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Post by Moo on Jan 25, 2006 23:59:39 GMT
Sorry. :cab:
So anyhoo, three seasons in Hungary and we'd finished 3rd, 2nd and 4th in the league, getting to the cup semis in the first season, selling our two fantastic strikers for too much money and wondering where we could go next. Surprise, surprise, it's season 4...
July 2008
So heading towards the fourth season in charge and with my contract up at the end of the season, I would hope that a good season (and to be fair, we’d over achieved in the other three) would give me a further chance to take the team forward. Even though there had been a couple of strikers bought recently, we hadn’t really bought anyone to replace Picture Exclusive so we went looking. I thought it fair game that we could search a little further than our own backyard, on account of us having a little more money than a lot of others.
We signed ex-U21 striker Breath Catcher from MTK who hadn’t scored in nine games last season, but had the skills to be our nippy forward for when we signed John Hartson’s Hungarian cousin.
Well Georgia isn’t too far from Hungary, if you squint a bit, Final Chapter arriving with 11 caps and 2 goals to his credit in the last two seasons. He’s a big strong fella and hopefully he’ll do OK for us.
Obvious Import, the keeper signed in a panic before our first season left the club. He’s off to join Dunaújváros for an initial fee of 5k, rising to 5k on appearances. He’d done well for us, but didn’t get a look in last term, with Bardo In Europe getting the start in goal.
Down To Earth, a strong looking centre half joined us from Gyõr for a fee of 7k. He looked a bargain, but we all know about those. We also got right winger Travel Agent Groupie for 10k plus 10k on apps from DAC. He’d be great as a catalyst for Tempted By Horses who had been hit and miss last season, despite his promising first two seasons with us.
Oh and Rafa Benitez got the England job.
August 2008
And with the transfer window closed for us and my Ass Man reluctant to phone anyone for a friendly, our first game of the season brings non-league outfit Ózd to Wittmann Antal Park and hopefully an easy tie for us. However, despite dominating the whole match prett much, we went to extra time with a 2-2 scoreline. Their first equaliser a bizarre goal by their keeper, straight from a goal kick. Goals from Resulting Confusion and new boys French Guitarist and The Giant were enough in the end, but it was a struggle. Our reward for the win was a home tie with Budafok LC from the Western division in four days time.
The bad news was that as Irish Pullover was our only fit keeper, the knock he got meant I had to give him injections to ease the pain, and hope he would be oK for that game. By the following weekend, Turntable Jnr should be fit, so we would have someone in the nets at least.
Lack of fitness meant a whole host of changes for the next round. Irish Pullover didn’t quite make it, but did have enough stamina to make the bench, with youngster Turntable Jnr making his debut, as was striker Final Chapter. He scored within ten minutes, with youngster Jerked Chicken setting him up on a counter. Two minutes later, Chemical Movement swept in from the wing and fired one along the deck into the far corner. Half time substitute Fourteen Teeth came on and scored with a cross aimed for Jerked Chicken when the short arse missed his header. Played for, natch. The game ended 3-1 after they had scored from the restart (how many times?) and we got an away tie to first division REAC, who were a team located in the lower reaches of the table for the last three seasons. Beatable.
With a tired squad, we are at home again, this time in the league to BKV Elõre. Both teams were fielding tired teams, but we tried to get the early goal but despite our hard work, just couldn’t find the killer touch and we went for the oranges goalless. It continued in the same vein in the second half, but we were caught with the sucker punch after 67 minutes, a silly mistake in midfield and we were pounced upon. We made a couple of changes in the midfield ourselves, Fourteen Teeth making our equaliser with Second Chance Saloon getting on the end of it, it finishes all square.
An away game at Bodajk-Siófok was next and we took a two goal lead, one each for Final Chapter and Breath Catcher sent us on our way, or so we thought. One back from the resulting kickoff and another on the stroke of half-time pegged us back and made me nervous. After a second yellow for their influencial midfielder, we took advantage of the extra man, Part Of The Ploy running at the defence, playing a lovely ball down the channel for Breath Catcher who went to the byline and pulled it back for Ploy to tap home, it was a lovely goal. We carried on in the same vein for the rest of the match, but with a bit more bite in midfield, they didn’t like it and we took the game 3-2.
Before the game at home to Gyirmót, we are told that Turntable Jnr and Seaweed Fry-Up get a call up to the Hungary U21s and that Final Chapter gets the call to the Georgia squad to take on Sweden.
We went into the break 4-0 up. No, really. Goals from Chemical Movement (2) , Final Chapter and Brazilian The Giant put us in command. I decided to relax them a little, as they were all a little tired still from the lack of pre-season. A lapse in concentration from substitute Kublai Khan let the visitors in for a consolation near the end, but we dominated, if truth be told.
Final Chapter got another international cap but did three fifths, getting subbed in the second half of a 5-0 away defeat. Ouch.
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Post by coffers on Jan 26, 2006 9:03:50 GMT
Fingers crossed for you this season Moo. Not a bad start, lets hope your stikers prove to be good uns.
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Post by Boony on Jan 26, 2006 9:12:17 GMT
Aye, great start there, Moo ski. If you don't get promoted this term, I'll sit on you.
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Post by coffers on Jan 26, 2006 9:18:58 GMT
Aye, great start there, Moo ski. If you don't get promoted this term, I'll sit on you. :shudders:
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Post by Moo on Jan 26, 2006 9:22:12 GMT
Divots IV?
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Post by Boony on Jan 26, 2006 9:40:12 GMT
Too damn right. I didn't get the chance to sit on you at III - DC was always in the way...
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Post by Moo on Jan 26, 2006 22:47:00 GMT
And on that note... :moop:
September 2008
Newly promoted Kazincbarcika wanted to play with the big boys and they certainly tried to, they kept us at bay for most of the first half, missing a couple of sitters in the process. However, Travel Agent Groupie was showing his worth with a goal towards the end of the first half, cutting in from the wing to strike one with more than a little venom. After a sending off, the home side went to three at the back and were caught short by Breath Catcher’s pace again, he went for the run and strike, the rebound falling to Final Chapter. I like these two. A comfortable 2-0 win was our end result.
Celldömölk were next in the firing line, our four previous meetings had resulted in four wins for us, and there was no reason not to expect a fifth. We started quickly with three corners in the first five minutes, but a swift counter attack from one of them produced an away goal. Bah! We kept the pressure up for the rest of the half though, Final Chapter linking with Chemical Movement to set up Breath Catcher for a fine goal. However, we couldn’t breach the stern defence of the visitors and it ended all square.
We kept the same side for the cup game at first division REAC who sported a nifty 3-5-2 formation. This should be fun. We weren’t overly frightened by these lot though and did very well in the first half, creating three excellent opportunities which were wasted. We were naturally punished seven minutes into the second half after a mistake from Benji’s Bowl, he was just too slow making the pass. We made some changes, going to a more attacking formation, but to no avail. Our pressure and missed chances were not enough. However, we could now concentrate on the league™.
The league leaders (us) went a-travelling to the basement dwellers (Balatonlelle) and to make it worse for the home side, their keeper was sent off for tripping Breath Catcher in the penalty box. Chemical Movement scored the peno. Our second from Breath Catcher involved French Guitarist and a jinking run and exquisite pass after 13 mins. He made the third too, setting up Final Chapter for a third before half time. Cruising, French Guitarist was looking nice and cosy in his advanced role in the hole, but picked up a knock towards the end of the half, which was a shame. Chemical Movement scored a second penalty before putting a through ball for Second Chance Saloon too near the keeper. He made a mess of it though and the striker on as a sub tapped it into an open net for a fifth.
Russian Monkey replaced French Guitarist for the trip to Budakalász for his first appearance of the season. The only action of the first half really was Travel Agent Groupie getting to the byline and crossing for Breath Catcher to head in from 3 yards. We kept our cool and kept the clean sheet despite some decent possession from the home side. We still had some chances too, but the one was enough. Seven games gone and we’re two points in front of second placed Dunaújváros.
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Post by coffers on Jan 27, 2006 8:20:45 GMT
Good Work Moo. :thumb: Whatever you do now, just hang on to your strikers, slap massive asking prices on them if anyone comes sniffing.
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Post by Moo on Jan 27, 2006 9:24:59 GMT
It's not the strikers I'm worried about, it the fullbacks, funnily enough. They're both on the wanted list by decent first division sides, thankfully none of them Debrecen who seem to pinch my staff. My right winger is doing a cracking job though and the weird thing is that I have a better one arriving during the winter break. ;D
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Post by Boony on Jan 27, 2006 9:26:27 GMT
Yeah, more than just a million or so as well. Ask for £5m! Or something...
Anyway, cracking form in the league. You'll do it this year, I just know it.
Two FM06 stories going on? I should really start writing about mine...
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Post by Moo on Jan 27, 2006 21:16:37 GMT
October 2008A home game to the dangerous DAC who had been relegated in the summer, a little bit of banter with the other manager and we both had the teams fired up. We took the lead in the first half with yet another strike from left winger Chemical Movement, ghosting in from the wing meeting a deep cross with his head. How he got the header in from such a tight angle is anyone’s guess, but I’ll take it. Into the second half and they have a midfielder sent off, so we pack the midfield to stifle their dangerous passing moves. It worked like a dream and we ran out comfortable 1-0 winners. On paper, it was a tricky home tie against Felcsút; they had been doing well in the league and lay in 4th place. We made a change to last time’s winning formula with Russian Monkey getting the hole job instead of Part Of The Ploy. Miss Krankie faced us in nets and he led a charmed life in his short arsed frame. We hit the woodwork three times in the first half before Breath Catcher latches onto a pass from The Giant and boinks it in the corner. Oh yes, it was boinked. And with fifteen minutes to go in the game, we fluked a second. Smilie’s Toothpaste on the right wing was being pushed back by his marker and thwacked it from 15 yards from the half way line hoping for a touch, but it didn’t need one. Short arsed Miss Krankie flapped and missed. A nice 2-0 in the bag then. As an aside, Chemical Movement was in sparkling form. I bought him last season for 5k and he scored two goals in five games, this season he’d scored five in eight and his 8.25 average was looking fantastic. Long may it continue. I know I said this last time, but this was a tough one too. We’re away to Makó and they are currently 4th, but are consistently a top 8 side. We were 2-0 behind at the break and deservedly so. Their constant long balls caused us a problem and we couldn’t really get out of our own half. When we did it was set pieces that were our friend, but not friendly enough. Within eight minutes of the restart, substitute Part Of The Ploy swung in a free kick from the left and Final Chapter got a superb header on it to bring us back into it. 62 minutes. Chemical Movement. 25 yard free kick. And I’m actually out of my seat for it. ;D A fantastic rearguard unit gave us a 2-2 draw and we looked worthy of it. Whew! Paks were our next away game and we scored very early through Final Chapter after a pass through the middle of the defenders by Breath Catcher. To be fair, it looked offside. 22 mins saw us extend our lead with a sweet lob from Breath Catcher himself. Travel Agent Groupie then swung a cross in for French Guitarist who planted his header straight at the keeper, but Breath Catcher put the rebound in. The second half was more of a damp squib, mainly due to Chemical Movement’s injury. It appears that he will be out for between four and eight weeks because of a fractured wrist.. On the plus side, it means that Lily Glue will get some game time, but we will lose our joint top scorer.
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Post by Moo on Jan 28, 2006 0:06:44 GMT
November 2008
Our next game was at home to 15th placed Dorog, who had just been promoted in the summer. Lily Glue in for Chemical Movement and Russian Monkey in for French Guitarist. A defensive mistake for the away side gave Lily Glue the ball, a quick one pass move from him to Breath Catcher to Final Chapter and bang, in it went. 21st minute and 1-0 up. Just before the break we had a free kick on the 18 yard line, on the join with the D. Russian Monkey curled a beauty into the top corner for his first of the season. We kept the pace up, but a red card (yes another one for the other side) pushed them into the shell a bit and we couldn’t break through. We also played the last ten minutes with ten men after Resulting Confusion went off injured just after our third sub came on. As you do.
Remember the 7-2 humping I got the season before last? And then the 4-0 drubbing the season after? Aye, good morning Héviz! And we’re at their place for our 13th game. Superstitions, anyone? So, of course, Lily Glue got a knock after 15 minutes, in between their two goals on 13 and 17, meaning that a sub had to be used already. Tempted By Horses was ready, but I thought I would give Lily till the end of the half, if I could. Benji’s Bowl also got a knock, meaning that Dutch Frivolity was going to have to come on, because Down To Earth had been injured before the game. Oh aye. So with the changes made, we went a little more attacking and it paid off straight away. Tempted By Horses beat one man and swung the ball in with his left peg to Final Chapter who did the rest. We were incessant in our pressure through the rest of the half, but we just couldn’t break them down. We did hit the bar with 81 mins on the clock and forced their keeper into two point blank saves in injury time, but it wasn’t to be and our unbeaten record was over.
Cunts.
We had to bring Seaweed Fry Up in for the DC slot, as I thought he deserved a chance in the first team. We had a banged up team, of sorts, but we should have enough to cope with Tatabánya who were in 10th place at the start of the game. The first attack of any description though was by the away side, scoring after a slip up from Seaweed, the arse. So, we were ten minutes away from another defeat, I had to change things and after those changes, Final Chapter and French Guitarist got two back. Then in injury time Resulting Confusion got onto a long ball on the counter and struck it sweetly into the corner. The downer on the day though was an injury to Lily Glue who would be out for up to two months.
And on the 23rd of November we travel to Dunaújváros for a tricky game against the 4th placed team. Apparently there was some pure inspiration from Breath Catcher on 22 mins, I missed it, I was getting a beer, but we were ahead anyway. Then Nation Of Seven, drafted in from the rezzies set up Travel Agent Groupie to strike first time into the far corner. On the hour, a beautiful move where Final Chapter put French Guitarist through on the six yard line. You could see what he was going to do straight away, he tempted the keeper out and put the ball square to Breath Catcher to tap into an empty net. Simplicity itself to make it 3-0, French Guitarist getting MoM.
Last in the month were BKV Elõre who were struggling in 13th place, just outside the relegation places. We brought back Benji’s Bowl instead of Seaweed Fry-Up who went to the bench. Two nil down after 18 minutes and we had to change it. Their pacey front line was causing me problems, so I played them deeper to counteract this. Well, that was the plan. Ten minutes from the half time whistle, The Giant struck a lovely free kick from 20 yards. We were back in with a shout at least. However, it wasn’t to be and we lost the game despite some good possession in the final third. We stay top, but only by a point as Bodajk won.
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Post by Moo on Jan 29, 2006 22:27:57 GMT
December 2008Georgian 19 yo Yum Yum Pig’s Bum joined us on a free transfer from BATE, which was just as well, as regular Rainbow Feet got a thigh strain for a couple of weeks. He’d be straight into the side. His first game would be at home to the second placed side, namely Bodajk-Siófok who, according to the press, were exceeding all expectations. We’ll just have to see about that. Bodajk had the best of the opening 20 minutes and they were unlucky to be one behind after 27. The Giant scored a screamer from 25 yards out, curling it right footed into the top corner A few minutes later it was two nil, Nation Of Seven, still deputising for the injured Chemical Movement fed substitute Resulting Confusion (Captain Beefheart being injured after only 7 minutes) who strode forward with intent. He slipped the ball to his left and Final Chapter shot hard and low into the net. Into the second hald and pretty much the same thing again with the away side having the better of the opening exchanges and us getting a goal midway though the half. The Giant again, this time with a free kick from the edge of the box. We took a more defensive approach (I’ve been caught out before) and kept them at bay, the only highlights shown were of the away side passing sideways. Captain Beefheart was injured in the last game with a torn calf muscle, meaning he would be out for between 3 and 5 months. Yoiks! He may have played his last game of the season then. Next up is newly promoted Gyirmót at their place. Resulting Confusion got the nod up front rather than Second Chance Saloon who was unhappy at not being in the first team. I planned to use him later on. The decision paid off after 28 minutes, Confusion latching onto a rebound after great play and a tame shot by Final Chapter was spilled. He couldn’t miss really, but he missed a header from six yards just a minute previously, so you were never sure. We doubled our lead on 45 minutes, Nation Of Seven striding down the left, crossing for Resulting Confusion again to slot it in the far side. Then on the break after a Gyirmót corner, Travel Agent Groupie ran 40 yards with the ball, fed French Guitarist who had drifted out wide. He then put a precision pass back behind the defenders and Groupie got on the end of it. Cruising. Nation Of Seven and Final Chapter got two more before the end to win 5-0 on the day. Our last game before the winter break was a relatively straight forward home tie against another team promoted last summer, Kazincbarcika, who we had beaten earlier in the year 2-0. We kept the same team, but Chemical Movement made an appearance on the bench after his lengthy layoff. We were all over them and it wasn’t until late in the second half that we made the break through, Nation Of Seven continuing his great form with another goal. However, the away side left their defensive tactics behind and struck back immediately after an uncharacteristic slip from Down To Earth let in their lone striker, he made no mistake. We ended the year with a disappointing draw, as did Bodajk, so we kept our four point lead at the top of the table, but maybe more importantly, we were 10 points better off than third place.
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Post by Sonic on Jan 30, 2006 6:27:18 GMT
That's your best start to a season upto the 19th game. I think you might have cracked it finally, that or Boony's incentive is been passed onto the players.
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Post by coffers on Jan 30, 2006 8:34:27 GMT
Excellent work with a nice 4 point gap opened up there and now for a borong rest. get some lucrative friendlies played at home of course. Midweek games are usually best as the main European teams play most weekends, but you already knew that.
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Post by Boony on Jan 30, 2006 9:29:16 GMT
Nice work, Moo ski. "...he tempted the keeper out and put the ball square to Breath Catcher to tap into an empty net." There's quite a bit of that going on, I've noticed. Anyway, keep it up and you'll be promoted! That'll be nice... :thumb:
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Post by Moo on Jan 30, 2006 9:36:09 GMT
I did, but nobody wants to play so far.
As things go, I'm pleased with how things are going so far. In the last three seasons, there have been teams I have been anxious about playing against, but I have a lot of good players now, so those fears aren't there. I genuinely think I can beat all the teams in this division. Whilst I am not dropping many points, I need to iron out the glitches like the last game, where it was tight until we scored the goal, then they struck back straight away. i should have known what was going to happen and immediately gone defensive for a while, to make sure nothing silly happened. Ah well, you live and learn.
Despite having a decent amount of cash in the bank, I'm still looking for the bargains and I have signed this absolute beast of a centre half though, fro a Div 1 reserve team. I just hope he lives up to expectations.
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Post by coffers on Jan 30, 2006 11:15:27 GMT
Have you tried Aab & Toulouse, they seem to jump at the chance of a friendly in my game. I think I could play Aab every week if I really wanted to. Other options try the 'bigger' clubs from countires surrounding yours. Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic (Banik Ostrava are worth a shot), Austria even Switzerland could be worth a try.
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Post by Moo on Jan 30, 2006 11:19:14 GMT
Aye, I'll try some of that tonight, Austria looks a good bet TBH. I suppose any extra money coming in is a good thing, especially as I've signed some more players in January, one on bigger wages than I can afford. GAMBLE!!!!
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Post by coffers on Jan 30, 2006 11:34:50 GMT
Oh and it's worth saying nice things about the manager of any clubs you arrange friendlies against, it seems to help for re-matches. If you can say nice things about possible friendly opponents managers anyway. Butter them up, I'm sure it helps in the long run.
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Post by Moo on Jan 30, 2006 11:58:24 GMT
Send the missus around for a special massage, that sort of thing?
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Post by coffers on Jan 30, 2006 12:15:23 GMT
It might work, what's she like?
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Post by Boony on Jan 30, 2006 12:18:31 GMT
She ain't all that.
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Post by coffers on Jan 30, 2006 13:43:04 GMT
It's no wonder he isn't getting any friendlies sorted out then.
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Post by Moo on Jan 30, 2006 13:45:26 GMT
I don't need them, my team are the greatest!!
[Cue Plummet™]
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