The Quest for English Hero (FM12)

[jasontoddwhitt]

Woking FC - Shooting for the Stars

Taking a team from the bottom to the top....sounds very unlikely. I've decided I'm going to report on this. Of course, it helps to pick the best team at the bottom to give myself the best chance of securing promotion in the first season. That's not to say there won't be growing pains. Afterall, a new manager installing his system...there are bound to be growing pains. The question is...will the board let me see it through?

[jasontoddwhitt]

July 2011

Friendlies
Northwood 2 - 6 Woking
Canvey Island 1 - 1 Woking
Woking 0 - 2 Norwich
Woking 2 - 0 Gillingham
Woking 2 - 2 Forest Green

Transfers
Signed 20-year-old midfielder Ben Wood on a free (1yr, $110/wk)
Brought in 19-year-old midfielder Alex Woodyard on loan from Southend

The most important thing was that we got through the friendlies without any major injuries. I thought the matches went well. It was obvious we were trying to get used to playing an asymmetric 4-3-2-1 as they were routinely getting out of position and leaked a few goals that I'm sure won't happen once league play begins. One thing I will say is this team has a lot of pace. That could prove to be handy.

[jasontoddwhitt]

I'm currently in February, so I'll just give quick updates to catch up.

August 2011

Matches
Woking 5 - Dartford 1
Lineup: Andy Little (5.8), Dan Sintim (7.5), Derek Duncan (7.5), Adam Doyle (6.8), Joe McNerney (7.3), Keiran Murtagh (7.0), Jack King (8.0), Moses Ademola (9.8), Giuseppe Sole (6.8), Elvis Hammond (8.6), Dale Binns (7.1) Subs: Aaron Howe (6.8), Mark Ricketts (6.8), Dominic Shimmin (6.8).
Goal Scorers: Elvis Hammond, Moses Ademola (3), Paul Goodacre o.g.

Eastleigh 1 - Woking 0
Lineup: Andy Little (6.7), James Oliver-Pearce (7.0), Gez Mulholland (6.6), Alan Inns (6.7), Adam Doyle (6.6), Alex Woodyard (6.5), Jay Davies (6.6), Adam Newton (6.7), Ben Wood (6.7), Wayne Gray (6.5), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.8) Subs: Dominic Shimmin (6.3), Giuseppe Sole (6.6), Mark Ricketts (6.7)

Woking 4 - Truro 0
Lineup: Andy Little (6.9), Dan Sintim (7.5), Derek Duncan (7.5), Joe McNerney (8.4), Jack King (7.6), Keiran Murtagh (7.0), Mark Ricketts (7.8), Moses Ademola (8.2), Giuseppe Sole (8.0), Elvis Hammond (8.2), Dale Binns (8.0) Subs: Adam Doyle (6.7), Adam Newton, Dominic Shimmin (6.6)
Goal Scorers: Hammond, McNerney, Sole, Ademola

Thurrock 0 - Woking 0
Lineup: Andy Little (6.8), Mark Ricketts (7.0), Derek Duncan (6.9), Adam Doyle (6.6), Joe McNerney (6.6), Keiran Murtagh (6.5), Jack King (6.7), Moses Ademola (6.8), Giuseppe Sole (6.4), Elvis Hammond (6.6), Dale Binns (6.5) Subs: Dan Sintim, Adam Newton, Dominic Shimmin

Woking 4 - Salisbury 1
Lineup: Andy Little (6.9), Mark Ricketts (7.1), Derek Duncan (7.2), Adam Doyle (8.8), Joe McNerney (7.2), Keiran Murtagh (6.8), Jack King (7.1), Adam Newton (8.1), Giuseppe Sole (7.3), Elvis Hammond (8.8), Dale Binns (6.8) Subs: Dan Sintim (6.7), Moses Ademola, Dominic Shimmin (6.7)
Goal Scorers: Doyle, Hammond (2), Sole

Boreham Wood 2 - Woking 0
Lineup: Aaron Howe (6.6), James Oliver-Pearce (6.5), James Snishko (6.6), Gavin Miller (6.6), Dan Sintim (7.2), Alex Woodyard (5.8), Alan Inns (6.6), Moses Ademola (6.7), Ben Wood (6.5), Wayne Gray (6.6), Anson Cousins (5.8) Subs: Mark Ricketts (6.7), Jack King (6.5), Elvis Hammond (6.5)


Transfers
Signed 18-year-old fullback Gez Mulholland to a youth contract.
Signed 24-year-old center back Dominic Shimmin on a free transfer.

Our form at home is awesome. We're fluid, we're scoring tons of goals, and it's just exciting football to watch. Our form away from home is abysmal. The guys tighten up, and they forget to make the simple play. Something to keep an eye on for sure.

[jasontoddwhitt]

September 2011

Matches
Woking 5 - Hampton & Richmond 1
Lineup: Andy Little (6.9), Dominic Shimmin (7.4), Derek Duncan (7.3), Adam Doyle (7.5), Joe McNerney (8.6), Keiran Murtagh (7.0), Mark Ricketts (7.1), Adam Newton (8.8), Giuseppe Sole (7.3), Elvis Hammond (8.9), Dale Binns (8.1)
Subs: Jack King, Moses Ademola, Dan Sintim (6.8)
Goal Scorers: McNerney, Binns, Hammond (2), Newton

Woking 1 - Welling 1
Lineup: Andy Little (6.4), Mark Ricketts (6.6), Derek Duncan (7.0), Dominic Shimmin (6.8), Joe McNerney (7.0), Keiran Murtagh (6.7), Jack King (6.6), Adam Newton (6.6), Giuseppe Sole (6.7), Elvis Hammond (6.8), Dale Binns (6.1)
Subs: Dan Sintim (6.7), Moses Ademola (6.7), Adam Dole (6.4)
Goal Scorers: Jack Obersteller o.g.

Maidenhead 1 - Woking 4
Lineup: Andy Little (7.0), Mark Ricketts (7.3), Derek Duncan (7.5), Adam Doyle (7.5), Joe McNerney (6.9), Keiran Murtagh (8.3), Jack King (7.0), Adam Newton (8.2), Giuseppe Sole (8.0), Elvis Hammond (8.2), Dale Binns (7.3)
Subs: Dan Sintim (6.4), Paris Cowan-Hall (7.4), Dominic Shimmin (6.8)
Goal Scorers: Hammond, Murtagh, Newton, Cowan-Hall

Farnborough 1 - Woking 1
Lineup: Andy Little (6.7), Dominic Shimmin (5.4), Derek Duncan (7.3), Adam Doyle (7.0), Joe McNerney (7.3), Keiran Murtagh (6.5), Mark Ricketts (6.7), Moses Ademola (6.7), Alex Woodyard (6.5), Elvis Hammond (6.5), Dale Binns (6.6)
Subs: Jack King (6.4), Adam Newton (6.9), Giuseppe Sole (6.7)
Goal Scorers: McNerney

Tonbridge 0 - Woking 2
Lineup: Andy Little (6.8), Adam Newton (6.8), Josh Watkins (7.1), Adam Doyle (6.8), Joe McNerney (7.4), Keiran Murtagh (6.8), Jack King (7.1), Moses Ademola (7.6), Ben Wood (6.8), Wayne Gray (7.2), Paris Cowan-Hall (7.4)
Subs: Derek Duncan (6.7), Mark Ricketts (6.6), Elvis Hammond (6.7)
Goal Scorers: Gray, Cowan-Hall

Transfers
Signed young midfielder James Smith on a free transfer from Brighton.

We had a great month of September that has us in second place in the table, just one point behind Eastbourne Boro. We did beat up on some lower competition, but we did get an important draw against Welling, who I feel we'll be in a fight with for promotion.

[jasontoddwhitt]

October 2011

Matches
Hampton & Richmond 0 - Woking 2 FA Cup 2nd Qual. Rnd
Lineup: Andy Little (6.8), Mark Ricketts (6.2), Derek Duncan (6.7) , Dominic Shimmin (6.2), Joe McNerney (7.0), Keiran Murtagh (6.9), Jack King (7.1), Adam Newton (6.8), Alex Woodyard (7.2), Wayne Gray (6.7), Dale Binns (8.3)
Subs: Adam Doyle (6.8), Paris Cowan-Hall, Alan Inns (6.8)
Goal Scorers: Binns, Craig Ross o.g.

Woking 0 - Dorchester 0
Lineup: Andy Little (6.7), Mark Ricketts (6.6), Derek Duncan (6.7), Dominic Shimmin (7.1), Joe McNerney (6.7), Keiran Murtagh (6.5), Jack King (6.7), Adam Newton (5.9), Alex Woodyard (6.1), Elvis Hammond (6.7), Dale Binns (6.6)
Subs: Giuseppe Sole (6.6)
Sent Off: Ricketts
Goal Scorers: None

Sutton Utd 2 - Woking 0
Lineup: Andy Little (6.6), Dominic Shimmin (6.6), Derek Duncan (6.7), Adam Doyle (7.1), Joe McNerney (6.9), Alex Woodyard (5.8), Jack King (6.7), Adam Newton (6.7), Giuseppe Sole (6.6), Wayne Gray (5.5), Dale Binns (6.2)
Subs: James Smith (6.4), Moses Ademola (6.3), Alan Inns (6.0)
Goal Scorers: None

Woking 3 - Hitchin 1 FA Cup 3rd Qual. Rnd
Lineup: Andy Little (6.8), Dominic Shimmin (6.8), Derek Duncan (8.0), Adam Doyle (7.2), Joe McNerney (6.9), Jay Davies (6.8), Mark Ricketts (6.9), Moses Ademola (7.8), Giuseppe Sole (7.0), Elvis Hammond (8.2), Dale Binns (6.6)
Subs: Alan Inns (6.8), Adam Newton (6.8), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.8)
Goal Scorers: Hammond, Ademola, Duncan

Woking 1 - Havant & W 0
Lineup: Andy Little (6.7), Mark Ricketts (7.2), Derek Duncan (6.8), Dominic Shimmin (6.8), Joe McNerney (7.1), Alex Woodyard (6.7), Jack King (6.8), Moses Ademola (6.2), Giuseppe Sole (6.8), Elvis Hammond (7.3), Dale Binns (6.9)
Subs: Alan Inns (6.8), Adam Newton (6.7), Adam Doyle (6.6)
Goal Scorers: Hammond

Eastbourne Boro 0 - Woking 2 FA Cup 4th Qual. Rnd
Lineup: Andy Little (6.7), Dominic Shimmin (7.4), Derek Duncan (7.4), Adam Doyle (7.4), Joe McNerney (6.8), Keiran Murtagh (6.8), Jack King (6.2), Moses Ademola (6.8), Giuseppe Sole (6.8), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.8), Dale Binns (6.8)
Subs: Alex Woodyard (6.8), Alan Inns (7.4), Adam Newton (6.6)
Goal Scorers: Ethan Strevett o.g., Inns

Transfers
Brought in midfielder Jack Byrne on loan from Kidderminster.

We achieved our goal of making it out of the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup. Any advancement past that will be gravy (and extra money in the coffers...we'll probably need it). However, our form in league play left a lot to be desired. After slipping to 11th following our loss to Sutton United, the pressure from the fans and the board was starting to get a little bit heated. I assured Mr. Ingram that once this team gelled, they would fly. I just hope I get to see it. We got a big road victory against Eastbourne Boro in the FA Cup. Maybe that's just what we need to propel us back into the promotion hunt.

[jasontoddwhitt]

November 2011

Matches
Woking 2 - Bromley 0
Lineup: Aaron Howe (6.7), Adam Newton (6.9), Josh Watkins (6.8) , Adam Doyle (6.8), Joe McNerney (7.1), Jack Byrne (6.9), Jack King (6.9), Moses Ademola (6.7), Ben Wood (6.7), Giuseppe Sole (8.0), Derek Duncan (6.8)
Subs: Alan Inns (6.7), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.3), Dominic Shimmin
Goal Scorers: Sole, Ryan Adams o.g.

Woking 1 - Chelmsford 1
Lineup: Chris Elliott (6.6), Dominic Shimmin (6.8), Gez Mulholland (6.5), Alan Inns (6.8), Adam Doyle (7.6), Keiran Murtagh (6.8), Jack King (6.6), Dale Binns (7.5), Alex Woodyard (6.6), Conor Geohegan (7.0), James Smith (6.2)
Subs: Adam Newton (6.7), Giuseppe Sole, Joe McNerney (6.6)
Goal Scorers: Binns

Basingstoke 1 - Woking 2
Lineup: Chris Elliott (6.8), Dominic Shimmin (7.0), Derek Duncan (6.8), Alan Inns (5.9), Joe McNerney (6.8), Keiran Murtagh (6.0), Adam Doyle (6.8), Adam Newton (7.9), Jack Byrne (6.8), Elvis Hammond (6.8), Dale Binns (7.5)
Subs: Jack King (6.8), Giuseppe Sole (6.8)
Goal Scorers: Angus MacDonald o.g., Binns

Macclesfield 1 - Woking 0 FA Cup 1st Rnd
Lineup: Andy Little (6.6), Dan Sintim (6.6), Josh Watkins (6.3), Joe McNerney (6.8), Jack King (6.9), Jack Byrne (6.6), Keiran Murtagh (6.7), Moses Ademola (6.7), Giuseppe Sole (6.6), Wayne Gray (5.9), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.5)
Subs: Dominic Shimmin (6.8), Derek Duncan (6.8), Elvis Hammond (6.8)
Goal Scorers: None

Weston-super-Mare 1 - Woking 1
Lineup: Chris Elliott (5.8), Adam Newton (7.1), James Smith (6.6), Dominic Shimmin (6.9), Joe McNerney (7.1), Keiran Murtagh (6.8), Adam Doyle (6.9), Dale Binns (6.3), Jack Byrne (6.7), Wayne Gray (7.3), Derek Duncan (6.6)
Subs: Alan Inns (6.5), Jack King, Giuseppe Sole (6.7)
Goal Scorers: Gray

Woking 2 - Nantwich 1 FA Trophy 3rd Qual. Rnd
Lineup: Chris Elliott (6.7), James Oliver-Pearce (6.8), Derek Duncan (6.9), Alan Inns (6.7), Joe McNerney (6.8), Keiran Murtagh (6.9), Adam Doyle (6.9), Adam Newton (8.8), Jack Byrne (6.8), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.7), Dale Binns (6.9)
Subs: Jack King (6.9), Alex Woodyard, Giuseppe Sole (6.9)
Goal Scorers: Newton (2)

Transfers
Signed young goalkeeper Chris Elliott on a free transfer from Harrogate
Signed young fullback Aaron Doble on a free transfer from Exeter

We needed to shore up our play at the keeper position and that's why we signed Chris Elliott. He may only be 19, but he's just as good as Andy Little, with the potential to get better. Injuries meanwhile are starting to decimate our backline, which is why we went out and signed Doble for cover purposes. As for our form, we went down in the first round of the FA cup to a League Two side on the road in a tough game. I'm not going to complain much about that one. We got past the qualification round of the FA Trophy. The board wants me to get to the second round, but we drew Blue Square Premier side Kettering. Could be tough sledding. As for league play, after dropping to 11th, we now find ourselves in fourth place and back in the mix for promotion after 18 of 42 matches.

[jasontoddwhitt]

December 2011

Eastbourne Boro 0 - Woking 1
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.7), Joe McNerney (7.4), Derek Duncan (7.0), Alan Inns (7.5), Adam Doyle (6.9), Jack Byrne (6.8), Jack King (6.8), Adam Newton (6.8), Giuseppe Sole (6.8), Wayne Gray (7.3), Dale Binns (7.0)
Subs: Keiran Murtagh (6.6), Moses Ademola (6.6), Dan Sintim
Goal Scorers: Gray

Woking 1 - Kettering 0 FA Trophy 1st Rnd
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.2), Aaron Doble (6.8), James Smith (7.2), Alan Inns (6.8), Adam Doyle (8.1), Jack Byrne (6.2), Keiran Murtagh (6.9), Adam Newton (6.8), Giuseppe Sole (7.5), Wayne Gray (6.1), Dale Binns (6.9)
Subs: Gez Mulholland, Alex Woodyard (6.4), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.7)
Goal Scorers: Sole

Woking 1 - Dover 0
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.5), Mitchell Hanson (7.0), James Smith (6.9), Adam Doyle (7.1), Joe McNerney (7.2), Alex Woodyard (7.6), Jack King (7.0), Adam Newton (7.1), Giuseppe Sole (6.8), Wayne Gray (5.9), Dale Binns (6.9)
Subs: Alan Inns, Paris Cowan-Hall (6.6), Derek Duncan (6.5)
Goal Scorers: Woodyard

Staines 0 - Woking 4
Line Up: Andy Little (6.9), Mitchell Hanson (7.0), Ellis Deeney (7.5), Adam Doyle (7.6), Joe McNerney (8.0), Keiran Murtagh (7.1), Jack King (7.1), Adam Newton (9.7), Jack Byrne (6.9), Wayne Gray (6.8), Dale Binns (8.3)
Subs: James Smith (6.9), Paris Cowan-Hall, Derek Duncan (6.5)
Goal Scorers: Binns, Newton (3)

Dartford 2 - Woking 3
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.6), Ellis Deeney (6.8), James Smith (7.0), Gavin Miller (7.7), Alan Inns (6.8), Alex Woodyard (6.9), Mitchell Hanson (6.8), Moses Ademola (7.0), Giuseppe Sole (9.0), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.9), Dale Binns (6.9)
Subs: Jack King (6.5), Adam Newton (6.4), Derek Duncan
Goal Scorers: Sole (2), Miller

Woking 3 - Eastleigh 2
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.8), Adam Newton (6.8), Ellis Deeney (7.3), Alan Inns (6.5), Joe McNerney (6.9), Jack Byrne (5.4), Jack King (7.7), Moses Ademola (7.1), Giuseppe Sole (6.8), Wayne Gray (5.7), Dale Binns (7.4)
Subs: Adam Doyle, Paris Cowan-Hall (7.3), Derek Duncan (6.9)
Goal Scorers: Binns, Cowan-Hall, Deeney

Transfers
Signed centerback Mitchell Hanson on a free transfer from Eastwood.
Signed young fullback Ellis Deeney on a free transfer from Hinckley.
Cancelled the loan of midfielder Keiran Murtagh from Cambridge.

Injuries started to take a toll on the depth of our backline, so we had to get some help. Unfortunately for us, both Hanson and Deeney would only agree to pay-per-appearance contracts, giving them free reign to leave whenever they want. We needed the cover though. Having said that, we're clicking. We didn't lose a match all month and I was awarded with the manager of the month award. But come on, the players deserve this award, not me. These guys have really bought into this system, and despite not one player really dominating the stat sheets, we're starting to dominate the league. We're finally at the top of the table and the fans seems satisfied enough.

[jasontoddwhitt]

January 2012

Truro 2 - Woking 2
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.6), Aaron Doble (6.6), James Smith (6.7), Dan Sintim (6.6), Adam Doyle (6.1), Alex Woodyard (6.6), Mitchell Hanson (6.9), Danilo Cadete (8.1), Jack Byrne (6.5), Wayne Gray (8.0), Derek Duncan (6.6)
Subs: Jack King (6.9), Paris Cowan-Hall, Joe McNerney (6.9)
Goal Scorers: Gray, Cadete

Salisbury 1 - Woking 2
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.8), Mitchell Hanson (6.9), Ellis Deeney (6.9), Adam Doyle (7.1), Joe McNerney (6.9), Jack Byrne (6.8), Jack King (6.9), Adam Newton (7.5), Giuseppe Sole (6.9), Wayne Gray (7.1), Dale Binns (7.0)
Subs: James Smith (6.3), Moses Ademola (7.3), Paris Cowan-Hall
Goal Scorers: Newton, Ademola

Woking 2 - Thurrock 1
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.7), Mitchell Hanson (6.9), Ellis Deeney (6.7), Adam Doyle (6.8), Joe McNerney (7.3), Jack Byrne (6.8), Jack King (6.9), Adam Newton (7.4), Giuseppe Sole (6.6), Wayne Gray (6.6), Derek Duncan (7.5)
Subs: James Smith (6.7), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.7), Elvis Hammond
Goal Scorers: McNerney, Duncan

Basingstoke 1 - Woking 2 FA Trophy 2nd Rnd
Line Up: Andy Little (6.9), Aaron Doble (6.8), James Smith (6.8), Alan Inns (6.9), Joe McNerney (7.1), Jay Davies (6.6), Adam Doyle (6.9), Moses Ademola (6.9), Alex Woodyard (6.8), Paris Cowan-Hall (7.3), Dale Binns (6.9)
Subs: Jack King, Elvis Hammond (7.3), Derek Duncan (7.2)
Goal Scorers: Cowan-Hall, Hammond

Woking 1 - Boreham Wood 0
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.9), Mitchell Hanson (6.8), Ellis Deeney (6.7), Adam Doyle (8.1), Joe McNerney (7.1), Jack Byrne (6.6), Jack King (6.9), Adam Newton (6.9), Giuseppe Sole (6.5), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.1), Dale Binns (6.7)
Subs: Dominic Shimmin (6.6), Elvis Hammond (6.7), Derek Duncan (6.7)
Goal Scorers: Doyle

Hampton & Richmond 1 - Woking 5
Line Up: Chris Elliott (6.9), Mitchell Hanson (7.9), Ellis Deeney (6.9), Alan Inns (7.7), Adam Doyle (7.6), Jack Byrne (8.4), Jack King (7.2), Adam Newton (8.1), Giuseppe Sole (8.3), Paris Cowan-Hall (6.0), Dale Binns (8.1)
Subs: James Smith (6.9), Moses Ademola (7.4), Derek Duncan
Goal Scorers: Binns, Byrne, Matt Ruby o.g., Newton, Ademola

Transfers
Sold experienced strike Wayne Gray to Dartford for $500.

After missing three weeks to a thigh strain, Gray found himself buried in the depth chart of a crowded front line. Then he refused to sign the contract extension we offered him and we deemed him excess cargo. Wished we could've gotten more out of him. In fact, under better circumstances, we should've gotten at least two grand out of him. But, Dartford knew we wanted to get rid of him, and it drove the price down. Oh well, it gets his contract off the books and we didn't have to agree to a pricey buyout. Something strange has happened....we have gone 15 league matches without losing. This hot streak has allowed us to gain a 9 point advantage over Welling in league play with 14 matches to go. Still a lot of football to be played though. Hopefully, we just keep plugging away.

Note: And now we are caught up.