FM 2005:The United experience in Sheffield

[3ric]

October 2009

On the international scene there is a small chance that Wales could qualify to the European Championship Finals - they finished second in their qualifying group and is going to face Slovenia in the playoffs. Mike Wheeler scored the winning goal in the final group game at Finland.

Lee Wyatt has suffered strained knee ligaments during training and will miss a month's play.

Finally we have a game again, playing no. 20 Bolton at home. Craig Parry is back at right back, Tommy Price starts at striker and Joe Wear plays inside today with all the injuries to our midfielders. At the beginning of the second half we have to make a substitution for goalkeeper Fede, and put in James Morris instead. In the 57th minute, Bolton takes the lead on a spectacular 30-yd shot that Morris had no chance of stopping. We get the chance to equalize when we get a penalty kick in the 68th minute, and Mike Wheeler keeps his nerves in check when hitting a nice shot inside the left post. I pull a limping Rodrigues for Michael Jones, which means Wear moves outside. Price is going off as well with Ledesma replacing. Shortly after that, we go up by one when Hughes finds Wheeler with a lovely through pass, and the striker turns the keeper and taps the ball into an empty net. Four minutes of additional time is added on, and we're still up by one. Final score: 2-1.

After that empathic win we try to keep the good spirits up when we travel to play no. 5 Walsall. Fede can't play today, and Rodrigues is tired, which means we start with Morris inn goal and Jones inside with Wear on the left wing. Walsall is unfortunate enough to get their right back sent off for a cynical challenge after only 11 minutes. We keep with the cautious tactics though as I'm worried about their star striker, Petrosyants. Final score: 0-0.

We're set to play Brighton on the 24th, and keeper Fede is back in full swing. Wheeler and O'Connor are injured and is replaced by Scala and Price, with Ledesma playing up front as well. Craig Adams has to go off after 22 minutes and Jones take the spot on the right flank. We start play more defensively as the southerners have a clear advantage in possession. The change works for us as can operate on counter attacks, and on one of them does Price gets a through ball from Ledesma. The Englishman are crowded out by defenders but still gets off a shot which is deflected by the keeper. Luckily enough, the trailing Argentinian forward can collect the ball and shoot it into the net for his first goal for Cardiff. Brighton equalize early in the second half through a lucky 35-yd shot that Morris reacted all too late on. In the 74th minute I bring on Joe Wear and Brian Ryan for Rodrigues and Paul Walsh. Final score: 1-1.

Adams will be out for about two weeks with a calf strain.

Away vs Stoke, we start McDonald on the right and Ryan in the middle. Stoke go up with a lovely goal in the 28th minute and we change to an offensive attitude. After 75 minutes and still down by one, we throw in Jenkins and go for a 3-4-3 to the end. Price goes out wide and receives a pass from McDonald and delivers a cross into the area to Jenkins, who first-times it inside the near post. Final score: 1-1.

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
-	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	96%	8 (2)	-	7.80
MC	Unh	Ben Hughes	DM C	96%	15	1	7.53
-	Unh	Mike Wheeler	S C	93%	9	7	7.44
ML		Joe Wear	AM LC	97%	9 (6)	-	7.40

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Coventry		15	8	2	5	26	18	+8	26
2nd		Portsmouth		15	7	5	3	18	11	+7	26
3rd		Derby		15	7	5	3	20	14	+6	26
---
22nd		Cardiff		14	2	9	3	18	19	-1	15
23rd		Stoke		15	1	9	5	13	19	-6	12
24th		Preston		15	2	6	7	7	18	-11	12

[3ric]

November 2009

At home vs no. 8 Q.P.R., and we get off to a great start with Wheeler scoring in the 6th minute. After 63 minutes QPR get a penalty kick after Parry was harshly judged to have fouled his opponent. Luckily Fede goes in the right direction and saves the penalty. Wheeler goes off for Ledesma in the 71st minute, and we go for a defensive tactic. Rodrigues passes Ledesma in the 86th minute, and the Argentinian shows great vision by finding a trailing Ryan outside the box. The midfielder shoots instantly and it's a great goal! Final score: 2-0.

After a long international break, we are set to play our second game this month - away at Portsmouth, currently in fourth place. We welcome back several of our best players, James Walsh, Craig Adams and Michael O'Connor all don the match kit again. Pompey's star striker Petr Exner pounce on a loose ball in the box before our keeper Fede can react, and we're down 0-1 after 11 minutes. Luckily, we can tie the score 14 minutes later when Wheeler opens things up for Price with a superb through ball and our deep threat at striker easily shoots past the keeper. Our scorer isn't allowed to finish the game, though, as he gets a second booking in the 52nd minute. We try to hold one, but Pompey regain the lead in the 81st minute. We take off Walsh and put in Ledesma for an attacking 3-4-2 formation, and it pays off with the Argentinian linking up well with Wheeler before scoring in the 85th minute. Final score: 2-2.

Away again at Sheff Utd, we start Ledesma along with Wheeler as Price is suspended. Walsh and Adams on the right side are given a week's rest, giving Thompson and McDonald a place in the starting eleven. It's a close game, but we handle the Blades well defensively, with the occasional counter-attack. The game looks headed for a nil-nil draw when the referee sees a handball in the Sheff Utd penalty area. The resulting penalty kick is taken by Wheeler - and he scores! The Blades are pushing forwards at a furious pace and forces an equalizing goal by Peters in the 92nd minute. Final score: 1-1.

Facing Burnley at home, we have to rest several more players, resulting in an entirely new lineup, with Wyatt and Price back together up front. In the 25th minute, it's Wyatt who has drifted wide right to hit a cross pass right where Tommy Price can head the ball into the net for a stunning goal. Old man Rodrigues has to go off after 68 minutes and Joe Wear comes on. In the 74th minute, it's Price's turn to assist Wheeler with a cross that is headed past the hapless Burnley goalie. Final score: 2-0.

With the win over Burnley, we have climbed to 15th place in the division!

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
ML	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	89%	9 (3)	-	7.67
-		Ben Hughes	DM C	97%	18	1	7.56
-	Yel	Mike Wheeler	S C	96%	12	9	7.42
GK		Fede	GK	100%	17	-	7.41

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Derby		19	9	7	3	27	16	+11	34
2nd		Walsall		19	8	9	2	31	17	+14	33
3rd		Coventry		19	10	2	7	32	23	+9	32
---
15th		Cardiff		18	4	11	3	25	22	+3	23
---
22nd		Plymouth		19	4	8	7	14	28	-14	20
23rd		Preston		19	4	6	9	14	26	-12	18
24th		Stoke		19	1	10	8	14	26	-12	13

[3ric]

December 2009

In the first game of the new month, we are hosting visiting Hull, 7th in the standings. We restore the best possible lineup for this game, with only right back James Walsh absent. We play well in a scoreless first half, only allowing Hull to attempt one shot at our goal. After 72 minutes, with a 10-1 shot advantage, we pull Price for Ledesma and turn up the offense a notch. Final score: 0-0.

The draw takes our current unbeaten streak to a whopping twelve games.

Next time up, we visit no. 23 Preston North End. James Walsh is back in the starting eleven and so is Lee Wyatt, who replaces Price. In the 25th minute, Fede is stranded in goal by an unlucky deflection off a defender, and the shots goes into the opposite corner than intended. We tie the score 11 minutes later off a Ben Hughes corner where Keveral McDonald is alert enough to deflect the ball into the net. In the second half, we take the lead when defender Michael O'Connor does the unexpected and from an angle fires a mighty shot in the far side of the goal. Lee Wyatt adds a third in the 70th minute, before we pull Wheeler for Ledesma and Walsh for Thompson. Preston throws caution for the wind and attacks, which leaves the defense open for Ledesma to receive a long ball and score our fourth late in the game. Final score: 4-1.

We've moved up to 11th place in the standings and play hosts to visiting Plymouth, currently 22nd in the Championship. Parry is injured and Walsh gets a rest, which leaves Jones as the right back with Thompson with O'Connor in the middle. Plymouth gets a fluke goal in the fifth minute when one of their players attempt a long-range shot that takes a funny curve and surprises Fede entirely. We draw level in the 63rd minute on a penalty that Craig Adams successfully takes. With 10 minutes left, I pull defender Jones for forward Ledesma and finish the game with a 3-4-3 formation. Our super-sub Argentinian comes through again when he takes a long shot which takes a slight deflection and hits the net for our go-ahead goal. Final score: 2-1.

I get an offer to take the manager job of Bolton Wanderers, but considering that they are 16th in the Championship, it's an easy decision to decline the offer.

On TV this week is the matchup of rivals, Cardiff at Bristol City. The game doesn't start well with Walsh getting a booking in the 2nd minute and becoming so irritated with the referee that he managed to talk himself to a second yellow card. Down to 10 men, we continue with a 3-4-2 formation to start with. Bad turns to worse when Bristol scores in the 6th minute. We pull down Wheeler to the midfield and put Hughes at central defender, and not long afterwards we get an equalizing goal when Adams crosses into the box to Wheeler, who beats the keeper with a powerful header. But Bristol won't be denied - they score in the 42nd and the 55th minute, and we make a tactics change once more. We cut into their lead on a corner kick by Hughes that Jones hits into the goal from close range - his first ever goal for the club. I put in substitutions for the tired players - Paul Walsh for Ryan, Ledesma for Wyatt and Mathisen for Jones. In the 81st minute we have a great chance when Ledesma crosses into the box to Wheeler. His diving header forces their keeper into a great save - and we win only a corner kick. Final score: 2-3.

Both James Walsh and Mike Wheeler will miss the next game with a one-game suspension, Wheeler because of his fifth booking.

For the upcoming game at home vs no. 10 Fulham, we reinstate Parry in the defense, and put McDonald and Ledesma in the starting eleven. In the 36th minute, we have a huge chance squandered when Wear hits a booming shot off the post from inside the box. Luckily, Wyatt is first on the rebound and taps the ball into the net. We pour on the shots at the Fulham goal, but it's not until the 82nd minute when the Cottagers goalie has to surrender a goal to us. Thompson hits a corner from the left, and Wyatt leaps the highest and scores his second of the game! With only minutes left in regulation, I pull a tired Joe Wear for old man Eric Rodrigues. The Frenchman finds time to create a half-chance for Wyatt by dribbling past two defenders with his lightning-quick moves. Final score: 2-0.

We get the good news that Argentinian forward Gabriel Ledesma has begun to settle in the area and now has a basic command of the English language.

Parry and Wyatt was selected to the Team of the Week.

Being comfortably perched upon the 10th spot in the standings, we prepare for the home game vs Watford after having a couple of days off over Christmas. When we're still scoreless after 65 minutes and I'm starting to think of adopting a more attacking tactic, we go ahead on Michael O'Connor's shot from inside the box. Watford pushes forward for a tying goal, but we can take advantage of the space in the back and get a second goal through Ledesma, assisted by Wear. Final score: 2-0.

We've reached heights unheard of in Cardiff - the Bluebirds are in 7th place in the Championship. Ben Hughes will serve a one-game suspension following his fifth yellow card.

Sheffield Utd sack their manager Matthew Bennet after the Blades have been occupying the lower half of the table too long.

The last game of the year is on the road at Rotherham, 16th in the Championship. Joe Wear misses this game as well with a slight injury. The home team take the lead in the 55th minute on a cross from the left which Fede failed to clear. After 75 minutes we put in Ledesma for Wheeler and start attacking for real. Unfortunately, that doesn't help and we lose for only the second time in three months. Final score: 0-1.

Brian Ryan is the next player who has reached the yellow card limit and is going to be suspended one game.

On New Year's Eve, I offer contract extensions to the following players: Lee Wyatt, Craig Parry, Fede, David Clarke, Mike Wheeler and Michael O'Connor. Parry in particular could be a tough nut to crack as his agent claims he's not interested in re-signing with us.

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
ML	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	83%	10 (4)	-	7.57
-		Ben Hughes	DM C	98%	24	1	7.50
-	Inj	Joe Wear	AM LC	79%	18 (7)	-	7.48
FC		Mike Wheeler	S C	91%	18	10	7.39

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Derby		25	13	9	3	39	19	+20	48
2nd		Walsall		25	11	10	4	40	25	+15	43
3rd		Portsmouth		25	11	9	5	31	20	+11	42
---
10th		Cardiff		25	8	12	5	37	28	+9	36
---
22nd		Preston		25	5	6	14	16	39	-23	21
23rd		Plymouth		25	4	9	12	16	41	-25	21
24th		Stoke		25	2	12	11	18	40	-22	18

[daedalus]

Originally Posted by 3ric

It must be some record of sorts when we get 10 (!) of our players called up to the Wales U19 squad.

Impressive!

Originally Posted by 3ric

Away again at Sheff Utd, we start Ledesma along with Wheeler as Price is suspended. Walsh and Adams on the right side are given a week's rest, giving Thompson and McDonald a place in the starting eleven. It's a close game, but we handle the Blades well defensively, with the occasional counter-attack. The game looks headed for a nil-nil draw when the referee sees a handball in the Sheff Utd penalty area. The resulting penalty kick is taken by Wheeler - and he scores! The Blades are pushing forwards at a furious pace and forces an equalizing goal by Peters in the 92nd minute. Final score: 1-1.

Man, has Ledesma been a huge acquisition. Timely, too, with this suspension.

Originally Posted by 3ric

Sheffield Utd sack their manager Matthew Bennet after the Blades have been occupying the lower half of the table too long.

Would it be bad form to call their front office and gloat?

[3ric]

January 2010

The board remain pleased with me - man, are they a hard flirt.

Joe Wear finish third in the voting for Player of the Month, and I was runner-up in the Manager of the Month voting.

We sign new deals with O'Connor, Wyatt, Wheeler, Fede and Clarke. Only Parry rejects our offer.

It's the third round of the FA Cup - and we're set to play Premier League team Blackburn Rovers. We have to do with midfielder Brian Ryan, and both Wear and Rodrigues are tired. Lee Rees causes a penalty kick for the Rovers early in the second half, and Blackburn takes the lead. Shortly afterwards, they score a second goal. They are up by three in the 70th minute when I replace Wheeler with Ledesma. Another goal three minutes from time and we're out of the Cup. Final score: 0-4.

The first league game of the new year is at no. 1 Derby, with Ryan and Wear back in midfield. We get behind after only seven minutes, and is still down by one when we pull Wheeler and Parry for Ledesma and Jones in the 58th minute. When we try to attack, all that happens is two more goals for Derby. Final score: 0-3.

After two embarrassing losses, we try to regroup at home vs no. 20 Norwich. When Lee Wyatt scores on a fabulous strike after 15 minutes, we're right back on track. Wyatt adds a second goal early in the second half by reacting faster than anyone on a deflection off a Thompson corner kick. Norwich gets one back in the 82nd minute. Final score: 2-1.

We sign midfielder Ben Hughes to a 4-year extension - he had begun to complain about his low salary.

For our second straight home game, this time versus Sheffield Wednesday, I get Parry back in defense but has to do without backup midfielder James Walsh, he's out with fractured ribs. We're still scoreless after 65 minutes but enjoy a 13-0 shot advantage. Finally we break down the resistance when Wheeler receives a long pass from Thompson and passes sideways to an onrushing Wyatt, who easily scores from six yards. Final score: 1-0.

Suddenly we're thick in the race for a playoff spot, being as high as in 5th place!

We are starting to look after a replacement for Rodrigues, who's retiring after this season. Anthony Dunn from Portsmouth is dismissed as not "anywhere near good enough".

O'Connor suffers a groin strain in training and will be out for about two weeks unfortunately.

Next game is on the road at Coventry, with the Sky Blues being in 10th place. James Walsh is back at right back after his injury, and Parry returns to the central defense. After 15 minutes, we start a counter attack on the right wing which leads to Hughes feeding Wyatt with a through ball and we're up by one - and Wyatt got his 50th league goal for Cardiff. In the 62nd minute we get a corner kick which Adams takes - and Parry leaps to head it in, and we're leading by two. Adams and Wheeler goes off for Clarke and Ledesma five minutes later. Final score: 2-0.

We complete the signing of Portsmouth midfielder Dunn, he'll provide depth without being to much of a challenge to Wear's starting role.

Back on St.David Stadium, we welcome no. 15 Oldham to Cardiff, and we're elaving out Parry of the lineup, as he's not recovered enough to play today. The Athletic Club takes the lead in the 17th minute and then extends their lead shortly before halftime. Wyatt scores on a corner kick in the 52nd minute and we've cut into their lead by one. We put in Ledesma for Wheeler with 10 minutes left and force Oldham into a goal line clearance, but cannot get that tying goal. Final score: 1-2.

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
ML		Joe Wear	AM LC	80%	23 (7)	-	7.57
S4	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	100%	10 (6)	-	7.44
MC		Ben Hughes	DM C	80%	30	1	7.43
-	Wnt	Craig Parry	D RC	90%	26	1	7.35

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Derby		29	17	9	3	46	19	+27	60
2nd		West Ham		30	14	9	7	43	28	+15	51
3rd		Portsmouth		30	13	11	6	36	25	+11	50
---
7th		Cardiff		30	11	12	7	43	34	+9	45
---
22nd		Watford		30	3	18	9	24	31	-7	27
23rd		Stoke		29	5	12	12	23	42	-19	27
24th		Preston		30	6	7	17	19	47	-28	25

[3ric]

Originally Posted by daedalus

Man, has Ledesma been a huge acquisition. Timely, too, with this suspension.

He's been awesome coming off the bench, but strangely anonymous when starting... he's posted nothing but "7"-ratings since he came. As a forward, he appears to have a preference for being in the space between strikers and the midfield. I'll try playing him in a AMC role behind two strikers when we're in need of goals sometime.

[3ric]

February 2010

Now they are very pleased with my performance, not a month too soon! I was starting to wonder about them.

Lee Wyatt's goal against Norwich was third in the voting for Goal of the Month.

Defender Jamie Thompson gets injured in training - out three weeks with fractured ribs.

Away at Leeds United, we can replace Thompson with Parry but continue with the usual lineup. The home team waste no time in taking the lead only five minutes into the game, but we equalize though Wyatt, who runs through the entire defense before firing the ball inside the left post. But the defense isn't playing well today and allow Leeds two more goals before halftime. Jones is the obvious scapegoat and takes a seat while Mathisen plays the second half. After 68 minutes, we pull right back James Walsh for Ledesma, who takes a playmaker role behind Wheeler and Wyatt. But playing with three men in defense plays right in the hands of the relentless Leeds, who increases their lead to three and then four goals, and in total they had 25 shots at our goal. Final score: 1-5.

We get a serious blow to our small hopes of seeing the playoffs when Joe Wear tears a groin muscle in training. Initial diagnosis is that the injury will take a month to heal completely. The media ask how his injury will affect the team. I answer that we hope to get by without him, but we need new signee Anthony Dunn to cover for Rodrigues in the meantime.

Another difficult away game next, when we visit West Ham, currently in 2nd place in the Championship. O'Connor replaces Jones in the lineup and Rodrigues starts on the left wing with Dunn as the backup. The Hammers attack with only two defenders in the back, and it hurts them when Adams hit a long ball for Wyatt to run on. He almost gets tangled up by the keeper but manages to keep the ball away from him and push the ball into the net. Next time we can get a good counterattack it's Hughes who crosses into the box from the left side, and Adams who meets the ball with a header - and we're leading by two. The Hammers fight back and score one as well to reduce our lead. It's a wild game so far - three goals in the first 20 minutes. Wyatt scores a second goal in the 52nd minute and is close to get a third only minutes later - the West Ham defense is really having trouble with containing him! In the 69th minute, we advance on the right flank through Wheeler's cooperation with Adams, and Wheeler crosses into the box for Wyatt, and it's goal again, and his hattrick! With a safe lead, we put in backups Ledesma, Mathisen and debuting left winger Tony Dunn. Final score: 4-1.

Adams, Parry and Rodrigues all are selected for the Team of the Week.

Safe back home at St.David Stadium, we face no.3 Walsall this time - a tough stretch in the schedule. Everyone but two in the first team has "superb" morale - the exceptions are the injured Wear and the benched Jones. Wheeler gives us the lead when he meets a corner kick at the first post and heads the ball backwards over the goalie. Walsall ties the score in the 41st minute through Ian Marsh. Rodrigues has picked up some minor injury, so we take him off the pitch in the 70th minute, and Dunn comes on. Final score: 1-1.

Rodrigues has a strained neck, but it will only keep him out for five days.

But five days isn't enough, as we're up against no. 14 Nottingham Forest only three days later, and Anthony Dunn get his first start for the Bluebirds. I put in Keveral McDonald on the other wing, as Adams could benefit from one game's rest. We get an injury to right back Walsh who has to go out. Mathisen takes a central spot while Parry moves out to the right. Forest scores in the 64th minute, and we must create more scoring chances - only three shots at goal so far. Nottingham is reduced to ten men in the 78th minute and we go for an attacking 3-4-3 formation with Tommy Price and Gabriel Ledesma coming in for Parry and Wyatt. However, the visitors manage to close down the game well. Final score: 0-1.

Now Wyatt is going to be out for two month with a slipped disc. That's unfortunate, but Price and Ledesma provides some quality depth there.

The last game of the month is at Bolton, 8th in the standings. Adams and Rodrigues is back in the starting eleven, and Ledesma plays up front together with Wheeler. Ray Williams gives the Wanderers the lead late in the first half, and we have to adjust the tactics accordingly. The game draws late, but in the 70th minute Rodrigues and Hughes combine to feed Ledesma the ball on the left side of the box. The young South American puts a great move on the remaining defender and fires a powerful shot past the keeper for the tying goal. Rodrigues has to go off for Dunn with 10 minutes left. Final score: 1-1.

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat	Morale	Form
-	Inj	Joe Wear	AM LC	27%	24 (7)	-	7.55	Poor	9-9-7-8-7
ML	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	90%	13 (6)	-	7.47	Very Good	6-7-8-7-8
MC		Ben Hughes	DM C	92%	35	1	7.43	Superb	6-8-9-7-7
MR		Craig Adams	D/AM R	92%	30	2	7.37	Superb	7-6-9-8-8

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st		Derby		35	22	10	3	56	21	+35	76
2nd		West Ham		35	16	10	9	47	35	+12	58
3rd		Walsall		35	15	12	8	54	35	+19	57
---
9th		Cardiff		35	12	14	9	50	43	+7	50
---
22nd		Plymouth		35	7	12	16	28	54	-26	33
23rd		Preston		35	7	10	18	21	50	-29	31
24th		Watford		35	3	19	13	25	39	-14	28

[3ric]

March 2010

The board announce that they are delighted with my performance as manager. Now that's more like it!

Parry and Rodrigues made the Team of the Week.

Fulham approach me with an offer to take over managerial duties at Craven Cottage. I politely decline, they are yet another Championship team and should I leave on my own terms, it would be solely for a Premier League club.

I make a request to improve the club's training facilities. The board agrees, and indicates that they will be investing accordingly.

We're up against no. 19 Brighton on the road, and we give Tommy Price a start with youngster David Jenkins on the bench as Ledesma is a little tired. We are playing carefully and are inviting the Seagulls to come at us before hitting them on a quick break. In the 41st minute one such break happens when Adams find Price with a deep cross from midfield, and the speedster fires the ball past the keeper despite being challenged by a defender. I replace the tired Wheeler and Rodrigues with Jenkins and Dunn in the 68th minute. During extra time we get another goal when Price crosses into the six-yard box and Jenkins wins an aerial duel with the goalie and a defender. Final score: 2-0.

With good results in several difficult games lately, we have to avoid becoming overconfident when playing no. 22 Stoke at home. Wheeler sits this one out, and Ledesma from a strike partnership with Price. After a corner kick, Stoke clears the ball over to our side of the pitch and moves up. Right back Walsh collects the ball and hits the ball back into space to Ledesma, who beats the offside trap and taps the ball out of reach for the keeper. 1-0, Bluebirds! We're up by two only four minutes later when Hughes heads home a cross from Adams. Ledesma gets injured in the 64th minute and is substituted for Jenkins. The third goal comes in the 74th minute when Walsh passes Brian Ryan, who can advance unchallenged into the area and fire a low shot into the far corner of the goal. Final score: 3-0.

Joe Wear returns to full training. It appears we could manage just fine without him, mostly because of Rodrigues.

Away at QPR, I replace Ledesma with Wheeler, the South American player is not fully recovered from last game. QPR takes the lead in the 10th minute on a through ball which is quickly deflected past Fede and into the far bottom corner of the goal. After 16 minutes, we're down by two and fight to make our way back into the game. Wheeler goes off after 60 minutes, he's had a really bad game today. David Jenkins replaces, and David Clarke goes in for Adams. Price had a pair of opportunities towards the end, but neither turned out the way we wanted, and in the end we were outshot 13 to 5. Final score: 0-2.

Time again for the second annual "grudge game" vs Sheff Utd, against which I never gotten three points as manager for Cardiff. Joe Wear is back in the starting eleven, and Ledesma replace the tired Wheeler. Right back James Walsh has a slight injury and Jamie Thompson plays instead. The Blades take the lead in the 36th minute on a long ball from Peter Peters to Ronny Johansen, who manages to skip Fede and turn the ball into the net. We alter the tactics with 20 minutes left and still down by one to attack with less regard for defense - and the change pays off with Ledesma hitting a deadly cross pass to Price, who can beat Borgula in the Sheffield goal. But with two minutes left in regulation, Ben Hughes gets his second booking and is sent off. Jenkins and Rodrigues comes on for Price and Wear. Final score: 1-1.

Important game coming up with us traveling to no.7 Hull, with us being 8th in the standings at the moment, three points behind. Fede is injured and Hughes is suspended, which makes the job all the more difficult. The game is be scoreless for 90 minutes, but Hull City is awarded a penalty kick in extra time on a harsh call made on Mike Wheeler. Hutcheson scores for Hull. Final score: 0-1.

Parry, Wear and Ryan all are selected to the Team of the Week.

We finally agree to a new contract with defender Craig Parry.

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat
ML		Joe Wear	AM LC	94%	26 (7)	-	7.58
S4	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	100%	16 (8)	-	7.42
DC	Yel	Craig Parry	D RC	92%	36	1	7.39
-		Ben Hughes	DM C	100%	39	2	7.36

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st	C	Derby		40	26	11	3	62	21	+41	89
2nd		Rotherham		40	19	12	9	50	27	+23	69
3rd		Walsall		40	17	14	9	61	41	+20	65
---
9th		Cardiff		40	14	15	11	56	47	+9	57
---
22nd		Preston		40	9	11	20	25	54	-29	38
23rd		Stoke		40	7	14	19	29	59	-30	35
24th		Watford		40	3	21	16	29	50	-21	30

[3ric]

April 2010

The board remain delighted with me and the performance.

Midfielder Craig Adams strains his groin muscle and will be away for two weeks. A day later, the same injury happens to Argentinian forward Ledesma.

At home vs Preston, we have Fede and Ben Hughes back on the team, but Morris continues in goal for now. We get midfielder Ryan sent off after 34 minutes and continue with a 4-3-2 formation. With 20 minutes left I pull right back Walsh for Thompson, who goes up in the interior midfield to form a 3-4-2. With 15 minutes left I take out Wheeler for Jenkins and Rodrigues for McDonald. Finally we break the stalemate when Wear crosses the ball over the width of the pitch to find Rodrigues. The Frenchman turns a defender before passing Jenkins, who spins and shoots in one movement, suprising their keeper totally. Unfortunately Preston hangs on and ties the score on a counter attack in the 91st minute. Final score: 1-1.

The physio reports that Parry is in need of a rest.

Now right back James Walsh is the latest to suffer a groin strain. We really need to replace the turf on the training grounds.

Versus no. 7 Portsmouth, we have to do without five injured players, and Jenkins get the start along with Price up front. Pompey go all out from the beginning and gets a quick goal after only 1:15 of play. Midfielder Walsh picks up an injury in the 7th minute and is replaced by Mathisen. We draw level in the 38th minute when Joe Wear manages to evade the keeper to set up Jenkins in front of an empty goal. However, Portsmouth regain the lead shortly before halftime. In the 68th minute we have to take out the injured Keveral McDonald and replace him with Eric Rodrigues playing out of position at the right wing. With only minutes left I put in a Wheeler as a third attacker. Instead, Pompey seal the win with a third goal in the 93rd minute. Final score: 1-3.

For the game against no. 10 Burnley, we get back Ryan, but lose McDonald, Rodrigues and Paul Walsh - we have to play David Clarke at right wing and call up Darren Young from the reserves to get a full bench. Fede returns to his starting goalkeeper duties, though. We play them to a nil-nil stalemate - for 60 minutes at least, that's when Burnley's Monaghan gives them the lead. Jenkins comes off, he has run himself ragged with little result. Despite a valiant effort by many, we end up short once more. Final score: 0-1.

Time to rescue this sinking ship of a season with some wins towards the end, and what better to start with no. 22 Plymouth. Adams return to the right wing and Ledesma begins on the bench, as he's just returned to full training. Plymouth start out with a 4-2-4 formation and I decide to meet them head to head, and we do score the first goal through Price in the 24th minute. But Plymouth's Palmer ties the score in the 41st minute on a well-timed header, only two minutes after they got a defender sent off. Plymouth begin the second half with 10 men, in a bizarre 3-2-4 formation. I didn't think they'd survive long playing like that, and happily I was right - Jenkins scored for us in the 55th minute, assisted by Price. Parry leaves the game for Ledesma in the 68th minute, and Adams goes down to the right back spot while the South American is playing winger today. Later we substitute Jenkins for Wheeler. We dominate the game towards the end and get off a total of 25 shots at their goal. Final score: 2-1.

Against no. 12 Bristol City, we rest Parry with James Walsh back in the lineup. Fede gets injured after 26 minutes and Morris comes on. We take the lead in the 32nd minute as Wheeler scores on a rebound off a shot from Ledesma. Then Ryan picks up an injury as well and Clarke replaces him. Our string of back luck continue when Hughes gets his second booking of the game and has to go off in the 48th minute. In the 64th minute an attacker is charging into the penalty area only to be brought down from behind by Thompson, just outside the box. Free kick, and Thompson is red-carded as a result. Wheeler goes out for Mathisen and we try to get by with a 4-3-1 formation with 25 minutes left. Final score: 1-0.

I appeal against the one-match ban that Thompson has seen sentenced to serve. On the injury front, we have to do without goalkeeper Fede for three weeks as he has a hairline fracture in his arm. The FA dismisses my appeal for Thompson as I didn't have valid grounds for getting a different ruling.

[3ric]

Top performers:

Pkd	Inf	Name	Position	Con	Apps	Gls	Av Rat	Morale	Form
ML		Joe Wear	AM LC	99%	31 (7)	-	7.61	Superb	6-8-8-10-7
MC	Sus	Ben Hughes	DM C	100%	44	2	7.39	Superb	8-7-8-9-6
S4	Ret	Eric Rodrigues	M L	100%	16 (10)	-	7.38	Okay	8-7-6-7-7
-	Yel	Craig Parry	D RC	93%	40	1	7.38	Superb	8-7-7-8-7

Championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st	C	Derby		45	29	13	3	71	23	+48	100
2nd	Pl	Rotherham		45	21	15	9	58	31	+27	78
3rd	Pl	Hull		45	24	6	15	65	51	+14	78
4th	Pl	Bolton		45	20	14	11	62	43	+19	74
---
9th		Cardiff		45	16	16	13	61	53	+8	64
---
22nd		Plymouth		45	9	13	23	34	67	-33	40
23rd	R	Watford		45	5	22	18	36	56	-20	37
24th	R	Stoke		45	7	16	22	32	66	-34	37

[3ric]

May 2010

The board is still delighted with me! I love these guys!

Lee Wyatt returns to full training after a month's absence.

I offer a contract to unprotected defensive midfielder John Docherty of Hull City - he's versatile enough to strengthen both the defense and the inner midfield.

The last game of the season is on the road at Fulham. Hughes and Thompson are suspended and Fede and Lee Rees, the left back, are injured. Parry plays out of position to the left and Mathisen starts in defense while Clarke plays alongside Ryan in the middle. Fulham scores immediately coming out in the second half. I put in Rodrigues for Wear, who's been very anonymous today, and send them on the attack. With 10 minutes left and still down, I take out Parry for Price and a 3-4-3 formation. Final score: 0-1.

Oh well, we finished in 11th place - another new record high for Cardiff.

No. 4 Bolton wins the playoff final over no. 3 Hull to gain promotion to the Premier League along with champions Derby and no. 2 Rotherham. Southampton, Reading and Ipswich are relegated to the Championship.

The Spanish League was won by Valencia - for the seventh straight year!

Joe Wear and Ben Hughes was chosen for the Championship Select Team.

Lee Wyatt was third in the Championship Top Goalscorer's award with 17 goals.

[3ric]

Final championship standings:

Pos	Inf	Team		Pld	Won	Drn	Lst	For	Ag	G.D.	Pts
1st	C	Derby		46	30	13	3	72	23	+49	103
2nd	P	Rotherham		46	22	15	9	60	32	+28	81
3rd		Hull		46	25	6	15	67	51	+16	81
4th	P	Bolton		46	21	14	11	63	43	+20	77
5th		West Ham		46	20	14	12	60	45	+15	74
6th		Portsmouth		46	19	17	10	53	38	+15	74
7th		Walsall		46	18	16	12	66	52	+14	70
8th		Leeds		46	19	10	17	70	62	+8	67
9th		Q.P.R.		46	15	21	10	50	44	+6	66
10th		Burnley		46	17	15	14	48	48	0	66
11th		Cardiff		46	16	16	14	61	54	+7	64
12th		Coventry		46	18	8	20	60	56	+4	62
13th		Bristol C		46	16	13	17	60	55	+5	61
14th		Nottm Forest		46	16	13	17	58	61	-3	61
15th		Oldham		46	16	11	19	51	64	-13	59
16th		Fulham		46	14	16	16	45	47	-2	58
17th		Sheff Utd		46	13	14	19	51	54	-3	53
18th		Norwich		46	13	14	19	52	70	-18	53
19th		Sheff Wed		46	13	13	20	54	63	-9	52
20th		Preston		46	11	13	22	32	60	-28	46
21st		Brighton		46	10	14	22	32	54	-22	44
22nd	R	Plymouth		46	9	13	24	34	68	-34	40
23rd	R	Stoke		46	7	17	22	33	67	-34	38
24th	R	Watford		46	5	22	19	37	58	-21	37

[3ric]

June 2010

The board announce that the expansion of the club's training facility has been completed. It is now rated as "Good".

A new two-year sponsorship deal is signed, worth £170K a year.

Our transfer budget for next season will be around £3.2 mil.

The World Cup 2010 in South Africa has begun, and the Cardiff players participating are Björn Audun Mathisen for Norway and Keveral McDonald for Jamaica.

Mathisen starts at central defense for Norway in their first group game vs Greece. Norway has one of the world's best strikers in Arsenal's Hàvard Dahl, and he scores the opener on a magnificent individual effort. Greece's Vasilakis ties the score on an attack where Mathisen were in position to stop him. When Dimitriadis gives Greece the lead, there's once again suspicion that Mathisen would have been able to prevent that. Norway draw level on Christensen's header in the 68th minute and the game ends in a 2-2 draw. Mathisen was rated a "7" but didn't impress in my opinion.

Jamaica's Keveral McDonald starts on the inside midfield, to the left, in a defensive 3-5-2 formation against Italy. He had an OK game, but he was substituted in the 62nd minute. The game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Mathisen played the whole game in Norway's 0-1 loss to Brazil, and the result means that they have to win the final game vs Paraguay while Greece loses to group leaders Brazil.

Joe Wear was voted Cardiff Fans' Player of the Year.

We have received £625K for TV rights the coming season. The board expects a safe mid-table position within the Championship. Our average attendance of 25505 the past season was a new record high.

Jamaica drew 1-1 with Egypt and McDonald spent the whole game on the bench. Jamaica can advance on a tie with Denmark if Egypt loses to Italy.

England are eliminated in the first stage of group play after failing to beat Costa Rica in the final game.

Norway's bid to make it further in the tournament failed miserably as they were soundly beat 0-4 by Paraguay. Mathisen and the entire team has good reasons to feel unhappy about their performance.

Jamaica also is eliminated after losing 0-1 to Denmark, Keveral McDonald came on to play the final 28 minutes and did well.

[3ric]

July 2010

Cardiff City left winger Eric Rodrigues has retired from professional football.

29-yr old defender/midfielder John Docherty joins Cardiff on the Bosman rule from Hull.

David Clarke leaves the team as he's out of contract.

Spain beats Sweden 3-0 in the first quarter final of the World Cup, and Switzerland wins 2-1 over Russia. Italy advances to the semis after winning 5-4 over Uruguay on penalties, and Japan beats Portugal 1-0.

Switzerland outlasts the mighty Italy in the first semifinal by winning 2-0 on penalties, 0-0 in regulation. The Swiss team has a great star in playmaker Adrian Schwegler, who's the midfield star for Real Madrid and valued £20 mil.

In the other semifinal, we get the expected result when Spain beats Japan 2-0, with two goals from Fran, Real Madrid's starting striker, and another £20 mil player. Fran and midfielder Roberto got injured in the game and their participation in the final is not guaranteed. They should be able to replace them, though, as Inter players Pablo and José Luis was benched for this game - both of them are valued a combined £60 mil!

We have taken a free agent D/MC named Leon Knight on trial. He's only 22 and have played for Notts County in League One, where he was traded from my old club Sheff Utd in a player exchange. My assistant manager feels that we should sign him to a £2700 contract.

A dejected Italy packs it in early and loses the third-place match 0-2 to Japan.

We play Wigan at their place in our first friendly game. We win 2-0 with goals from Wheeler and Price.

In the World Cup final, Spain's striker in their 4-2-3-1 formation is Inter's José Luis with Fran on the bench together with Pablo. Switzerland starts with Schwegler on the right wing in a 4-4-2 diamond. The game is scoreless after 90 minutes, but in the first period of extra time, Switzerland takes the lead through Perret, assisted by Man of the Match Schwegler. Switzerland is the new World Cup champions!!

Schwegler also won the World Cup Best Player award.

Knight accepts a £4300 salary as a backup player.

Our second friendly is at Grimsby, and we are without both Thompson and Jenkins. We win comfortably with 3-0, goals by McDonald, Anthony Dunn and Tommy Price. Left defender Lee Rees was the man of the match.

We sign 16-yr old midfielder Matthew Anderson from Leeds for £140K, and immediately after the signing went public, Cardiff fans praises the signing of the promising youngster.

Next friendly is at Gillingham, with Thompson back on the team, and with 17-yr old reserves winger Mark Flynn called up. We win 1-0 on a Wheeler goal in the 43rd minute. Midfielder Ben Hughes was Man of the Match.

Against Macclesfield our starting inside midfielder Brian Ryan is unfit to play, as is backup keeper Morris. Joe Wear gets injured in the 36th minute and Anthony Dunn comes on early. We win 2-0 on goals by Wyatt and Price.

Wear is going to miss a week's training with a strained wrist.

At Watford, we have Ryan and Morris back on the team, but likely neither are going to play. We win 1-0 on a goal by Wyatt in the 28th minute.

[3ric]

A little update on how I am doing in this career (still ongoing) - I was fired from Cardiff on February 13th, 2011.

Nine days later I took the job as manager of Stoke City in Division One, but resigned when I couldn't lead them to promotion after the 2011 season.

On the July 27th I took the job as manager of Preston North End in the Championship, but didn't last a full season there before getting sacked on March 11th, 2012.

Two days later I got hired as manager for Sunderland in the Championship. We lost in the Playoff semifinal and finished 5th in 2012. In 2013 we missed playoffs by inches when finishing 8th. In 2014 we had a bad year and struggled to finish in 16th place. However, the team was assembled and started to come together towards the end. The 2015 season started well but we fluctuated between 3rd place and 10th place for the first 20 weeks of the season. That's when we got the momentum going by not losing for 14 straight games - a run that took us to the FA Cup semifinal, and ultimately winning the Championship on goal difference over Southampton.

Finally - after 11 seasons and five teams, I'm in the Premier League! \o/ Wo-hoo!

[condors]

congrats!

[3ric]

Thanks!
I started the new PL season with two wins, only to lose three straight... OK, back to obscurity with this thread.