Izulde Sieges Soccer: Burgess Hill Rhinos FC (FM 16)

[Izulde]

So I'm back at it - this time playing at a much higher level in the Level 23 database - Mid Sussex Football League Division Six. Why this league? Well, funnily enough, it starts with a Magic: the Gathering card that was a damned powerhouse in Standard in its day:



If I ever build an Abzan commander deck, Siege Rhino will go in for nostalgia sake.

So I was scrolling through the clubs in Level 23 and came on Burgess Hill Rhinos. Their logo?



White, black, and green - the exact same colors as Siege Rhino! Clearly, this was meant to be.

So with Luciana Zogbi covers of songs playing on YouTube, I go through the standard empty cupboard start - getting marginally competent staff for this level and work on signing a team.

It takes us all of preseason to put together a roster, but we're ready for our first game (full team breakdown to come later).

@ Fletching (Sommerville Challenge Cup 1st Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Josh England/Edd Richardson (all three DCs)
M: Alfie Cain/Lewis Hook/Palvy Manduakila/Lewis Soraf/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

3-5-2 formation, and of course you know Ahenkorah from previous dynasties. More on that later.

3 - A whole lot of passing that I forgot to write down, but it ended with Joao inside the box finding Theobald for a short distance shot. 1-0

53 - Mickey Greening, a gray guy we signed after first game, replaces Cain after a yellow. Ahenkorah has placed like ass all game, so we switch to 4-5-1 Asymmetrical, with Flynn Tarman the WBL.

69 - I've never used an asymmetrical formation before, but it works out here when Greening's corner kick flies off the header of the defense, and Tarman pops in the mid-range shot. 2-0

A solid opening victory, but when Flynn Tarman's 7.2 is PotM, and you're talking about Tom Thorne and Lewis Hook with 7.1 as our next best guys, you know it's not an overpowering win by any means.

I'll still take it.

[Young Drachma]

Oh England, nice.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Oh England, nice.

I know, so original. I can't help it - I'm addicted to amateur teams.

[Izulde]

Goalie
Fraser Meldrum - 1/5 (19)

8 or higher in all physical attributes, save Stamina (5). A truckload of double-digit mental attributes, too. Highlighted by 13 Bravery, 12 Strength, 11 Balance of over 10 attributes. Southern Combination Football Premier League (SCFPL) capable, which is... many levels above.

Defenders - Left
No one!

Defenders - Center
Josh England - 4/5 (22) (Isthmian D1S level)
Edd Richardson - 3.5/4 (17) (SCFPL)
Tom Thorne - 2/4 (18) (SCFPL)
Colm Parrott - 1/4 (18) (SCFPL)

England isn't a standout in any attribute, but is solid all-around. The other have definite areas of strength and weakness. Richardson is the most technically accomplished in key areas; Thorne the best physically.

Defenders - Right
Diego Maradona - 1/5 (20) (Brazilian) (Isthmian D1S)

We were denied his work permit application, but he still signed with us anyway. Got a ways to go before he's eligible for citizenship, but that's literally the first time I can recall the game letting us sign someone who got work permit denied. I'm cool with it. Though I'm not sure how to get him the experience for a WP.

Wingback - Left
Flynn Tarman - 1.5/4 (17) (SCFPL)

The hero of our season opening win. My first time with an asymmetrical formation, he's making it work okay. Acceleration/Agility/Pace all 11 or 12.

Midfielder - Left
Alfie Cain - 5/5 (18) (ID1S)
Orlando Joao - 3.5/4 (20) (SCFPL) (Dutch)
Mickey Greening - 0.5 silver/1 (20) (Grey player)

Alfie is God at this level - 14 Flair, 12 Teamwork and Physical attributes that range from 10-13, bar Agility (8) and Stamina (5). Oh, and 11 Crossing. I would love to make him long-term mine.

Midfielder - Center
Lewis Hook - 2.5/4 (16) (SCPFL)
Brady Della Verde - 1/4 (20) (SCPFL) (Grey player)
Lewis Soraf - 1/4 (17) (SCPFL)
Palvy Manduakila - 2 silver/4 (17) (SCPFL)

I actually like Soraf the best out of the best, and by the ratings, Manduakila is better than Della Verde, who is the rare promising looking gray player. No real standouts in this group, but we should still trash everyone.

Midfielder - Right
Maradona - 4/4
Joao - 1/4

Strikers
Alex Theobald - 4.5/4.5 (18) (ID1S)
Edwin Ahenkorah - 2.5/4 (21) (SCPFL) (Dutch)

Y'all remember Ahenkorah from a previous dynasty. Here, I get him from the jump. 11 Heading FTW.

Theobald's 17 Flair is the highest rating on our team in any category - 8 ratings of 11+, including 15 in Teamwork and Natural Fitness. Drool. Plays both Defensive Forward and Poacher, which are the two striker positions in our base 3-5-2.

So obviously we need more bodies. I've been raiding the U-21 rosters of teams higher up the chain on free transfers to put this group together. I expect all of them to be signed away in the offseason, but let's see how far we can get with them.

But I'm lazy and want to get a game in before I have to leave early to run copies of the midterm I spent all night writing, so we won't play smart FM, and instead just roll with the dice.

One of my coaches suggests a 4-1-2-3 DM Wide as a new formation. Err... APPARENTLY some crackhead forgot we don't have DL/DR eligible players.

@ Fletching (5th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Josh England/Edd Richardson (all three DCs)
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Lewis Hook/Palvy Manduakila/Lewis Soraf/Diego Maradona
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

Alfie Cain is out with injury, so we're running a 4-4-2 WB Asymmetrical (L) for this rematch in the same damn road stadium as our first game. Great.

Numerous chances in the first half, but nothing's connecting. Della Verde goes in for an exhausted Hook at half, the role changed to defensive BWM.

60 - Let's start really going for the throat. Cyclonic Rift Overload!

63 - Tarman steals the ball deep in our half and jack-hammers it down the line. An open Joao runs it down and a high ball to Ahenkorah *finally* sees us beat the keeper and we immediately go defensive. Richardson, who is having an ass game (6.2), is yanked for Parrott. Caw caw motherfucker. 1-0

Things are hairy down the stretch, but we eke it out. Our highest player is 7.0 Orlando Joao, the only one to even reach that mark. PotM is the other team's star player, who we've marked tightly both games, and still pulled out a 7.2 here.

Lots of nervousness after this one. Probably a function of so many kids. Hell, we have an 18 year old as our captain (Alex Theobald, who doesn't think he's ready for it, though most of the guys love him as captain.

We were sucking wind at the end of this one. Something to worry about further down on the line, I think. BTW, I'm chuckling at "crowd of 20."

I shouldn't laugh too hard, however.

We've sold five, yes 5, season tickets. Guess their parents don't love them enough to support the team.

[bbgunn]

A Brazilian named Diego Maradona? Wow...

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by bbgunn

A Brazilian named Diego Maradona? Wow...

He's got 689 days to go before English citizenship is a thing, but even at 22/23, he'll be a fantastic player at our level.

Transfer In - DR Keelan Mastouras (17) - From Bath
We finally have another player capable of playing the DR slot, if we decide to use that in any of our formations. Technically weak, but Brave (13) with physical attributes littered with 10+ and the only weakness a 4 Strength.

vs Willingdon Athletic III (8th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Josh England/Edd Richardson (all three DCs)/Keelan Mastouras
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Lewis Hook/Palvy Manduakila/Lewis Soraf (no MR)
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

Alfie Cain is out 5-7 weeks with strained ligaments (just to update that), and Diego Maradona is out 3-4 weeks with an ankle injury (not that he's eligible anyway.

38 - Longball that went in because Meldrum got pulled out of position. Time to start attacking. 0-1

I pull yellow carded Soraf at half for Della Verde.

50 - Parrott in for Richardson, and Mastouras's stupid ass gets a double yellow.

We played like complete ass. I'm not used to losing at this level, so I tear the team a new asshole.

Transfer In - DC Harry Seal (19)
No physical attribute lower than 8, and he's immediately our best DC. Richardson's butt is going to sit on the bench now after this important upgrade. ID1S level player.

Transfer Out - MC Palvy Manduakila - $2.5k salary
Wow, they're not even waiting for the offseason to raid my guys. Still, Kila was the weakest of our central midfelder starters, so it's not the worst loss by any means.

@ Forest Row II (10th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Josh England/Harry Seal (all three DCs)
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Lewis Hook/Bradley Della Verde/Lewis Soraf/Diego Maradona
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

47 - I'm screaming for an offsides, but don't get it. 0-1

54 - Richardson and Parrott replace the bums England and Seal.

73 - Hook angles up to Soraf for the feed to Theobald. Dribble and fire, and we finally make a damn shot after missing umpteen trillion easy ones. 1-1

This wasn't at all a game we deserved to lose. One thing I may end up doing is just going Overload the whole game, as we seem to play a lot better once we start doing that, based on the previous matches.

I mean, no panic button yet - it's only been 3 games, and even in a 10 team league, we're just 2 points back of an automatic promotion place. I keep having to remind myself we're in Division Six, and not the Division Nine or Ten I usually start at.

[Young Drachma]

LOLz at 5 season tickets

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

LOLz at 5 season tickets

Seriously. And our first home game? 19 people showed up. More folks on the pitch than in the stands.

vs AFC Hurst (Sommerville Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Josh England/Harry Seal (all three DCs)
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Mickey Greening/Bradley Della Verde/Lewis Soraf/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

46[ - Joao intercepts a cross-field pass and passes it to Soraf for the longball finding Theobald. Short pass up to the attacking Tarman, and far post cross has unmarked Ahenkorah banking in the shot just before halftime. 1-0

51 - Hook for tired Soraf; Richardson for equal Thorne. We dialed back to Standard at the half, by the way.

82 - Injury to Seal is playable, but we're on a knife's edge. On pops Parrott and we go Defensive to try and close this out.

We played better overall in our draw last time out, but Flynn Tarman snags PotM with his 7.6 rating, and Josh England posts a 7.5. Alex Theobald, who had an 8.3 last game out, rounds out the 7s with a 7.0.

So we're on to the quarterfinals. BTW, Diego Maradona's days aren't going down any, and I'm not sure why. Harry Seal's nasty bruise may keep him out of our next game. Can't wait to get our best player back. Having him knocked out for so long has definitely cramped our style.

[Izulde]

Transfer In - MC Stephan Hamilton-Forbes (22)
Great all-around defensive stats, and he'll immediately become the BWM in whatever setup we use. ID1S level and he blows away the rest of our midfielders in quality level.

@ Ditchling II (6th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Josh England/Harry Seal (all three DCs)
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Lewis Hook (no MR)
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

32 - Playing with a yellow card, Hamilton-Forbes recovers a clearance and hits it up to Joao. Cross to Ahenkorah and the shot's partially deflected by the keeper, but then it slow-rolls to cross the line anyway. 1-0

41 - Poor work on our goal kick sees them head away possession, then beat out our defense to knock it in with ease. 1-1

Richardson replaces the sucktastic England at half.

52 - Mastouras in at DR and Seal sits.

77 - Fucking pathetic. Some switching around to a 1 striker formation, and Greening at ML - I'm tired of Theobald's shit misses. 1-2

Total shitlord performance all around. Unbelievable.

vs Burgess Hill Athletic (Malins Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Harry Seal/Keenan Mastouras
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Mickey Greening/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

It's the Battle of Burgess Hill in this cup match.

30 - Short dribble by Mastouras and the longball to Ahenkorah who traps it and banks in a long diagonal goal! Maybe we've finally found a formation that works for us? 1-0

55 - Hamilton-Forbes takes in a loose ball and slams it down the left line for Tarman, who crosses far post as he runs off the pitch. Ahenkorah easily puts away his second score, the first time we've scored more than a goal this season. Worried about the yellow, I sit Hamilton-Forbes for Soraf, who fits in as BWM. 2-0

70 - Theobald laterals to Tarman for the long rope to Greening at the touchline. Cross and Ahenkorah hits the header hat-trick! Richardson replaces tired Thorne now that we're good. 3-0

Finally, the kind of game this team is capable of. Obvs Edwin Ahenkorah walks off with the match ball, hat-tricking his way to a 9.5 Flynn Tarman who has quietly become one of my favorite players in a position I never use, gets an 8.3. Redemption continues for Keelan Mastouras with an ever-present 7.7 - his second strong start after getting red carded in his debut. Harry Seal scored a 7.5, and grey guy Mickey Greening gets a surprise 7.2.

vs Ridgewood (1st)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Elliott Richardson/Josh England
DM: Lewis Hook
M: Mickey Greening/Bradley Della Verde/Lewis Soraf/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

U-21 match too close to this one and a short rest means we have to go with an awkward lineup for the most critical game of the season. Basically, if we want a shot to promote, we have to win here.

14 - Greening on the corner kick, after Ahenkorah's shot is blocked. Theobald rises up, and smashes in the long header! 1-0

20 - Theobald almost does it again, this time on a Della Verde corner, but it smashes off the top bar.

At half, we go to a 3-5-2, with Hamilton-Forbes coming in as an attacking CM to replace Hook's DM.

57 - Bullshit excuse me bounce off the ball. Thorne is yanked for Parrott and we start going for blood. 1-1

63 - Aaaand we're done. Evidently we just can't fucking deal with 3 DCs at the back. They always shit the bed. 1-2

At this point, forget about promotion - now we have to fight just to avoid the drop.

[Izulde]

vs Plumpton Athletic II (Mid Sussex Junior Cup First Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Tom Thorne/Harry Seal/Edd Richardson
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Mickey Greening/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

11 - Theobald's sliding tackle dispossesses the defense, and Ahenkorah sends it back to him. Back further to Hamilton-Forbes and the long drop pass drops in front of Ahenkorah, who beats the defense for the angled, difficult shot our Dutchman does so well. 1-0

14 - I thought I put Mastouras in at DR, but I guess not. Works out okay here, as Richardson chases down a clearance and crosses far post right in the perfect spot for Theobald to sink a sitter. 2-0

26 - Tarman throws in to Theobald for the short pass to Greening in the box, and a cross-box ground pass sees Joao sinking his first ever goal for us. Why can't we play like this in league? 3-0

38 - Goal kick finds Joao for a header, then a strip away and running past everyone until a short feed forward to Theobald for the easy 1 on 1 continues the onslaught. 4-0

England in for Thorne at half.

57 - Hamilton-Forbes with the retrieval of a clearance and long-ball down the flank to Greening, the grey guy's centering connecting with Theobald's heels for the sliding hat-trick goal! 5-0

61 - With the match well in hand, Cain is going to make his first official appearance since injury, replacing Greening.

They have a few chances to spoil the shutout late in the game, but don't make any.



This is what complete dominance looks like, y'all.

Transfer In - MC/MR/AMC/AMR Peggy Lokando (26) (Congolese)
You know me and my love of international players. Older than what I'm trying to build here, but he allows us to be even stronger at MR and shift Orlando Joao to a flexible reserve able to spell either him or Alfie Cain. Exceptionally fit (18) with technique (12) unparalleled for this level.

We lost $498 last month, our biggest deficit of the year. Not being able to put butts in the seats is a thing.

Loan In - ST Andrew Folan (21) (From Cheshunt)
Here's our third striker, on loan for the rest of the season. Incredible potential, but right now, he'll be a backup despite 10 Dribbling, 10 Finishing, and 10 Heading.

vs Fairwarp (7th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/Edd Richardson/Keelan Mastouras
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

52 - Lokando moves inside to replace yellow carded Hamilton-Forbes and Joao slots in at MR. [b]Folan[/b pops in at ST for Theobald and switches spots with Ahenkorah

We just can't get anything going all game, and with that tie, we officially hit the drop zone.

[bbgunn]

Are you still recruiting a bunch of tall guys?

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by bbgunn

Are you still recruiting a bunch of tall guys?

Not specifically, no. Just bringing guys in from higher level clubs.

@ Newick (Malins Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/Edd Richardson/Keelan Mastouras
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

5 - Theobald passes to Lokando in the box, and the shot is true, but the woodwork denies the ball. It's sitting on the line and a defender quickly gets there and short kicks it out, but it's so short that Theobald is able to walk up to the ball and just tap it in. 1-0

51 - With Tarman so tired, Cain comes in as an AML and Folan will see his first action, spelling the silent Ahenkorah.

62 - We got lucky there, as a goal is disallowed due to offsides. Theobald did a poor job of keeping possession after a takeaway.

The final twenty minutes was two tired teams slogging away at each other. The opposing keeper was exceptional and PotM with a 7.6 - we should have won by more than this. Our end - 7.5 for Stephan Hamilton-Forbes, 7.2 for Lewis Soraf, 7.1s for Alex Theobald and Edd Richardson, and a very underrated 7.0 by Harry Seal, who bailed us out time and time again in the highlights.

Transfer In - GK Matt Bonnett (18) From Enfield
Scrub keeper compared to the rest of the squad (1 silver star/2 gold), but still capable of playing at a far higher level than this. Hoping his poor cap will be enough that other teams won't seek to poach him in the offseason.

Transfer In - GK Dan Hutchins (18) From Lewes
Exciting potential on this hot prospect, and my scouts actually think he's the best keeper right now. Has some worrying physical weaknesses, however, so he'll come off the bench for now. Fraser Meldrum's well-rounded physical attributes have been amazing to watch, and I prioritize those in looking at keepers after seeing that.

Transfer In - DR Kashif Siddiqui (29) (Pakistani)
Why am I bringing in a veteran? Let me count the ways: 1) He's immediately the best player on the whole team, regardless of position. 2) Keelan Mastouras stunk last game. 3) Mr. Siddiqui is currently playing for the Pakistani national team. 4) Isthmian Premier League level talent. And if he sticks around next year, he'll be our team captain.

Transfer In - ST Nico Thongvivat (19)
Excellent physical attributes and some nice technical attributes. The long and short - he blows away every other striker on our squad and will replace Dutchman Edwin Ahenkorah in the lineup.

@ Bolney Rovers (2nd)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/Edd Richardson/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

Can we finally break our endless losing streak here?

9 - Nope. Siddiqui got a yellow in the first two minutes of the game, too. 0-1

17 - Thongvivant is getting pressured, so he kicks it back to Hamilton-Forbes. Forward we go, and Soraf's leaping header knocks the ball into the box for Thongvivant to slam a forceful debut goal that's the most powerful shot I've seen this year. 1-1

30 - Lots of passing in this sequence, with Hamilton-Forbes directing a lot of the traffic. Finally, triple-pressured Lokando wings back to Siddiqui for the booming long ball to the touchline. Lokando's there first, and his fiery short-post hit to Theobald results in a falling down kick-in goal. 2-1

36 - Hamilton-Forbes and Soraf keep swapping the ball until the former gets it to Theobald. Even further left to Tarman, who cracks a highball right into the open space where a completely unmarked Thongvivant strikes his second flairtastic goal. 3-1

55 - Mastouras for Siddiqui; Ahenkorah for Thongvivant for yellow card and tired reasons.

72 - About 5000x we could have added to our lead, but just kept getting unlucky with the goal conspiring against us. Later in the game, Joao feeds it to Theobald, who's immediately pressured. The safety to valve to Tarman and a high, perfectly placed far-post cross despite three defenders clinging to him, has Ahenkorah getting Dutch revenge and a reserve goal, despite our Defensive stance. 4-1

84 - Lokando longball to Ahenkorah. Dribble and far post cross to beating everyone Theobald. Simple, sweet, easy goal. 5-1

Just three players had below a 7.5 on the night and we had 3 with 9.0 or higher - Flynn Tarman, Peggy Lokando, and Alex Theobald - the latter's 9.2 good for PotM.

This is the kind of statement win we needed to put faith in ourselves. We climb out of the drop, with a 2 point safety net, and hopefully we can use this to turn things around the rest of the season.

[Izulde]

Transfer In - DC James Sage (21)
Fantastic at tackling and marking (11), but awful technically everywhere else. Great bravery, decision making, etc. Easily our top central defender and will go in the starting lineup posthaste. ID1S level.

vs Fletching (Mid Sussex Junior Cup 2nd Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

10 - Awfully late offsides call on the goal by Theobald there.

18 - Rare missed tackle by Seal is a giveaway. 0-1

37 - Tarman side pass to Cain and center to Hook over 30 yards out. Lewis H. sees a sightline and cracks the long shot that sings home! The announcers fall all over themselves praising the goal, and rightfully so. 1-1

Although he can't play there, Mastouras replaces Seal at DC.

49 - He was pissed when I chewed out the defense at half, but Tarman cracks a bomb all the way down the pitch to Theobald down in the box. The striker holds up play until he can kick back-center to Thongvivant for the go-ahead goal. The kid dabs in celebration, and I'm grinning. 2-1

59 - Yellow for Cain, so in goes Joao.

No surprise that Lewis Hook's got an 8.6 and PotM. Stephan Hamilton-Forbes records a 7.5, and it's 7.2 each for our starting strikers as we overcome a shit game by the defenders.

vs Newick (2nd)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

23 - Two gorgeous plays, and nothing to show for it early in the match. Then Hamilton-Forbes, who is fast becoming my favorite player on the team, steals the ball and launches a long pass to Thongvivant for the sweet mid-range strike! 1-0

35 - Thongvivant is in the far right corner of the box near the touchline, and upon harassment, sends it back to Lokando. Our Congolese winger sends a sneaky behind the back ground cross pass to Cain, and the keeper is nowhere near in position to stop the easy goal. 2-0

58 - Soraf for Hook; Mastouras for Siddiqui

81 - Devastating injury as Thongvivant is knocked out of the game!!! Ahenkorah hops in, and I'm swearing because we have no Physio, because no one wants the job.

8.3 for Alfie Cain and Nico Thongvivant, the former earning PotM. Ever-reliable Stephan Hamilton-Forbes nets a 7.9, and we polevault from 8th to 5th and now find ourselves within striking distance of 2nd - 2 points back. There's a chance for us to walk out with a Year 1 promotion after all, despite the fact that we keep losing money.

Nico Thongvivant is out 5-7 weeks. Not good, not good at all. He really sparked us since arriving, and I'm not at all enthusiastic about missing him.

[Izulde]

vs Jarvis Brook III (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Third Round)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

9 - Ahenkorah and Lokando with the pass exchanges, the Dutchman's in-box shot falling in thanks to an assist from the post. 1-0

49 - A clean, easy lay-ahead into the box for Theobald by Hamilton-Forbes, and the early insurance is there. 2-0

55 - Soraf for Hamilton-Forbes; Mastouras for Sage due to tiredness. Really need to start training Mastouras as a DC.

77 - Beautiful tackle-strip by Hook to get the ball, then the pass to Ahenkorah and out to Siddiqui, who blasts one downfield for Lokando to nab and center. Theobald has a half-step on the defense for his second goal of the half. 3-0

A victory as dominating as the scoreline. 7.5+ guys: Alex Theobald PotM with 8.8, a 7.7 for Alfie Cain, 7.8 for Peggy Lokando, 8.2 for Lewis Hook, 7.6 for Flynn Tarman, and 7.5 by Kashif Siddiqui.

vs Fletching (10th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Keelan Mastouras
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Andrew Folan

Yep, this is the fourth time we've played these guys this season, emerging with a win in all three contests. I smell a trap game. We have a short rest turnaround, so I'm getting a few backup guys starts here.

58 - Total ass by our defense there. Richardson at DR; Ahenkorah for Folan. Ugh. 0-1

84 - Richardson cracks one down to Ahenkorah for the bouncing header into the box. Theobald's first to the ball, and a few dribbles and a shot, and we've the late equalizer. 1-1

Halfway through the season, we're in 7th - 5 points out of the drop, 4 points away from one of the promotion places. We definitely have the talent to promote. Heybridge Swifts fire their manager, and I'm listed as the odds-on favorite to get the job. Not planning on moving, however.

[Izulde]

@ Lindfield IV (Malins Challenge Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Keelan Mastouras
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Orlando Joao
S: Alex Theobald/Andrew Folan

Short rest ahead again after this got pushed back, and the league is more important. We made a profit of $180 last month, but are still well in the red for the season.

2 - Nice move by Cain to get the ball deep in our half. The sequence caps with Seal jackhammering to Folan in the box. Two dribbles and the angled shot gives our loaned striker his first goal of the year. 1-0

Mastouras's late first yellow nearly costs us, and he's had a shit game anyway, so Richardson steps in for him at half.

58 - Hook swaps for Soraf in an exchange of Lewises.

69 - Sage runs down an errant corner kick and long crosses to Folan to restart the attack. It ends with Folan sending back to Hook for the forward feed and open strike from Joao. They cry offsides despite 3 defenders in front of him. Uh, okay. 2-0

74 - Tarman takes the ball away on our touchline, saving a certain goal. His ensuing longball to Theobald draws a double yellow on the opponents. The game is now ours.

84 - Tarman again with a takeaway, and he ends up the midpoint between a Cain-Tarman-Folan connect the dots goal! 3-0

Obviously 8.8 and PotM for Andrew Folan, but let's give proper shoutout to 8.0s Flynn Tarman and Orlando Joao.

Transfer In - DL/ML Malachi Robinson (20)
Strong tackler with exceptional physical attributes in most categories bar Stamina. Can also be an emergency DR/MR. With this, we may switch to a traditional 4-4-2.

It turns out we had a long break, so I didn't need to use that lineup after all. Oops. Our staff has been raided lately. My back's spasming again, so I'm going to take a break and try to gently stretch it.

[Izulde]

@ Willingdon Athletic III (5th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

45 - Ping-ponging possession before Crain cracks a crater all the way down for Thongvivat to race and dribble in. Seconds before halftime, our teenage hero gives us the lead! 1-0

55 - Soraf for Hook, and Tarman gets a break for the first time in a long time, sitting for Robinson as we switch to a flat 4-4-2.

It's the kind of game where Nico Thongvivant's 8.3 (PotM), Stephan Hamilton-Forbes' 7.4, and Alfie Cain's 7.0 are the highlights.

@ Roffey III (10th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/Edd Richardson/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Lewis Soraf/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

Playing on short rest here, as a couple of postponed games and all our Cup play has us squeezing in these close together. It makes up our last game in hand, and it's a victory I really, really want to get.

4 - Theobald lays it forward on the wing for Tarman, whose cross ends up an actual shot. In the rain, the keeper's hands fumble the ball, and Ahenkorah is first to the punch for the short score. 1-0

Sloppy, sloppy game in the mud. At half, Lokando moves in to replace Hook, who played badly in the first half. Joao at MR, and Folan replaces ineffective Theobald, too.

64 - Joao is forced out with injury, necessitating Robinson as an awkward, emergency MR.

76 - I've been thinking all game it's surprising there's been no PKs awarded yet this season in our games. Sure enough, here it comes... and it's on them! Lokando steps up, the Congolese midfielder faking out the keeper. We can rest easy now. 2-0

Our entire backline, including Fraser Meldrum in the net, had 7.0 or better in this one, highlighted by PotM Harry Seal's 7.7, a 7.6 by Flynn Talman, and 7.5 by Kashif Siddiqui. In fact, while no true super-duper dudes, the whole starting lineup that played all game had 7.0 or higher, with Edwin Ahenkorah representing up front on his 7.5.

Biggest reason I'm excited about this win? We're officially 2nd on goal differential. The bad news: We lose Orlando Joao for a month with an ankle injury. But at least we have Malachi Robinson as a serviceable cover.

[Izulde]

@ Hartfield (Malins Challenge Cup Semi-Final
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

10 - Superlative sliding tackle by Tarman, and he passes it to Cain. The long cross-court pass falls in the path of Thongvivat just outside the box, and the pop feed to Theobald inside nets a goal for our team captain. 1-0

39 - Meldrum's goal kick hits Thongvivant, and he's immediately pressured, so he outlets wing to Cain, who dribbles and far post crosses. Right there is Lokando for our Congolese winger's second goal of the season. 2-0

56 - Lokando, Siddiqui, and Hook keep trading passes in a holding pattern triangle, until the Congolese lays it into the box for by Thongvivant's sure strike. Robinson for Tarman after the score means a flat 4-4-2. 3-0

Dominant outing, as every starter was 7 or better. The 8+ guys are Peggy Lokando (PotM and 9.1), Alfie Cain (8.1), and [b]Nico Thongvivat (9.0). We've booked our finals trip.

A nice note appears in the media the next day:



Ironic, given our backline play to start the year. But that was down to tactics - a three DC setup was terrible. Two DCs and a DR has been brilliant, with intermittent switches to the 4-4-2 flat.

You can also see the root of our financial woes. As an amateur team, we should be making money hand over fist. But we continue to bleed cash because no one is coming to the games, even with our brilliant football. I had better attendance with Keymer & Hassocks.

vs Forest Row II (6th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

33 - We're forced back and back until Hamilton-Forbes outlets to Cain for the push forward to Tarman. Far post cross, and a driving Lokando delivers the goal. 1-0

Soraf replaces yellow-carded Hamilton-Forbes at half.

53 - [b]Hook[/b short-passes to Theobald in the face of three defenders. First touch feed to Thongvivat and the shot is pushed away by the keeper. No worries, as Thongvivat shoots in the rebound. 2-0

58 - Lokando moves inside to replace Hook, Robinson coming off the bench at MR.

75 - Soraf sends it to Tarman for the left-side dribble and perfect pass into the six-yard box between two defenders for Thongvivant to score again. 3-0

We played on short rest and still got 8.1 from Khalif Siddiqui, 8.7 from Flynn Tarman, 7.7 from Peggy Lokando, and a PotM 8.8 by Nico Thongvivat.

vs Ditchling II (4th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Malachi Robinson/Harry Seal/James Sage/Keelan Mastouras
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Edwin Ahenkorah

Our second straight game on short rest neccessitates some lineup changes in what is our biggest match of the year. Not good. Particularly since they beat us earlier in the year.

31 - Sigh. PK. 0-1

Folan and Parrott replace Theobald and Sage at half, and I scream at the team because they're playing like ass.

63 - Double yellow for Seal.

66 - We're done. 0-2

83 - Ahenkorah is knocked out with injury. We switch to a 4-4-1, with Mastouras moving to DC and Siddiqui in at DR.

88 - Soraf receives the full pitch lateral from Cain and passes to Lokando in the box. Dribble, dribble, and the angled shot gives us a faint, faint hope. 1-2

We get a few chances, but can't do it. Honestly, we were set up to fail. The fucking ref called like 6 yellow cards on us and 0 on our opponents, so I can't be too harsh on how the boys stepped up in the second half.

That drops us to 4th, and Edwin Ahenkorah is out 5-6 weeks with a back injury.

[Young Drachma]

Impressed at your discipline. Low level league refs are the worst.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

Impressed at your discipline. Low level league refs are the worst.

Yeah it was just one of those weird fluke games. Usually we get like one yellow per game. Damn low level ref. Oh well, it's all good. Still five games to go, and we're only 1 point + 1 G.D. back of 2nd.

@ AFC Uckfield U21s (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Malachi Robinson/Edd Richardson/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

16 - Ugh. PK.0-1

17 - Robinson steals the ball to start a move and is on the tail end of a long, high wing pass down the flank from Hook. He centers to Thongvivat for the powerful header goal and immediate answer. 1-1

Mastouras fills in for Siddiqui at half, as our Pakistani national is having a shit game.

59 - Lokando heads on the goal kick from Meldrum. The ball bounces into space and rolls into the box. Thongvivat beats everyone to the punch and spears in the fierce diagonal! Soraf slots in for Hamilton-Forbes, who picked up an early yellow. 2-1

Nico Thongvivat's 8.8 and PotM carried this team on his back. Props also to Peggy Lokando for a 7.5, Lewis Hook with a 7.4, and Malachi Robinson's 7.2.

@ Ridgewood (6th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Soraf/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

10 - Long throw-in by Tarman to Soraf's head for the topper to Thongvivant, who also uses his dome to knock in the first goal of the game. 1-0

16 - Tarman with another long throw-in. This one finds Theobald's feet, and the ensuing center into the box watches Thongvivat's awkward high kick shot hit the nets. 2-0

66 - Thongvivant chases down a clearance and sends it back to Lokando. Long, far post diagonal cross into space, and thundering Theobald thrusts the power strike home. 3-0

No subs, because every single starter grabbed a 7.0 or higher. Flawless execution in a game we really need. 7.5+ highlights: Peggy Lokando (8.5), Alfie Cain (7.6), PotM again Nico Thongvivat 8.8, and a 7.9 from Alex Theobald.

We temporarily move into 2nd place, as the 4th place squad has a game in hand on us, and would move back up to 2nd with a win in their makeup match. Also, we all but mathematically clinch staying up with four games left in the league season - quite a startling contrast from early in the year, where relegation looked like a real possibility.

@ Ditchling II (Sommerville Challenge Cup Quarterfinal)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Harry Seal/Edd Richarson/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Mickey Greening/Bradley Della Verde/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
AML: Orlando Joao
S: Andrew Folan

This team has given us fits all year, and we've once again got them on a back end of three straight matches close together. Since this is a Cup game, and all those tiredness issues have cropped up, we're going with a backup-heavy lineup and an Asymmetrical 4-4-2 ST (CL) to try and take them off guard.

8 - Knee injury to Folan. He'll play out the half, however.

Theobald replaces Folan at the break.

62 - Hamilton-Forbes in for exhausted Hook.

66 - Now that's just nifty. Theobald gets the ball about midfield, and a series of short passes goes like this: to Hamilton-Forbes, out to Lokando, back to Siddiqui. Our Palestinian national hoofs one all the way down the pitch to Theobald, who kicks the ball up to his knee, pops it up to his head, and bounces a header right over the keeper for the goal! 1-0

Not the prettiest win - Bradley Della Verde picks up PotM with 7.3, but nobody had an awful game, and we finally beat the bugbear that's been gnawing at us all year long.

The very day after he gets the start, Bradley Della Verde whines about lack of PT. Dude, you were a grey player who is lucky to get the PT he has. STFU.

On the good news front, we made a profit of $104, and the board is all "Long may it last." about my reign. The 4th place team who could have jumped us also suffered a shocking 0-2 home loss to the worst squad in the league.

Stephan Hamilton-Forbes, who is one of my favorite players, is picked out for praise by the coaching staff, and he has Vanarama North/South potential now. Whether I stay at this ill-supported club or move on, he's going to be a primary transfer target.

I've been misspelling Brady Della Verde's name all season long, which is probably part of the reason why he's so pissy. Looking at him, I can see why he's mad we've given preference to Lewis Soraf. But then, he strains his calf in the Youth Candidates game and is out 4 weeks. Oops.

Youth Intake
They lose 0-1 to the U-18 squad. We sign the following players:

MC Danny Beale (16)
Good all-around physical attributes and 11 Passing, to say nothing of his elite potential and ready now playing ability make him an obvious choice. Will step in as our new backup MC. Can also play AMC if need be.

AML/AMC/AMR Jamie Edwards (16)
A natural at all three attacking midfield spots and can play MC. My staff isn't high on his potential, but 15 Determination, 18 Teamwork, 14 Work Rate will get you a shot in our program every time.

GK Aaron Allen (16) (American)
Needs to get his stamina and strength up, but otherwise world-class physical attributes for this level, and you know how much I value that. Staff hates his potential, but I think he's better than they think. He was born in West Hartford, CT, and was trained in the US. How he got here, I have no idea. Guess I'll contact Marc to find out.

AMC/ST Simon Shenton (16)
17 Determination, 13 Flair, and stellar physical attributes bar strength, stamina, and jumping. Loyal AF, and a natural DF, which is a position we feature in all three of our tactical setups.

Harry Seal strains his groin in practice and will miss 3-4 weeks.

@ Fairwarp (8th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Edd Richardson/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

Lengthy press conference leading up to this one, because a win mathematically clinches our staying up. We also have a shit ton of injuries right now, particularly at the striker spots, which is putting Simon Shenton in the subs for this one. Edwin Ahenkorah will be back next game, however.

11 - Meldrum is in danger of losing his starting spot after that hot mess. 0-1

16 - Thongvivat is crowded by defenders, so he heads it back to Hook and frees himself for the return pass. A dribble to fake out the keeper, and there's the tie. 1-1

33 - Theobald receives a pass into the box from Hamilton-Forbes, but he's forced back to the touchline by a defender, who promptly tackles him from behind. That should have been the dude's second yellow, but we'll take the PK and Lokando's easy conversion. 2-1

Mastouras replaces the shit Sage at half.

54 - Finally the double yellow for their dude.

60 - You've got to be fucking kidding me. Meldrum is so benched next game. 2-2

69 - Tarman out for Robinson and a 4-4-2 flat.

80 - Hamilton-Forbes intercepts a pass and gets it out to Cain, who holds up while Robinson runs forward on the left flank. Then our multi-purpose reserve takes the ensuing pass and near post crosses to Thongvivat, the left-footed kick catching the keeper by surprise, as he was trailing right to anticipate another angle. 3-2

92 - Cain passes forward to Robinson, who dribbles down the left flank and center crosses to Theobald's head for the last second victory-clinching goal! 4-2

Our defense played like absolute trash all game. Only Khasif Siddiqui came back from a 6.1 to a 6.9 finish once we dropped to the 4-4-2 flat and went defensive after our go-ahead goal. Alex Theobald's 8.8 won PotM, but b]Lewis Hook[/b] was a defensive hero at 8.7, covering up for a lot of backline mistakes. 8.1 for Nico Thongvivat and a masterful 7.4 reserve performance for Malachi Robinson. Incidentally, Fraser Meldrum finished with a 7.0, but may still get benched next time out.

Three games to go, and we're first on goal differential. 3 point cushion on 4th, but 3rd is just 2 points back. It's going to be an exciting race to the finish.

[Izulde]

@ Peacehaven United II (Sommerville Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Edd Richardson/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

7 - Stylish move capping in Hamilton-Forbes passing to Hook for the threaded needle between two defenders. In space is Theobald, who scores easily. 1-0

23 - Hamilton-Forbes has been everywhere so far, and on this one, he hits the corner kick to Richardson for the left-footed shot. The keeper's off in the middle and doesn't catch the sneak kick until far too late. 2-0

26 - They've given up all pretense of challenging our guys, leading to leisurely dribbling strolls down the pitch by our players. The last saunter is Theobald down the left flank, center cross to Thongvivant for the score. 3-0

38 - Hook longballs to Theobald, and the first touch feed connects with Thongvivat for the distance strike just inside the box. 4-0

54 - With three defenders on him, Theobald lays off to Hook, and the distance shot goes home! As great as our team captain has been, he's also on a yellow and damn near got his second, so I'll pull him for Ahenkorah. Just to be safe. 5-0

70 - Good time to get youth pull Beale his debut, and he comes on for Hook at the latter's request.

73 - Tarman takes a pass, draws the defense, and outlets to Cain. Cross into the box, and Thongvivat has a step on the defense for the angled dribbling away shot. HAT TRICK TIME! 6-0

74 - I'm going to put this Siddiqui own goal down to Hutchins being an inattentive ass. 6-1

86 - Thongvivat drop shots a free kick into the box. Ahenkorah is there first and angles the score behind the back of the keeper. Good first goal since layoff by one of our Dutch players. 7-1

How dominant were we? Every starter other than Dan Hutchins (7.2) had at least an 8.2! Player of the Match is of course the 9.7 Nico Thongvivat with Edd Richardson's 9.2 and Stephan Hamilton-Forbes' 9.1 the other 9+. A 7.0 off the bench for Edwin Ahenkorah as well.

Naturally that game smashes all sorts of records that may take a long time before being broken. And of course, Edwin Ahenkorah gets hurt in a reserves game and will miss another 3-4 weeks.

vs Bolney Rovers (5th)
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Malachi Robinson/Edd Richardson/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook
AM: Peggy Lokando/Jamie Edwards
S: Alex Theobald

We play these guys on back-to-back games and it's another three consecutive games of short-play. So we'll see if we can't surprise them with a 4-3-2-1 Asymmetrical ST (CL) formation.

26 - Siddiqui throws in to Edwards, our youth pull sending a pass to Theobald. He dribbles just inside the box, abruptly stops to throw off the defense, and cracks a beautiful speculative shot between two defenders, a diagonal ray that hits the upper left corner of the net! Cartwheel worthy, indeed. 1-0

28 - Edwards with the runback for the ball and long shot to Hook. He jukes past the defender, dribbles all the way to the touchline and crosses far post where nobody is there. Theobald blazes in to blast his second goal of the game. 2-0

35 - Fucking fluke goal. 2-1

41 - ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! TWO FUCKING FLUKE GOALS?! 2-2

43 - ARE YOU.FUCKINJDFKJSKJSDJFKJKDFJASDLALFJASFA 2-3

54 - Hutchins in Meldrum; Mastouras for Siddiqui. I don't care about the confidence hit - Meldrum has been ass the last few games he's played.

63 - Robinson throws in to Cain, and the cross finds completely unmarked Edwards for the heroic debut goal. 3-3

Goal differential will be enough to keep us in at least second, but holy shit, did we fucking waste some great performances with our assfuckery in the backline.

@ Bolney Rovers (Mid Sussex Junior Challenge Cup Semi-Final)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Edd Richardson/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Orlando Joao/Lewis Soraf/Danny Beale/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

9 - Tarman head-takes the ball, nodding it on to Theobald for the send to Thongvivat. He dribbles all the way into the box, but rather than cross to Theobald, he sends it further to Joao. Our Dutch winger kicks back to Soraf for the high far post counter cross to Thongvivat, a fierce header a nice bit of revenge for last game. 1-0

15 - Siddiqui throws in to Thongvivat, and upon getting the ball back, hits a ray of a cross. Joao has the defense beat by a half-step, and that's good enough to continue pouring on the fury. 2-0

54 - Edwards for Soraf after a yellow - Parrott for Richardson.

55 - Tarman gave away possession cheaply there. 2-1

64 - Tarman tracks down a ball and short laterals to Joao. A boomer sees Theobald get it near the touchline, holding up play to draw the defense on to him. With the opening, near post cross and Thongvivant powers in the insurance header! 3-1

88 - Everyone just kind of stood around there. 3-2

Sure, we won, but it felt like we were lucky to do so. 8.8 for PotM Nico Thongvivat, with Orlando Joao right behind at 8.7. We haven't played well this last couple games.

Huge break as Newick inexplicably draws the worst team at home, 2-2, and the team that should have tied us on goal differential lost to the hated Ditchling II, who are now in 3rd, a single point back of the promotion spots.

Two games left - the absolute worst we can finish is 5th. And literally our biggest match of the year is the very next one. It could very well determine whether we go up or stick around here for another season.

[bbgunn]

Good run here!

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by bbgunn

Good run here!

Thanks. My natural paranoia fears a late-season swoon that costs us promotion and trophy money, though. We'll see what happens, however.

@ Newick (2nd)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Harry Seal/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

Simple math, here. Win and we all but mathematically punch our ticket to promotion. Draw, and it comes down to the last game. Lose and we need some help to go up. We lost $110 last month, BTW, so in order to turn a profit for the season, we need to win at least one of our three cup games.

40 - What the shit kind of pass out of goal was that, Hutchins?! Fortunately, he makes a superhuman save to cover for his gaffe.

We're playing like trash all the first half, and really should be losing at this point.

49 - Folan subs in for Thongvivat, who is picking the worst time to have his only bad game as a Rhino.

73 - Mastouras on for Sage. I notice Ditchling II is down by 1 at home.

75 - "Andrew Folan would look out of place on a rugby pitch right now!" Well, shit. Kid is pressing too hard, trying to play hero ball.

81 - Willingdon Athletic III is also down by 1, albeit on the road. We're getting that help we need. Now if we can just take advantage.

83 Down 1-2 is Ditchling II.

And we can't break through. Our midfield did everything possible to get us this one, and it was all for naught. Well, maybe not totally...

Ditchling II... Loss!
Willingdon Athletic III... Loss!

It couldn't have gone any better. Willingdon Athletic III is officially out, and Ditchling II is now 2 points back with a pedestrian +5 GD to our +14 and Newick's +11. All we have to do is draw our last game, and we're in.

Roffey III officially drops. Bye, Felicia Pt. 1

It may only be April, but we've already made a huge splash signing for June that we'll talk about when the time comes.

@ AFC Haywards II (Sommerville Challenge Cup Final)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Harry Seal/Colm Parrott/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

The first of three trophy finals. A note about Colm Parrott - he's busted his ass in training all year long, and despite an initial complaint, been patient while he's bided his time. With James Sage producing very uneven performances lately, the bird with the extra T gets his turn.

2 - Putrid defending by Siddiqui there. 0-1

5 - *And* a yellow?! Off goes Siddiqui for Mastouras, the quickest non-injury sub ever.

7 - Defense forcing Hook back? No problem - pretty backheel pass into space, and Theobald excels at beating keepers 1 v 1. 1-1

11 - Cain's corner seeks Seal's cranium, and the crashing header gives him his first ever goal as a Rhino! You're a scorer, Harry! 2-1

16 - Lots of passing in this buildup, the last of it Theobald shorting it back to Tarman. The return pass into the box has Theobald completely unmarked and shooting from almost the exact same angle as his first goal. Talk about a fast reversal of a shit start. 3-1

33 - Hamilton-Forbes intercepts the ball in our box and rockets it all the way down the pitch to Thongvivat. A high, high lateral finds Cain for the flank feed to Tarman. Far post cross, and Lokando has everyone beat by a wide mile to knock in another score. 4-1

47 - Hook wings out to Cain, who drives past the defense and centers to Thongvivat for the easy opening second-half goal. We can punch this one as a guaranteed trophy, y'all. 5-1

69 - Tarman wants a break, so flat 4-4-2 and Robinson we go.

70 - Robinson throws into Hook, and the bouncing long ball lets a completely alone Theobald race untouched for a fiery hat-trick strike! 6-1

Dan Hutchins 7.1 and Khalif Siddiqui a no-rating. Everyone else bar Robinson? 8.1 or higher. The 9+ guys: Peggy Lokando 9.1; Lewis Hook 9.2; PotM Alex Theobald 9.6. And talk about a masterful reserve performance - Keelan Mastouras nailed an 8.9!

Alex Theobald led the Sommerville Challenge Cup in scoring with 6 goals, and Alfie Cain topped the tournament's assists chart with 3. We get $750 for winning, which puts our bank account in the black for the first time this year. A whopping 68 people showed up to watch the Final - easily our biggest crowd of the season.

vs Roffey III (10th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Harry Seal/Colm Parrott/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

Ditchling II won promotion after winning their final match and Newick getting upset by Fletching 1-3. So unless we lose by uh... 6 goals, we're going up, too. A tie or win gives us the title over our archrivals. I've played down the importance of this match, and with a home game against an already relegated team, I'm just going to tell the players to relax and enjoy themselves.

8 - We spend several minutes having to pass, pass, pass because they're putting up a huge wall on defense. Finally, Hamilton-Forbes locates Hook for a box pass into space. Theobald wins the race, and our team captain scores yet another goal. 1-0

18 - Hook's being shadowed, so he wings to Tarman for the far post cross. Thongvivant rises above everyone and heads it in. 2-0

43 - Hamilton-Forbes gives it to Theobald, and a nagging defender nearly steals it, but our captain's able to lay off to Thongvivant, whose strike from just outside the half-circle belts its way home! 3-0

58 - We're all feeling lazy right now - hence this goal. Mastouras for Parrott; Della Verde for Hook. Hope we don't blow this. Guys were looking awfully complacent at half. 3-1

7.8 for Flynn Tarman, 8.9 for PotM Nico Thongvivat, and 8.3 for Alex Theobald. We definitely slacked off in the second half, but even the announcers said this game was over at halftime.

And we officially win Division Six!!! The double is in the bag, and now we have to see if we can garner any more trophies to cap off what has been a dream season - all the more so, because at one point this year, we were in the drop zone.

I'm gonna be honest - although I'm used to steam-rolling in amateur leagues, this one has been pretty damn special for the fightback the team showed, and the tactical adjustments I had to make - talent alone wasn't enough to get this far.

[Izulde]

@ Roffey III (Malins Challenge Cup Final)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Harry Seal/Colm Parrott/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

Lot of people complaining about playing time before this one - always a function of being a successful squad. So with our opponents already relegated and having been beaten by us last game, this is their Super Bowl.

11 - Crossbar saved us there. Should have been a goal for them.

18 - We've been not fantastic the first few minutes, but Hamilton-Forbes connects with Seal on the corner for the header goal, the opposing keeper way to the left and leaving the rest of the net wide open. 1-0

48 - I chewed out our strikers at halftime, but the real story in this one is Parrott continuing his late season form by charging down an interception at midfield and blasting an aerial pass into the box. Thongvivat pops the header -just- over the outstretched arms of the goalie, and it rolls in. 2-0

51 - Ahenkorah replaces Theobald.

71 - Mastouras comes in for tired Parrott

8.1 and PotM for Harry Seal; 7.6 for Lewis Hook; 8.0 for Stephan Hamilton-Forbes, and 7.5 for Nico Thongvivat. A crisp, solid victory to hit the treble. That's another $750 in the bank account.

vs Ridgewood (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Final)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Harry Seal/Colm Parrott/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Stephan Hamilton-Forbes/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Alex Theobald/Nico Thongvivat

This is the toughest Cup final yet in terms of opponent quality and pressure, as the... whatever the four word is, is extraordinarily difficult to achieve. But it's our last match of the season, so all we can do is put everything out there and hope for the best.

23 - Beautiful driving interception by Tarman preludes a fantastic longball just inside the left-hand side of the box for Theobald. Despite repeated shanks and missed easy shots, our team captain crosses here to the six-yard box, where Thongvivant short-kicks with no problem. 1-0

At halftime, Mastouras replaces Seal, who had a bad first 45 and is stressed when I tell the guys not to get complacent, and Robinson slots in for yellow carded Tarman to drop to a flat 4-4-2.

59 - They've spent all their subs already, so we go ahead and take out yellow carded Hook (bullshit card for arguing for a penalty). Della Verde slots in at BWM and Hamilton-Forbes shifts to the support CM role.

68 - And of course Siddiqui gets injured. Fortunately, it's a playable knock, so he'll keep right on going.

85 - That double yellow after Lokando gets hit from behind should just about do it!

And it does! Most full starters are clustered around 7, with Peggy Lokando's 7.2 the high mark for us. Their keeper looked like he was playing the game of his life out there, and he was, putting on a masterful 9.0 in winning PotM. The rest of his team? Not great.

We've pulled off the quadruple!!!!!!!!!

Season review to come later. I just want to savor this magical campaign a bit before the summer raids ruin everything I've built this year.

[Izulde]

We were plagued with a degree of inconsistency on the backline, with every single defender having at least one horror of a game. That said, Dan Seal was definitely top shelf, and Colm Parrott established himself as a rising force at the end of the year. No question Dan Hutchins cemented himself as the far superior goalie.

Missing from this list - Flynn Tarman, who was 2nd on the team with 29 appearances (28 starts) and a 7.41 average rating. There's not much chance that Malachi Robinson replaces him with a permanent switch to a flat 4-4-2, provided Tarman stays.



No question midfield and striker were the great strengths of the squad, with Nico Thongvivat precisely the absolute glittering star I predicted he would be as our Poacher. Although Stephan Hamilton-Forbes didn't have the highest average rating, he was our single most consistent midfielder and the second player I'd try to commit to a contract along with Thongvivat. Even our depth guys were amazing at the two position groups. I'm fully expecting to see us get absolutely decimated this summer - these players are way too talented to be slumming down this low.



Obvious near-sweep by Nico Thongvivat here. The only surprise for me is that Lewis Hook finished third in Fans Player of the Year voting. I genuinely thought it would be Peggy Lokando or Stephan Hamilton-Forbes as the midfielder finishing third. Thongvivat and Alex Theobald, our team captain who the fans absolutely adore, were the obvious #1 and #2.

Manager reputation: 5%
Team reputation: Obscure
Team value: $22K
Average ticket price: $8
Average season ticket price: $113
Season tickets sold: 5
Stadium: 1,000 seats, owned by Council (Clayton Green is the name)
Stadium condition: Good
Field condition: Terrible
Corporate facilities: Basic
Training facilities: Poor
Youth facilities: Basic
Junior coaching: Minimal
Youth recruitment: Limited
Favored Personnel: Nico Thongvivat, Izulde Jestor, Alex Theobald
Bank balance: $1,371
Season profit: $3.48k

Winning 3 trophies netted us $2,250, or almost the entirety of our profit, and definitely is what put us in the black in terms of money in the bank.

Our main uniform sponsor will stay at $2.1k for the next two seasons.

Transfer In - DC/DR Ricardo Viana (29) (Portuguese)
Strong physical attributes, with only Acceleration (6) less than 8. Solid all around mental and technical attributes, with a pleasing 12 Heading and Composure. Can also play DL if he has absolutely has to, and is an unquestioned starting DC next year, provided he sticks around. The downside: His English is only Basic, and we don't have the $15,500 to have him take a year-long intensive language class.

Burgess Hill Rhinos Favored Club
Nico Thongvivat (Player)
Danny Beale (Supporter)

Izulde Jestor Favored Personnel
Stephan Hamilton-Forbes

I love you too, Stephan Hamilton-Forbes. That's huge that our best player has us as a favored club. Hopefully that means he'll stay around.

Croatia wins the European Championship. Their manager quits the day after, his legacy secured.

Transfer In - ST Nyall Gray (18) (Welsh)
Our first real pic player, blessed with great mental attributes, including 14 Teamwork and 13 Work Rate, and an eye-popping 17 Natural Fitness. He replaces Edwin Ahenkorah as our third striker and gives us three high ceiling strikers all under 20 years old. Bright future is bright. He signed after our first friendly.

Summer Raids
Josh England - Non-Contract
Brady Della Verde - $8.5k
----
Alex Theobald - $12.5k
Edd Richardson - $7.5k
Stephan Hamilton-Forbes - $25k
Colm Parrott - $9k

The names below the --- are players who left following our friendly season. We didn't get hit nearly as bad as I feared we would, although I'm crushed my favorite player left. But it's awfully hard to turn down that kind of bank. Our central defense reserves are looking a little thin now that we lost three guys, including our top two, but we'll be okay.

I already found a replacement for Alex Theobald, and we have sufficient coverage for Stephan Hamilton-Forbes and Brady Della Verde leaving for now, though I'll still look to bolster our central midfield.

Division Five Title Odds
Stones: 1-10
Burgess Hill Rhinos: 5000-1
A bunch of other teams at 5000-1

Only the champions get to promote up. Kashif Siddiqui and Peggy Lokando are tentatively named captain and vice-captain to start the season. The board expects us to clean sweep everything again this year.

Friendlies
We destroy our first two opponents 4-0 and 4-1, then buy our own hype and shit the bed in a 1-2 loss before rebounding to a 4-2 win in the final game, where the reserves nearly blew a 3-0 lead before Edwin Ahenkorah's late insurance goal. Everyone except Fraser Meldrum and James Sage saw minutes just about every game in preseason.

Huge jump in season ticket sales from 5 to 24. That's exactly what I hoped would happen.

Transfer In - ST/MR/AMR Ellis Remy (32) (Montserratian - 4 caps)
Truth be told, Nyall Gray didn't look very good in preseason, so I brought in Remy, who has physical attributes like a boss, and some beautiful physical attributes. Yeah, okay, Limited Skill and all that, but so what? We'll probably change our Defensive Forward role to a Target Man spot now, and his ability to play on the right side means we may see more AMR formations this season. 3.5* as a striker. I set up a tutoring relationship between him and Gray. Initially he's reluctant to it, but then agrees. Keelan Masturous rejects a similar relationship with Kashif Siddiqui, even though the Pakistani international is willing to do it.

vs Bolney Rovers (Sommerville Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Dan Seal/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Mickey Greening/Peggy Lokando/Danny Beale/Orlando Joao
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

We got hit with a bunch of injuries in the last warmup game - a U-21 match - so we're having to run a really patchwork lineup in the midfield. I'm scared.

16 - Ugh. Lokando gets knocked, but it's playable, so he'll fight through.

17 - Seal pops it forward to Thongvivat in the box. He's surrounded by two defenders and decked. No call, but the ball squirts loose, and Remy is there to put away the debut goal!!! 1-0

36 - What the actual shitfuck?! Now Hutchins gets a knock injury. Ridiculous.

39 - Greening takes the pass on the wing from the midfield and dribbles a bit before crossing the pitch to Joao. The long diagonal just manages to hook at the last second into the net. Fuck you, injuries. Fuck you. 2-0

Edwards replaces Lokando at the half, but Hutchins is still fine.

55 - Knock for Thongvivat! But no injury indicator and we've a two goal lead, so play on, bright star.

68 - We switch to our usual 4-4-2 Asymmetrical, with Tarman in for Robinson naturally.

We survive Nico Thongvivat's worst game ever (6.4) on the back of PotM Orlando Joao's 8.4, the Dutchman really coming through. Former gray guy Mickey Greening puts up an 8.3, and just missing the usual benchmark is Ellis Remy with a 7.4 debut and his first goal in over 15 hours of soccer.

The spate of injuries ravaging the midfield continues, and I have to think about what our lineup is going to look like for our first league match.

[Izulde]

@ Wisdom Sports
G: Fraser Meldrum
D: Ricardo Viana/Dan Seal/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Mickey Greening/Jamie Edwards/Danny Beale/Orlando Joao
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

A real Scotch tape lineup here with two of our youth pulls starting at MC and literally zero of our midfield starters healthy enough to suit up as more than a reserve. This is going to be painful.

40 - To be expected. 0-1

I scream at the players at half.

55 - Gray for Thongvivat; Mastouras for Seal

80 - FFS. 0-2

Weird thing was, we didn't play that badly. We just couldn't get shit to fall our way, and they got the lucky breaks, so I'm gentle with them.

Transfer In - DL/WBL/ML/AML/ST Fraser Logan (31) (Scottish)
Can play anywhere on the left side of the pitch and is immediately our best player. Mental attributes for days, and his physical attributes are still quite good. Particularly important since Alfie Cain is still out with injury.

vs Portslade Athletic II (5th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Dan Seal/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan/Lewis Soraf/Danny Beale/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

18 - WTF is with this team? 0-1

22 - Are you fucking shitting me?! 0-2

52 - Gray for Remy; Logan down to DL and Joao in.

82 - Logan cuts a pass into Joao for the feed to Gray, who lays off to Thongvivat, finally breaking the slump of our star striker, who is off to an ice-cold start. 1-2

We're now firmly in last place, and up against the top team in the league. Wish I knew WTF is going on.

[Izulde]

@ East Grinstead United II (1st)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Dan Seal/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan/Lewis Soraf/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

Put in some team instructions to try and maximize the advantages we have over other teams in the league.

7 - Or not. 0-1

50 - Mastouras for Viana; Edwards for Soraf and CM switch.

65 - Whatever.

75 - Thongvivat scores. WGAF. 1-2

93 - Thongvivat with the late equalizer on the rebound after Lokando's header bounces off the post. 2-2

Moves us up to 9th, but once again, we're fighting relegation and way, way underperforming relative to our talent level.

[Izulde]

vs Ridgewood (Sommerville Challenge Cup Second Round)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Ricardo Viana/James Sage/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Alfie Cain/Lewis Soraf/Jamie Edwards/Orlando Joao
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

5 - Long buildup here until the backpass to Sage results in a kick forward to Remy, who slices a pass ahead of everyone. Thongvivat beats the stampede, and though his first shot was denied the post, this one goes in with bouncing help from the crossbar. 1-0

Beale is in for tired Soraf at half.

46 - Cain scoops up the ball inside the box after it was tackled away and passes to Remy to finally get the Montserratanian his second goal of the year. 2-0

63 - Gray subs for Thongvivat

79 - Facial injury to Tarman. Playable, however.

Ellis Remy and Alfie Cain really controlled this game with 8.7 and 8.5 respectively, and Ricardo Viena, despite a small lapse in a clearance, played well the rest of the game and pulled a 7.5.

Looking a lot like season where league was ass but we did well in cup play.

Transfer Out - DC James Sage - $10.5k
AFC Hornchurch's manager came to look at him during our cup game, and was impressed enough that he signed him away. Too bad, as he was about to become a starter.

Transfer Out - DC Harry Seal - $5.5k
Our central defense is just getting hammered right now. We'll have to bring Tom Thorne back up from the reserves.

vs Stones (5th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan/Lewis Soraf/Lewis Hook/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

...Remy is *happy* when I tell him and Thongvivat I'm pissed with their first half finishing?! WTF?

49 - One of their dudes gets his second yellow, so I swap Soraf for Beale and Remy for Gray, go wide, and attack.

72 - Absolute ass defending on the free kick. 0-1

79 - Logan with the longball bomb down the flank for Gray to track down and make the perfect cross to Thongvivat. Header equalizer. 1-1

81 - Hook gets the pass from Robinson, who had to run all the way back to get that loose ball. On to Lokando for the in-box feed to unmarked Thongvivat and we might *finally* have a breakthrough. 2-1

87 - Beale intercepts their throw-in and passes it to Thongvivat who is still hanging in the box. BAM HAT TRICK BABY!!! 3-1

Obvious 9.5 and PotM for Nico Thongvivat and his second half hat trick. Peggy Lokando pulls a 9.0, Fraser Logan and 8.2, Lewis Hook a 7.6, and a sterling 8.1 reserve appearance by Danny Beale that may get him more starts.

That pulls us out of the drop zone and all the way to 6th with 4 points. But we're still so far removed from where we should be it's ridiculous. Still, baby steps. Baby steps. We've seen this room, we've walked this floor.

[Izulde]

Transfer In - MC/DM/AMC Mason Hirst (21)
3 position versatility and considerable upside. Strong all around physical attributes + 10 Passing and Technique and 11 First Touch. Mental attributes are a mixed bag, but does have 14 Teamwork and 12 Work Rate. Instant starter.

Transfer Out - ML Alfie Cain - $15k
Made expendable by the signing of Fraser Logan anyway. Often injured, but capable of brilliance when he could stay healthy.

vs Ditchling II (Stubbins Challenge Cup First Round)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan//Lewis Hook/Mason Hirst/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

24 - Hirst knocks the ball forward to Lokando, who is immediately pressured by two defenders. The feed into the box, and Thongvivat *just* has the half-step to beat the defender and short-kick it in. 1-0

30 - Remy heads a cleared corner down to Viana in the box, and the goalie trips over himself to defend against a possible Portuguese shot - never mind that he's blanketed by two defenders. The kick back just outside the box, and Remy drifts over to fire a Montserratian missle while the keeper is still getting up. 2-0

Yellow carded and tired is Hook, so Beale steps in at the half.

55 - Lokando with the long, high free kick. Beale again plays super-sub, beating the defense to fire in his first ever Rhinos goal!!!! 3-0

63 - Lokando and Siddiqui keep exchanging passes, trying to build up an attack on the right flank. Finally, Lokando centers, but it takes a rundown by Hirst to get the errant ball. Kick back to Beale for the advancing flare out to Robinson on the wing. Dribble down left flank and cross to unguarded Thongvivat for the ease score. 4-0

68 - Beale gets a yellow, so Lokando moves inside and Joao hops on at MR.

78 - Logan to Remy for the quick backpass to Hirst, who has been engineering passes left and right this drive. It's a first touch feed to Thongvivat in the box, who spears a shot between three defenders for his hat trick! Our star striker has suffered from a slow start this season, but he's been on fire the last few games, picking up his 10th goal of the year here. 5-0

How dazzling was this win? Just two full-time starters scored below an 8, and everyone had at least a 7. And we also had four players with 9+ rating: those being PotM Nico Thongvivat (9.6), Peggy Lokando (9.2), Mason Hirst (9.1 in the best debut I've ever seen in all my FM years), and finally, Ellis Remy with a 9.0. Oh, and Danny Beale with a 7.3 sub showing, despite playing just 23 minutes.

@ Ditchling II (10th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
WBL: Flynn Tarman
M: Fraser Logan//Lewis Hook/Mason Hirst/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

Short rest for both teams, and I'd love nothing more than to see us whip our personal archrivals again to help push them down further into the drop zone.

Joao for Logan; Beale for Hook at half.

55 - Tarman's throw-in to Beale sets up back and forth before Beale's short pass to Remy. Threaded pass to just outside the box and Tarman drives forward for the cross to Thongvivat, who of course scores the short-range shot. 1-0

61 - Joao cuts to the center to intercept a pass, drives to midfield, and booms one on down to Thongvivat. Our 20 year old hero dribbles into the box, past the defense, and scorches a diagonal in! 2-0

75 - The defense rises up to head the ball away, but Tarman pounces, heads the ball just outside the box, traps it down inside, and fires once he's gained control. The fierce diagonal sinks seamlessly into the net for the kid's first goal of the year. Long live asymmetrical formations! 3-0

87 - Beale out to Joao, who sends it to Thongvivat in the box. This time two defenders on him and they muscle the ball away. But then Remy charges in to show strength of his own, robbing the ball back and cracking the short-range finish! 4-0

Every player who stepped on the pitch for us tonight had a 7.0 or better except Dan Hutchins and only Danny Beale outside of Hutchins had less than a 7.5!!! Ricardo Viena was everywhere tonight for his 8.0. Mason Hirst was again brilliant with an 8.4, as he's fit in flawlessly in the CM Support role in our setups, his rating matched by Ellis Remy. 9.0 for Nico Thongvivat, but Flynn Tarman was just a touch better and PotM with his 9.2.

We jump up to 4th, but are still 6 points out of 1st place. An 18 game season, and we've played 5 so far, or almost 1/3rd.

$1.7k profit last month, and the fans really like Ellis Remy's acquisition. I'm still Untouchable, though I've lost a bit of my earlier sheen because of our early difficulties this year - which is understandable. Still, the promotion and the trophies from last season are keeping me in good shape, and financially it's been an absolute dream for us.

Now if we can just keep our current upward trend going...

[Izulde]

vs Sporting Elite II (5th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan//Lewis Hook/Mason Hirst/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

13 - Robinson with the throw-in to Remy deep in their territory. He gives it back and Robinson crosses to Thongvivat's high-rise header for the score. 1-0

53 - Beale in for Hook

55 - Bullshit penalty called on Siddiqui, but Hutchins makes the brilliant stop!

67 - Joao replaces Logan

72 - Exceptional intercepting header by Viana, capping a counter that sees Beale out to Robinson on the wing. Our attacking FB just barely manages to stay in-bounds and sends it forward to Thongvivat. The shot's deflected by the keeper, but t goes nowhere, and Thongvivat sinks his own rebound. 2-0

77 - Beale is everywhere here, making passes and a key interception, including a pass to Robinson on the wing again. This time it's short lateral to Joao for the pass to Thongvivat's hat-trick header from just outside the six-yard box! 3-0

90 - They launch a counter on a cleared corner, and it's there dude dribbling untouched all the way down the pitch, but there's Siddiqui one on one challenging him all the way on the left side and winning!!!

Everyone who played except Lewis Hook had at least a 7.0, and all full-times starters racked up 7.2 or higher. 7.5+ standouts: Peggy Lokando (7.9), Mason Hirst (7.8), Malachi Robinson (9.0), and PotM Nico Thongvivat (9.5).

There's an intriguing opening that just came up, but I also kind of want to stay with what I have here and keep building the Rhinos. I'm torn. I'll apply anyway, and see what happens. I'm a 5-4 favorite, next highest being 100-1.

The interview goes well, and Burgess Hills Rhinos refuse to consider spending the money to upgrade the training facilities. We'll see what my potential new club has to offer.

@ Antsy Sports & Social II (5th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan//Lewis Hook/Mason Hirst/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

12 - We're used to seeing Thongvivat attacking, but in this move, he shifts back to retrieve a ball and lays it forward to Lokando. The Congolese winger dribbles down the right side and crosses far post, where Logan charges forward like the Scottish Highlanders that were his ancestors, hammering home his first ever Rhinos goal! 1-0

17 - Lot of passing, capped by Hook flaring out to Robinson for the far post cross. Thongvivat muscles his way through the defender and the keeper, using his head and the crossbar to force in a score. 2-0

38 - Lokando slams a far post corner, and a whole group of players jump like Kriss Kross. Thorne is the winner and powers in his first ever goal for us!!!! 3-0

45 - Remy is tracked by two defenders, so he lays off to Hirst, who first touches to Thongvivat in the box. Two defenders? No problem getting the seconds before half second goal. 4-0

49 - Lokando's free kick is far post into space, and Thorne, who is having the game of his life, breaks free and sinks the shot! 5-0

72 - Thongvivat steals the ball from the defense and lays off to Remy, setting off a chain in passes ending in a back and forth between Lokando and Siddiqui, our Congolese winger getting the ball near the touchline and crossing near post, where Remy hits the short score. That's a Pakistani, a Congolese, and a Montsterratian triple for that beautiful team goal. I love my international player bias. 6-0

Our lowest player was Dan Hutchins with a 7.2. Next lowest - Ricardo Viana with an 8.6. Easily the most impressive game we've ever played in all my blowout wins in FM. 9+ guys: PotM Tom Thorne with an out of nowhere 9.4, Malachi Robinson with a 9.0, Peggy Lokando with a 9.4, Mason Hirst with a 9.1, Fraser Logan with a 9.2, and Nico Thongvivat with a 9.4.

That victory sets all kinds of records and moves us into 2nd place, but the first place team is a juggernaut, which hasn't lost in 13 straight league games. We're still 4 points behind them, so it's going to be difficult to catch them. Remember, only 1st place goes up in this league.

And then the offer comes. $7k. ...Wot? They won't offer more than $8k, so I walk away.

vs Portslade Athletic II (Mid Sussex Junior Cup Second Round)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan//Lewis Hook/Mason Hirst/Peggy Lokando
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

12 - Hirst to Logan to Remy in the box, who is immediately gang-tackled by three defenders. The ball comes loose. You know what happens when you focus so much on our weaker striker? That's right - Thongvivat is there first and makes you pay. 1-0

15 - Lokando is knocked out on this rain day with an injury, and Dutchman Joao keeps the international flavor of our right wing going.

32 - Hirst to Logan for the pass into the box. Joao cracks a shot, but the post denies him. The keeper's still getting up when Logan charges down the rebound score into the empty net. 2-0

37 - Hook sprays it to the right wind, where Hirst runs the ball down and short passes in the box to Joao. Ground pass far side to Logan, and the defense tries to clear the ball. Unfortunately, it's right back to Logan and the Scotsman shoots a ball through a ton of traffic that goes goal. 3-0

38 - Robinson bails us out of two certain goals in a row. Shows why I've gone the flat 4-4-2 as our primary lineup this year.

48 - Just before the half ends, we're awarded a cheap penalty. Logan converts with ease for his first-half hat trick!!! Wow, has he come on lately! 4-0

51 - Robinson throw in to Hook and gets it back, then sends it in the box to Thongvivat and the cruising continues. 5-0

64 - Following a yellow card, Hook goes out for Beale.

73 - Robinson on the wing with the cross to Joao, but the counter-cross is headed away. Sadly for them, Logan is in position to get it and cross to Thongvivat, one hat trick hero creating another!! 6-0

Dan Hutchins' 7.4 was the lowest of the full-time starters. Next lowest? Ricardo Viena with an 8.6. 9+ guys: Malachi Robinson with 9.1, Mason Hirst with 9.0, PotM Fraser Logan with 9.7, and 9.6 for Nico Thongvivat, and 9.1 for Ellis Remy. Oh, and an 8.0 for Orlando Joao in relief of Peggy Lokando.

Are you sick of the dominance yet? I'm starting to be, a little, and even if/when the club goes semi-pro, there's not going to be hardly any money. Plus the grind is ugh. We lose Peggy Lokando for 2-3 months with a dislocated shoulder. That hurts - literally.

Small profit last month - just $368. I've also applied for another manager vacancy that looks a lot like this job will once we go semi-pro. Holy shit, or maybe not! When I applied initially, the payroll was $2,200. When I interview, they're willing to offer an $80k payroll!. Basically, they really want to push for title contention.

vs Danehill (10th)
G: Dan Hutchins
D: Malachi Robinson/Ricardo Viana/Tom Thorne/Kashif Siddiqui
M: Fraser Logan//Lewis Hook/Mason Hirst/Orlando Joao
S: Ellis Remy/Nico Thongvivat

25 - You had to know this kind of trap game was coming. 0-1

Gray replaces Thongvivat, who is having a dreadful game; Mastouras for yellow-card Thorne at half.

48 - Robinson throws in to Remy, who passes to Hirst, and his experimental shot cracks off the upright and in for his first ever goal for us!!! I have to say, the opposing goalie has been amazing all game, and even the announcers commented on it at half. We'll take this fluke. 1-1

63 - Remy to Hirst to Gray straight-line, our young Welsh kid savaging a kick just inside the box for his own first Rhinos goal! He breaks into happy tears after that one! 2-1

We were hit with three yellows in the second half, but grind out the comeback win on the back of PotM Mason Hirst, who has yet to put up a bad game for us - 9.0 here. Nyall Gray recorded an 8.2 off the bench, and Malachi Robinson and Ellis Remy each had 7.5s.

More importantly, Montpelier Villa III had their first loss of the season, putting us just a point behind them! I found out afterwards someone was in the stands to watch Nico Thongvivat, which may have accounted for his astonishingly rare ass game.

Unlike the previous job, where my entire staff was willing to move with me and I found roles for all of them, nobody wants to go along to this one. And their staff sucks something awful, so I'll have to get rid of them after I sign. ...If I sign. I'd actually take the $8k if offered to me, as this is a cool team name and logo.

And they're willing to offer me the same $8k deal until the end of the season. Looks like I'm packing my bags and moving!

...Hopefully I don't regret it like every other move up I've ever made.

[Izulde]

Cheddar Cheesemen

Of course, a Wisconsin native is the perfect fit for this team! The town itself is small - just over 5,700 people. But unlike Burgess Hill, whose area featured a ton of competition, this is the only game in town. Still a poorly supported club - just 7 season tickets sold. Average attendance of 66, though, so some people do show up.

There's only a handful of youth players signed to non-contracts. Evidently no one wants to commit here. It's a seaside town with summer temperatures averaging just below 70, and winter temps in the mid-30s. There's 20 days a year without sunshine. Quite a change from Vegas in a lot of ways.

OTOH, there's an excellent high school here - The Kings of Wessex Academy, and though only one cheddar producer remains (Yep, the cheese is named for this village), it's also a well-known strawberry producer. So at least I'll eat well.

The roster is mostly trash, though I love the look of ST Tate Sheppard, a 17 year old with 10 Finishing and 15 Flair. He's sucked so far, but I think he's been misused, and will be a perfect fit for my Poacher role. There's a ton of gray guys here, so I'll just quickly summarize my first game until we get some of my own players in here (Hint: A Burgess Hills Rhinos raid is coming.

Cheddar plays in the Western League Division One, and they're somehow 6th midway through the season. Top two teams promote and there's no relegation due to not being of the Sussex tree the Level 23 is based on. They're 5 or 6 levels below the Vanarama North/South, so Level 10 or 11 - something like that. Huge jump up.

vs Keynsham Town (13th)
So much gray in the lineup.

34 - Expected. 0-1

43 - Paul Ward, the team captain playing the CM Support role, passes to Cameron Friend, who is an ideal Defensive Forward, and the feed to Sheppard sees the guy I like most on the team score just his second goal of the year. Like I said, clearly mis-used with a 6.22 average rating coming into this one. 1-1

55 - Ward is showing good passing skills this game, and he wings out to Lee Brindley, the DL who has been playing as shit as his prior performances suggest. But this cross to the far post finds Sheppard for a sizzling second goal. 2-1

84 - Oliver Prior, the only signed player not in the lineup, replaces Friend and becomes a Target Man - support.

88 - Are you fucking kidding me?! A fluke goal this late?! 2-2

We could have moved up if not for that bullshit, but I'll take the draw, even though we drop to 7th. Hard luck there. 10+ hours for Tate Sheppard before this goal fest, and he was obvious PotM with 8.8.

Transfer In - DLC Lee Craig (29)
I've been snubbed by every single Burgess Hills Rhino, so I start going after free agents. First up is this veteran with every single Physical attribute 10 or higher. 13 Teamwork, too. Capable of playing at the next level.

Transfer In - DRL/WBLR Curtis Burrows (20)
Capable of playing four defensive spots, and will really address our weakness at DR, which is what cost us the win last game - the gray guy had a 6.1. Will possibly result in our doing a mirror of my old Flynn Tarman formation, since WBR is his best spot. I think he can be a MR as well with training.

Transfer In - DR Luke Jenas (19)
Good mental attributes. Not a standout player in my estimation, but good enough for the next level up as well according to our shit scout.

Transfer In - ML/WBL/DL/AML Connor Leek (20)
Very versatile in that he's able to line up anywhere on the left side of the pitch. A physical specimen who is both fast and strong.

@ Witheridge (6th)
G: Richie McGuiness
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Archie Gritt/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Gray Guy/Paul Ward
AML: Connor Leek
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

So what we have here is a 5-2-3 WB Asymmetrical - AML. Not quite what we did with Flynn Tarman, but hey. At least we've massively improved the talent level on this squad with the rash of signings - some quite cheap.

7 - Hang on to the fucking ball when you get it back, Gritt! 0-1

54 - Prior for Friend; Lee Gough, another youth signing, for Gritt

75 - Ward wings out to Brindley and upon the cross, Sheppard makes a dazzling slide tackle shot into the net!!!! 1-1

Another tough draw. So frustrating, because I feel like we could have easily had 6 points out of these matches rather than just 2.

Transfer In - MC Sam Higgins (18)
Sorely needed talented central midfielder. 12 Passing, 11 First Touch, Technique, Vision, Work Rate, and 15 Teamwork. I predict he'll have a Mason Hirst-style effect on the squad.

Transfer In - GK Gareth Rees (21) (Welsh)
Not the one I most wanted, (Dan Hutchins, I'm looking at you), but 11 Bravery, 10 Decisions, and just all around way better than what we had before.

Transfer In - DC Josh Graham (21) (Welsh)
Great all-around mental attributes and another piece to the puzzle of upgrading our backline.

Transfer In - ML/AML Adam Page (19)
He can also sort of play the right side. Nothing eye-popping about him, though I do like his 14 Teamwork and 10 Work Rate and solid all-around physical attributes.

Transfer In - MC/AMC Billy Frost (20)
This kid is just solid everywhere, and he's a technical attributes god for this level. The very first player I've signed all my shit coaches, who I didn't fire because $$$ are all like Yeah, this is a 1st Division capable guy right now.

I think we'll pretty much go with this crew for now. We still have $35k in the wage budget in case someone spectacular comes along, but I think we're good enough to get to where the board wants us to be at the end of the year.

@ Ashton & Blackwell United (13th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins (no MR)
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

We had a match get postponed at home due to snow, so it's an away gig for what should be our setup for the rest of the year.

55 - Gritt for Graham; Prior for Friend to try and do something to break this stalemate.

A real shot to win towards the end, but Prior weak-sauced the shot. I firmly tell them off in the locker room afterwards - we should have been able to punch through here.

vs Roman Glass St. George (20th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Archie Gritt/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Paul Ward
AML: Adam Page
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

Short turnaround, as this was the snowed out match. Even given a ton of tired players, they played a few days ago as well, so we should be able to finally get a win against one of the league's worst teams.

11 - Zero effort made in defending that free kick.

12 - Ward longballs it into the box, and I think Sheppard's shot is going to go over.. but it thunders in off the top of the net!! 1-1

25 - WILL YOU FUCKING PLAY DEFENSE, YOU PISS-STAINS?! 1-2

37 - Rare good defensive play as Gritt intercepts and passes to Burrows for the long skim to Ward. He dribbles a bit and short passes to Sheppard in the half-circle. A fuck you strike goes home, and I'm still thrilled AF that I can say I turned that kid's season around. 2-2

Craig and Gough replace Gritt and Graham in defense. I am fucking sick of looking at the 5.9 by Graham.

70 - Gough intercepts and thunders a longball to Friend, who is all alone... and his fucking shot goes off the crossbar!

84 - Friend shot 1 - Post. Friend shot 2 - Post.

92 - Friend with the wide-open shot as time draws to a close... and HE FUCKING GETS BLOCKED!!!

"x Holds Out For Draw" "X Holds Out For Draw" Getting real fucking sick and tired of seeing that shit, even if we move back up to our original position of 6th. Worse yet, I didn't see a U-18 game in between this and our short rest game AGAIN coming up.

In other news, Burgess Hill Rhinos are still 2nd, now 4 points back after having suffered a loss since I left.

Kinda wish I hadn't, but if I manage to make uh.. cheddar... with Cheddar, it's all good.

[Izulde]

I neglected to mention - Burgess Hills Rhinos' new manager is clearly a crackhead, destroying my beautiful setup with a 4-4-2 Narrow Diamond and bringing in other players.

vs Wellington (14th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Archie Gritt/Lee Gough/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Sam Higgins/Paul Ward
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

Higgins is starting at 73%, because the U-18 game screwed up everything.

6 - Shit free kick defending. 0-1

Craig for Gough; Frost for Higgins at half.

Pathetic. And those title contention spots are looking farther and farther away.

@ Langford (18th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
ST: Oliver Prior/Tate Sheppard

61 - Ward for Frost; Friend for [b]Prior[b]

66 - Graham atones for costing us the game a few matches back by longballing to Sheppard, who dribbles down into the box and fires in our latest lead in a long time. 1-0

86 - Craig blasts a beautiful wing ball to Friend, who short passes to Leek in the box. Ground center to Sheppard, who has to trap it. The keeper moves left, and completely is out of position for my new star poacher's right kick! 2-0

Finally we got our heads out of our asses and Tate Sheppard gets an 8.8 PotM in a sweet win. Connor Leek picks up a 7.7 and Sam Higgins grabs a 7.5.

vs Hengrove (17th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
ST: Oliver Prior/Tate Sheppard

16 - Graham continues his redemption, blasting a clearance down the left flank that Sheppard chases down and dribbles prior to the long center cross to Prior for the crack goal, his 4th of the season and first under me. 1-0

53 - Ward for Higgins; Friend replaces Prior

These aren't pretty wins we're getting now, but they're wins and that's all that matters. Tate Sheppard is PotM with 7.6, the only one even to reach 7.

We lost $2.2k last month, officially dropping our bank balance into the red. Nonetheless, the board is pleased with how I've done - not going hog wild with the money, and keeping us up in our original position.

@ Portishead (16th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
AML: Adam Page
ST: Oliver Prior/Tate Sheppard

A couple of illnesses on the team mean a wonky lineup in this one, with no DR and a 4-3-3 Asymmetrical.

15 - Total crossbar save.

19 - Frost's long free kick bounces in the box, and Sheppard gets there before it goes out, striking in the improbable diagonal! 1-0

40 - How the fuck do you have four defenders on a guy and he still scores?! 1-1

42 - How the fuck do you have a net so wide open, you literally just have pass it in and shank the shot, Craig?!

53 - Frost has an open field until he passes to Sheppard just outside the half-circle. Immediate hassle, so he kicks it into the half-circle, whereupon Prior cracks the long-range shot he so loves and nails it! It's another shit game by Graham, so I'll try Ward there. 2-1

PotM with an 8.2 is Oliver Prior, only one other guy even reaching 7. For most of the day it was looking like we might move up, but late goals by the 5th and 4th place teams kept us down.

30 games in the books, 10 more to go. We're 1 point behind 4th, 6 points behind 2nd, 8 points behind 1st. A run up to the promotion places seems awfully unlikely, but you never know what can happen. Conversely, we're a full 9 points up on the 10th place finish the Cheesemen (typoed in the database as Cheesmen, much to my bemused annoyance) had last season under the guy who got fired before I came on.

vs Oldland Abbotonians (2nd)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Paul Ward/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
ST: Oliver Prior/Tate Sheppard

Lee Craig is out with injury, so Ward, who I think my coaches are badly underestimating, gets the start. This match right here is the one that determines whether we're contenders or pretenders this year.

63 - Friend for Prior; Gritt for Graham. Been a very even match so far.

71 - They've owned the second half in all honesty. 0-1

81 - Pretenders. 0-2

Luke Jenas (5.9) really shit on this game. But truthfully, everyone was lousy, and we weren't ready for this one.

@ Warminster (3rd)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
ST: Oliver Prior/Tate Sheppard

61 - Friend for Prior; Burrows drops to DR and Page comes in as MR as we switch to a 4-4-2.

88 - Frost boots the long ball ahead for Friend, who dribbles into the box and strikes home a shocking late goal! 1-0

We suddenly turned it on after going to the flat 4-4-2, and Billy Frost is PotM, leading a cadre of 7s with a 7.9. Cameron Friend had the clutch sub goal and 7.1 in a win we frankly did nothing at all to deserve.

I set up a mentoring relationship between Lee Craig and Paul Ward

Transfer Out - Oliver Prior- Non-Contract
A devastating blow. We may have to look at single striker setups now, as the board is reluctant to lay out huge cash sums, even though we're just under $35k under budget.

[Izulde]

vs Almondsbury UWE (8th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins/Adam Page
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

We'll only go one striker if we're forced to. For now, the flat 4-4-2. We're facing off against a team that has a manager making his debut.

35 - It's clear it's going to take these guys a bit yet in the passing to get used to each other. But Higgins forwards to Friend for the box feed to Page. Our newly minted starting MR dribbles in and strikes the diagonal for his first ever Cheeseman goal! Shut up about offsides, dumbasses. He was clearly onsides. 1-0

60 - Jenas in for Burrows, who is having a shit game. We just can't get a DR to play well at all.

70 - Ward replaces Higgins

74 - Any time a long shot like that goes in, it's the keeper fucking up. 1-1

Another bitter draw in a tenure filled with too many of them. We should have won.

[u]Youth Candidates 6 U-18s 4[/b]
A goals fest in the tryout match. YCer Owen Rawlins had a hat trick and 9.5, and Stuart Trego capped a 9.0, as did YC team captain Ryan Ferrell. Both defenses were complete trash as you might suspect.

Youth Signings
MR/AMR Stuart Trego
DM/MC/AMC Mark Reynolds (20 Flair!!!!)
MC/AMC/ST Paddy Griffiths
DC/DM/MC Jim Williams (My assman was crazy about this kid - 19 Bravery)
ST Aaron Gibson (Garbage physical attributes, but 15 Finishing and 16 Flair is always going to catch my attention)

@ Chippenham Park (1st)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins/Adam Page
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

3 - BS penalty on Craig, but Rees saves smooth as peanut butter.

25 - Higgins sends it to down Page for the pop cross far post. Friend waits for it to fall, then high step kicks the score in. 1-0

37 - It's the Higgins-Page-Friend connection again, only this time the suddenly hot striker has to trap the ball and bring it down before firing away. 2-0

67 - Gibson replaces Sheppard and we switch to a 4-1-3-2 DM by putting Williams in with Frost getting a break.. Let's see how our two most ready youth pulls do.

71 - Whew! Disallowed goal.

72 - Sigh. 2-1

75 - Burrows makes a stellar interception and flicks on to Page, who flips a long ball screaming into the box. Gibson wins the race and centers to Friend for the hat trick I never expected. 3-1

91 - Shit shit shit. Page is knocked off. Jenas at DR; Burrows moved to WBR.

9.5 and PotM for Cameron Friend. Adam Page was on his way to a 7.5+ game before he got hurt. Well how about that? We knock off the top team in the league (leading by 8 points coming into this one) on their own turf, delaying what most figure is a sure coronation.

We've also just proven we can literally beat anybody in this league. No excuses for next season (barring raids, of course, because for some fucking reason, I can't offer part-time contracts).

[Izulde]

vs Chard (20th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Jim Williams/Sam Higgins
AMC: Billy Frost
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

Trying something a little different, since Adam Page is out with injury.

Jenas goes in for sucky Burrows; Gibson for Sheppard. We're stinking out there, and I tell them off.

51 - Graham is first to a loose ball and hammers it all the way down the right flank into space. Gibson beats out everyone and dribbles before crossing to an open Frost for Billy Boy's first cheesy goal! 1-0

74 - Frost has been everywhere this second half, and on this one, he intercepts and starts a move that has Leek getting the ball from Higgins, but the left wing cross misses everyone. No problem, as Frost races his ass off to get it and near post pass to Friend for the insurance goal! 2-0

A bunch of 7+ by the end, with Billy Frost having a breakthrough 8.4 PotM outing, the next highest Lee Brindley with 7.3. That win moves us up to 4th, 4 points out of 2nd place with 5 games to go.

Transfer In - MR Nathan Haynes (21)
Transfer pickup. Very raw right now, but does have 15 Teamwork and 11 Work Rate. My staff bags on him, but the fans are absolutely thrilled with him. I'll throw him in the starting lineup and see how he does.

@ Chipping Sodbury (13th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Sam Higgins/Nathan Haynes
AMC: Billy Frost
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

48 - Gibson is on for Friend; Jenas for Burrows

58 - Brindley intercepts and gets the ball to Gibson, who quickly lays off to Sheppard. I'm thinking he'll go right wing, but he confuses everyone by going left out to Leek instead - dangerous, given the defenders. Fortunately, no one is there, and the far post right cross is to completely alone Haynes for the debut goal! No offsides called!!! 1-0

70 - Leek chases down a longball on the left touchline, and once again, Haynes is isolated on the right wing (You think they'd learn to watch the back door). This time, the shot is deflected, but Sheppard is just fast enough to get there first to sink the rebound and end his scoring drought. 2-0

84 - Higgins takes down a clearance and passes to Frost, who shorts it to Sheppard. With a bubble of three defenders, none getting close or challenging, he dribbles into the box and calmly slots away his second goal. 3-0

We were ass in the first half, but came alive in the second. So much so that Tate Sheppard (8.8 and PotM), Billy Frost (8.2), and Nathan Haynes (8.7) all broke the 8 barrier and all full-time starters bar the keeper put up at least a 7.2. The fans even gave us a standing ovation.

Still 4 points out of 2nd, but just 1 point behind 3rd. Chippenham Palace has all but secured promotion at this point, with a healthy 10 point lead on 3rd with 3-4 games to go. It's just a question of who joins them - Cribbs (65 points), Oldland Abbotonians (62 points) or us (61 points).

The bad news is we can't directly affect our chances in the remaining 4 games. The good news is, all our remaining matches are against teams below us in the table.

vs Bishop Sutton (7th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Sam Higgins/Nathan Haynes
AMC: Billy Frost
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

13 - Ugh. 0-1

36 - Frost on a cleared corner shoots it across the pitch to Leek for the pass inbox to Higgins. Pass forward to Friend bounces off the striker, but he gets it back and fires it in. 1-1

58 - Page for Haynes; Jenas for Burrows as we continue to struggle finding decent play out of DR.

77 - YOU FUCKING COCKNOBBLER JENAS!!!! DON'T FUCKING GIVE UP A FUCKING PK!!! 1-2

That's it. Our season is over. 7 points out with 3 games left We need to sweep and Cribbs to lose along the way. Chippenham Park officially clinches promotion.

Some bright news amidst the gloom, however: I officially sign a one year contract extension, raising my pay another $1k to $9k. Job security and a little more money FTW. I also get a 15% pay increase if we promote.

@ Devizes (21st)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Sam Higgins/Nathan Haynes
AMC: Billy Frost
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

4 - Higgins with the clearance pickup and into the box to Leek. Pressure from defenders, so he outlets to Brindley for the express delivery to the six yard box, where Friend puts it away. 1-0

8 - Well fucking deserved red card on that dude for spiking Friend from behind!

9 - Frost to Higgins just outside the box, and a pop pass by the latter to Haynes, whose experimental long box shot falls in. 2-0

13 - Giving up a shorthand goal is stupid. 2-1

18 - WTF IS THIS BULLSHIT?! 2-2

49 - Gibson replaces Tate; the usual Jenas for Burrows merry-go-round.

perjgyiopegipnopidfnhosenioe54kln 54olhtoerthy348909oreihgodfghoefho9aryhg90aergy90arye9gywrother90y9retywoht0ogy90gye90ghgy90

FUCK THIS GAME AND FUCK ALLOWING TWO FUCKIGN SHORTHANDED GAOLS!!!!!!

Nathan Haynes is lost for 3 months to a groin muscle tear. Fitting for how we fucking collapsed at the end of the season.

vs Welton Rovers (9th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

49 - Sheppard is haunted by two defenders on the right wing, so valve pass to Burrows for the near post hit to Friend's head for the score. 1-0

61 - Williams supplants Higgins; Page turns over Leek

We eke out a win behind Burrows' 8.3 PotM. Not that it matters. Cribbs wins and gains automatic promotion. They've been on fire to close the season out.

@ Caine (13th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Lee Brindley/Lee Craig/Josh Graham/Luke Jenas
WBR: Curtis Burrows
M: Connor Leek/Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
ST: Cameron Friend/Tate Sheppard

1 - WTFE. 0-1

52 - Williams for Craig; Gibson for Sheppard

56 - Friend gets a longball and shorts it to Leek. Feed to Gibson and our youth pull's first ever goal, as the keeper just stands there like he's given up on the season too. 1-1

And so we finish 4th. Lack of consistency was a problem all half long. Burgess Hills Rhinos won the league by 3 points, by the way, as Montpelier Villa III collapsed down the stretch.



Our backline was maddeningly inconsistent, and we never could stabilize a good DR at all. Gareth Rees was a bit of an ass to deal with as a keeper, too.



Our strikers were wayyy inconsistent as well. In short, there's nobody on this team I wouldn't mind seeing leave in the offseason. Aaron Gibson will get a shot to start next year.

Cut
Paul Ward - Disappointing
Lee Gough - Sucked
Luke Jenas - Sucked
Archie Gritt - Sucked
Cameron Friend - Inconsistent
Lee Brindley - Inconsistent
Josh Graham - Highest paid player on the team didn't deliver
Adam Page - Not worth it
Lee Craig - Old and doesn't fit in our tactical setup

I'm also getting to let the entire staff's contracts expire, so I can usher in some decent evaluators and coaches.

Tate Sheppard is Fans Player of the Year with 44% of the vote, followed by [b]Connor Leek[/b (24%) and Sam Higgins20%. Sheppard is Young Player of the Season, Higgins the Signing of the Season.

Connor Leek is named Captain after Paul Ward is cut, Gareth Rees the new Vice-Captain.

The board was very pleased with my performance, and raved about Sam Higgins. Top trainees were Connor Leek, Gareth Rees, and Sam Higgins.

Club Value: $18k
Average Ticket Price: $8
Season Ticket Price: $128
Season Ticket Holders: 7
Average Attendance: 70 (Went up after I came on board)
Loss: $20k

After those cuts, we have about $57k in the wage budget - plenty of room with which to make a splash.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Roy Horgan (22)
Could end up a starter on the right side - is more technically polished than Nathan Haynes, although needs to work on his Teamwork and Work Rate. It'll be an interesting battle between the two.

Transfer In - WBL/ML/AML Omarr Austin (17)
One very strong possibility - he starts at ML and we move Connor Leek to DL. Has Flair for days (17), and could suit in very well there. An experiment worth considering. Was a player we nabbed from Tooting & Mitcham and Ithsmian D1 team.

Transfer In - ST Carl Harris (17) - From Maidenhead
Huge name steal from a Vanarama North/South squad. Scored 3 goals and had a PotM award in 9 games with Melksham on loan in the Western Premier last season. Really excited - physical attributes aren't much to write home about, but he's got strong technical and mentals for this level, including 16 Bravery and 14 Teamwork.

I'm linked to the job at Tamworth, which is dropping down to Vanarama North/South after relegating. Nice to be mentioned, but I want to keep building what I'm working on here. Board wasn't pleased that I didn't outright reject the job.

Transfer In - DR Emmanuel Mensah (18)
Was on the street and his Physicals are off the chain - Lots of 12+ there, including 12 Stamina and 13 Pace. I feel like we got a steal here, and can now move Curtis Burrows to a 4 position backup role.

I'm briefly tempted by a retirement to move up, but I just can't pull the trigger.

Transfer In - DR/WBR Chris Ross (17)
An intriguing, high mentals player. Strictly a depth backup at the moment, however. Bath was quite happy to get rid of him.

Promotion Odds
Cheddar: 1-5
Wells: 1-2 (Relegation)
Welton Rovers: 4-6 (Relegation)
Almondsbury UWE: 25-1

Gee, nothing like pressure, folks. We still don't have a second DC and no one will sign with us. On top of it, in our second friendly, Mark Reynolds, who has been playing DM in our weird setup, is out 4-5 weeks with a foot injury.

Blargh.

[Izulde]

As if our defense wasn't already Swiss cheese, Jim Williams sustains a chest injury in our third friendly that knocks him out for 4-5 weeks. We're trying desperately to sign anybody, anybody at all.

Transfer In - DC/MC Tom Rowerbotham (23)
Finally, a body we can stick in at DC. Great physical attributes, but his technical skills need a lot of honing.

Transfer In - DLC Ryan Talbot (21)
Spent way too much money for him, but that's how crying out for players we were. He'll start even when Jim Williams is healthy again, which goes to show how bad our DC shape is right now.

Sweet moment: Beating the team I considered leaving for 2-0, when we switch to a flat 4-4-2 that will likely be our primary formation this season.

@ Caine
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowerbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Conner Leek/Billy Frost/Paddy Griffiths/Nathan Haynes
S: Aaron Gibson/Carl Harris

Bit of a controversy brewing at MR and one of the ST spots. Only reason Sam Higgins isn't playing is because we got caught with our pants down managing health levels and he's tired.

29 - We're shit at defending set pieces. 0-1

Just before half, Frost is knocked out of the game, and Haynes is injured too. The bullshit is incredible with injuries. Higgins comes on and then at half, it's Horgan for Haynes

67 - JFHRC. Now Mensah is hurt with a playable injury.

What a shitfest of an opener.

Billy Frost - 4-5 weeks
Nathan Haynes - 2-3 weeks

Just fucking great.

vs Devizes (8th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Connor Leek/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Curtis Burrows
M: Sam Higgins/Paddy Griffiths
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

Three straight short rest league games to start the year is fucking bullshit, especially with all our fucking injuries.

5 - Their defender is feeling Sheppard's footsteps on the sideline, so he attempts to lateral it to his keeper. Only problem is, Harris gets there first and puts it away. 1-0

9 - ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WITH THIS GOD DAMNED FUCKING BULLSHIT?! LEEK OFF WITH INJURY! Burrows flips to DL and Ross comes in at DR.

25 - Ross throws into Horgan, who stops and long balls all the way down the middle of the pitch, just ahead of Harris for the dribble and fireball into the box, netting his second goal. 2-0

57 - Sheppard steals the ball on the throw-in, plots his move, and wings to Burrows. Crackerjack shot lands at Harris's feet in the box, and *bam* HAT TRICK TIME! 3-0

69 - Don't you assholes dare blow this.

72 - Trego, another of last year's youth pulls, goes in for Horgan. It's the only sub we can reasonably make at this point, even though everyone is sucking wind out there.

Obviously Carl Harris got a 9.5 and PotM, but Omarr Austin was impressive at AML, netting a 7.9. Third star goes to Sam Higgins with a 7.4. To be fair, they had two of their players go off with injuries, too. So it's been a rough season start for a lot of teams.

GOD DAMN IT! WE LOSE OUR TEAM CAPTAIN FOR A WHOLE FUCKING YEAR?!?! FUCK THISODGSGHASOHGO9HGOHAEHOGOHWTRAWOHTAWHFGAOGHOAHGAOHFGASHFGASHGASHGOASHRGOAHGISHVOASFGA

BRB SMASHING THE EVERLIVING FUCK OUT OF MY FUCKING KEYBOARD

[Izulde]

@ Oldland Abbotonians (9th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Sam Higgins/Paddy Griffiths
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Aaron Gibson/Tate Sheppard

We're running a lot of guys at 70s energy level simply because we've been so devastated by injuries and have four straight games on short rest. Nothing else we can do.

19 - Rowbotham intercepts and gives to Austin. On to Gibson and then to Sheppard just inside the box for the longish score, even though they're crying offsides. 1-0

20 - And of course the immediate pegback due to Talbot's fuck up.

Switching from the 4-2-4 to a 3-1-2-4 DM Wide at half, with Reynolds as the DM, Talbot out.

62 - Trego in for Horgan

82 - Griffiths with the gorgeous 25 yard free kick goal for his first ever score!!!! Time to live dangerously and spend third sub, with Ross on for Mensah. Just hope we can survive. 2-1

87 - Long buildup and constant passing around that culminates in Austin driving the ball through a defender to pass into box space. Gibson's the first one there, and he angles a shot in to guarantee our win!!! 3-1

8.2 and PotM for Paddy Griffiths, and matching 7.6s for Aaron Gibson and Tate Sheppard. I'm thankful we survived this without further injuries, and that we pulled out the victory with a stellar second half performance. Langford and Portishead have started off with 3 straight wins, so we're behind the pace, but it's a long, long season.

@ Witheridge (13th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Sam Higgins/Mark Reynolds
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

32 - Free kick lined up just out the box on the right side.. and Harris belts the shot in!!! Wow, that was soo pretty. 1-0

55 - Williams comes in for Rowbotham; Griffiths for Higgins

81 - Gorgeous sliding tackle by Griffiths to stop an attack. Horgan picks up the loose ball and plays a pretty pass forward for Sheppard, who is decked in the box, drawing a penalty. The keeper deflects Austin's shot, but the kid puts away his own rebound!!! 2-0

90 - Horgan's cross is deflected, but he runs forward to get it back and cross again, and this time, Harris's shot catches the keeper going the other way, locking this one up. 3-0

All full-time starters scored 7 or higher, the obvious leader Carl Harris with a PotM 8.8. Also breaking 7.5+ was Emmanuel Mensah, with 7.7.

vs Bishop's Sutton (4th)
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Jim Williams/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Sam Higgins/Paddy Griffiths
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Aaron Gibson

Staff keeps wanting me to do a 4-1-3-2 DM Wide formation, but that's expected for this level in every save I run, I've noticed. I really like our 4-2-4 I forced in due to injuries.

Oh, some side notes I forgot to mention last time: Cameron Friend and Tate Sheppard are favored personnel, but obviously I let Friend go. Here's how the All-Time Best 11 Cheesemen looks after last season:



Clearly they ran that most of last year before I came and started shifting things around. We'll also see large changes after this year - provided I'm still here, of course.

We need to find another ML/AML because Omarr Austin keeps getting run into the ground, and we're without Connor Leek for a whole year.

56 - Haynes in for Horgan; Sheppard for Gibson, and we switch to a flat 4-4-2.

58 - Austin sends it forward to Harris, who immediately has two defenders draping him, so he kicks back to Austin for the backfoot far cross to Haynes. Forward into the box, and *BAM* super-sub goal! 1-0

Sam Higgins was our most vital player last year, and he gets PotM here with a 7.9. Just missing the 7.5 mark was Emmanuel Mensah with a 7.4. Key off the bench is naturally Nathan Haynes with the game-winning goal for a 7.3. Exactly the kind of not great, but workmanlike win you need sometimes.

With the victory, we temporarily move into 1st (Langford has a game in hand on us), and a cool stat pops up: Tom Rowbotham leads the league in interceptions with 72 - 9 more than the second place guy. Clearly, a huge pickup this offseason, and someone who is already stabilizing what was a problem area for us last season.

[Izulde]

Transfer In - DLC Jon Beeden (25)
I opened up the wallet for this guy - $100 p/a, because of his 12 Tackling, great mental attributes including 13 Bravery, 15 Teamwork and 12 Work Rate. Although not an ideal attacking FB, he still represents an overall upgrade.

vs Portland United (10th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Paddy Griffiths/Mark Reynolds
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Tate Sheppard/Aaron Gibson

So many short turnaround games. It's something we're used to by now, however.

11 - Reynolds wings it out to Mensah, and the cross is cleared. But not cleared enough, as Horgan's in position to pounce and hammer his first ever Cheeseman goal in the upper corner of the net! 1-0

23 - A suspect penalty tagged to Mensah, but Rees saves it, continuing to show why he's paid the biggest bucks on the team at $140 p/a.

Williams replaces Rowbotham and Frost makes his first appearance back from injury at the half, subbing for Griffiths.

49 - Sensational interception by Beeden, and it sets off a continuous triangle of passes between him, Frost, and Austin. Finally, Frost lays off to Reynolds for the pass to Horgan. He feeds to Gibson just outside the half-circle, and our youth striker's audacious shot sings home! 2-0

Aaron Gibson was PotM with 8.2, but it's Roy Horgan's 7.7 the announcers kept talking about. 7.6 for Emmanuel Mensah, and 7.2 for Billy Frost off the bench. Not a bad 7.0 debut for Jon Beeden, either.

Minor injury to Mark Reynolds in a U-18 game the day after this, so he'll be out on yet another short rest league game.

@ Roman Glass St. George (14th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Jim Williams/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Sam Higgins/Paddy Griffiths
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

This has trap game written all over it.

47 - Gibson in for Sheppard

71 - Talbot on for Williams

81 - Griffiths goes out, so we have to get creative, moving Austin to MC, Mensah to WBR, and putting Ross in at DR.

Should we, could we have won that game? Yeah - even the announcers said so. But I'll take that draw, given all the tiredness and injury issues that cropped up. We lose Paddy Griffiths for a month, continuing our health problems in the middle of the pitch.

On the plus side, we're still in 1st, game in hand caveat applying, and the six games unbeaten is a new Cheddar record.

vs Chinnor (FA Vase First Qualifying Round)
D: Jon Beeden/Ryan Talbot/Jim Williams/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Omarr Austin/Tom Rowbotham/Billy Frost/Nathan Haynes
S: Aaron Gibson/Tate Sheppard

We're Fluid in this formation, which is awesome. Not awesome: Still a lot of tired guys, and the short rest thing is going to continue for this entire month. We lost $5.03k last month, but the board is still very pleased with me, even though they're still salty about letting Josh Graham go.

33 - We build up an attack on the right flank after Mensah's throw-in deep in our half. Haynes jackhammers it all the way down into the box, where Gibson takes advantage of a keeper too far out to power it behind him. 1-0

b]40[/b] - Rowbotham has been pleasantly effective in the BWM CM role, and he directs the action here. For his finisher, he wings out to Austin, who crosses far post. Someone, Haynes I think, falls to distract the defense, and Sheppard takes advantage to kick in the short goal, causing the stands to erupt in glee. 2-0

Higgins goes in for exhausted Rowbotham at half.

69 - Burrows comes on for Beeden

Despite the scoreline, this wasn't a particularly impressive win beyond Aaron Gibson's PotM 8.3. Just everyone more or less having a solid game. What's exciting is, we pocket $1.01k for the win. The soothing sound of cup money.

vs Witheridge (Western Les Phillips Cup First Round)
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Jim Williams/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/Sam Higgins
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Aaron Gibson/Carl Harris

Cheddar's never made it out of the first round, so it'd be nice to get it, even on the short rest we're dealing with.

17 - That was a particularly bad piece of defending. 0-1

39 - Gibson gets it on the wing and sends it into the box, where Harris nails the short post goal. 1-1

44 - Mensah throws into Higgins and gets it back, then questionably far crosses into the box that should have been intercepted. Nevermind because Austin, who has been crying for a break, fights exhaustion to slam the go-ahead goal! 2-1

Frost steps in for tired, yellow-carded Reynolds at half.

58 - Horgan is being chased by the defense, so he outlets back to Mensah. Wing out right side to Frost, and he plays a beautiful high ball to Gibson in the box for the insurance score. 3-1

63 - Bad backpass by the defense has Gibson getting it back in the box. Kickback to charging Austin for the in-box cross to Horgan. The shot's deflected, but Harris is there for the rebound. 4-1

85 - Austin is decked in the box, and we're awarded the PK. Frost coolly chills the keeper, and the rout will be official. 5-1

Everyone other than our goalie who was in at the end of the game had a 7.2 or better. Highlights: Billy Frost with a 7.7 in 45 minutes, a real catalyst in our second-half surge, Emmanuel Mensah with an 8.4, Sam Higgins with 8.3 - ditto Aaron Gibson, 9.0s from Carl Harris and Roy Horgan, and a PotM, 9.1 from Omarr Austin!

Transfer In - ML/AML/ST Gregg Crane (16)
A transfer we netted from Northwich, his physical attributes are beautiful, with only a 4 strength the worry - otherwise it's 8, 9, and then double digits everywhere. I quite like having players with Flair, and he's got that at 14. My staff likes him better than Omarr Austin because he's a physical specimen, but Austin is a better crosser and has even more flair at 17.

No prize money here, which I figured since it's a regional trophy. Was hoping, though.

[Izulde]

Testing this out on my new Surface Pro 4. The pen is already going to be epic for taking screenshots - even easier than on desktop. First thing I notice is the default resolution is way too high - I can't see anything. Setting to Windowed mode and 200% zoom fixes things nicely, however.

Simming speed seems comparable to my desktop, but wow is the drag-drop painfully slow on the redraw. Guess I'll be using the drop-down boxes when I'm on the laplet/taptop. Scared to see how the 3D will perform now.

[b]vs Chard (13th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jim Williams/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/Tom Rowbotham
AM: Gregg Crane/Ryan Horgan
S: Tate Sheppard/Carl Harris

21 - Williams has the free kick and opts to kick back to start a stylish movement, ending with Williams to Sheppard in the box, and then a high ball way out to Crane on the touchline. He near post crosses to Harris for the score, and the 3D is playing seamlessly - right on par with my desktop. Replays might even be slightly faster. 1-0

24 - Talbot with the stellar interception and pop passes to Harris just outside the box. He laterals to Sheppard for the pass into space in the box, and Crane charges in for the diagonal debut goal! Debut assist, debut goal! The replay is actually faster than on my desktop, I think, though I do notice some slight flickering at the beginning of the replay. 2-0

27 - Mensah intercepts a clearance and gets it to Harris for the pass to Crane. He goes wide left out to Beeden and the far post cross to Horgan untouched for the score. Assist, goal, assist of assist. What a debut! 3-0

Frost replaces Reynolds at the half, and the midfielders switch spots.

All starters bar Emmanuel Mensah netted a 7.0 or better. Hell of a debut for Gregg Crane - 8.2 and PotM. That's not only his Cheeseman debut; it's his straight up professional one. Wow! A 7.5 for Roy Horgan in the bargain. On balance re: the SP4, this is going to be exactly what's ordered for traveling, but it's a touch uncomfortable on the lap long-term, I believe. So a flat surface will be a necessity for long-term plays.

@ Langford (8th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Jim Williams/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
AM: Gregg Crane/Ryan Horgan
S: Aaron Gibson/Carl Harris

Paste is quite finicky on here. It doesn't show up when I try to paste with the touchpad for some reason, and the stylus takes a bit of finagling to get the menu to show up. Perhaps a wireless mouse will address this issue.

20 - That was weird. There was an own goal on them, but it showed another sequence before the replay of the OG. 1-0

36 - We got away with one there. Thanks, crossbar!

42 - Field turned ash gray for a second there.

52 - Frost is having an uncharacteristically bad game for him. His long ball to Gibson is headed away. Fortunately, Harris header-intercepts right back to Gibson, and receives the in-box feed. He continues right on marching up to the keeper before hitting a taunting shot. Another thing I noticed - the replays on SP4 are shorter than the desktop. Time for Frost to take a seat, and Reynolds to replace him. 2-0

80 - Reynolds intercepts and gives it to Crane for the longball into the box right at Gibson, who crosses far post to Harris for the latter's 10th goal of the season. Clearly, we're going to be smashing the dual 11 goals scored by Cameron Friend and Tate Sheppard during all of last year. 3-0

Good, strong win. 8.8 and PotM for Carl Harris, 8.7 for Aaron Gibson, 8.0 for Gregg Crane, who is having a Mason Hirst type effect, and 7.7 for Roy Horgan.

That's enough for a first test, I think. My SP4 did run very warm to hot during the FM test, but never super hot, so it appears to handle it and Edge with 4 tabs open just dandy.

[Izulde]

vs Wells (8th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis BurrowsJim Williams/Tom Rowbotham/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Omarr Austin//Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds/Nathan Haynes
S: Aaron Gibson/Tate Sheppard

Jon Beeden picked up a concussion and is out for roughly 2 weeks.

47 - We should be up by 2 or 3 goals - instead, we allow one seconds before half. 0-1

51 - Harris for Gibson and Talbot for Williams

55 - Frost's corner is cleared, but the goalie's in la-la land, allowing Sheppard to strike a long, long header into the net. Can't believe that mental slip-up. 1-1

78 - Talbot makes a driving interception, setting up a pretty play capping in Haynes to Reynolds to Sheppard and then to Harris in the box for the sensational super-sub score. 2-1

It's the kind of game where Tate Sheppard's 7.4 is good enough for PotM, though Carl Harris, who just got praised in the press, picked up a 7.1 off the bench. Our defense stunk the whole game until about the last 20-25 minutes. Emmanuel Mensah may be on his way to sitting out next one.

There's a news story afterward about how changing from our 4-2-4 Wide to a flat 4-4-2 ended our streak of shutouts in league play at six, so some might think our primary formation more solid, but as long as we're winning, no one's going to complain. Also, a couple managers were in the stands - one to watch Jim Williams, who played like ass.

I'm mentioned in another manager vacancy that intrigues. They're in the drop zone and are expecting a top half finish, with a payroll over double what I've got here. But I'm not really seeing a compelling reason to move up. Not when I've got Cheddar humming.

@ Portishead (8th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Jim Williams/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Tom Rowbotham/Sam Higgins
AM: Gregg Crane/Ryan Horgan
S: Aaron Gibson/Carl Harris

2 - Rowbotham's corner finds Williams' feet, and his short shot sits on the line. A defender and the keeper go in to get it, but it's so crowded, no one can clear it, and Williams nudges it over for his first professional goal! 1-0

17 - Mensah makes the interception and a couple passes later, Horgan has it and is driving all the way down the right flank into the box, where he fires off the diagonal in the net. These guys came in really tired, because they haven't built up the depth and rotation we have, and it's clearly draining them. 2-0

Williams is sitting on a yellow, so I move Rowbotham down to DC and put Reynolds in at MC.

56[ - Sheppard steps in for Gibson

64 - Awful defense. They should have scored easily there.

67 - Burrows runs forward to catch a clearance just outside the box and laterals to Higgins for the box feed to unmarked Sheppard. Two step dribble, and POW! 3-0

8.4 for Roy Horgan, 8.5 for PotM Sam Higgins 7.9 for Curtis Burrows, and of course the 7.1 bench outing from Tate Sheppard. There's a bunch of teams with 1 and 2 games in hand on us, but we're still blowing away the league with a 10 point cushion and a +19 GD - second place having just +8 GD. Even if the teams with 2 games win both, we're still with a 4 point edge.

Chelmsford once again wants me. How did that go last time? ...the team started off the last few games of the year sucking. I started building my roster and we started off okay, but then the wheels completely fell off and I quit to coach a new amateur team. The Clarets were also my third team in that dynasty, and would be my third here - following the same amateur to semipro to semipro jump. Of other note - they're second to last in the league and expect to make the playoffs

Scrolling through that dynasty, I built up that Amateur team for success, then jumped to a new semi-pro team that I won a league title with and was doing well early in the next up, but then we lost, fell to 4th, and I got bored like I usually do with FM at some point and quit.

So yeah, as TEMPTING as it is to try and reverse the errors of history, let's s not do that. While I've gotten really good at building up lower teams and setting them for years of dominance, I'd actually like to try staying somewhere for at least 3 seasons.

6 wins in a row, 12 unbeaten, is a new record for the Cheddar Cheesemen in this universe.

Transfer In - ST Connah Hughes (19) (Welsh)
Slow for a striker, but he's got some interesting technical abilities (11 Dribbling, 12 First Touch) and pretty darn strong mentally, including 15 Teamwork. In terms of pure skill and overall talent, he's our best striker, and can play pretty much any role in our current setups well. Definitely going to be an interesting one to look at in our system - really needs to improve his finishing, however. We'll try him as a starter anyway, and see how he does.

[Izulde]

vs Chipping Sodbury (21st)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Jim Williams/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Tom Rowbotham/Sam Higgins
AM: Gregg Crane/Ryan Horgan
S: Aaron Gibson/Carl Harris

21 - We're awarded a penalty on a corner, and I'm stunned at the call. Gibson takes full advantage of the gift. 1-0

24 - They've got a great counter going, but then they make a stupid long cross with no one around. Rees short kicks it to Williams for the hoof to Gibson. The pass goes by three defenders to Harris in the box, and he dribbles until he finds his spot and puts it away. 2-0

42 - Rowbotham with the interception, and a series of passes later, Burrows has it on the wing for the long ball down the left flank to Crane. Center to Harris and the hapless goalie's dive can do no more than graze the ball with his fingertips. 3-0

43 - That was just sloppy defending. 3-1

Switch to flat 4-4-2 and Haynes on for Horgan at half.

76 - Crossbar robbed them. Mensah is getting benched next game.

8.0 for Tom Rowbotham 7.5 for Aaron Gibson, and naturally 8.9 for PotM Carl Harris.

@ Pickering (FA Vase Second Qualifying Round)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jim Williams/Ryan Talbot/Curtis Burrows
M: Mark Reynolds/Billy Frost
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Tate Sheppard/Connah Hughes

Apologies to Roy Horgan for the constant misspelling of his name in the lineup the last several games.

20 - Our defense got caught napping on the counterattack there. 0-1

55 - Rowbotham for Talbot; Ross for [b]Burrows[b/]; Crane in for Sheppard at ST.

73 - Although knocked and in a new role, Crane intercepts and passes to Hughes, who outlets to Horgan and runs forward for the giveback. The Welsh kid's long strike is deflected, but wounded Crane is a god damn Karate Kid, kicking the rebound in by hobbling there first! 1-1

92 - We damned near lost this on a free kick, but we get a merciful offsides call to preserve the draw.

I give them credit for fighting back for the draw, but we also lose Gregg Crane for 6-8 weeks.

Just $1.32k loss last month, and the board is officially delighted with me.

@ Keynsham (Western League Wes Phillips Cup Second Round)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis BurrowsJim Williams/Tom Rowbotham/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Omarr Austin//Billy Frost/Sam Higgins/Nathan Haynes
S: Aaron Gibson/Carl Harris

51 - Sheppard replaces Harris; Reynolds swaps out for Rowbotham and we switch to a 3-1-4-2 DM setup.

64 - Higgins and Frost tag team to strip the ball away on a cleared corner, and Frost centers back to Reynolds. Swing out to Austin and center to Haynes, who is hiding behind a wall of players. His sneak shot sinks home! 1-0

Nathan Haynes is natural PotM with a 7.9 rating, but overall, we didn't play that great this game. Our strikers combined had their worst outing of the season by far, and we were lucky to win and advance.

To date, Carl Harris has the most league PotM awards with 4.

@ Ashton & Blackwell United (18th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/Sam Higgins
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Connah Hughes

47 - 25 yard free kick goal right before half. Ugh. 0-1

54 - Gibson on for Harris; Frost in for Higgins.

It's our first loss in 11 league games, and the first time we've been shut out since our league draw. We're still okay, though - even if the 2nd place team with a game in hand wins the makeup game, we're still 4 points clear of 2nd, and 7 points ahead of 3rd. So we've built in the kind of cushion that can withstand a couple upset losses here and there.

[Izulde]

vs Pickering (FA Vase Second Qualifying Round Replay)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Connah Hughes

28 - Frost's corner is far post to Talbot, who outjumps three defenders to nod it down to Rowbotham. First ever score for the defender, as he kicks it between the keeper's legs! 1-0

51 - Ugh. Griffiths in for Hughes; Reynolds on for Frost. Bad, bad games up front. 1-1

54 - Playable injury to Harris

On to extra time with a do-nothing second half.

110 - Horgan ground passes out on the right wing to Mensah, who overcame a horrid first half to step up as the game went on. He far post crosses to a crowd of five jerseys, and Higgins rises up to knock in the header for his own first ever Cheeseman goal! 2-1

114 - Wide open net and he overshoots it. We got lucky there.

120 - Two seconds before the fucking whistle blows, and they tie it up. 2-2

Omarr Austin misses the first PK, and everyone else hits. They win 5-4 on PKs, in a loss that shouldn't have ever fucking happened.

Our defense played brilliantly - this was down to shitty keeping by Gareth Rees and our strikers continuing to stink like shit. It continues a cold run by the boys up front I'm not sure how to solve.

This loss really chaps my ass, and will for a while. Everyone's frustrated at the defeat and early exit from the big money cup.

[Izulde]

vs Wellington (8th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jim Williams/Tom Rowbotham/Chris Ross
M: Omarr Austin/Paddy Griffiths/Billy Frost/Nathan Haynes
S: Tate Sheppard/Connah Hughes

We need to get out of this funk we're in.

29 - Oh, look. Our defense is playing like shitlords. 0-1

42 - Booming Frost free kick finds Austin in the box. He hesitates to find the right spot, and puts it away. 1-1

55 - We switch to a 3-1-4-2 DM with Burrows in for [b]Ross[b/] and Reynolds moving to DM, swapping out Rowbotham

60 - Missed tackle by Williams. The nightmare continues. 1-2

Somewhere there's a good team. We need to get back to it.

@ Hengrove (20th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

38 - JFC. 0-1

51 - Talbot overcomes an asstacular first half to intercept and pass to Frost. On to Horgan for the beautiful pop into space that Harris gets to and finally, with that searing shot, we have a striker goal for the first time in forever. 1-1

58 - Time for the 3-1-4-2 DM Wide as Talbot jogs off for Reynolds. Actually, make that 4-1-3-2 WBL Asymmetrical, as Austin is yanked for Burrows as a WBL.

We should have won this game. So many damn chances and so many wasted shots. We just can't stop tripping over our own dicks.

@ Almondsbury UWE (9th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Ryan Talbot/Curtis Burrows
M: Billy Frost/Sam Higgins
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

Morale is starting to tank now because we just can't find our way to a win.

16 - Frost's corner is cleared, but Harris gets it and kicks it right into the back of a defender. It bounces off, and Austin spears it through traffic and into the net! 1-0

32 - Fuck that bad bar bounce. 1-1

35 - Frost shoots it out to Burrows, who is in for yellow-card suspended Mensah. The high ball far post cross is good for a Harris head smash into the net. 2-1

38 - ...Yeah. Our central defenders screw the pooch. Last year all over again. 2-2

52 - Talbot's out for Reynolds as we go to the DM formation, and Hughes jumps in for Sheppard

Hard luck draw - we should have won this game.

Chris Ross was released on a free before this game, and after the match, the board announces sales to transfer budget are down to 5% due to the debt levels. Might be time to start think about moving on.

Nothing appeals of the current openings, however.

Transfer Out - MC Sam Higgins - $4.8k
You knew it had to happen at some point, but this is very disappointing - losing one of our most reliable players.

The board is uber concerned about the loss of money and wants to see player sales. I'm thinking more and more of bailing as a result. Even if we go up, we'll still have to do it with a decreased budget.

vs Warminster (15th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Curtis Burrows
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Billy Frost/Jim Williams
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

3 - Burrows gets it on the right wing parallel to the box and near crosses to Harris just inside the six yard box. The shot's deflected, but Harris puts away his own rebound. 1-0

19 - Austin is being haunted, so he short kick-backs to Beeden for the power aerial cross to isolated Sheppard far post, and he knocks in the header. Changing to a new formation has apparently woken up the offense. 2-0

46 - Two defenders are charging Horgan, so he passes down the flank to Burrows for the center Sheppard and a much-needed third score. Nothing is safe at this point, IMO. 3-0

71 - Williams to DM; Griffiths at MC, and Hughes replaces Harris at striker.

73 - Had to happen at some point. 3-1

90 - Hughes gets the loose ball in the half-circle and is surrounded by two defenders. No problem, as he cracks the 20 yarder between a defender's legs and into the net for his first ever Cheeseman goal! Fucking finally! 4-1

And finally too, the win, anchored by Curtis Burrows' 8.0, Jim Williams with a 7.5, Mark Reynolds with a 7.9 before subbed off, 8.1 by Billy Frost, PotM Tate Sheppard with an 8.8, and a massive 8.0 reserve showing by Connah Hughes. Oh, and 7.6 for Carl Harris.

The damage has been done, however. Just a 3 point cushion and goal differential on the teams below us, and our biggest match of the year is up next against the 2nd place squad.

[Izulde]

vs Welton Rovers (2nd)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Billy Frost/Jim Williams
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

Absolutely critical game at this juncture of the season. We really need to win this one.

19 - Shocked by bad D? Me either. 0-1

26 - They just miss awarding us a penalty, but a foul just outside the box has Frost dropping the free kick inside to Sheppard for the easy equalizer. 1-1

36 - Mensah is really starting to piss me off. 1-2

46 - Just before half, Mensah throws in to Reynolds for the far post high ball that Austin snags and puts away past the unready keeper. 2-2

48 - Fucking giving up a hat trick. Fucking stupid. 2-3

49 - Enough of this shit. Burrows and Talbot in for Mensah and Rowbotham

What a complete shitfest of a game.

Transfer In - MR/AMR Liam Harris (20)
A huge shot in the arm to our right flank and so large an upgrade it's stupid. Mediocre physically, and not a true standout anywhere, but he's got stellar technical skills for this level.

We've dropped to a 3 way tie for 1st, leading only because of goal differential. Emmanuel Mensah is pissed when I chew him out for his lackluster form. Welcome to the bench, buddy.

@ Westbury (15th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Ryan Talbot/Curtis Burrows
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Billy Frost/Jim Williams
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

44 - Williams is being faced by three defenders just outside the box, so he lays off to Frost for the feed to Carl Harris. Easy score, and fuck the whiners about offsides. 1-0

60 - Williams moves to DM, Griffiths on at MC. Hughes slots in for Sheppard at S.

62 - WHO THE FUCK WERE YOU AIMING AT WITH THAT PASS, CARL HARRIS?! [b]1-1/B]

64 - AND NOW A FUCKING OWN GOAL BY REES?!?! 1-2

We didn't deserve to lose that one at all, and now we fall to 2nd.

@ Ashton & Blackwell United (Western League Les Phillips Cup Third Round
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Jim Williams/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

28 - Sheppard steals the ball in our half and dribbles, before playing it down the right flank for Reynolds. A couple passes later, Frost gives to Burrows, who passes to the touchline for Austin. Pass to Frost in the box, two dribbles, and the surprise shot goes home! 1-0

49 - HANG ON TO THE FUCKING BALL, REES, YOU SHITSTAIN! 0-1

51 - Their own keeper drops the ball, and Harris is first to put it away. Meanwhile, Talbot for Williams, Griffiths for Reynolds as we try to close out a fucking win. 2-1

54 - Beautiful run-down of an enemy throw-in by Griffiths and kick back to Rees to restart a move. Griffiths is also the one who wings to Horgan for the booming cross to Sheppard, and we finally look like we can lock up a game. 3-1

Shout out to Billy Frost, who has played amazing the last few games, despite our troubles. 8.4 and PotM here, with 8.0 by Omarr Austin, 8.1 by Roy Horgan and 7.8 by [b]Tate Sheppard, as every full-time starter other than Rees had 7.1 or better.

That said, I'm quietly plotting a move up, having found a team I'd like to join. The board catches wind of it, and tries to convince me to stay. I'm not interested in talking with them. I'll make my decision on my own, thanks.

Transfer In - DC Jerrome Sobers (31) (Dominican)
The strongest player I've ever seen in one of my clubs (16), with excellent heading/jumping talent and strong mentals. Very slow, however. But he does provide us a veteran presence if I stay.

And I do, because the new team tries to scam me on the job offer, paying me far less than what I make now. Assholes.

vs Caine (9th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Tate Sheppard

7 - I'm not quite sure how the counter got started, but at the end, it's Mensah short pass to Liam Harris for the first touch to Sheppard just inside the box, and his savage strike sings home. The boys are really looking amped up today. 1-0

59 - Williams slots in for Reynolds

72 - Frost begged for a break, so Austin comes in for him.

Matching 7.8s for Billy Frost and Jon Beeden, with the latter winning PotM due to full-time status. 7.6 for Liam Harris. We could have won by more, but the victory is what matters, especially since it moves us back up to 1st on goal differential as we hit the halfway mark of the season.

Cut - ST Connah Hughes
That 4 Finishing really sunk him, and he had a grand total of one good performance for us. We found a better option, anyway.

Transfer In - ST Andrew Folan (23) - From Welton Rovers
Remember the guy who scored a hat trick against us? Well, we just stole him from the third place team after they beat us. He can finish and dribble (10), head the ball (11), and has the requisite double-digit Teamwork and Work Rate I look for. Welton Rovers was pissed we just stole their top scorer for nothing.

We made $564 last month, a cheering thought.

vs Keynsham (19th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

30 - Frost side passes to Crane, and with four defenders around him, he kicks it far side, where Liam Harris sinks his first Cheeseman goal! 1-0

56 - Sheppard is on for Carl Harris, who is having a super horrible day, and Williams for Rowbotham

88 - Beeden fucking made a stupid pass and that cost us everything. 1-1

We should have kicked their asses. Fucking ridiculous to drop back to 2nd this way.

There was a club I really wanted to apply to, but I missed the deadline.

@ Devizes (13th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

35 - Reynolds jams it out to Mensah who cuts a 90 degree angle, dribbling into the box sideways before crossing to Carl Harris for the goal. 1-0

64 - Austin for Crane; Williams for Reynolds

90 - Charging interception by Sobers for the launch forward into space for Liam Harris. He dribbles, and when the defender closes in, delivers into the box to Folan, our shiny new striker using the space available to kick in his first ever Cheeseman goal!!!! Yes!!!! 2-0

Emmanuel Mensah proved me wrong today, powering an 8.4 PotM performance. Jon Beeden avoided killing us, and grabbed a 7.7. Billy Frost was his usual great self with a 7.9, and we're back up in 1st.

There's a clear Top 5 in the league this year.

Us - 43 points
Welton Rovers - 43 points
Langford - 42 points
Wells - 41 points
Portland United - 41 points
----------------------
Chard - 33 points

Big gap there.

Mark Reynolds will sit out next game due to a yellow cards ban.

vs Oldland Abbotonians (11th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Jim Williams
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

8 - We're awarded a controversial PK, andFrost puts it just above the keeper's outstretched arms. You da real MVP, Billy! 1-0

24 - Miraculously, we're awarded another PK! Frost drills this with ease. 2-0

43 - Frost shoots it right side to Liam Harris, who makes a great cross to Carl Harris. The shot's deflected, but Folan gets there to put it away! 3-0

60 - Eh, it's only one. 3-1

68 - Okay, now I'm worried. Burrows comes in as an Attacking WBR, replacing Liam Harris, and Griffiths replaces Williams. I'm going to flip my shit if we blow this. 3-2

70 - Burrows kicks back to Mensah, who forwards to Frost and on to Folan. A little dribble and then a shot I think will shank, but it finds the net! Between two scores this game and the insurance goal last one, I think it's safe to say his guaranteeing 6 points has officially paid the 3 he singlehandedly cost us. 4-2

90 - The announcers make note of Folan, gushing about "what a fine player" he is. Crane to Harris to Folan streaking in the box, and the 1 on 1 = hat trick!!!! 5-2

Every full starter had at least a 7, and the next lowest was 7.3. Absolutely stellar performance all-around, despite two goals surrendered. The 8+ guys: Jerrome Sobers with 8.2, Billy Frost with 9.2, Carl Harris with 8.4 despite not scoring, and of course, the man of the hour, Andrew Folan with a 9.5 hat trick!

We're now 4 points clear of 3rd, and the move seems to have worked well for both sides, because Welton Rovers is still tied with us on points, despite losing Folan to us.

Burgess Hill Rhinos is 9-0-0 in Mid Sussex Division Four play, using a mix of guys from my tenure and his own dudes. Full credit to Paul Lorraine, my replacement. He pulled off the same quadruple I did in the second season, sweeping the trophies and winning the league after taking over for me.

[Izulde]

vs Witheridge (12th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

10 - Bad decision by Rowbotham there. 0-1

11 - The kickoff ensuing, Reynolds hammers it down the left flank for Folan, who makes a pristine center to Carl Harris for the latter's 20th goal this year. 1-1

18 - Rowbotham continues to make mistakes. 1-2

23 - We'll take that own goal gift! Williams in for Rowbotham, as we can't afford his errors. 2-2

34 - Frost has the ball after a buildup on the left side. He gives to Reynolds for the diagonal forward to Carl Harris, who holds up play due to two defenders. Our leading scorer then runs horizontally, and slams a 25 yarder from just outside the semi-circle. Holy cow!!! 3-2

65 - Aysmmetrical time as Burrows moves in at WBR. Liam Harris is doing okay, but not great.

Obvious PotM is Carl Harris with his 8.7, though Gregg Crane posted a 7.5. We got a couple bad breaks on goal frames, or we would have won by even more.

@ Bishop Sutton (17th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Curtis Burrows
M: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

Emmanuel Mensah is out with the flu. Aaron Gibson also got injured recently and is out a month, but he's long gone from consideration anyway, being a 4th striker by this time.

16 - While Beeden should have gotten back quicker, that's also a shot Rees should be able to stop. 0-1

47 - Austin slides in for Crane

61 - Time to see if Sheppard/b] can find magic, because Folan is having his first bad game as a Cheeseman.

80 - We just don't have it today. Like, at all. 0-2

91 - And to top it all off, a double yellow for Reynolds right before the game ends.

Our cushion on 3rd dropped to 1 point now. Also lost $494 and we're in a poor financial position.

@ Portland United (4th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/Jim Williams
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

Critical game for our title hopes for sure.

46 - I *really* don't like these guys. They play dirty pool, and their keeper is doing well. Frost out to Crane for the near post short pass to unguarded Carl Harris, and we *finally* break through just before half. 1-0

53 - Rowbotham makes a dynamite interception and first touches it to Crane on the wing. This time, his pass into the box is a center, and Folan, who got screwed by the crossbar a few minutes ago, keeps this to ground and in! 2-0

64 - Burrows in for tired Beeden

Except Gareth Rees and Liam Harris, every starter had 7.3 or higher. Just a clean, dominating win. Superstars - Billy Frost with an 8.3, and PotM Gregg Crane with a 9.0.

Welton Rovers have a game in hand on us, and are still tied on points, so we'll probably lose the top spot soon. Still a point ahead of 3rd, and the former top 5 is now a top 3, with Wells third at 51 points, a game back, before we get to 45 points the team we just beat.

Transfer In - MC George Colson (24) (Welsh)
Loaded with amazing mental attributes, including a highlight 16 Teamwork. 12 Passing sparks solid all around technical skills for this level. Physical attributes are meh, but he's tailor-made to be a less-risky defensive CM.

Pro tip: If you're a club with a $236k wage budget, you can certainly fucking afford to pay a new manager at least double-digit salary.

vs Roman Glass St. George (16th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

36 - Liam Harris horizontals long to Frost for the pass to Carl Harris. The defender misses the tackle, and the fantastic Mr. C. Harris slams a 35 yarder into the net!!! 1-0

65 - Liam Harris throws in to Mensah, and the cross is deflected, but Harris is right there to put it away on the rebound. Rowbotham jogs off for Reynolds, switching to a 3-1-4-2 DM Wide. 2-0

73 - Colson has the ball in the middle of the park and passes forward to Folan. He forces a ball through three defenders to Carl Harris *just* inside the box, and another distance strike goes home. It's been all about the Harrises from a scoring standpoint. 3-0

Only Gareth Rees, George Colson, and Gregg Crane (7.2) had less than a 7.5 tonight from the full-time starters. 8.6 for Emmanuel Mensah, 8.0 for Jon Beeden and Liam Harris, 8.8 for PotM Billy Frost and Carl Harris, and 8.2 for Andrew Folan.

Transfer Out - MC Billy Frost (Non-Contract)
Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit!!! Fortunately, we can try to lure him back, but this puts a huge hole in our lineup in a key game.

vs Langford (4th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

12 - Carl Harris gets the ball back after a clearance and is being pressured just outside the left corner of the box, so he laterals it right wing, where a streaking Mensah picks it up. The feed to Folan, and our own Benedict Arnold keeps paying us dividends. 1-0

53 - It's been a blah day for Rowbotham, so he sits in favor of Williams

71 - Austin in for tired, yellow-carded Reynolds

90 - Liam Harris twists his knee, but it's playable.

So, not a great game. 7.3 by George Colson is PotM. That's not going to cut it against good teams.

Liam Harris is out 4-5 weeks. Luckily we still have Roy Horgan around. Billy Frost was absolute shit in his Cogenhoe debut with a 6.3. He rejects our offer to come back, however.

@ Chard (7th)G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

4 - Clear, asswipes! b]0-1

[b]6/b] - WTF is this shit?! 0-2

22 - Colson flares it out to Mensah, who goes for the high box drop, but the keeper pushes it away. Unfortunately, that just leaves it open for Folan to kick it in and draw one back. 1-2

35 - Yeah, I can't watch this shit anymore. Burrows for Beeden

45 - Reynolds with the short pass to Crane for the box pop to Folan. Shot is deflected, but Harris just barely skims in the rebound to draw us level just before half! 2-2

54 - Both central defenders are playing like shit, but Sobers seems uninterested in the game, so he's the one axed for Williams

68 - Folan to Horgan inside the box, but the AMR's cross is bounced away. Story of the game, though, as Folan is there to scorch the diagonal rebound in! 3-2

Lot of 7+ guys as we overcome an absolute shitlord game by Tom Rowbotham and Jerrome Sobers both getting a 6.3 Highlights include Curtis Burrows' 7 off the bench and a 9.0 PotM Andrew Folan. Talk about how when sometimes you lose, you really win.

Even better: Welton Rovers and Wells had to settle for draws, meaning even with both having a game in hand, Rovers can only go up by 1 point, and Wells will be 2 points back at best.

@ Wells (3rd)
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

This is our chance to really salt away a Top 2 finish heading into the final quarter of the season.

22 - Awful free kick defending. 0-1

Burrows for Mensah; Sheppard for Harris at half.

64 - Fucking stupid. 0-2

I talked a coach into staying. Cool.

@ Cribbs (Western League Wes Phillips Cup Quarterfinal)
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

These guys went up last season, and are in 2nd place in their new league. We're far removed from being able to compete with them, and no one is giving us a shot.

79 - Sheppard for Harris; Williams for Rowbotham.

86 - Colson hits the corner to the head of Williams, whose freshness allows him to head it to Sobers for the Dominican's first ever Cheddar goal!!!! 1-0

Gareth Rees had the game of his life in posting an 8.4 and PotM, but full credit to the midfield back, as everyone in the central midfield and backline at full-time had 7.2 or higher, not including Jim Williams' game-winning 7.0 sub showing in just 11 or so minutes.

What a huge, huge win, and the fans are absolutely ecstatic we're carrying on.

[Izulde]

So what's the smart thing to do when you have a bunch of things that need doing, and you have to head to work in 5 hours? Play FM16, of course.

vs Portishead (14th)
D: Curtis Burrows/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Roy Horgan
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

13 - Good job missing that header, Horgan. Not. 0-1

36 - Colson finds Sobers on the corner, and that's goal #2 on set pieces by the Dominican veteran with his head. 1-1

Williams replaces Reynolds at halftime.

49 - Horgan's fucking stupid ass just stands there and lets them take it away, leading to a score. Burrows to WBR and Beeden at DL. Fucking bullshit. 1-2

59 - Sheppard for Harris. So tired of these fuckboys.

66 - Sure, let's just get them the fucking game. 1-3

@ Chipping Sodbury (21st)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

39 - Reynolds passes down the left flank to Beeden, the near post cross finding Folan's head for the score. 1-0

Williams replaces Rowbotham at the break.

53 - Sigh. 1-1

63 - Austin on for Crane

66 - Are you fucking kidding me?! 1-2

77 - When the game is rigged against you, and Beeden gets a double yellow.

93 - Rees runs all the way out to midfield to get a clearance, and booms it to Austin on the left wing, deep in their territory. The far post cross to Folan, and we have a miracle last second goal to salvage a draw. 2-2

Welling got upset, so we gain a point on them. Welton Rovers netted a comeback win, and I really don't see them losing the title.

vs Ashton & Blackwell United (15th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Curtis Burrows/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Tom Rowbotham/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

11 - Rowbotham steals the ball and passes out to Liam Harris for the left-flank long ball into space. Folan picks it up, dribbles, and centers to Carl Harris for the header. 1-0

13 - Carl Harris picks off an awful back pass and shorts it to Folan. Next is Liam Harris, who sends it to Rowbotham in the box. Suddenly he dribbles out to the left wing, and with the defense drawn away, he has his own center to Carl Harris, and this time it's a kick in for the score. 2-0

55 - Austin in for Crane

56 - Burrows throws in to Colson for the first touch feed to Folan in the box. Three defenders on him, which leaves Liam Harris open for the layoff and surprise sneak score. 3-0

63 - One thing we've seen is a lot of terrible passes by both sides, and one here nets them one back. 3-1

69 - Burrows with the masterful interception and power forward to Carl Harris. Two defenders blanketing, so he knocks it up to Folan, who dribbles past everyone and drills the diagonal! 4-1

71 - Worst.clearance.ever. 4-2

77 - Williams swaps for Reynolds

7.8 for Liam Harris, 9.0 for Andrew Folan, and 9.1 for PotM Carl Harris. Every win at this stage is critical and with 7 games left, it's looking like this:

Welton Rovers - 69 points
Cheddar - 65 points
Welling - 64 points
Portland United - 55 points (game ahead)
Langford - 53 points

@ Briscombe & Thrupp (Western League Les Phillips Cup Semi-Final)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
M: Mark Reynolds/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

At half, Austin in for Crane, and Liam Harris goes out in favor of Williams at DM, setting up an asymmetrical formation.

54 - That's one Rees should have stopped. 0-1

58 - Williams gets a loose ball and starts a zig-zag series of passes in the middle of the pitch - to Reynolds, on to Folan, and then to Austin in the box, the keeper beat easy. 1-1

67 - Hrris kicks it back to Austin after three defenders surround, and the fluke long ball goal goes in!!! 2-1

85 - Mensah throws in to Colson, who forwards to Folan. The cross is blocked, but Colson puts it away to salt our second straight victory over a Western Premier team! It's also Colson's first goal in a Cheddar uniform. 3-1

88 - Or maybe not... 3-2

90 - Reynolds makes an amazing interception of a free kick and blazes all the way down the pitch, then saves against a clearance, as the team passes around until the whistle blows, sending us to the Final!!!

Their striker, who also had 2 goals, despite being hunted all game, wins PotM. Right behind him is Omarr Austin with a clutch as fuck 8.7 off the bench, and George Colson netted a 7.5. What an absolute miracle run, as the board would have been happy with us meeting the minimum of the third round, and now we're on to the title game! In doing so, we overcome a shit game from Jon Beeden of a 6.2.

@ Hengrove (18th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Tom Rowbotham/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

They're concentrated in the middle, so I'm going to exploit the flanks and push it wide.

3 - Colson's long free kick in the air enters the box, and Beeden outjumps the crowd to knock in a long, long header goal, his first ever score as a Cheeseman! 1-0

Crane got hurt with injury shortly before half, so Austin goes in.

60 - We got lucky there with a disallowed goal. Sheppard in for Folan, who is lousy out there today - actually both our strikers are.

64 - Reynolds makes a key interception and gets to Colson. Bomb ball to Liam Harris on the right flank follows, and his center is cleared. But Austin storms in to shoot the loose ball, and his clutch scoring continues! 2-0

68 - Austin collides with one of their players and both get dinged up. He'll play on, however.

86 - That's a counter attack we could do nothing about. Time to tighten up. 2-1

Our entire defensive line was 7.1 or higher, headlined by Jon Beeden's 8.3 and [b]Emmanuel Mensah[b]'s 7.5. It's George Colson's 8.7 that wins the game, however. Omarr Austin had a 7.1 off the bench.

Welton Rovers shut out Welling 1-0, so with 6 games left, we have a 4 point lead on the latter.

Gregg Crane is out 4-5 weeks; Omarr Austin 9-12 days, so we're going to have to get creative for our next match. Then again, Connor Leek is incredibly well ahead on his rehab schedule, and is back to light training, so he may be ready to play most of our next game.

It's getting down to the wire now.

[Izulde]

Cheddar U18s 4 Youth Candidates 4
Expected scoring with Aaron Gibson and Tate Sheppard starting up front and playing well. Both teams left defense at home. Assman is high on Tyler Tennant, who netted a 9.1 and PotM with 2 goals and an assist. Wayne Howell scored a 9.0 with 2 goals of his own.

Cut - MR/AMR Stuart Trego
Just doesn't have what it takes, so he's let go to start his career elsewhere. Got a couple appearances though.

Signings
ML/AML Matt Price (16) - Assman thinks he has 4* potential, though he's insanely raw
WBR/DM/MR/MC Will Todd (16) - 12 Determination and Stamina already. Some technical ability. Versatility is a huge asset, and will probably get in the subs.
MC Matt Smart (16) - 18 Teamwork, 12 Work Rate, and 10 Flair convince me to pull the trigger.
DM/DC/MC Nathan Clark (16) - 3.5* potential, and plays all our middle positions.. Kind of eh on him, though.
ST Wayne Howell (16) - Love his technical attributes and he's got decent mental ones. A physical trainwreck at the moment, however.

Notice I didn't sign Tyler Tennant. I'm just not impressed with the dude.

@ Wellington (6th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Tom Rowbotham/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

67 - Sheppard for Folan; Todd for Reynolds. Folan is pissed at being replaced. Oh well, dude. Don't suck ass and you won't go off.

78 - 45 yard crack pass from Colson all the way to Sheppard on the right wing. His center to Carl Harris has a shot deflected, but Carl Harris puts away his own rebound! See, Folan, that's why you're benched for the rest of the game. 1-0

82 - I thought sure we were going to give one up there, but Sobers, even though he was beaten, runs back just enough to body block the shot!

The announcers gushed about George Colson's "all-conquering performance" at midfield, and his 8.6 is PotM. Jerrome Sobers sparkled, however, and earned an 8.2 in his own right.

Biggest news - Welton Rovers got a draw against Langford, and Welling was upset by Almondsbury UWE. With five games left, there's already only four teams who can mathematically win promotion - Welton Rovers, us, Welling, and Portland United. Langford needed to win to still have a chance. Very top-heavy league this year.

The win, coupled with the other results, means we're just 2 points behind 1st, and have a very beautiful 7 point cushion on 3rd. That means if we even go 3-2 these last five matches and Wells goes 5-0, we'll have secured promotion.

Emmanuel Mensah is out our next 2 games due to 10 yellow cards. That'll hurt. Longborough University has set a new FA Vase record with 18 straight wins!

Cuts
Nathan Haynes
Paddy Griffiths
Ryan Talbot

Ultimately, these guys just aren't good enough to be there at the next level, and never will be. All of them had some appearances with us, but found themselves surpassed by other players.

@ Warminster (19th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jerrome Sobers/Curtis Burrows
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Tom Rowbotham/George Colson
AM: Omarr Austin/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

6 - Burrows plays it down to Liam Harris on the touchline, and his far post cross sees a streaking Austin drill home the goal, temporarily putting us in 1st place! 1-0

7 - Yeah. That was expected. 1-1

26 - Sobers passed it right to them. 1-2

28 - Sobers fucked up again. Immediately yanked for Williams. Such bullshit. 1-3

52 - Burrows moves to DL and Todd comes in at WBR. Fuck outta here, Beeden.

82 - One of those games where the AI is in cheat mode. No fucking way Todd deserved a red card there.

Win for Welton Rovers and late unhappy draw for Wells

Transfer In - MC/AMC Billy Frost (21)
He came back home finally at the transfer deadline after realizing how much of a mistake it was for him to leave us in the first place. This couldn't come at a more critical time, TBH.

vs Almondsbury UWE (7th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Tom Rowbotham/Jerrome Sobers/Curtis Burrows
M: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Omarr Austin/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

There aren't words enough to describe how good it feels to have Billy Frost back in a Cheeseman uniform. Although it reset his games played for us this year to 0, which is weird.

3 - God damn, I love Austin's fluke goals. 1-0

14 - I forgot how shit Rowbotham is at DC. 1-1

Switching to the 3-1-4-2 DM Wide at half, with Reynolds in. Shit part is, Wells scored just before half in their own game to take the lead.

66 - Gibson replaces Carl Harris

76 - Frost gets the ball after a long pass to him and feeds to Gibson in the box. A little dribbling, and a weighted shot cracks home! Man, I fucking love having Billy boy back in town! 2-1

Billy Frost returns home to a hero's welcome 9.0 PotM, and Aaron Gibson grabbed a 7.1 off the bench. Welton Rovers won again, and Wells had to settle for yet another second half fall to draw.

3 games left.

Welton Rovers: 79 points
Cheddar: 74 points
Welling: 66 points

8 point advantage with 3 games left. No choice for them now but to win out to have any hope at all of moving up, and we have to lose all 3 games. They're having the exact same collapse we did last year. Naturally Andrew Folan's old team is officially promoted.

I negotiate a new one year contract with a raise to $9.5k - which is small, until you factor in the 15% increase should we promote, which will push me into the double digit money for the first time in my career.

@ Welton Rovers (1st)
G: Richie McGuinness
D: Tom Rowbotham/Jim Williams
DM: Will Todd
M: Matt Smart/Omarr Austin/Nathan Clark
AM: Matt Price/Roy Horgan
S: Tate Sheppard/Owen Rawlins

Basically, we're throwing this match. We have a Cup final in 3 days' time, and as long as we promote, I don't care about the title.

21 - Took them long enough. 0-1

30 - We're awarded a PK and Austin partially makes up for his Cup fuckup by nailing this home. 1-1

72 - Good work by the scrubs holding out this long. 1-2

76 - And here's the flurry. 1-3

7.5 performances by Will Todd and Omarr Austin. Wells won, so they're 5 points back with 2 to play. Welton Rovers obviously clinched the title here, and despite the poaching, Ben Hancock and I get along well.

vs Odd Down (Western League Les Phillips Cup Final)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

This is it. For all the marbles right here. The odds are heavily against us - this is an elite Western Premier team - 4th in the rankings. All we can do is hope we manage something.

33 - Absolute bullshit penalty on Crane there. So fucking pissed! 0-1

Despite his tiredness, Austin is in for Crane, who was ass even before the penalty.

65 - Off goes Liam Harris as we go asymmetrical with Burrows at WBR.

82 - Frost on the corner to Mensah and there's some bouncing to the near post, where Sobers slots it away!!!! 1-1

92 - Heartbreaking as fuck to allow a last second goal!!!! 1-2

We might have lost anyway, but we were so fucking close to winning this and we did not deserve at all to lose. We got fucked by the refs and then fucked by a last minute heartbreaker. You bet your fucking hairy asses I'm going to tear apart the refs for that!!!!

Now for the bright side: 449 people showed up to the game, earning us $3.5k in gate receipts! That smashes both records (previous high of 99 and $500, respectively). It's not going to be enough to staunch the bleeding, or the crying sensation in my stomach, but it sure does help.

And guess what?! The FA didn't say jack fucking shit about the penalty, so you're God damned fucking right we were robbed!!!!

@ Keynsham (20th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

We're fucking determined to win here. George Colson rallied the players as well, and we're hell-bent to guarantee going up. Remember, Wells has to win the last two games and we have to lose both for them to sneak past us.

39 - Their keeper has been having the half of his life. We should be up by like 4 goals right now. Colson wings out to Liam Harris for the gorgeous long ball to Carl Harris. He dribbles into the box, and the goalie makes the fatal mistake of coming out. Hello, sizzling diagonal into the net! Wells was down 0-1, but answered immediately to make it currently 1-1 there. 1-0

53 - Wanna know how this team is trash? They should have easily scored there, but blew it.

58 - Austin in for Crane, who is still struggling.

78 - It was 2-1 Oldland Abbotonians, then tied 2-2, and presently 3-2 Oldland Abbotonians. Hopping off the bench is Gibson for Folan

Welling tie it up 3-3 late, but it's all for naught as we run out the clock and we're officially going up to the Western Premier League!!!! No shock that the game ball goes to Billy Frost's 8.1. Liam Harris with the 7.5, and every full-time starter other than Gareth Rees had at least a 7. No way we should have only won by a single goal, but we'll take that oh so sweet victory, removing some of the sting of how we got screwed over in the trophy final.

[Izulde]

Time to review the roster while we sort out who will stay and who will go.

Goalies
Gareth Rees (22) (Welsh) - 2.5/4.5
Richie McGuiness (18) - 0.5/3.5

Rees is one of the biggest wage earners, if not the biggest. While we might look for a cheaper option, he's performed well enough that I'm not particularly inclined to go find someone else. Personally, I don't care much about backup keepers, though we do have a lousy one.

Defenders - Left
Jon Beeden (26) - 2.5/2.5
Curtis Burrows (21) - 5 silver/3
Connor Leek (21) - 2.5 silver/1.5

Eventually, we're going to want an upgrade here. Beeden's only good enough for the next level and has no upside to speak of. Considering he's pulling $100 p/a, I wouldn't mind letting him go now if we can find someone with better upside.

Defenders - Center
Jerrome Sobers (31) (Dominican) - 3.5/3.5
Beeden - 0.5/0.5
Tom Rowbotham (24) - 0.5/3
Nathan Clark (16) - 0.5 silver/2
Jim Williams (17) - 0.5 silver/0.5

Sobers is still quite good, but we desperately need some quality backups here. Williams and Rowbotham will both be on the chopping block if better options can be found. You can see here why we switched to the 3-1-4-2 DM Wide as our primary formation late in the year.

Defenders - Right
Emmanuel Mensah (19) - 3.5/4
Burrows - 1.5/3

His short stint of poor form aside, Mensah is great, and someone I see sticking around long-term. He's got fine potential and will be able to contribute for at least a couple more levels.

Defensive Midfielders
Mark Reynolds - 2 silver/4
Williams - 0.5 silver/1.5
Will Todd (16) - 0.5 silver/2.5
Clark - 0.5 silver/3.5

Just a question of if we want to wait for these youth pulls to develop or not. A more immediate upgrade here would go a long way to stabilizing us in the Western Premier next year. More and more reason to cut Williams. Reynolds definitely outperformed his ratings this season.

Central Midfielders
George Colson (24) (Welsh) - 4/5
Billy Frost (21) - 3/4
Rowbotham - 0.5/2
Reynolds - 2 silver/4
Todd - 0.5 silver/2.5
Matt Smart (16) - 0.5 silver/3
Clark - 0.5 silver/3.5
Williams - 0.5 silver/1.5
Omarr Austin (18) - 0.5 silver/2.5

Lots of bodies here. Signing Colson and Frost to long-term, guaranteed contracts is absolutely critical, particularly Frost, who excels in our setup. Colson's our single most elite player on multiple levels, and one of those who could go farthest in the game (Southern Premier leading star - one step below Vanarama North/South)

Attacking Midfielder - Left
Gregg Crane (17) - 4.5 silver/4.5
Leek - 4.5 silver/3.5
Austin - 2 silver/4
Matt Price (16) - 0.5 silver/4

Same dilemma here as what we have at DM - wait for the kids to develop, or grab a more ready player in the offseason? Austin way outplays the rating, however, and was about to take over Crane's starting spot again.

Attacking Midfielder - Right
Liam Harris (20) - 4/4
Roy Horgan (23) - 0.5/0.5

Harris is a guy I'm not sure about. Ratings aren't great and he's prone to inconsistency. Wouldn't mind seeing someone else here, to be honest. Horgan was good initially, but then stunk.

Strikers
Carl Harris (18) - 3.5/4
Andrew Folan (24) - 1 /5
Crane - 2.5 silver/4
Leek - 1.5 silver/0.5
Aaron Gibson (18) - 1 silver/3
Owen Rawlins (17) - 1 silver/2.5
Wayne Howell (16) - 0.5 silver/3
Tate Sheppard (19) - 0.5 silver/1

Big question here is if Turncoat Folan will ever reach his potential. I'm a bit skeptical. Harris was the biggest offseason signing by far, and a kid who is quietly blossoming into a star. Like so many others, consistency is an issue. Things to think about here.

Initial report of wage budget for next season is $150k - almost double what we had before! This Cheddar board is serious about giving me the financial resources we need to succeed.

vs Westbury (11th)
G: Gareth Rees
D: Jon Beeden/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Mark Reynolds
M: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Carl Harris/Andrew Folan

Just before this game, we secured a free transfer of a player who will immediately bolster our DM position. Although it's on a non-contract rather than a secured deal, I thought it was better to snap him up now rather than wait for next year, when he might not be available.

55 - Colson out to Liam Harris for the perfectly placed pass into the box, just ahead of Folan to finally end his scoring drought! Todd and Austin replace Reynolds and Crane respectively. 1-0

[b]76/b] - That's the kind of flawlessly executed move there's no stopping. 1-1

85 - Here's Liam Harris running down the right flank, and here is putting another perfect ball to Folan in the box for the late go-ahead goal. 2-1

Andrew Folan naturally won PotM with his 8.8, although supporting was two 7.5s in George Colson and Jerrome Sobers. Nice way to end the season, getting revenge on a team that beat us last time, and locking up 80 points for the year.



Note: This doesn't include Billy Frost, whose average rating of 7.75 across all games would destroy the average rating boards.

Burgess Hill Rhinos ran roughshod over Mid Sussex Division Four, winning by like 20 points! Impressive work, and they're starting to do it more and more with their own players, rather than my guys.



Overall, we were better defensively than last season - a big reason we're going up. Jerrome Sobers was a huge addition, and as mentioned before, other than that slump of form, Emmanuel Mensah was a house. More evidence for Jon Beeden being upgraded, however.



Like I said, Billy Frost's stats are off, due to his break away from us. But we do see here that the staff is right - our team's success was built on our dominating central midfielders. I still rate Liam Harris above Roy Horgan based on this. What a hell of a season by Carl Harris, who plays defensive forward in our setup, yet racked up all the goals.

Sure enough, we receive notice that Billy Frost's 7.75 average rating smashes the old league record of 7.24. Beautiful, just beautiful. Incidentally, with that other team, he had just 6.47 in 10 games - probably used incorrectly there.

Favored Clubs - Cheddar
Richie McGuinness
Matt Price
Mark Reynolds
Tate Sheppard (Player)
Will Todd

Favored Personnel - Izulde Jestor
Matt Price
Tate Sheppard



Billy Frost got robbed here.



Lone holdout from old regime is Paul Ward, but he should be scrubbed off the list by the end of next season. Billy Frost's appearances have been correctly recorded, BTW.

End season team meeting is a disaster. The squad thinks they're good enough to be a top side next year, and I'm just like um... no.

Best Yearly Training
Gregg Crane
Owen Rawlins
Carl Harris
Will Todd
Matt Smart

Poor Yearly Training
Connor Leek

My name comes up in a shit ton of job openings, but only one appeals to me on first blush, and digging deeper into it, I'm just like nah - too big a jump and too much of a hassle to sort out.

...Or is it?

Loughborough University gets the treble, winning the Midand Football League Premier Division, the FA Vase, and the Midland Football League Cup.

Two very minimal increases in sponsorship deals that aren't worth it TBH.

The transfer revenue went down from 20% to 10 or 15% earlier in the year, then back up to 20% that I forgot to note, and now it's crashed down to just 5%.

Club Value: $1k (-$17k from last season!)
Average Ticket Price: $8
Season Ticket Price: $128
Season Ticket Holders: 7
Average Attendance: 86 (Up 16 from last year)
Loss: $17.7k (An improvement over the $20k losses last season)
Bank Balance: - $32.2k

Transfer In: DM/MC Steven Gorman (16) - From Leicester Road
Youth pull for them last year with 11 passing, 13 tackling, 10 Teamwork and Vision, and 13 Work Rate. Also has solid all-around physical attributes and is primed to be a great player for us. New highest paid, too, sharing those honors with Gareth Rees ($140 p/a).

Word of my interview with a potential new job leaks out, and there's an article published talking about how though I hadn't previously expressed interest, I was considered a co-favorite to get the job at 3:1 odds on bookie boards, and after my interview, I'm the clear favorite at 5:4 odds.

That new club is paying way too much money for their mediocre staff at that level, but they offer a $60.54k compensation clause . Wow, we're talking serious money here! Ultimately, the staff is better than what we have now, so yeah, not gonna make any changes.

And then the job offer comes:

Wage Budget: $613k a year (Over 4x more than Cheddar!)
Transfer Budget: $26.54k (An actual transfer budget!)
Contract offer: 1 year, $20k

Hmm... those financials are tasty, but that feels like selling a little low on my wage, considering how big a jump I'm making, and already making double-digits here. I ask for $34k. They're willing to bump it up to $22.5k, which would be over double what I'm making at Cheddar.

Since I'm still not sure about this, let's push it to $26.5k. I really want to feel like I'm making a huge splash by signing, and if they reject it, no worr-

Wow. They agree. Shit. Now what? This is a HUGE opportunity in terms of resources. (The team also has good training facilities and a 4,100 seat stadium, with an average attendance of 1,096 last season). On the other hand, it's a major jump up, and Cheddar has been very good to me, and I love the team I'm building with the Cheesemen.

Going to go agonize over this one a while.

[bbgunn]

Wow, I completely missed that you took over a team called Cheddar. That was cheesy of me.

[Izulde]

If this was real life, I'd accept it in a heartbeat. But it's not, and in terms of story, if I accept it, then this becomes NoSkillz' dynasty with a better starting position for a long-term club. You guys have already seen that movie, and probably don't want to see it again. Besides, I like the team name, logo, and colors, but the nickname is boring. Plus, with that large a jump, this could be Chelmsford all over again.

And so I walk away. Better to stick with a club I know, and gradually get used to higher levels, rather than have to start all over again. Cheddar jumped significantly in the rankings, as did Burgess Hill Rhinos obviously.

We still can't get anyone to sign an actual part-time contract with us. That's kinda bullshit.

Transfer In - DC Samuel Westray (23)
Marginally better than the other guys we have on offer, and a good enough backup to Jerrome Sobers. Decent upside, too. Solid all around, rather than standing out in any area.

Transfer Out - ST Owen Rawlins
Not a huge loss by any means. Was never going to see PT in our glut of strikers.

Iran sets the world ablaze by winning the World Cup

Transfer In - DLC/WBL/ML David Lynn (23)
Technically raw, but solid mental attributes, including 15 Teamwork and some nice physical attributes outside of 2 Balance. He's rated on par with Jon Beeden, but has exceptional potential according to my scouts. An immediate new starter.

Transfer Out - GK Gareth Rees - $4k
Very disappointing to lose him, as he was a fantastic keeper for us. Fortunately, it's still preseason, so we have time to try finding another goalie somewhere.

Promotion Odds
Barnstaple: 4-5
Cribbs: 4-6
Saltash: Even
Bristol Manor Farm: 5-1
Odd Down: 10-1
Willand: 14-1
Cheddar: 16-1

7th. Huh. I don't think we're that good, but we'll see.

1,099 people show up for a friendly vs Hull City Under 21s, a match we get a 0-0 draw out of, and huge amounts of cash that gives us a record $8,08k profits for one month.

Carl Harris and Billy Frost are appointed Captain and Vice-Captain, a move that pisses off Jon Beeden and makes Harris feel pressured, but there's a lot of happy players with the decision, including Frost, who is thrilled to be vice-captain.

Transfer In - GK Flo Gislette (23) (French)
I took a gamble on our crappy scout being okay with him, and my assman quite likes him - 2/4 (better judge of talent). I like his ratings fine, though he wasn't very good in the Isthmian Premier. But that's also several levels above where we're playing now. I'm calling it a good stopgap if nothing else. Cheap, too.

We're still a ridiculous $95.1k under wage budget heading into the season, so plenty of room to go and find someone elite if the board is willing to splash the cash. Still not overly excited about our AML situation, to be perfectly honest.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by bbgunn

Wow, I completely missed that you took over a team called Cheddar. That was cheesy of me.

It's all good. Appreciate the pun, too.

Expectations
Western Premier: Top Half
FA Cup: Preliminary Round
FA Vase: Second Round
Western League Les Phillips Cup: Quarterfinal

All quite fair, all things considered, if a bit steep on the league and Phillips Cup.

@ Welton Rovers
G: Flo Gislette
D: David Lynn/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Steven Gorman
MC: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Omarr Austin/Liam Harris
S: Andrew Folan/Carl Harris

Good first test, against the team that was ahead of us last year.

5 - Carl Harris to Folan and he gets the giveback into the box. The shot's deflected, but charging Liam Harris snags the rebound, dribbles past the defender, and fires in the rebound! 1-0

65 - Gibson, who had a fantastic preseason, replaces Folan, and it's Todd in for Gorman

Impressive work by the backline, with 7.2 for David Lynn and Emmanuel Mensah. PotM - Jerrome Sobers with a 7.6. Everyone else was startlingly meh, though - particularly our strikers.

Despite the move up, it's still just our faithful 7 diehards who buy season tickets.

vs Buckland (20th)
G: Flo Gislette
D: David Lynn/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Steven Gorman
MC: George Colson/Tom Rowbotham
AM: Omarr Austin/Roy Horgan
S: Andrew Folan/Aaron Gibson

26 - I keep meaning to take Austin off PKs because his ratings suck, but he converts here, so I can't really complain! 1-0

30 - Austin and Folan exchange passes a few times after the throw-in, and Gibson is decked on the former's center. The ball keeps rolling, however, and Horgan slams it in! 2-0

32 - Colson's corner is perfectly placed to Sobers' head, and the Dominican veteran hammers it home! 3-0

59 - Burrows in at DL; Sobers shifts to DR and I put Westray in at DC, clearing the yellow carded Lynn and Mensah, who, while playing great, are yellows and tiring.

90 - Well, that's disappointing. 3-1

Second strong performance by Jerrome Sobers with a 7.9. Roy Horgan nabbed a 7.8 himself, but it was George Colson's 9.0 that won PotM.

vs East Preston (FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round)
G: Flo Gislette
D: David Lynn/Samuel Westray/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Will Todd
MC: Billy Frost/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Liam Harris
S: Tate Sheppard/Carl Harris

30 - Mensah runs down a loose free kick and hammers it all the way down the right flank to Carl Harris, who holds up play until passing to Frost in the box. With only the keeper to beat, Billy Boy sings it in! 1-0

51 - Beeden for Flynn; Burrows for Mensah

58 - That was some nervy, ballsy keeping by Gislette there. Came out to face a sure goal and stopped it twice!

76 - Some buildup in the back before somebody, I forget who, hits the long ball to Carl Harris just outside the box. Dribble in to three defenders and lay off to Sheppard, and the keeper isn't ready for it! 2-0

90 - Perfect free kick by Frost to Carl Harris in the box, and he kicks in the last minute score. 3-0

Matching 9.0s for Carl Harris and Billy Frost, the former winning PotM. I need to give Frost whatever money he wants, even though I can't sign players to contracts yet. A nod to Mark Reynolds for his 8.0 and strong play by the defense, with Will Todd and Flo Gislette putting up 7.3s, Samuel Westray a 7.4.

504 people show up to smash the non-friendly attendance record during last year's game we won't mention, and the $4k in gate receipts + the $2.25k prize money for winning and that's the kind of cash that makes a huge dent in our currently Insecure financial status.

A few days later, Billy Frost signs a new contract that will pay him a my tenure record $160 P/A. Dude is worth every single penny, and hopefully that'll scare off some of the sharks swimming around him. Takes us from $95.1k in the wage budget to $91.9k, but I'm more than good with that.

[Izulde]

@ Cadbury Heath (10th)
G: Flo Gislette
D: David Lynn/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Steven Gorman
MC: Billy Frost/George Colson
AM: Omarr Austin/Liam Harris
S: Andrew Folan/Carl Harris

6 - Not much to be done about that one. 0-1

25 - We've been knocking on the door all game, and haven't converted. Finally, Gorman gets a loose ball and drills it down the pitch to Folan, who dribbles past the defense and nails it past the keeper in a 1 v 1. 1-1

32 - Poor defending. 1-2

45 - Absolute garbage. 1-3

Burrows and Todd swap out for Mensah and Sobers at half as we go with a 2-2-2-4 DM Wide formation with 2 DMs.

54 - Whatever. 1-4

59 - Colson scores during a corner. Don't care. 2-4

63 - Fuck this. 2-5

65 - Own goal? Doesn't matter. 3-5

91 - "But surely too late for Cheddar". No shit. 4-5

92 - Because why the fuck not. 4-6

We didn't deserve to lose this game despite the scoreline. Just one of those days.

Liam Harris is out 1-2 weeks with a stubbed toe. In this league, you either win to go up or you don't go anywhere. Bottom 3 teams drop down to Level 10.

@ Saltash (16th)
G: Flo Gislette
D: David Lynn/Jerrome Sobers/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Will Todd
MC: George Colson/Mark Reynolds
AM: Gregg Crane/Roy Horgan
S: Andrew Folan/Aaron Gibson

12 - Horgan wings out to Mensah, and the near post cross finds Folan for the shot. It's deflected, but a drifting back Gibson grabs the rebound and scores. 1-0

Gorman comes in at MC for tired Reynolds at half.

53 - Time to go asymmetrical with Burrows at WBR, replacing awful Horgan

76 - Ugh. 1-1

We were underdogs, so a draw is okay, I guess. But meh. I hate leagues where it's winner take all as the only promotion. Makes the season a total waste if you don't win.

Roy Horgan gets hurt in practice and is out 5-6 weeks, forcing us to an symmetrical formation - or, come to think of it, we may try a narrow one.

@ Aylesbury (FA Cup Preliminary Round)
G: Flo Gislette
D: Jon Beeden/Samuel Westray/Jim Williams/Emmanuel Mensah
DM: Steven Gorman
MC: George Colson/Mark Reynolds
AM: Billy Frost
S: Andrew Folan/Carl Harris

Trying something a little different today, because of injuries and because why not?

2 - FOUR FUCKING DEFENDERS IN THE GOAL AND YOU STILL ALLOW THAT SHIT?! 0-1

17 - wHATEVER. 0-2

60 - Gislette booms one down the middle of the pitch to Frost, who blasts a beauty in the upper half from the half-circle. 1-2

67 - I made subs. They don't fucking matter. 1-3

84 - We need a new keeper. This one stinks. 1-4

Worst match we've ever played. I start scanning the job openings, kind of wanting to go back to the Amateur levels. Andrew Folan will miss at least our next game with a head gash.