just before the ball crosses the touchline, Passmore airs it near post to Barlone's head for yet another goal and assist combo, Barlone laughing as he knocked down the double team. 4-0

71 - Brilliant interception by Gill and the kick-on to Walker. The wide wing to Warrell, who whips it longball to Barlone. Opponent misjudges the header and here's Barlone with a hat trick! 5-0



Oh yeah, and Ash Walker got a 7.8 off the bench, which is rare for a reserve. Wrecker wrecker yall!

vs Heath Rangers (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Luke Barlone/Reece Passmore

55 - Crane on for Ifil; Wales in for Neild

What a completely garbage game. No highlights. Still, we're now 2 points ahead of the second place team, so 1 point is better than zero, but that's two straight league games we've had a 0-0 draw in.

[Izulde]

@ Handcross Village II (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

Finally back to full strength.Well, almost!

Tricks replaces the injured Warrell and Crane the tired Ifil at half. No highlights thus far.

88 - Lewis has had a couple of clear shots at the goal and missed this second half. Evidently he's got some rust. But here, McFarlane passes to Tricks just outside the box. A little shake and bake, and the grounder to the far post where an offsides Lewis puts it away. Ref doesn't call it, though. 1-0

91 - Brislen-Hall finds Crane on a near post corner kick, but rather than take the shot himself, Crane wisely lays off far post to Gill for the guaranteed victory. 2-0

7.7 for Jack McFarlane 8.1 for PotM George Brislen-Hall, 7.8 for Josh Dawkin, and a 7.7 bench mark for James Tricks. Our defense and midfield were almost all 7.2+. It's the strikers that really let us down in this one.

I really want to find an upgrade at central midfielder. Jordan Neild keeps getting downgraded by my staff, and he's a 1.5/1.5 now.

$1.23k profit. Yay.

Three different firings all on the same day - a Southern League Premier team, a Conf North/South team, and a Sky Bet League 2 team(!). I'm listed as the favorite for all 3 jobs.

@ Roffey III (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

*NOW* we're at full strength.

12 - The fullback doesn't look back when he passes back, and his back is wack when Fortnam-Tomlinson wins the race to the ball in the box, and puts it away. 1-0

24 - Throw-in by McFarlane is to Warrell, who takes a bit to trap it, and then the near post cross for Brislen-Hall to head in his first ever goal for us! 2-0

44 - Neild must know he's playing for his job, because he straight up steals the ball on a pass and arrows it down to Lewis. Dribble, dribble into the box, and the 1 v 1 is smooooooth. 3-0

Ifil and Wales are done at half for Crane and Walder respectively. Because energy reasons.

47 - Nothing doing there. Perfect placement. 3-1

60 - Nice recovery by Warrell on the blocked shot. He passes to Neild, who threads it out right wing for McFarlane to dribble on the flank until he centers it to where three people are standing - The keeper, a defender, and Fortnam-Tomlinson. I'm sure you can guess who won that battle. Oh, and the announcers are already calling the game for us. 4-1

63 - Sloppy backpass by Lewis there, and though I give Crane mad props for absolutely wiping his guy out, the ball squirted to another opponent, and Tetek couldn't recover in time to get there. 4-2

69 - Ninja-like pickoff by Gill and the line down to Fortnam-Tomlinson just outside the box. Short pass into it for Lewis, who rockets the fucker through three defenders. 5-2

Lot of great showings here. Obviously Alando Lewis (9.0) and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson (9.2 - PotM) were on fire, but George Brislen-Hall and Jack McFarlane book-ended 7.5s and Robert Warrell (8.2) and Jordan Neild (8.2) dominated the midfield. Every single starter pulled a 7.0 or better.

Another manager stops by to check out Jordan Neild, Billy Wales, and Alando Lewis. First time we've had someone scoping 3 of our guys at once. There have been a ton of offers for our dudes, but they keep rejecting contract offers from teams because they love here, and the pay isn't enough to get them to jump ship yet.

Luke Barlone gets hurt and is out 4-5 weeks, but that's okay because then the dispute over whether he or Reece Passmore should be our third striker is settled.

vs Danehill (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

9 - Brislen-Hall with the throw-in to Fortnam-Tomlinson and the first hyphenated player gets it right back for the first touch cross to Warrell for the thundering header of his first ever goal for us. Can't believe it's his first, but the kid has been assist man supreme so far this season. 1-0

11 - Lewis kicks it back to MacFarlane just outside the box (whose last name I keep misspelling). Another short pass, this one to Warrell, and the scorching long shot finds home! 2-0

Fortnam-Tomlinson jacked his heel, so he's replaced at the break by Passmore, and we swap our strikers.

56 - Neild sends it out to Warrell and the kid does what he does best - feeds the long pass in the box to Lewis for a score. 3-0

64 - Passmore intercepts a terrible pass to start a move that ends in Dawkin long lateral to Warrell, who blasts right into the box. Arriving at the same time as the ball is Dawkin to put it away. Hot.damn. 2 goals. 2 assists. Announcers are losing their shit over how awesome Warrell has been this game. 4-0

77 - So Neild rips the ball all way into the corner of the box. Clueless DR, Sheriff, makes an interception, but doesn't try to clear. Lewis gets it. Sheriff steals it back, and Lewis robs him again after he hangs on too long. Say hello to yet another score. 5-0

How dominant were we? Of the 10 guys in the game the full 90, only Bojan Tetek had less than an 8.1 at 7.2. We also had 4 players at 9+ - Robert Warrell (9.6), who got robbed of a 10. Even in the goal fests I've had in previous dynasties, no player has *ever* stood out to me like that in his complete mastery of the pitch. 9.0 for Billy Wales, 9.2 for Josh Dawkin, and 9.4 for Alando Lewis.

In fact, that might just be the most staggering game any of my teams has ever played in any FM universe ever.

Even the Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson news isn't bad - he's only out 2 weeks.

Another big league match coming up. We'll still be in 1st even if we lose, but a win would put us in fantastic shape at the halfway mark of the season.

[Brian Swartz]

I think this is the best stretch I've seen you put together on this game!

So ... what are you doing differently this time around, or is just plain dumb luck/hydroplaning?

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

I think this is the best stretch I've seen you put together on this game!

So ... what are you doing differently this time around, or is just plain dumb luck/hydroplaning?

Plain dumb luck, really. The talent level of the players on this team is far beyond the others at this level, I believe, so my tactics and whatnot don't really matter.

vs Barcombe II (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Jack Walder/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis/Reece Passmore

31 - Rainy days here. Brislen-Hall with the throw-in to Lewis. PK awarded after the defense shoves him! Passmore's chosen to take it, and he confidently powers it into the upper left corner of the net! 1-0

44 - Dawkin has it and he's dribbling down the left flank, when he suddenly cuts in to the middle. That allows him to find the spot for a pass to Passmore in the half-circle. Two steps, and hello second goal of the game, third of the season! 2-0

I pull lackadaisical MacFarlane at the half for Crane, and swap Crane and Gill.

58 - Nothing to do about that one. 2-1

67 - I switch to a 4-4-2 Diamond Wide with Neild at AMC; Walder at DMC, and Reed jumps in for a tired Ifil

7.6 for Josh Dawkin; 8.6 for PotM Reece Passmore. To be honest, we weren't great today, and I probably should have been harder on them, but like Elsa, I'm gonna let it go.

We continue to have striker injury problems, as Alando Lewis bruises his head and will miss our next match. Billy Wales gets injured as well, and will be out 3-4 weeks.

vs AFC Ringmer II (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Ash Walker/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

58 - Zuerner in for Walker and switch; Crane for Ifil

63 - All game long they've been forcing us back and back and back away from the box, really focusing on getting the draw. So we have to keep passing around. Here, Zuerner shoots it on the wing for Warrell, who nabs it just before it goes out of play. The near post cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and I swear the header is going to miss, but it sneaks in! 1-0

78 - Pristine composure on the interception by Zuerner, our Thai veteran sending it into space for Fortnam-Tomlinson to pick up, run all the way down the middle of the pitch and into the box, and slam in the guarantee goal. 2-0

7.7 for Jordan Neild and 8.8 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. Just missing 7.5 was Jack MacFarlane with 7.4.

vs Copthorne IV (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinals
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Ash Walker/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
S: Alando Lewis

I yell at the team at half for playing like shit.

57 - Tricks is on for Lewis; Zuerner for Walker and switch.

59 - Gill fucked us by missing the header. 0-1

72 - MacFarlane gets it on the far right wing out of the box. He short passes to Warrell for the far post cross to an unmarked Dawkin. And there's the equalizer. 1-1

111 - Dawkin gets the ball and is dribbling down the left side. Pass to Tricks, who goes forth into the box and shoots. Shot's deflected, but Dawkin is there to sink the rebound despite howls of offsides from the opposition (He genuinely wasn't, btw). 2-1

8.1 for Jordan Neild, 8.0 for Robert Warrell, and 8.8 for PotM Josh Dawkin. Just missing the 7.5 cut - Jerel Ifil with 7.4.

[Izulde]

I'm now back to Untouchable, and we made $3k last month.

Billy Wales has decreased ability.

Lindfield IV (8th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Ash Walker/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fornam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

44 - Brislen-Hall throws in to Dawkin, who dribbles backwards along the box perimeter before sending back to Brislen-Hall. The cross is perfectly bounced between three defenders and Lewis thunders the short shot so hard, it almost goes through the upper part of the net. 1-0

54 - Passmore pops on for Fortnam-Tomlinson; Zuerner for Walker, and both switch spots.

63 - Somebody, I didn't see who, missed a tackle there. 1-1

83 - Zuerner sees a huge hole in the defense, and hits the long groundball into space for Warrell. He picks up on the right side of the box. Eyes of the keeper are on Passmore in front, so Zuerner slips the pass behind him where Lewis is coming forth to score his second goal of the game. 2-1

90 - Neild passes it to Passmore for the first touch to Warrell outside the box. The 25 yard song hits the true note. 3-1

8.3 for Robert Warrell, 8.8 for PotM Alando Lewis, and 7.4 for Josh Dawkin. Oh, and 7.7 for Jordan Neild.

@ Crawley United (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fornam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

61 - Walker walks on for Neild.

72 - Passmore for Fortnam-Tomlinson and switch.

Just a game where we couldn't get it done. No real excuse for that, either. Our lead is cut to 4 points over 2nd, and stays at 9 over these guys.

vs East Grinstead Town III (Malins Challenge Cup Semifinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Carl Gill/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

42 - I pull Lewis for Passmore. Alando's head is not in the game at all today. There's been like three times he should have crushed it, and instead blew it.

47 - 28 seconds before the halftime whistle, Neild to Warrell, who two steps until passing to the far post, where Fortnam-Tomlinson and Dawkin are together. It's Dawkin who gets it and hits it. 1-0

Walker is in for tired Neild at the half.

60 - That's the kind of free kick no one can defend. Amusingly enough, the scorer had the same last name as my first girlfriend. 1-1

72 - Passmore takes MacFarlane's throw-in and gives it right back to him. The cross to Dawkin sees the header attempt deflected, but Warrell is right there to sink his own header shot that goes *just* past the keeper's outstretched fingers. 2-1

91 - Textbook interception by Walker, and he gets the ball to Passmore. The long ball into space, and Fortnam-Tomlinson picks it up, puts on the afterburners, and snaps home the insurance. Nice recovery for what been a terrible game for all three of our strikers. 3-1

7.9 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, 7.7 for Josh Dawkin, and 8.9 for PotM Robert Warrell.

Carl Gill will miss our next match due to the flu, and it's an important one for keeping us comfortably in first place.

[Izulde]

@ East Grinstead Mavericks (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Lot of buildup to this one, with lengthy press conferences on both sides. If we can beat these guys, that's a huge step forward to the title. Lose, and things will be a dogfight.

14 - Ifil's header interception is met with one from the defense. No problem as Neild snags it right back and short passes to Dawkin. The long ball comes and Fortnam-Tomlinson muscles the defense, dribbles into the box, and fires one home. 1-0

Walker for Wales and Crane for Ifil at the break due to tiredness.

46 - Cook intercepts a pass shortly after kickoff and gives it to Walder. Short pass to the right finds Fortnam-Tomlinson, who has his own safe give to Lewis. Dribble to midfield, and there's the long send in space for an unmarked Fortnam-Tomlinson to catch, dribble, and spear his second goal catch of the game. 2-0

48 - MacFarlane opts for a pass on the free kick, and we've a buildup deep in their half. Neild wings to MacFarlane on the right side for the quick kickback to Lewis. The defense is sagging off Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box, so Lewis passes it to him, and there's the hat trick! 3-0

69 - MacFarlane starts a move with a free kick just barely in our half. The sequence finishes with Walder right wing spray to MacFarlane hugging the sideline. Dribble to line up with the box, and nobody can stop Dawkin's header after the cross. 4-0

8.8 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.9 for Jack Cook in a major redemption game, 7.5 for George Brislen-Hall, 7.6 for Jack Walder, 9.0 for Alando Lewis, 8.7 forJosh Dawkin, and of course 9.6 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

I'm amused at having three Jacks in the starting lineup. Makes me want to get a fourth to have a complete set.

13 games played and we're 7 up on 2nd, 9 up on 3rd. Suffice to say, promotion clinching isn't far off at all with six matches left to play.

vs Fletching (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack McFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

2 - Incredible steal by Lewis despite two defenders with him after the clearance. Facing the double-team pressure still, he wings it out 30 yards left to Dawkin, who booms a drop pass into the box. Fortnam-Tomlinson is just onsides and takes the shot. It's deflected, but he's there for his own rebound and it's past the hapless, crumpled keeper. 1-0

14 - MacFarlane throws into Lewis inside the right side of the box. He quickly checks to his left and passes opposite to Brislen-Hall, who shoots through the gap in the defense into the net for his second goal of the year! 2-0

19 - Lots of really bad passes by the opponents here. Wales picks off one, laterals to Lewis, who dribbles down the right flank. Pass into the box, and Fortnam-Tomlinson is just too amazing to stop. 3-0

24 - Tetek felt sorry for these guys, so he own goals. I ain't even mad. 3-1

43 - They own goal it to return the favor. 4-1

58 - Walker in for Neild and midfield switch. Fuck it, Passmore for Fortnam-Tomlinson.

84 - Tetek stops one shot, but he's not quick enough to push away the rebound. 4-2

89 - Not that we needed it, but sure, we'll take that second own goal gift. 5-2

7.5 for George Brislen-Hall, 7.6 for Billy Wales, 8.5 for Alando Lewis, and 8.7 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, who isn't bothered by the early pull after I tell him he deserved a rest.

Six straight wins in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup breaks the tournament record.

We lose Jack Walder for 5-6 weeks to knee cartilage injury before our next game, but that's okay.

vs Furngate (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jordan Neild
M: Ash Walker/Billy Wales
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

5 - Lewis is about to draw triple-team hate outside the box, so he gives it to Fortnam-Tomlinson, who then has four dudes converging on him. Safety valve wing out to MacFarlane all by himself, and the ensuing far post cross sees Dawkin score goal #9 with ease. 1-0

35 - Walker is facing his own double team shadows, so he passes to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Quick feed in the box to Lewis, and I have no idea what that weak, wack ass grounder was. I have even less idea how the keeper doesn't manage to get to that slow ball as it moseys into the net. 2-0

Neild moves back up to the central midfield in place of Wales, and Reed jumps in at DM at half. Everyone's looking awfully lazy, so I tell them to snap out of it. That freaks out Lewis and Fortnam-Tomlinson, but F-T was 2-C, so whatever man.

47 - Own goal? Okay. 3-0

90 - Ifil, exhausted as he is, intercepts when they're threatening, and passes to Dawkin. Lot of fiddle-faddling around before the layoff to Walker. Pass to Neild, and the breakthrough long ball that bounces into the box follows. Fortnam-Tomlinson and own goal guy footrace to it. Yeah, you know who wins. 4-0

Our entire backline had 7.6 or higher, including 8.1 by Jack MacFarlane. But that's not all. All of our starting midfielders except Wales and our striker scored 8.1 or higher, the PotM going to Alando Lewis with 9.1.

They definitely didn't get complacent after I cautioned them.

[Izulde]

$72 profit last month, and I'm still Untouchable.

Transfer Out - George Zuerner (29)
Our Thai veteran finally packs his bags. I'll miss his versatility, but he's only good enough for the next level up. He played in 6 league games for us, 3 a piece last year and this one, averaging a 6.87 both seasons. Evidently Cup games aren't a part of it? He signed a PPA deal with Sevenoaks, a semi-pro side, and is a striker in their flat 4-4-3, where he had a 6.9 in his first game with the club.

6 points is all we need to clinch the championship.

vs Linfield III (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

3 - Dawkin with the short pass ahead to Lewis. It's congested in the middle of the pitch, so he gets it out to a solo Brislen-Hall on the left wing. Cross into the box finds Fortnam-Tomlinson catching on and slotting it in. 1-0

6 - Throw-in by MacFarlane to Wales, who immediately longballs it in to space. Fortnam-Tomlinson already has the defense beat, so it's no trouble at all for him to get the ball, dribble forth into the box, and savage the keeper on the 1v1. 2-0

43 - Neild header intercepts in our half, nodding it on to Warrell. The pass down the line is to Lewis, who sends it on to Fortnam-Tomlinson for the easy first half hat trick! 3-0

51 - A triangular buildup in their half that ends in Fortnam-Tomlinson sending it left to Brislen-Hall, the cross to Dawkin's head securing yet another score. 4-0

73 - Perfect shot there. 4-1

78 - Walker and Reed replace Wales and Neild.

82 - I swear he was offsides! 4-2

We really tanked it in the last 10 minutes. As a result, we're at 9.0 for Billy Wales, 8.4 for Josh Dawkin, and 9.4 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, whereas before we were playing outstanding team soccer.

Oh well. We clinch automatic promotion to Mid Sussex Football League Division Seven next year.

Transfer Out - Carl Gill (18)
The only youth pull I signed from our initial crop, he had over 40 appearances with us the last two years, 26 league games. Last season was his standout, with 2 goals, 2 assists, and 2 MoM awards with a 7.29 rating. This year, he was down to 2 assists and a 6.99 rating, eventually losing his starting job at DC to Jack Cook after having already been replaced at DR by Jack MacFarlane. He also took a PPA deal.

Keymer & Hassocks Youth Candidates 4 K&H U18s 1
Absolutely shocking upset. Only Ash Walker (9.0 and PotM) showed up for the U18s, which featured players who are at least rotational/sub guys in our setup. Does this mean we have an amazing crop of youth pulls?

Well... no. A couple of guys I might consider signing, but overall, very underwhelming lot. I'll think on it a bit before deciding.

[Izulde]

I elect to only sign one guy. DM/MC Nick Plant, who is selfish and has low self-confidence. I know what it's like to doubt one's self, so I want to give him a chance. There's a couple 3.5* potential rated guys, but Plant isn't one of them. He's only 2. But screw it. I love his last name. Reminds me of Avenger of Zendikar's plant tokens, and I love me some AoZ in my Mayael deck.

@ Heath Rangers (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

Win this one against the team that came up from the Ninth division with us, and we win the title. Don't be fooled by their 5th place ranking - they have 18 points, but the 9th place team has 17 points with three games to play. 9th and 10th relegate. With 12 points, the last place team, AFC Ringmer II, is almost certain to drop. Only us, East Grinstead Mavericks, and Crawley United are guaranteed to avoid relegation (with our having secured promotion already). 4th place squad has 19 points, so it's really been a case of the Top 3, and then everyone else bar AFC Ringmer II.

3 - We've beaten Heath Rangers five times in a row, so I thought they were going to score here. Nope. Cook with a great takeaway and the give to Neild deep in our half. Incredible line drive all the way down the pitch into the box, where Fortnam-Tomlinson wins the race and lays off to Lewis. He hesitates to pick his spot, and then sings home his 20th goal of the year. 1-0

5 - Fantastic interception by Cook to start a move with the finisher of Neild sending out to MacFarlane outside the right box. Center cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and our two strikers both score their 20th goal of the season in the game, 2 minutes apart!!! Beautiful. 2-0

12 - Dawkin with a IFK that he boots to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. Bada bing, bada bang! 3-0

16 - Neild recovers the ball on the clearance and short passes to Wales. One time touch goes to Warrell just outside the right side of the box. There's a defender shadowing him, but not pressing, so the easy cross sees Fortnam-Tomlinson head it in for his umpteen thousandth first half hat-trick of the season!!!! 4-0

43 - Again a fearless pickoff by Cook, who then launches it all the way downfield to Lewis on the right side. Defender takes away the ball, but Lewis blocks the ball with his body and gets it back on the corner kick marker. What's intended to be a cross bounces off the goalie and in for a fluke goal. 5-0

53 - They're not letting up, constantly challenging us for possession, and get a couple steals this sequence. But guys like Ifil are always up to intercept it in turn. Fortnam-Tomlinson has the ball in the box, but a tackle dispossesses him. No problem, as Dawkin picks it up and crosses to Lewis. Second hat-trick of the game, motherfucker!!!!. Oh, snap! 6-0

76 - Heath Rangers continue to fiercely battle, staving off shot after shot. But MacFarlane snags a loose ball on the right side perimeter of the box, crossing to Fortnam-Tomlinson for a thunderous long-range header that goes home! 7-0



Legitimate question - what the hell does a guy have to do to earn a 10 rating anymore?!

That margin of victory destroys both the club and Division Eight records (5-0 in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup Semi-Final, and 6-1 last season respectively), and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson is the first player in Keymer & Hassocks and Division Eight history to score 4 goals in a game.

@ Burgess Hill Rhinos (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Semi-Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Ash Walker/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

3 - Absolutely acrobatic save by Tetek there! I thought for sure that was going in.

Lewis slides over to Poacher, and Passmore replaces Fortnam-Tomlinson at half, because Bradley is just blah in this game.

56 - Wales subs in for Neild, and MC switch.

68 - Walker to Wales and the bouncer in the box for Lewis to snare and score on a diagonal. Finally! 1-0

Lot of low 7s, but the standouts are Ash Walker (7.6) and PotM Alando Lewis with an 8.1. I feel like Bojan Tetek should have gotten more than 7.3, because he made a couple of really amazing saves to win this one for us. Oh wait, Billy Wales picked up a 7.5 off the bench.

Not bad, considering I feared a major letdown after the goals burst last game, and the fact this match took place just 3 days after our title clincher.

AFC Ringmer II is officially relegated.

Transfer In - DC/ST Alasan Ann - 24 (Gambian)
I'm excited to bring this guy in. He's got nice physical attributes - nothing lower than a 8, and quite a few 12s. Has the ability to be our third striker and a legitimate poacher. He'll get starts in our last two league games, either at DC or ST, to be able to start adapting himself.

We make that move the day before Transfer Deadline Day. On the day itself, teams try frantically to steal Jack Cook, Ash Walker, and Bojan Tetek, but the clock runs out before that can happen.

Time to play out the thread on this season.

[Izulde]

$342 profit last month. Scott Reed has increased ability, but it's only to maybe Division Seven. We're really going to need to look for a DM if we're planning on using the 4-1-3-2 DM Wide next year. We've been using the 4-4-2 heavily this season due to matchups anyway, but still.

vs Roffey III (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook
M: Chris Shephard/Billy Wales/Ash Walker/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Reece Passmore

Lot of B-lineup guys, because yeah, nothing to play for.

31 - Fortnam-Tomlinson gets the ball on a line drive from Passmore and dribbles into the box, but his shot rattles off the top of the crossbar. No problem, as Shephard charges in to score the rebound goal. 1-0

38 - Complete fluke goal by Warrell after Wales' pass. 2-0

45 - Walker to Wales, and the crossing bounce pass on the wing to Shephard. Cross to the near post, and Fortnam-Tomlinson puts it away. 3-0

80 - Oh well. 3-1

87 - Wales jacks it down the line for Fortnam-Tomlinson's run. Triple team hate draws, so he lays off to Passmore, and there's just enough space despite the defender on his ass for our prospect to sink the kick. 4-1

Our entire backline had 7.1 or better, with Asalan Ann having a standout 7.7 debut. In fact, no one on the team with the exception of Tetek's 6.8 had lower than 7.1. Other highlights: 8.1 for Robert Warrell, 8.7 for Billy Wales, 7.8 for Reece Passmore, 9.0 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and 9.1 for PotM Chris Shephard.

@ Barcome II (7th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

Gotta make sure all our guys are match fit as possible for Cup finals, so full strength lineup today, save for in goal.

20 - Own goal by Ann. Fuck. 0-1

56 - Ann moves up to striker and Passmore comes on, sitting out both our scoring stars who act like they don't want to be here. Cook comes in at DC.

73 - Well shit. 0-2

87 - Warrell has it in the box and crosses to Ann, whose shot is pushed aside. Warrell has the presence for the rebound to give us a faint hope. 1-2

What a complete shithole of a game. Jerel Ifil just lost himself our Cup appearance with his ass-sucking 6.2.

Furngate is relegated, and Crawley United, well, crawls up to 2nd to go up with us. Heath Rangers fires their shit-talking manager after they lost five straight to close the season and end up 8th.

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson crushes the old league average rating record with 8.05. Previous best was 7.06. Like I said when we signed him, the absolute best striker ever to put on the Keymer & Hassocks jersey.

We earn Biggest Underachievers in the Parsons Challenge Cup. Eat my ass.

vs Burgess Hill Athletic (Malins Challenge Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jack Cook/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Billy Wales/Jordan Neild
AM: Josh Dawkin/Alando Lewis
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Karl Beckford praises Jack Cook before the game, which I thought was kind of cool. Beckford himself has been exceptional for Longlevens this season, after a disastrous year at Swindon Supermarine.

This is the biggest crowd we've ever played in front of, if I'm not mistaken. 539 tickets have been sold. The press catches me in the tunnel and asks about Jerel Ifil being left off. Because he sucked last game, that's why.

25 - Excellent interception by Wales, and it starts a move on the right side that sees Lewis send it down the line to MacFarlane. Cross far post, and Fortnam-Tomlinson's leaping header *just* stays inside, bouncing in for the first strike! 1-0

45 - Lot of triple teams going on, but Neild gets alone and puts it on the wing for Lewis to secure on the sideline. There's the cross, and a gorgeous sliding tackle by Fortnam-Tomlinson goes in!!!! 2-0

60 - Tricks comes on for Lewis; Neild slides to DM, and Walker comes in at MC.

Not dominant, but this squad is playing at the level above ours, so it's a good test for next season. 7.8 for Jack MacFarlane and of course 8.8 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, the great hero of the ages.

And that's a double!!! Weirdly enough, the fans are ecstatic with how we played.

We pocket a cool $2.53k for the win. Reece Passmore led the tournament in assists with 4, while Josh Dawkin topped the goal-scoring charts with 4.

Graham Moss, the opposing boss, talks shit, saying we're not as good as we think. I hope we kick your ass next year, fucker. You just barely avoided relegation. Robert Warrell set the Malins Challenge Cup rating record with 8.23, by the way. Previous high was 8.13.

Moss calls me undignified after I point out his trash-talking fired. Fuck you. One of us has a huge ass Cup trophy won in front of a giant crowd for this level. Who's that? Oh wait, ME! Suck it.

We'll be without George Brislen-Hall in our last Cup final after he sustains a nasty bruise. Jack Walder will also miss, thanks to severe food poisoning.

Buxted III wins the Tester Challenge Cup 7-0, crushing the old 4-0 Tester Challenge margin of victory. Well done to them. Crawley Panthers demolish the old average attendance record for the competition with 85, wiping out Heath Rangers' 43.

vs Wisdom Sports (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Final)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jack Cook/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Jordan Neild/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

George Brislen-Hall is now a leading Isthmian D1 DL according to our scouts, and is one of the absolute top players on the squad. I love that dude, and both hypenated players are top priority to sign if they're still here whenever we turn semipro.

We're favored, and this is a Division Five team. Let that sink in for a moment. No wonder we're blitzing through these leagues. They also won this trophy a couple years ago, whereas we won last season.

36 - Beautiful pass block by Warrell, and he runs down the loose ball. Dribbling down the right flank a bit, then the long ball to free Lewis. His cross to the far post finds Fortnam-Tomlinson unmarked, and it's in! 1-0

[b]59[//b] - Walker replaces Wales. Fortnam-Tomlinson moves to the DF slot, Ann moves up to the Poacher position, and Ifil comes on at DC. Despite the assist, Lewis hasn't been playing very well.

76 - Ann has it in the box after a cross from Warrell, but he's drilled and the ball squirts loose. Dawkin beats the defense to the punch, and with two steps forward, scorches the insurance goal. 2-0

Every full-time starter except for Asalan Ann picked up a 7.0 or better. All the props to Bojan Tetek and his 7.6 - he kept making top-shelf saves all game long. Josh Dawkin just edged him out for PotM though, with a 7.7.

The treble is sweet. But seeing our names on the champions list for this trophy as back-to-back? That's even more beautiful. That's also another $2.53k in the bank. 539 people for this one, 3 below the Malins Challenge Cup's 542 attendance. Evidently the previous one got a handful of walk-up tickets.

8 of the Top 10 players in average rating for Division Eight, including the Top 7, were all Keymer & Hassocks players. We pretty much dominated the league, so it's not worth going through anything until we start running into real competition.

+32 GD and only that obnoxious loss to mar our season.

Our 12 victories in a row is a Mid Sussex Junior Cup record.





Absolute mastery.

And now come the summer raids. Two years ago was devastating. Last season, not so much, as I didn't think Owen Kabodi was very consistent, and we had Alando Lewis still in the fold.

We'll see what this year brings.

[Izulde]

As I thought, we didn't have enough to buy the stadium. We do, however, get very slight increases in next year's sponsors, and presently have just shy of $32k in the bank.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Stuart Harrington (18)
My 12/12 Scout loves his upside as a 3* player. My coaches are meh on him. As it stands right now, he's a 4th/5th DC, 2nd DM, and 4th central midfielder. Fans are excited and see a lot of potential in him. So we'll see what comes of it. Hilariously enough, he gets a contract offer from someone else the very next day.

Argentina wins the World Cup 3-2 over Germany in extra time. Sounds like a thrilling game.

Division Seven Promotion Odds
Hartfield; Burgess Hill Athletic: 1-10
Keymer & Hassocks: 1-5
Ardingly II: 6-4
Ifield Galaxy III: 7-4

and then it drops to 33-1. You may recall that Ifield Galaxy III knocked us out of the Parsons Challenge Cup last season, so there's revenge in mind.

11 teams in the league, so we'll be playing 20 games this season instead of the usual 18 we've gotten used to the past two years.

Guess who is now listed as a Keymer & Hassocks Icon?! That's right - me! First time I've ever managed to get either myself or one of my players to Icon status.

We go 3-1 in preseason.

Bojan Tetek and Billy Wales will be our team and vice captains for the third straight year. I think the reason why we've been able to establish such continuity is because of with 23 levels (playing on Level 20 this year), there's a truckload of amateur teams, so the semipro squads have a lot to choose from. It also means they're willing to pay less on salaries, which pisses players off.

26 season tickets sold, 1 more than last year.

Transfer Out
Jordan Neild - $10.5k

Transfer In - MC/AMC Matthew Aldred (29)
Could play literally anywhere in the middle of the pitch if need be, but he'll replace the just departed Neild as our starter alongside Billy Wales. My coaches think he's the best player we have there right now, in fact.

@ Hartfield
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Matthew Aldred/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alando Lewis

28 - We've been shanking sitter after sitter after sitter, but this go-round, MacFarlane throws into Aldred, who drop shots it into the penalty box for Fortnam-Tomlinson to finally score. Nice debut assist! 1-0

48 - Passmore replaces the sucktastic Lewis

61 - Ugh. 1-1

70 - Dawkin crosses to Wales for the long-range shot. Keeper deflects it, but Fortnam-Tomlinson continues his stellar game by pouncing it and spearing in the go ahead goal. We also sub Crane in for Cook 2-1

77 - Fucking sloppy ass defending on that free kick. 2-2

Transfer Out - Alando Lewis - $22.5k
LOL. Plays like shit in the preseason, gets yanked in the first game, and then at long last gets the money he's been looking for. Teams have been after him non-stop, and he finally goes. I'll review his career with us more fully in the next post.

[Young Drachma]

Catching up.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Catching up.

Glad to have you back reading.

vs Barcombe II (Parsons Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Matthew Aldred/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Reece Passmore

The jackasses that cost me my perfect Division Eight season. Revenge is on my mind.

At half, Cook is injured and Passmore stinks, so Harrington is on for Cook, Ann slides up to DF, Aldred shifts down to DC, Walker is on at MC, and he and Wales switch.

77 - Free kick by them, and Tetek stops the salvo. But he can't hold it, and they win the race to the rebound. Unfucking believable. 0-1

And that's it. For the second straight year in a row, we get embarrassed in the Parsons Challenge Cup.

Alando Lewis History
Signed in the summer following the Year 1 raid, Lewis played the AMR in our 4-1-3-2 Wide in the Division Nine Season, occasionally the defensive forward next to Owen Kabodi in the rare times we used the 4-4-2 or 4-4-2 Wide Diamond. Then, after Kabodi left, and we used the 4-4-2 most often this past year, Lewis was once again partnered with a more explosive forward in Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

Often praised by the media, Lewis was somewhat lesser regarded by the fans and the team, who loved his strike partners better. Nonetheless, his 49 appearances and 35 goals rank 2nd and 1st respectively all-time, and his 7.69 average rating is behind only Kabodi (7.71) and Fortnam-Tomlinson (7.9).

Barring a sudden change in fortunes, BFT will pass Lewis up for most goals scored, and others will surpass him in appearances. But he was still a vital part of our early teams, and in particularly shone during Cup play, which is where he banged in a lot of his goals.

***

vs East Grinstead Meads (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Stuart Harrington/Jack MacFarlane
M: Josh Dawkin/Billy Wales/Matthew Aldred/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Alasan Ann

11 - Wales sends it on to Dawkin for the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Despite two defenders blanketing him, our best.striker.ever. sneaks the shot in. 1-0

30 - Lot of back and forth here, but then Wales passes to Ann, who very slyly sneaks it to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. Pro tip: When two defenders are converging on an attacker, it's genuinely not wise to come out of the net. Especially not when the attacker is who he is. Another score. 2-0

I put in a lot of tired people in this one, because they were our best players and we need to get a win to get off the snide. Come half, we're up well enough, and I can afford to burn all three subs. Walker replaces Wales; Tricks comes for Dawkin; Ann moves to the poacher slot, and Passmore comes in for Fortnam-Tomlinson.

48 - Brislen-Hall feeds it in the box to Ann, who despite two defenders glued to him, gets off a shot that has me half out of my chair. But the post denies him. Fortunately, Passmore strolls up and sinks it for his first goal of the year. 3-0

49 - Penalty called on Ifil. Looked bullshit to me. They sink of course. 3-1

51 - Passmore has it deep in our half, and he pops a ball into space for Ann to get. He does, and with the whole damn opposition chasing after him, our Gambian dual duty player runs down the pitch and shoots the 1 v1, finally getting his first ever goal for us!!! 4-1

76 - Absolutely shit defense by Ifil. He's 36, so maybe the game has passed him by at this point. 4-2

7.7 for Josh Dawkin and 8.7 for PotM Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, showing you how much they dominated the first 45 minutes. But Alasan Ann finished with an 8.3, and Reece Passmore picked up a 7.4 bench rating.

Transfer In - MR/AMRL/ST Evans Kouassi - 24 (Ivory Coast)
Although we've been hunting up strikers, this Ivorian turned out to be a huge improvement in almost every facet over Robert Warrell. Don't get me wrong - I love what Warrell has done in terms of overachieving, but any time you can get this much a talent upgrade, you take it.

@ Ardingly II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/James Crane/Tom Roberts/Jack MacFarlane
M: Chris Shephard/Jack Walder/Matthew Aldred/Evans Kouassi
S: James Tricks/Reece Passmore

Due to exhaustion all across the board, it's a mostly B-lineup here.

6 - Walder's in the half-circle at midfield, and then he boots it all the way down into the box. Tricks and the keeper are in a race for it, but then the goalie suddenly hesitates, and that's enough for Tricks to get there and hoof it in! Nice bit of work for someone who's been unhappy about not getting much PT. 1-0

45 - Just before half, Crane's stupid fucking ass misses the interception. 1-1

Needless to say, Ann replaces Crane.

52 - Shephard recovers his cleared out corner and crosses, where Passmore's goofy head-bobble just *barely* manages to stay in the corner of the net! 2-1

59 - Walker in for Aldred

It's the kind of game where Jack Walder's 7.7 is good for PotM and Chris Shephard's 7.6 is the only other 7.5+ rating on our squad. But you know, considering what we were working with, I'll take that kind of grindy victory.

Transfer In - ST Edwin Ahenkorah - 24 (Dutch)
Raw player, but if/when he develops, he'll be an adequate replacement for Alando Lewis.

And then it happens.

Transfer In - ST Jamie Gray - 24 (Irish)
He's equal to Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson in overall talent level. More to the point, his skills are sharper technically, with far greater leadership abilities (11 vs 1). BFT is superior mentally and physically for the most part, so they'll make a nice pairing. Though who goes where is still TBD.

Better think on that one a bit. Either way, this is a huge deal. We've not had two strikers of this caliber playing together, ever.

In fact, this probably calls for an overall review of our team and study of our makeup. It may be time to change things.

[Izulde]

Goalkeepers
Bojan Tetek (21) (Serbian) - 3/4
Nathan Dennis (22) - 1/3.5

Because of how heavily I lean on my #1 goalie in every dynasty ever, I'm not particularly fussed about getting a new backup. Besides which, Nathan Dennis is the lone original Keymer & Hassocks player.

Defenders Left
George Brislen-Hall (25) - 4.5/4.5
Dan Okojie (21) (Nigerian) - 2/3.5
James Crane (28) - 0.5/0.5

I'm comfortable here, too. GBH is the best player on the team, and despite occasional consistency issues, I've always really liked Okojie. Crane needs replacing.

Defenders Center
Jerel Ifil (36) (St. Lucian) - 2.5/2.5
Jack Cook - 23 - 2/2.5
Alasan Ann - 24 (Gambian) - 2/3
Stuart Harrington - 19 - 1/4
Tom Roberts - 29 - 1/1
Crane - 0.5/0.5
Matthew Aldred - 29 - 0.5/0.5

We're okay here, with Harrington particularly promising. My intention is to run an Ann/Harrington pairing and play to the upside, since we have very few standouts and lots of solid depth.

Defenders Right
Jack MacFarlane - 24 - 3.5/4.5
Cook - 2/2.5
Crane 1.5/1.5

Essentially like DL - a great player, and solid enough backups.

Defensive Midfielders
Jack Walder - 27 - 1.5/1.5
Harrington - 1/4
Aldred - 0.5/0.5

Or I could change to a DM formation, put Harrington there, and then let Ifil back in the DC starting mix. That perhaps seems like the best option, as you'll see when we get to MCs.

Midfielders Left
Josh Dawkin - 26 (Welsh) - 3/3
Chris Shephard - 29 - 1.5/1.5
James Tricks - 25 - 0.5/0.5
Robert Warrell - 17 - 0.5 silver/1.5

Remember when Warrell was a 3* potential player? We've so upgraded our talent that it's no longer the case. I'm fine with this for now, but wouldn't mind some better teeth here.

Midfielders Center
Aldred - 2/2
Walder - 1.5/1.5
Billy Wales - 25 - 1/1
Ash Walker - 26 - 1/1
Harrington - 5 silver/4

What was once a particular strength of our squad is now the weakest link. I think it high time we do away with the 4-4-2 and at last get more use out of the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide.

Midfielders Right
MacFarlane - 1.5/2.5
Evans Kouassi - 24 (Ivorian) - 1.5/2.5
Dawkin - 1.5/1.5
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Walder - 0.5/0.5
Warrell - 0.5 silver/1.5

We've been hunting for a better MR, and while Kouassi is an improvement, it's not quite enough.

Attacking Midfielders Left
Dawkin - 3/3
Shephard - 2/2
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Kouassi - 0.5/1
Warrell - 0.5 silver/1.5

Not much changed here from ML, though Shephard becomes a much better option.

Attacking Midfielders Center
Shephard - 2.5/2.5
Aldred - 1.5/.5

Perhaps the strongest argument for the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide - Shephard is better than anything we can put up at MC.

Attacking Midfielders Right
Kouassi - 1.5/2.5
Dawkin - 1.5/1.5
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Warrell - 0.5 silver/1.5

Continued problems with the right side.

Strikers
Jamie Gray - 24 (Irish) - 4/4
Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson - 23 (Northern Irish) - 4/4.5
Ann - 1/2
Tricks - 0.5/0.5
Edwin Ahenkorah - 24 (Dutch) - 0.5/1.5
Crane - 0.5/0.5
Kouassi - 0.5/2.5
Dawkin - 0.5/0.5
Passmore - 0.5 silver/0.5

Lots of bodies, but the only truly good reserves are all slotted elsewhere. I admit to a hearty laugh at seeing an Irishman and a North Irishman as our starting strikers. No doubt we want to keep them from political discussions.

Jack Cook shows increased current ability; Robert Warrell increased potential ability. Eddie Claridge shows decreased potential.

Transfer In - MC/AMC/AML Rumen Nedelchev - 18 (Bulgarian)
My top scout thinks he'll be decent, but grades him behind Chris Shephard currently. My coaches consider him equal to Shephard right now, and brimming with elite potential. He's also an upgrade at AML backup in any case, if not beating Dawkin outright, so this is a pretty big get, and he'll have first crack at the AMC. Yay, Bulgaria!

vs Handcross Village II (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Evans Kouassi
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Rumen Nedelchev's signing didn't process through in time for this match, so we'll go with this for now.

54 - Our finishing stinks. Ahenkorah on for Fortnam-Tomlinson; Ifil replaces the equally lackluster Cook.

85 - Pitiful defense. 0-1

89 - Brislen-Hall is untouched outside the box, and he wings it to Dawkin. The long line drive cross, and here's Kouassi charging in to put away his first goal for us. 1-1

We played well enough to win, but were forced to settle for a tie. Ugh. George Brislen-Hall will miss our next game as well with a head injury.

@ East Grinstead Town III (1st)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Robert Warrell
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Big match today. We really need to pick up a win here.

48 - Dawkin on the corner, and the giant Harrington rises above them all to smash in the header! 1-0

52 - Nobody, and I mean nobody covered that dude. Ifil in for Cook. 1-1

60 - Lot of buildup around their half of the pitch. Finally, Harrington hoofs it to Dawkin, and with the ensuing aerial cross, the keeper doesn't know which of our two strikers to eye, so Fortnam-Tomlinson knocks it in with his head. 2-1

63 - Dawkin has it deep in our half and cannons the ball all the way down into space in the box. Gray wins the footrace, jukes the defender, and bangs one with authority, finding the net! Shephard swaps in for Nedelchev. 3-1

83 - Shephard's corner is kicked away, but it's short and Dawkin, who has assists on all 3 goals this match, finds the seam and puts it away! 4-1

8.5 for Dan Okojie and Stuart Harrington, 9.4 for PotM Josh Dawkin, 8.0 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and 8.3 for Jamie Gray.

That launches us back into 1st on goal differential, with a game in hand to boot. Jerel Ifil has earned himself the start over Jack Cook next game, as he's been superior when coming on as a reserve for Cook's struggles.

But then we lose Josh Dawkin for 3-4 weeks. Ugh.

vs Burgess Hill Athletic (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jerel Ifil/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Rumen Nedelchev/Evans Kouassi
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

20 - Out goes Fortnam-Tomlinson with a back injury. Ahenkorah replaces him.

49 - Cook in for Ifil as we keep revolving door there.

81 - Kouassi throws in to Ahenkorah outside the box, who backpasses into space in the box. Wide open, and here's Harrington blasting a shot that the keeper completely misjudges! 1-0

8.4 for PotM Harrington and 8.2 for Rumen Nedelchev. I love Harrington's 6'7, 200 lb monstrosity out there. Those two have been putting in serious work since being brought in.

[Izulde]

@ Ifield Galaxy III (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Jerel Ifil/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Chris Shephard/Robert Warrell
AM: Matthew Aldred
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Fatigue issues to deal with here, as there's not much gap between games.

39 - We've been denied a ridiculous amount of times by the post, and missed easy sitters. No different here, as Gray kicks back to Shephard for the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Shot rattles off the post. Difference here is that Gray is first to the loose ball and dumps the easy rebound. 1-0

Crane is on for Ifil at the half.

48 - Ann intercepts a clearance and short passes to Aldred. Moonshot cross hits Warrell, who dribbles almost to the touchline before crossing to Fortnam-Tomlinson. This time there's no denial, post or otherwise! 2-0

58 - Suddenly, we can't pass worth a damn. Luckily, we get keep getting the ball back after our mishaps, including an interception by Ann just outside our box. He shorts it to Shephard for an all the way down into space rocket. Gray outraces two defenders and laughingly socks away the 1v1. 3-0

Bar Jerel Ifil (6.4) and [b]Bojan Tetek (6.9), all our starters had 7.3 or better. And other than Alasan Ann (7.3) and Jack MacFarlane (7.4), they were all 7.6 or higher. 8.0 for Jack Walder, 9.0 for PotM Chris Shephard, 8.4 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and 8.8 for Jamie Gray.

@ AFC Uckfields U21s (Malins Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/James Crane/Tom Roberts/Jack Cook
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Rumen Nedelchev/Evans Kouassi
S: Jamie Gray

They're weak to the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide, so we're rolling with that. Besides which, it's another short turnaround.

2 - Roberts hurls his body in front of a laser shot to block what would have gone in. Cook pounces on it and sends it down to Gray just past midfield. Three defenders around him, so he lays it left to Nedelchev, who storms down the pitch and crosses into the six yard box, where... BILLY WALES?!?! is evidently a striker now, and walks it in. Wow! 1-0

31 - *Just* past Tetek's outstretched arms. 1-1

Tricks goes in for Kouassi at half, but really, the whole team kind of stunk out there.

59 - Ifil pops on for Roberts

80 - We wipe out one of their players to steal a ball, and my heart stops for a moment because I think it's Harrington getting his second yellow, but happily, it was Wales who floored him and takes the ball to pass to Nedelchev. Our Bulgarian runs down the flank, jukes a defender out of his shorts, and kicks off an around the world series of passes. The finisher is Cook alone on the right wing, his near post cross finding Gray for the short score. 2-1

7.5 for Jack Cook, 8.0 for PotM Billy Wales, and 7.6 for Rumen Nedelchev. That's our sixth Malins Challenge Cup victory in a row, which evidently sets a record.

Jerel Ifil gets hurt a couple days later and is out 4-5 weeks.

vs Burgess Hill Albion II (5th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Alasan Ann/Jack Cook/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
M: Matthew Aldred/Scott Reed
AM: Chris Shephard/Robert Warrell
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Between injuries, fatigue, and yet another stupid short break, we're reduced to playing this lineup. I could have switched the 4-4-2 Diamond Wide, but fuck that. We attack their weaknesses.

2 - About as clean and simple as it gets. Aldred picks off a pass after they take away our own pass, sends it forth to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and the quick two strides has our solo striker shoot it in (with help from the bar this time). 1-0

26 - Warrell is having a really, really bad day by the highlights. He keeps missing the passes he's supposed to get, he backs off on defense, and a shot gets denied by the post. The team's starting to ice him out, as here Fortnam-Tomlinson kicks it back to Reed, who straight-lines it to Aldred. Pass forward to the box and Fortnam-Tomlinson puts away his second goal. 2-0

Warrell is yanked for Kouassi at the break.

62 - Okojie, who got a potential downgrade last coach's meeting, comes in for a tired Brislen-Hall.

7.0 or better for everyone on the backline except George Brislen-Hall. But the game's true standouts are matching 9.0s from Matthew Aldred (PotM and deservedly so), and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson.

*Another* short rest game coming up next. Sheesh.

[Izulde]

@ East Grinstead Meads (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Robert Warrell/Evans Kouassi
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

A poor draw this, as we seek to go for our third straight title, and with a weakened lineup due to fatigue to boot.

12 - A knocked Warrell is first to the ball after we clear out a free kick, and he shoots it downfield for Ahenkorah. The defense is there first, but a poor pass allows our Dutch striker with his first ever start to get the ball and dribble parallel to the box. Then he cuts in, finds his angle, and strikes his first ever goal for us. A beaut of a first XI debut that piece was. 1-0

Nedelchev moves to ML; Tricks comes on at MR, and Aldred jogs in at AMC, thus burning two reserves at the half. Our wide midfielders simply didn't have the energy to keep going.

76 - Nedelchev makes an excellent recovery in our box and sends it down the left flank. Ahenkorah tracks back to fetch the ball, then lays off to Tricks, who dribbles across midfield before launching a rocket that Aldred latches on to. A sharp cross, and Ahenkorah knocks in his second goal of the match! 2-0

7s for every full-time starter except Bojan Tetek and Jamie Gray. A 7.0 for James Tricks off the bench, too. 7.6s went to Jack MacFarlane and Jack Walder; PotM naturally awarded to Edwin Ahenkorah and his 8.8.

We lose Robert Warrell for 3-4 weeks.

Transfer In - MRL/AMRL Lewis Haldane (33) - Welsh
Worlds above everyone else on the right side of the pitch, and even better than Josh Dawkin at AML. With this signing that we had planned in the offing, we've not only addressed the injury to Warrell, but again majorly improved one of the weakest parts of our team.

Transfer In - ST Bennie Igiehon (24) - Swiss
Signed to a rotation deal and our third striker, damn near the equal of Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. We're more than happy with our strikers, but I always like to add more if I can help it, especially with this quality a talent.

Transfer Out - DCR Jack Cook
I'm surprised to see the 23 year old leave on a PPA deal where he's a backup, considering he was a starter here. But that's the way it goes sometimes.

@ Ditchling II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Tom Roberts/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rume Nedelchev
S: Bennie Igiehon/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

22 - Walder intercepts and passes to Fortnam-Tomlinson, who dribbles through the defense before stopping just outside the box. He crosses to Igiehon, and despite two defenders by him, neither cover our new Swiss striker, and he scores the debut goal easily. 1-0

61 - Harrington in for Roberts; Aldred for Nedelchev.

67 - Igiehon has the ball at midfield and he gives it to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Surrounded by three defenders, BFT loops it out on the wing to Haldane, who dribbles once, then arcs it to the box, where Igiehon is charging through the hole in the defense to head it in like it's nothing. 2 goals on the debut! 2-0

Not one full-time starter netted lower than a 7, and of those only BFT scored lower than a 7.2. Standouts included 7.5 for George Brislen-Hall and Lewis Haldane, 8.7 for Jack Walder, and 8.8 for debut and PotM star Bennie Igiehon.

[Izulde]

@ Plumpton Athletic II (Malins Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Tom Roberts/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Rumen Nedelchev/Evans Kouassi
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

Having a lot of depth sure is a good thing, considering all these jam packed games we've been having.

8 - Roberts header-intercepts to MacFarlane, who quickly gives to Kousassi. Our Ivorian is dribbling down the flank when he's decked from behind. Shephard booms the ensuing free kick high in the air, and Gray wins the aerial dogfight to head the ball in the net. 1-0

12 - That's a shot Tetek should be able to stop all day every day. 1-1

Tricks replaces Nedelchev; Crane for Ann at half.

64 - Ahenkorah wings it out to Kouassi and gets it back on the ensuing cross. Defense strips it away, but it's a short dribbling that our Dutchman stays with and sinks the shot anyway. 2-1

80 - He's exhausted and sitting on a yellow, so I pull Harrington for Reed in a rare use of the third sub.

93 - And of course mere seconds before the whistle blows, Roberts goes off with injury. I drop Reed down to DC for our 10 man setup.

7.6 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.5 for Stuart Harrington, 8.3 for PotM Chris Shephard, and 7.5 for Edwin Ahenkorah. Nice 7.0 for James Tricks off the bench.

That injury to Tom Roberts is a damaged Achilles tendon that will knock him out for 5-6 months, and suddenly between him, Jerel Ifil's injury, and Jack Cook's departure, we're looking like DC is, ironically, the Achilles heel of our squad.

vs Crawley United (2nd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Evans Kouassi
AM: Rume Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

I really get pressured about the Slough Town vacancy in the prematch press conference. Makes sense since I'm listed as a 5-4 favorite, but I'm resisting an answer.

55 - Nothing to do there. Crane for Ann; Igiehon for Fortnam-Tomlinson and striker switch. 0-1

60 - Kouassi runs over MacFarlane to get the ball and start a move. A few passes later, Nedelchev blasts it out on the left wing to Dawkin, who crosses. Igiehon shows great awareness by outfoxing two defenders and hitting a clear, open shot into the net. 1-1

72 - Dawkin on the corner, and Crane somehow manages to outjump two defenders to score his first ever goal for us! Great work by the reserves in this one. 2-1

88 - Brislen-Hall recovers his own cleared corner and crosses to Nedelchev just outside the box. Our Bulgarian feeds a beautiful seam pass in the gap to Crane, who short kicks it past a stumbling keeper for a shocking second goal. 3-1

7.6 for George Brislen-Hall, 7.7 for Jack Walder, 9.0 for Josh Dawkin, 7.5 for Rumen Nedelchev, and 7.2 for Bennie Igiehon off the bench.

But the performance everyone's going to be talking about for years is 28 year old James Crane, who never quite lived up to expectations as a three position sub. But here today, against the 2nd team in the league, he came off the bench to put on a masterful 9.1 PotM performance, scoring his first two goals ever for us, and allowing an ever widening lead on the league.

We smash the Mid Sussex Division Seven consecutive wins award with six.

Halfway through league play, we're 8 points up on 2nd, 11 points ahead of 3rd. That's almost a 3 and 4 game cushion with 10 left to play. I think it's safe to say that barring a total collapse, it'll be yet another season of easy breezy promotion.

[Izulde]

Since we have so many great strikers, I decided to create a 4-1-2-3 DM tactic where we have a defensive forward, poacher, and target man for Fortnam-Tomlinson, Gray, and Igiehon respectively.

That's not the only big upheaval. Assman Maucaley Trotter, who has been with me since the beginning, takes the manager spot at an amateur team much farther up the pyramid than ours. Fortunately, we had a better assman we pursued in Shaun Elliott. As in 14 JPA/12 JPP better.

In fact, after adjusting the coaching assignments, we're now 2* or better in all but one non-goalie area.

vs Stones (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Evans Kouassi
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

18 - Tough strike. 0-1

Ahenkorah replaces Igiehon at half, as does Crane for Harrington.

76 - Walder shoots it out to MacFarlane, who feeds it in the box. Ahenkorah beats out the defense to slot in the easy equalizer. 1-1

92 - Kouassi shorts it to MacFarlane. The cross is intended for Gray, but he's slammed to the pitch by the defense, and though no penalty is called as should have been, Fortnam-Tomlinson is there to put the dramatic winner away! 2-1

7.7 for PotM Jack MacFarlane and that was pretty much it. Rough first game for our new tactic. Jamie Gray will miss our next game, as will Stuart Harrington, the latter having picked up a yellow cards limit.

vs Hartfield (4th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Bennie Igiehon/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

57 - Kouassi for Haldane; Ahenkorah for Igiehon

60 - Brislen-Hall chases down a cleared corner and passes to Walder on the left sideline. The long cross hits the grass in the box, and Kouassi steams forward to sink the sitter. 1-0

8.5 for PotM Jack Walder and 7.2 for Evans Kouassi off the bench, as we scrape by our teeth in this one.

vs Fletching (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/James Crane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Jack MacFarlane is out with a nasty cold.

38 - Amazing takeaway by Walder, who sends it to Gray for the spray out to Dawkin. Short dribble and cross. The opposing keeper gets his hands on it, but it's pouring rain here and slips out of his grasp, leaving Fortnam-Tomlinson to walk it in. 1-0

49 - Crane is injured, so Haldane moves to WBR and Kouassi comes in at MR. This is a weird fucking formation.

62 - Shephard on for Nedelchev

84 - Gray steals the ball and puts it on the right wing space for Fortnam-Tomlinson to pick up. He dribbles down the right flank before crossing far post, where an unmarked Dawkin has no problem adding the vital insurance goal. 2-0

7.6 for George Brislen-Hall and Jack Walder, while PotM Josh Dawkin netted an 8.1 and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson secured 8.0.

They did break through once on the right side after the adjustment, but Tetek made an awesome save. James Crane will miss our next game with his injury.

[Izulde]

We broke the club consecutive wins record with 12 in that last victory.

vs Ardingly II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: George Brislen-Hall/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Bennie Igiehon

46 - Just before half, Fortnam-Tomlinson chases down a cleared corner and puts it into space. Walder just barely wins the race and passes to Haldane who dribbles about unmolested. Then he passes to Dawkin, who arcs it into the box. First there is Gray, and the shot *just* barely finds the corner of the goal. 1-0

56 - Ahenkorah jumps in for Fortnam-Tomlinson, who has been offsides a bunch and missed a couple easy shots. Harrington for Ifil.

It's the kind of game where Jack Walder's 7.2 is enough for PotM. Grindy win.

OTOH, Josh Dawkin just broke the Mid Sussex Division Seven single season record for assists with 8.

Bennie Igiehon and Chris Shephard both twist a knee in a friendly and will be out 3-4 weeks.

I get a pretty writeup for my 100th game as manager, talking about how awesome I am, mentioning my 3 league titles and 4 cup championships.

vs East Grinstead Meads (9th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: George Brislen-Hall/Scott Reed/Jerel Ifil/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
M: James Tricks/Evans Kouassi
S: Reece Passmore/Luke Barlone/Eddie Claridge

Between tiredness from the friendly a few days before, and wanting to as full strength a lineup as possible for the next game 3 days away, we've put together this C list lineup.

Ahenkorah goes on at half as the poacher, Barlone switching to DF.

76 - Tetek would have saved that. 0-1

80 - That one, too. 0-2

Whatever. We deliberately threw that game with our lineup. We still have a double-digit lead on 2nd.

Transfer Out - DL George Brislen-Hall - $12k
Well, that was a nasty surprise. Played 22 league games for us this year and last, and was a vital cog at DL. Granted, we have cover in Dan Okojie, who I really like, but still, it's a shock.

@ Ardingly II (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinals)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Edwin Ahenkorah

Didn't we just play these guys two games ago? Yep. We beat them then, and we'll do it again here if I have any say in the matter.

9 - What the actual fuck?! One of their guys backpasses all the way down the field to near the touchline, and no one seems to notice what's happened. Fortnam-Tomlinson runs all the way back to get it, and it's only when he's got the ball that the defense is all oh shit and tries to chase him. He LOLs as he crosses far post, and Ahenkorah heads in the first goal. 1-0

58 - Okojie throws in to Walder and they have a give and go. Walder dribbles around until he sees Haldane all alone on the right wing. Pass and center to Ahenkorah who shortly has three defenders on him. Layoff to Gray and there's the insurance! The Welshman is looking tired, so on comes Kouassi, who I secretly like better anyway. 2-0

69 - MacFarlane cracks the corner to Fortnam-Tomlinson whose shot is blocked by a defender, but that leaves them out of position for Gray's immediate rebound shot. 3-0

80 - Walder arcs it out to Dawkin on the left wing. The center is ill-advised with three defenders on Gray and it's kicked away. Only problem? Fortnam-Tomlinson is right there to shoot it in. 4-0

89 - Fortnam-Tomlinson gets the ball on a send from I missed who. He and Ahenkorah exchange passes, and then he gives to Gray just outside the box. While the defense swarms around Gray, Fortnam-Tomlinson is racing through the open hole in the defense, and upon receiving the feed, blasts it into the nets for his second goal. 5-0

91 - Kouassi has the ball in the right corner and is being hassled by a lone defender. The Ivorian jukes and crosses to Fortnam-Tomlinson for the last-second hat trick header! 6-0

"Ardingly II's second-half performance simply wasn't good enough." File that under No Shit.

Oh, and look this prettiness while I hum along to "Medhel an Gwyns" from Season 1 of Poldark.



Fantastic as Aida Nikolaychuk's singing voice (I've been cycling through her YouTube songs as I'm playing this session). Ed. Note: She's not the one who sings "Medhel An Gwyns", just in case there's any confusion or people wanting to gotchya me. I rotate a lot.

As depressed as the fans were over the upset loss last game, they're thrilled with this victory. Don't doubt my managing awesomeness, man. BTW, that's the biggest Malins Challenge Cup victory ever, beating a 2017 7-2 victory.

@ Handcross Village II (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

59 - Time to give Gray a break from his injury and put in Ahenkorah. Ann slides up to DF, and Harrington comes in at DC, because Fortnam-Tomlinson is playing like shit out there.

83 - Nedelchev is tired AF, but that doesn't stop him from jacking it out to right wing for Haldane to chase down. A couple more dribbles, cross, and there's Ahenkorah rising up between two defenders to knock the header home. 1-0

7.5 for Jack Walder, 7.9 for Lewis Haldane, 8.0 for Rumen Nedelchev, the PotM, and 7.1 off the bench for Edwin Ahenkorah. Doubtful for our next match Jamie Gray will be.

My phone battery ran out, so I'm gonna go hook it up to my PS4 for charging, switch my headphones to my computer, and either do some stuff I really should be getting done or play more FM.

...I think we know what's going to win there.

[Izulde]

A rare poor month financially, as we lost $1.91k. No worries, however. We're still in good shape.

vs East Grinstead Town III (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

If we win here and results go right elsewhere, we can clinch promotion.

2 - Dawkin hits the corner near post, and St. Lucian international once upon a time Ifil kicks in his first ever goal for us! 1-0

55 - I silently wish I'd put both strikers in subs today, but at least Igiehon can replace one suck ass player, and out goes Fortnam-Tomlinson and the strikers switch.

63 - Kouassi subs in for Haldane. Bee tee dubs, we've had like five shots crack off the woodwork this game.

8.3 for PotM Josh Dawkin and 7.5 for Jerel Ifil.

612 minutes since Bojan Tetek has allowed a goal, and I'd make a 98 Degrees joke since "My Everything" is playing on YouTube's autoplay, but I'll just say our Serbian keeper has been our everything in the net since joining the club.

Scaynes Hill II has set a Tester Challenge Cup record by winning six straight in the competition. Ditchling II has ignobly broken the record for most goals allowed in a season in Division Seven play with 33 surrendered.

vs Fairfield (Malins Challenge Cup Semifinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

17 - Well, there's some you just can't stop. 0-1

28 - That one's on Okojie. Ugh. 0-2

31 - Gray - blocked. [b]Fortnam-Tomlinson/b] - blocked. Dawkin - blocked. Finally, shot #4, Dawkin getting his own rebound, goes in. It's been that kind of game. 1-2

37 - Nedelchev wings out to MacFarlane who dribbles until the cross. Walder, the stalwart defensive midfielder, beats the defense by a half-step and scores his first ever goal for us!!!!! 2-2

42 - Ifil powers the ball into the box for Dawkin to grab. The pass to Gray, and now we've gone ahead! 3-2

Crane replaces Okojie; Harrington goes on for Ifil at the half.

64 - 1, 2, 3... 3 times MacFarlane gets the ball back, the last culiminating in a moon shot to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. There's nobody around him, so he has time to set up his shot and scorch it home! 4-2

70 - Hell of a job by Fortnam-Tomlinson to save and trap the ball on the touchline inside the box. The backpass to Haldane, still in the box, and then the cross to Dawkin for a wide open score in a pretty, around-the-world move. 5-2

Okay, so a little bit about my strategy here. Most of the time, I have it on Standard, then switch to Overload somewhere between 60-70 if it's tied, then to Defensive if we score. Otherwise I'll go defensive about minute 70 if we're only ahead by 1 goal.

This game? I switched to Overload as soon as we went down 0-2, and it worked so well, I just ran with it the rest of the game to burn these fuckers like an infinite mana Red Sun's Zenith.

So we went from being down 0-2 to this:



Shoutout to James Crane for his 7.0 showing at DL, too.

Even better? We bitchslapped Carl Gill on the team he left us for in the process. You ready to come back home, son?

Jamie Gray breaks the Malins Challenge Cup single tournament goal-scoring record with 5, formerly held by Josh Dawkins with 4.

Edwin Ahenkorah damages his heel and will miss our next game. He's our fourth striker anyway. I don't know why I keep getting report on Billy Wales. We've long since abandoned any formation that requires MCs.

Transfer In - DCR Carl Gill (19)
He saw the light, and came back home. He's immediately going to start working on DL, in hopes of replacing James Crane as our three position backup next season. Though I had to deal with him Eeyoreing all over the place when he found out his beloved Maucaley Trotter left for someone else.

vs Scaynes Hill (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

I didn't realize Mariah Carey had a song called "Shake It Off". Not bad, but I much prefer Taylor Swift's version with different lyrics. (Yes, YouTube autoplay has migrated from 98 Degrees to MC).

9 - Pro tip: If you block a Gray shot, make sure you hang on to the ball. Because if he gets a rebound, he'll score on your ass, which he does here. 1-0

18 - Way too much room left. 1-1

37 - Leave Fortnam-Tomlinson alone in the middle of the field. Suddenly, they realize that's a bad idea and chase him down. Out to Haldane he goes, who cracks a fluke goal, his first ever for us. 2-1

Crane replaces yellow card Ifil at half. "We Belong Together" playing, and it reminds me of a July the 4th when I went to the fireworks with Dreams (remember her?) and her BFF, and they sang this song in the car together. Other than beautiful women of a certain type, girls who can sing have always commanded my attraction, even if only in that performance moment (Dreams, of course, was HAF, and her BFF had a hipster cuteness to her).

Naturally it transitions to "Don't Forget About Us", which has a less interesting story associated with it, so nevermind. Let's see if we can hang on to win this thing. I kind of view the Mid Sussex Junior Cup as *my* trophy, since we're gunning for our third straight title there.

57 - Mediocre Okojie sits, Crane shifting to DL and Harrington sliding in.

61 - I was planning on switching to Defensive anyway cuz they're hunting goals, but then Nedelchev hits the corner and Harrington rises his large head to bang in the goal. 3-1

7.6 for Jack Walder, 8.1 for lately improved Lewis Haldane, 9.0 for PotM Rumen Nedelchev, 7.7 for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and a 7.2 bench showing for 6'7, 200 lbs Stuart Harrington, who is just behind Jerel Ifil now, and actually has passed up Jack Walder as the best DM, but Walder is fucking dynamite for us, so I can't pull the trigger.

Much to my amusement, the fans are giddy about that win because of how much we controlled the match. Okay then!

That's our 12th straight Mid Sussex Junior Cup win, which is a record.

@ Burgess Hill Athletic (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

All we need is a draw to win promotion outright.

17 - Missed headers do that. 0-1

I scream at the team at halftime to the background music of One Direction "I Would".

47 - Unnerved by the boiband music blasting from the speakers, they own goal. 1-1

53 - Ahenkorah for Gray; Harrington for Ifil. I L-O-V-E tall ass DCs. Go kick ass, boys!

67 - F-M-L. Out goes Igiehon. Haldane, who is used to awkward role placements, to TM, and Kouassi jumps on at MR.

74 - Brickbrickbrick! 1-2

78 - HANG ON TO THE FUCKING BALL, BOJAN! 1-3

79 - Haldane's long range header is dropped by the opposing keeper, and Fortnam-Tomlinson wins the scrum to walk in. 2-3

I yell at them some more after the game, even though the third place team lost, so promotion backed into. Bennie Igiehon out 6-7 weeks. FML. Edwin Ahenkorah gets a 3-4 week groin strain a day later. So much for our 3 striker formation for a while.

Transfer Out - MLR/AMLR/ST James Tricks (26)
People say we shouldn't be together, and so we're not anymore. Tricks was in and out of the rotation at various times. He wanted more PT, and frankly he just wasn't good enough, so off he goes. Long-serving K&H player though - almost 3 full seasons.

On the recs of the current song (One Direction - "They Don't Know About Us" - "2 hours non stop christian praise and worship songs with lyrics". How droll. Although I shake my head at the rise of atheism, I'm far removed from Christianity. So yeah, we're not going to do that.

Robert Warrell out with a 2 week virus.

Youth Pulls
Garbage galore. No one worth signing.

vs Ifield Galaxy III (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

Most of the team freaks out about the pressure of winning the title here. *eyeroll* Whatever.

36 - They've been blocking shot after shot after shot, but here Dawkin hits the corner to the far post, and no one challenges Ann as the Gambian defender rises and finally heads in our go-ahead goal. 1-0

59 - Harrington for Ifil

70 - Beautiful rocket into space by Dawkin for Gray, who dribbles through two defenders in the box, and a soft shot somehow finds the way home. Tired Nedelchev is replaced by uh, no one, because I forgot to pack a reserve. Oops. [b] 2-0

7.6 for Asalan Ann, Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson, and Jamie Gray. 7.5 for Jack Walder and PotM at 8.4 for Josh Dawkin.

So that's the title won to the tune of Ellie Goulding "Love Me Like You Do".

So we've 3 meaningless league games and a couple cup titles still in play. Shooting for a repeat of the Malins Challenge Cup and a threepeat in the Mid Sussex Junior Cup.

[Izulde]

vs Burgess Hill Albion II (8th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: James Crane/Jerel Ifil/Asalan Ann/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Billy Wales/Ash Walker
AM: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
S: Eddie Claridge

As C list a lineup as possible while still fairly fit.

7 - LOL. Claridge's shot bounces off a defender, and Plant's 25 yarder screams home. "Great vision by Claridge to set up the goal". Evidently the announcers are hipsters, making ironic commentary now. First ever senior goal for Plant, too. 1-0

40 - Interception by Walker and he jacks it to the box where Claridge pops up and crosses to Haldane for the header goal. This time the vision comment is deserved. 2-0

8.3 for Nick Plant, 7.7 for Billy Wales, 7.5 for Lewis Haldane, and a thoroughly undeserved 8.5 and PotM for Eddie Claridge.

That gives us 34 goals for the year, breaking the old Mid Sussex Division Seven record.

Transfer Out - MC Billy Wales (25)
Once a vital player in our setup who always overachieved, he found himself marginalized by our moves away from the central midfield this season.

Transfer Out - DC Tom Roberts (30)
A useful reserve who got a handful of starts here and there. The attack on the middle part of our players continues.

We tried grabbing a few promising prospects, but they all turned us down.

vs Newick (Junior Sussex Challenge Cup Semifinal
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Stuart Harrington/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

14 - Nedelchev is waiting, then dribbles past the defender prior to the short pass to Fortnam-Tomlinson just inside the half-circle. The shot's not great, but it bounces off the frame and in. 1-0

21 - Fortnam-Tomlinson runs down a wild cross and dribbles all the way into the box, angling in. He suddenly backheels to Haldane for the chip shot to Gray's head, and the quick direction change is good. 2-0

29 - Just how many strikers will we go through? Fortnam-Tomlinson is knocked out with injury, so here comes Ahenkorah and a striker switch.

33 - Poor work by Okojie, and the team sleepwalks through the counter 2-1

Replacing Ann at half is Crane.

89 - We got away with one there. They should have scored easily.

7.9 for Jack Walder and matching 8.3s for Rumen Nedelchev and Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson. The Bulgarian played the whole game, so he gets PotM. 7.0 for James Crane off the bench.

A familiar foe will await us in the championship game, but more on that next time.

[Izulde]

@ Crawley United (3rd)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

I kind of feel bad for Crawley United. They came up with us and for most of the season, it looked like we were both going to consecutively promote (us for the 4th straight time), and then they suddenly flamed out. They're tied on points, but are 2 behind on GD.

42 - And there's us failing at corner kick defense. 0-1

Okojie gives no fucks after halftime talk, so I sit his ass for Crane.

53 - They simply want it more. 0-2

65 - Igiehon comes on for Ahenkorah

76 - Igiehon gets the ball deep in their half and dribbles down the left flank to outside the box. Backpass on the diagonal hits Walder outside the box, and the 20 yarder sings its way in. 1-2

We picked it up in the second half, and should have squared at least a draw out of it, but we just didn't catch the breaks. No hair dryer this time, guys.

Ditchling II is officially relegated. No surprise there.

Joy. Jack Walder out 5-6 weeks. So he'll miss at least the Malins Challenge Cup final. And I'm listening to nightcore songs and drinking Mountain Dew Pitch Black. The combination is a little like the time I took ephedra and drank a Red Bull before a workout. Oh, and pondering an insane trade in a sim league.

The youth candidates leave. Bye, Felicia x 100.

Rumen Nedelchev is out 3-4 weeks now too. I hate losing my Bulgarian. Speaking of, there's this Bulgarian girl I really dig, and like she's blonde now. But I got friends zoned by her after a late summer and fall where my dudes were all like she's into you, so I believed it, despite telling them it was a nopecoaster. I was right. She comes back this summer, however, so who knows? I'm not fussed about it either way, really. She's not Her Blondeness after all (did I tell that story? I don't remember. Maybe some other post).

vs Ditchling II (Relegated)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Bennie Igiehon/Jamie Gray

Holy hell, the nightcore version of "They Don't Know About Us" is so danceable it's ridiculous. I'm literally head jamming and dancing in my chair.

I forget if this is the last match of the season. But fuck it. OVERLOAD FROM THE START, AND PASSIONATE PITCH FOR THE FANS!!!!

51 - Ahenkorah in for sucking today Igiehon. It's been weirdly highlight-less.

55 - Crane for tired Ifil

64 - WESTSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE! Actually it's just yellow card Harrington short passing in front to Shephard, who dribbles, jukes, and feeds an unmarked Ahenkorah for super sub goal. They immediately go into Overload, setting up Overload vs Overload! 1-0

76 - Shortly before this, they changed to Counter. Okojie absolutely hammers down an interception header that Dawkin laughingly picks up and blasts to Ahenkorah. Charge into the box, and there's the second goal for our Dutch striker. Inspired! screams the announcer. BTW Crane got a yellow, which literally marks the first time we've had two yellows in a game. Everybody getting in on the pumped up hype! 2-0

81 - Well shit. Double yellow for Harrington. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!!!

7.7 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.5 for Stuart Harrington, described as the "heart of the defense" when he was sent off. 8.1 for Josh Dawkin, 9.0 for PotM Chris Shephard and 8.6 for supersub Edwin Ahenkorah. A *ton* of 7.2+ guys here.

Welp. That was indeed our 20th match. We just fucked our DM spot for at least one trophy title game.

We edge the Mid Sussex Division Seven points record by 1 with 47. Cool. Ironically, Handcross Village II, who previously held the record gets relegated. Que?! Wow, yeah, they promoted up two years ago, and have since double demoted.

Crawley United did indeed go up with us. My men!

Attendance record for Mid Sussex Division Seven? Yep, we set that too, with an average of 96, beating the previous mark of 92. Jack Walder smashes the single season average rating record for MSD7, with 7.84. Previous one? 7.02. Holla!

vs Forest Row II (Malins Challenge Cup Championship)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Chris Shephard
S: Jamie Gray/Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson

So like, winning a repeat title would be cool, but this ain't the Mid Sussex Junior Cup. So fuck it, we'll roll with anxious Nick Plant at DM. Do it for the Avenger of Zendikar, bro!!!

26 - So, brosephs! Like, OMG, THEY'VE BLOCKED LIKE 9000 SHOTS. Then Shephard flies the ball to Gray, who hangs outside the box. Then the cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson. Shot's blocked. Defender clears, and WOW!!! THE BALL BOUNCES OFF FORTNAM-TOMLINSON'S BODY AND INTO THE NET!!! THIS IS LIKE THE GREATEST FUCKING GOAL EVER!!! First goal after a long injury layoff! BRADLEY THE AWESOME HYPENATED!!!! He was all like, "Come at me bro!" and said fuck you to the sissy clearance! I am *SO* uploading that shit to YouTube! 1-0

53 - Crane for Ifil

55 - Okojie collides with one of their players. Both guys are hurt. Crane to DL and the two red slices Aldred at DC. This is playing with fire, but I don't care, because the Bulgarian Baroness just liked my Facebook post.

59 - Crane throws in to Plant and gets it back first touch. First touch near post cross to Fortnam-Tomlinson, and that's goal #2!!! 2-0

68 - WTF are these dicksmurfs doing?! Now they hurt Fortnam-Tomlinson, and I want to stab these fuckers up the ass with a rusty pitchfork. Ahenkorah emergency jump-in, and striker switch. But as a final fuck you, Fortnam-Tomlinson is surrounded by three defenders, clearly gimped as fuck (46% health). He laterals to Haldane and the longball to Gray is a third goal! Fortnam-Tomlinson the hero even when wounded!!!!!! 3-0

85 - Aldred says fuck you to the red slices at DC. Shephard jacks a corner to his head, and in goes his first ever K&H goal!!! 4-0



Not pictured: James Crane continuing his late season run of form with a 7.1 off the bench.

$2.53k in the bank, and fans are fucking celebrating like mad. Even though Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson will miss the Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup final.

Oh, and we broke our own Malins Challenge Cup goals scored with 19, compared to 15 from last year. And Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson broke Jamie Gray's Malins Challenge Cup goals scored record with 6 (formerly 5).

Nathan Dennis gets major blisters while hiking the English countryside. Damn it, Dennis!

Scaynes Hill wins their own double - Tester Challenge Cup + Mid Sussex Division Nine. Cool story bro.

@ Wisdom Sports (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Championship)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Jerel Ifil/Alasan Ann/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Stuart Harrington
M: Josh Dawkin/Lewis Haldane
AM: Rumen Nedelchev
S: Edwin Ahenkorah/Jamie Gray

Yeah. That's right. A rematch of last year, with the threepeat on the line. It all comes down to this. I respect the hell out of Mark Osman, the Wisdom Sports manager, and he does me, too. This will be a worthy game.

30 - Absolutely shit pass by Gray is intercepted and they counter attack. The shot fires and my heart is in my throat, but Tetek makes an incredible save!!!!

43 - MacFarlane with the short pass to Nedelchev, and it's followed by a short pass to Gray just outside the box. Two defenders breathing down his neck, but our Irishman atones for his prior error by sending into the box where Haldane has the defense beat by a step and the shot is good!!! 1-0

In what's becoming common, Crane is on for Ifil at the half. 45 minutes to go...

57 - So like, I screwed up. I meant to put Shephard and/or Walder in the subs. Instead, it's Aldred still there and my enthusiasm made me put Plant in. This is relevant because our Bulgarian is tired, and so Aldred has to go in at AMC.

79 - Aaaand Aldred's hurt. I literally have no one else who can jump in for him. FIGHT ON! At least he can still play.

86 - Oh how sweet it is!!! Dawkin with the corner to Aldred, and he fights past it all to scorch the insurance in with his foot!!!!!! YES!!!! YES YES YES!!!!!! On a twisted ankle, no less!!! 2-0

90 - Haldane sends it forward to Gray, who dribbles into the box and far post crosses where ball and Dawkin meet on the corner of the six yard box. Shot.is.good.!!!!! 4-0

7.5 for Asalan Ann, 8.8 for Lewis Haldane, 8.3 for Josh Dawkin, and 9.0 for PotM Jamie Gray. That heroic performance by Matthew Aldred was good for a 7.9, and James Crane scored his second straight 7.0 bench performance. Oh yeah, all full-time starters other than Bojan Tetek (6.9) grabbed a 7.2 or more.

OMG!!! WE ARE 3X MID SUSSEX JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS!!! THREEPEAT!!!! THREEPEAT!!! THREEPEAT!!!!!

Matthew Aldred won't touch a soccer ball for 5-6 weeks, so he really gritted out that injury.

550 people attended the final, breaking last year's record of 539. The rematch hype was real. Mark Osman was a little salty after we kicked their asses so badly, but I'm not going to fault him that.

That's 18, count them, 18 straight Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup victories!!!! Obvs a record.

Other breaks - Josh Dawkin topping Robert Warrell's team assists record with 16 vs 15.

Further review stuff can come later. I'm just gonna go celebrate our THREEPEAT! Oh yeah, $2.53k more to our coffers. Honestly, I'm more stoked about the threepeat than our treble.

THREEPEAT!!!!!!!!

[Izulde]

Given the lack of raiding, I think we can start tracking these on a season by season basis. The big standout - Jerel Ifil with a 6.65. He's done as a starter.

Lewis Haldane really picked it up after a slow start, and Evans Kouassi wasn't that good after all. That means we may need to go shopping again at MR, especially if Halfdane takes a drop.



I actually thought Jack Walder would finish second in the voting, but I can't quibble with this result at all.



Still with the 4-1-2-3 DM Wide, since that's our most used formation all time. I'm expecting to see Billy Wales and Jordan Neild drop off the list soon. I forgot how long we had Adie Hawes, who was a big part of our Level Nine promotion team. That's an area that's ripe for the picking, however.

It'll be years before Bojan Tetek is knocked off this list, given how heavily I lean on my top GK in every dynasty ever, and he's been with us for three straight seasons.

There's absolutely no reason we can't gain our fifth straight promotion next year, and the whole club agrees with me. We ended up winning Division Seven by 10 points, BTW.

Stuart Harrington, Rumen Nedelchev, and surprisingly, Nick Plant, all had great training years. That, coupled with Plant's success in his starts, means I'm giving serious consideration to making him a major rotational player next year.

I'm not really looking to be active this offseason. We have a very dominant, talented group of players for a while now, all guys who I really like. That said, I wouldn't at all mind a splashy DC or MR pickup.

We made $18k last year, and the club is again going to take a run at buying the park next summer. Our bank account balance is just shy of $50k.

Jerel Ifil announces his retirement, to come at the end of June. Smart move for him, and with his 12 JPA/8 JPP, I make him an offer to join our staff as a scout. I'd like that access to St. Lucian players. Lewis Haldane also is going to retire, but unlike Ifil, he was only a half-season rental, and Wales isn't a need knowledge area for us. ...Or is it?

Our Chief Scout, Ian Puckett, has 0 Knowledge Areas. Hmm. TIME TO FIRE HIM! Jerel Ifil, on the other hand, has Knowledge Areas of Saint Lucia, England, and Scotland. Right now, our only Knowledge Areas are England and the United States, so by adding Ifil, we pick up Scotland and Saint Lucia, and by hiring Lewis Haldane as a coach, we add in Wales.

Cute glitch when Lewis Haldane accepts - the contract will keep him at the club until June 2nd 1900.

With Lewis Haldane taking over Ball Control coaching duties, we're now at least 2* in every non-goalie training area. That's pretty damn awesome. Jerel Ifil is comfortably embedded as the Chief Scout, too.

We're still an obscure club, but our reputation keeps rising. Board won't let me even request increase in Scouting Range - probably because we're still Amateur.

Transfer Out
Matthew Aldred - $21.5k
Stuart Harrington - $11k
Chris Shephard - $16.25k
Rumen Nedelchev - $12k

Talk about a crazy stupid overpay for Aldred, who couldn't even crack our starting lineup. Harrington was stolen just after our final friendly (Won 1, Tied 3. God, I fucking hate friendlies).

Losing Nedelchev kills me because Bulgarian reasons, and suddenly with him, Shephard, and Aldred all snapped up, we're bereft of any AMC worth discussing. Not to mention we still have issues at DC now after Harrison jumped ship.

This is how big a favorites we are to win Division Six - We're 1-10, and the next is Copthorne IV at 25-1.

Transfer In - AMR/MR Dan Cotterill (20)
About equal to Josh Dawkin at MR, which means we can keep Dawkin on the left hand side. The single best AMR option at the club. My assman, who has even better JPA/JPP than Jerel Ifil, absolutely loves this kid, and sees a genuine star at AMR.

Bojan Tetek continues to wear the captain's band, but the new vice captain is Jamie Gray, replacing Billy Wales, who'd held it the last couple years.

Oh, I'm now considered a Legend in Keymer & Hassocks history . Still just two favored personnel in Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Owen Kabodi. Kabodi is a 1.5/1.5 now and has no interest in coming back anyway.

We sell 27 season tickets, one more than last year.

@ Montpelier Villa III (Sommerville Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Jack Walder
M: Josh Dawkin/Dan Cotterill
S: Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson/Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

This is what we've been forced to do after the surprising number of raids. If this goes anything like the Parsons Challenge Cup, we'll be early flameouts.

14 - Yeah. 0-1

27 - Ann is smashed in the face. Gill goes on.

45 - MacFarlane throws into Igiehon and gets it back. The cross and OMG that's the first time I've ever seen a bicycle kick goal by one of my players in FM!!! Fortnam-Tomlinson!!!! Saving us with an equalizer just before half!!! 1-1

46 - 20 seconds before the whistle and Gray gets hurt. Ahenkorah replaces him at half. What a fucking awful start to the season.

The real 46 - Dawkin crosses across the field to Cotterill. The pop pass into the box bounces off Ahenkorah, but Igiehon is there to slice an incisive strike into the net! 2-1

89 - Okojie throws in to Fortnam-Tomlinson in the box. He holds up play, then circles around the defender and lays off to Ahenkorah, who is perfectly positioned to sink the insurance goal. 3-1

8.0 for Jack MacFarlane, 7.5s for Jack Walder and Edwin Ahenkorah, and matching 8.3s for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Bennie Igiehon, our Swiss striker nabbing PotM.

We lose both Jamie Gray and Alasan Ann for about 2 weeks, guaranteeing they'll miss our league opener.

Transfer In - ML/AML Osamu Allman (22)
Unfortunately just a depth signing along the left side.

Transfer Out - ST Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson - $24k
Excuse me while I go cry ugly tears.

@ Newick
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Scott Reed/James Crane/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Ash Walker/Jack Walder
AM: Josh Dawkin/Dan Cotterill
S: Bennie Igiehon

Yeah. With injuries and defections, this is what we're down to.

19 - Yeah. 0-1

29 - FUCK YOU! DAWKIN WAS ONSIDES!!!!

Ahenkorah replaces Igiehon; Gill slots in for Crane at the half.

I scream at them. Scream because I didn't expect to be raped up the ass in summer raiding this year - not when we've been so comparatively untouched the last few years. Screaming because I don't know what kind of cushion being a legend gives me, and I see all going to hell.

58 - Cotterill and MacFarlane exchange passes, the latter getting it on the wing outside the box. He crosses to a loosely guarded Ahenkorah, and the Dutchman kicks it in. I tell the ref to suck my balls if he dares call that offsides. He doesn't. 1-1

66 - Cotterill is wiped, and not playing too well. I have to burn my last sub on Kouassi, even if it burns me.

79 - Gill makes two header clearances. They don't matter. 1-2

87 - Walder wings it out to Okojie, two steps before the touchline. The cross finds Kouassi to potshot it in. 2-2

92 - Ahenkorah gets hurt. I'm too despondent to want to throw things.

Fortunately, everyone should be back before our next game. But so fucking what? No one wants to come to play with us, and I wonder who else is gonna get sniped as we go on.

[Izulde]

Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson was our leading goal scorer the last two seasons, has the record for most goals scored in a game with 4, and was the two-time defending Fans Player of the Year. At 24, the North Irishman was still young, too. It really sucks not having him here anymore.

Transfer Out - ST Luke Barlone (31)
Played some games for us, but quickly dropped down the chart due to the youth and talent infusions we got.

Jamie Gray gets hurt again in a friendly and will miss the next game.

Transfer In - DC/DM/MC Viv Pritchard (18) - Welsh
3 position player who is very raw, but has exceptional upside. Will probably start at DC despite his rawness, so we can have our 3 position backline guy in James Crane as a reserve again.

vs Portslade Athletic II (9th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Jack MacFarlane
DM: Scott Reed
MC: Ash Walker/Jack Walder
AM: Josh Dawkin/Dan Cotterill
S: Bennie Igiehon

55 - Crane for Pritchard; Ahenkorah for Igiehon

We just couldn't break them down, no matter what we did.

Transfer Out - ML/AML Josh Dawkin (27) - $24k
Well, fuck. I may have to start thinking about jumping ship. We're just getting raided left and right here, and finding solutions isn't working.

Transfer Out - DR/MR Jack MacFarlane (25) - $18.75k
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! LOSING TWO KEY PLAYERS ON THE SAME FUCKING DAY?!

In brighter news, Nick Plant continues to rise in potential ability.

More striker injuries, as Bennie Igiehon will miss our next match with food poisoning.

@ Crawley United (10th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Ash Walker/Jack Walder
AM: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Edwin Ahenkorah

Still looking for our first win in league play. Beating the team we promoted up with would be a great thing.

Reed in for an exhausted Walker at half and MC switch.

47 - Ahenkorah is being jammed up by three defenders, so he slides the ball out to Okojie on the wing. A bombtastic far post cross later, Cotterill has the defense beat for his first ever goal for us! 1-0

55 - Warrell jumps on for Allman

64 - Nice interception by Crane, who passes to Walder. Straight line continues with a pinpoint pass to Ahenkorah just ahead of the defense. Dribble, dribble, and the rifle shot by our Dutch striker sings the insurance. 2-0

Workmanlike win, with the standouts Jack Walder's 8.6 and PotM Edwin Ahenkorah grabbing an 8.7. The victory launches us into 2nd, which would be good for a promotion spot. Copthorne IV has been amazing thus far - three straight wins to open the season.

Transfer In - MC Stuart Cook (33)
Stopgap measure in MC. He's our best player there at 2*, which says something about our state there. But right now, we're just trying to get bodies in there after the raiding destroyed us.

@ Portslade Athletic II (Somerville Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
MC: Jack Walder/Stuart Cook
AM: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray

3 - Huge mistake by the opposing keeper as he tries to intercept Cotterill's cross pitch cross, and that leaves a wide open net for Allman to deposit his first ever goal for us! 1-0

39 - Allman makes a flawless tackle takeaway and passes to Walder. Pass to Gray goes right back to Walder, who cracks a fire shot into space on the left flank for Allman to run down. A few steps and a near post cross to Gray, and the defense can only stare as the shot hits the net. 2-0

Ann is exhausted, so Crane jumps in at halftime.

77 - Reed is the weed that uproots Plant

This game was all about Jack Walder (8.3), Dan Cotterill (8.3) and PotM Osamu Allman (9.0). Funny how in days of yore, it was Josh Dawkin elite on the ML/AML side, and we had to worry about the right side not being all that great, and now it's the complete opposite. Nice work by Allman here though.

Transfer In - AML/ST Passeka Kargbo (24) - Dutch
Raw, but could end up the top player on our team when he develops. Will slide in as our third striker, and opens up the possibility of revisiting our three striker formation. He's our second striker with ancestry from Holland.

Transfer In - MC Ahmed Mohammed (23) - Nigerian
Opinions are split as to his potential, but Jerel Ifil and Shaun Elliott, the two best evaluators of upside we have, love him. We're starting to focus on building a team that's raw, but is brimming with promise. Our second Nigerian.

@ Copthorne IV (1st)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Stuart Cook/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

New formation, as we carve out a flat 4-1-3-2 DM out of the ashes of our 4-4-2 Diamond setup. Hopefully that'll be a nice tactical surprise for the unbeaten team we won't be able to catch even if we win.

10 - Gill with the short backpass to Cook, who launches it all the way down the right flank for Cotterill. On the cross, nobody's marking Gray, and you're just not going to have any fun when you do that. 1-0

22 - Walder continuing to show why he outperforms his ratings and why I love the dude as he makes a balls out interception. Later in the play, Igiehon is out on the right flank when he centers to Cotterill just inside the box. Two defenders on him, so the layoff to Cook. No one paid attention to the 33 year old central midfielder, and he scores his first goal with ease. 2-0

36 - Igiehon is injured, so Kargbo pulls off his jacket and goes in for a debut.

52 - Pritchard fucked up that clearance, and he was starting to tire anyway, so he's yanked for Crane. 2-1

58 - We're awarded a PK on a corner kick, and Kargbo is selected to take it. He nails it!!! Debut goal!! 3-1

8.7 for PotM Dan Cotterill, 8.6 for Stuart Cook, and 7.7 for Osamu Allman. Nice to see our new additions doing work out there.

Big victory, and it puts us one point behind them after four games. Somehow this ragtag bunch is still finding ways to win, despite all the defections.

[Izulde]

vs Portslade Athletic II (Malins Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

No, you're not reading that wrong. This is the third time this year we're playing Portslade Athletic II, and the second straight Cup game. We drew 2-2 in league game, beat them 2-0 in the Sommerville Challenge Cup, and now here, where we seek to defend our 2x title.

7 - Allman hits a bounce pass into space that hits the box. You really didn't think anyone but Gray was going to win the race, did you? The shot is savage AF, and scorches the net. 1-0

Crane replaces Pritchard at half, the latter still slowly adapting to our scheme.

52 - You know, Crane really has picked up his game the last 6 months or so. He makes a couple of great header intercepts here, including one that starts a move finishing in Allman blasting a ball down the left flank that Gray gets to first again. Far post cross and Igiehon heads it on in. 2-0

69 - Gill's cross is cleared out, but it's sent right back to our first youth pull signing. No problem, as he crosses it far side, when an unmarked Allman adds to his already insane game with a goal. 3-0

70 - Crane intercepts and hits a grass-burning line drive all the way down the field. No one's surprised to see Gray get there first, and he dribbles to outside the left side of the box. Ground ball to Igiehon, and the Swiss kid kicks his second goal of the game. 4-0

77 - Crane plays horrible defense, and they get one back. 4-1

All full-time starters had 7.1 or better (except Tetek). And there's Carl Gill with the 9.0, Dan Cotterill with the 8.4, Ahmed Mohammed with an 8.6 in his debut, 9.1 for PotM Osamu Allman, who has done amazing work in replacing Josh Dawkin, and matching 9.0s for Bennie Igiehon and Jamie Gray.

The announcers noted that we really lifted our game in the second half. Yeah boy!

Even though 100 people isn't our biggest crowd (That was last season against Crawley United, when 112 people showed up), we pulled in $750 in gate receipts, which is a club record, beating the old $668 against East Grinstead Town III in the Malins Challenge Cup Semi-Final two years ago.

vs Montpelier Villa III (6th)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Ahmed Mohammed/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Bennie Igiehon

22 - Cotterill dribbles down the right flank, and then exchanges passes with Mohammed. Upon the return, Cotterill skims a steamer past three defenders and right on to Gray in the six yard box for the easy score. Perfect placement. 1-0

37 - Okojie blasts one all the way down field to Gray in the box. The cross is headed away by the defense, but Gray heads it right back, and the initial defender can't recover in time to stop Igiehon's kick. 2-0

Crane swaps in for Pritchard at half, who not only stinks, but he's looking complacent.

46 - On the opening kickoff, we have a series where we're kicking it around, then go all the way back to Ann in our half. The Gambian defender passes it forward to Walder, who wings it out to Cotterill. Then the diagonal long pass that drops right before Gray for the wide open score. 3-0

89 - Not worried about that giveaway. 3-1

All full-time starters bar Tetek had 7.0 or better, with the standouts Carl Gill (7.5), Dan Cotterill (9.0), Ahmed Mohammed (7.9), and Jamie Gray (PotM with 9.1).

We leap into 1st place on the back of that win. Loving how this team is coming together.

Transfer In - ST/AMLCR Yemi Odubade (35) - Nigerian
Our third Nigerian player, and the first time we've had three players with the same non-English background at the club at the same time. Elite striker and a future coach candidate with knowledge of Nigeria, England, and a small bit of Welsh knowledge. He has 20 Teamwork, the first player in any of my FM dynasties to have a 20 rating in anything!

vs Forest Row II (5th)
G: Nathan Dennis
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/Viv Pritchard/Carl Gill
DM: Nick Plant
M: Osamu Allman/Stuart Cook/Robert Warrell
S: Passeka Kargbo/Yemi Odubade

Going with as many B-list guys as we can, since we've a cup match in a couple days.

52 - Cook with the short pass to Allman, and the near post cross has Odubade striking a low hummer into the corner of the net for a debut goal! 1-0

62 - Okojie throws in to Kargbo and gets it back. The long, arcing cross hits Odubade, who heads it in with authority! First Nigerian Connection goal!! 2-0

Solid victory keyed by Nick Plant (7.7), Stuart Cook (8.1), Osamu Allman (8.5) and PotM Yemi Odubade, with an 8.8 in his debut. Talk about an instant impact! Shoutout also to Nathan Dennis for his 7.1 in goal.

@ Roffey III (Malins Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Bojan Tetek
D: Dan Okojie/Alasan Ann/James Crane/Carl Gill
DM: Jack Walder
M: Osamu Allman/Dan Cotterill
S: Jamie Gray/Edwin Ahenkorah/Bennie Igiehon

3 - Walder has the ball and he's all alone. The pass to Igiehon, who takes a couple dribbles and then belts a 25 yard right into the net! 1-0

8 - Igiehon and Walder seems to have this relationship this game where they keep passing back and forth to each other. Finally, the Swiss striker passes to Ahenkorah in the right side of the box. Our first Dutchman is dribbling horizontally when he's clocked from behind. PK's awarded, and Gambian defender Ann nails it with authority, the keeper just a step too slow. 2-0

20 - Allman's corner kick to Ann, and I swear the ball broke the plane. Ref is refusing to call the goal though, and as I'm screaming at him, the defenders hesitate a second too long. Crane sneaks in like a ninja and nudges it across, ending the debate. 3-0

56 - Igiehon crushes his finger, and Kargbo comes in. That means we have both Dutch strikers on the field at the same time.

73 - Pritchard goes in for Ann, who has been fucking amazing, but who is also wiped.

We absolutely dominated. Alasan Ann is PotM with 8.5, but was frustrated with being pulled. All four defenders recorded 7.6 or higher, with James Crane picking up an 8.3. All three midfielders were 7.3 or better, with Jack Walder's 8.1 carrying the banner. At striker, Edwin Ahenkorah and Bennie Igiehon both netted 8.4s.

That's 12 Malins Challenge Cup victories in a row, breaking the old record. We're now through to the Quarterfinals in both the MCC and the Sommerville Challenge Cup - the latter a real feat, given how we wiped out our two years in the Parsons Challenge Cup.