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Post by Sonic on Dec 14, 2010 14:24:29 GMT
Ah the wages conundrum. It's a biatch! Oh, and the rep of other teams established is too. Which I forgot about too. I hate that. Does your board accept bids they think are acceptable for a player still? Or have they stopped that? I really hate this when they way under accept Youthers is easily the best way to go in your situation. They'd be crazy not to join you considering they should see your team as a chance to win something, and then move on to a club that has a lot of history and rep. Hopefully you get quite a few years from them first before a healthy transfer fee. Or keep them. Either is a win. Hopefully the wages thing improves with the size of the stadium. What is up to now? How large do you think it could go to? I wish they'd just build something huge in scale with what your club is at and winning. Makes much more sense. Though you'll not know what the club is turning away on match day for tickets.
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Post by coffers on Dec 19, 2010 19:58:58 GMT
July 2017
Once again the month of revolving doors is upon us and it starts with incoming players for which we had £54M available, many of them brought in with an eye to the future at:
Incoming
Fabian Delph a 27yo 5' 9" MC who arrives on a Bozzer from Aston Villa. He is decent quality to add to the midfield, on top of his game and rated at 3.5*. Luciano the 18yo Brazilian striker who we have been waiting for for 18 months due to silly Brazilian rules. He's rated at 2.5* potential and apparently lacks intelligence. Hmmm was the wait and £900k fee in vain. Skull Czar a 17yo Romanian GK who has 2.5* potential, he comes from Dinamo Bucharest for £250k. Gianni Conrath a 17yo 5' 11" Belgian striker who costs £1M from Club Brugge. This guy has 3* potential and looks decent already for his age. Brought in as a 1st team player to get him, but is more likely to see time in the U20's plus odd bench appearances. This strategy may not win me brownie points though. Speedometer an 18yo 5' 8" Croatian D/WB/L with excellent attributes and already playing at 3* out of his 3.5* potential. This guy could oust Hear The Drums from his left back position. He costs me £2.8M
There were many decent (World Class) players that I tried to get but they wanted wages that the board wouldn't agree to so i went for younger players who I thought would do us proud going forward.
There were plenty of players who made room in the squad by heading for pastures new:
Outgoing
Gryffindore has been a fringe MC forever, does ok when called on but won't set the world afire so he is allowed to go to Olympiakos for £2.1M plus extras. Siem De Jong another fringe player (AMC) who was out on loan all last season, he heads for Genoa for £2.9M plus extras. Lozenge Another player who went on loan last season, a decent enough DMC/MC but we want better than decent so he heads for Lazio for £2.5m plus extras. Arab Suspender a DRC who has been on the transfer list forever and I couldn't get rid of him for free, so imagine my surprise when West Brom pay £500k for him. I snapped their hands off. Ryad Boudebouz A January buy who I got in to fill a left wing spot in case we ever played with wingers. I regretted the transaction, so he's allowed to go on season long loan to Real Madrid for £160k with a fee attached if they want to take up a buy option. The board never liked him from the off. Fish Sauce Another decent midfielder who was deemed surplus to requirements, he head to Valencia for £6M plus extras. Morbid Wake a youther DC who isn't going to play any part in our future but is decent by many standards. Pro Vercelli take him for £825k plus extras. Bull Fight a quality Spanish keeper, who was upset all last season because I wouldn't sell him. I can't have disharmony in the team so accept £4.9M plus extras from Bordeaux. Death Trip a youth keeper goes on season long loan to Foggia.
Confederations Cup
A capacity crowd at the Melbourne Cricket ground witness another awkward display by a lackluster Holland against Cameroon for the 3rd place playoff. Holland have most of the possession and create more chances but they still struggle to make the chances count. However 29 Amrabat pounces on a rebound from a Jansen shot and strokes the ball into an empty net. Alex Song equalises on 40 with a 25 yard shot that disappointingly goes in off the bar. It takes a fast counter attack on 88 to settle it. A long ball down the left is collected by Van Zwam, he charges into the area and draws the keeper before squaring for Babel to poke the ball into another empty net. Won 2-1 It's enough to satisfy the Dutch FA that I can still do a job, but I'm becoming rapidly disillusioned at the quality of players coming through the ranks and could well bin the job after the next World Cup. The win keeps us in 2nd place in the Fifa Rankings. Argentina win the tournament and are considered number 1.
The Domestic Scene Again
We have four friendlies in July all televised:
The first friendly is away to Frankfurt and it becomes a rout. The goals came from Pale Vespa (6, 32 and 61), Fabian Delph (25), French Pepper (63), Adam baker (74) and Noe Fritsch (89). It was lambs to the slaughter and it raised the profile of Pale Vespa's potential. Won 7-0
Next up was an away trip to Academica and it was another rout. Seven different players scored: Pale Vespa (37), French Pepper (39), Sergio Canales (49), Long Putt (58), Noe Fritsch (62), Jack Rodwell (80) and Salt Hakka (83). Won 7-0
The quality of play was very good but was it a false illusion?
FC Den Bosch away is next and it's another high scoring game. The game sees another hat-trick, this time by Risotto (8, 13, 28), Pale Vespa (78) and Jack Rodwell (82). The game saw Drillmaster injured on 12 minutes. Won 5-0
The final game of the month was away to Serie C1A outfit Foggia, they played a defence packed 5-3-2 formation and smothered our attempts to play. We did overcome them though with goals from: Jack Rodwell (29), Pale Vespa (445+1) and Long Putt (90+4) Won 3-0
I still had a lot of money left to spend in the transfer market but couldn't find anyone to spend it on.
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Post by Sonic on Dec 25, 2010 2:48:41 GMT
The final game of the month was away to Serie C1A outfit Foggia, they played a defence packed 5-3-2 formation and smothered our attempts to play. We did overcome them though with goals from: Jack Rodwell (29), Pale Vespa (445+1) and Long Putt (90+4) Won 3-0I still had a lot of money left to spend in the transfer market but couldn't find anyone to spend it on. Good update. Spending and getting a big player would have been great for the profile of the club, but spending for spending sake to get a WC player was a wise thing to avoid. It would disrupt the squad, as the wages bill would then be a thing of argument. It would I guess depend on the player, and definitely you hope they perform. Once again I like your in's and out's; makes great sense, and balances the books nicely leaving you poised if the opportunity does present itself. The friendly I left in the quote has some interesting scoring times, new feature in this version that I wasn't aware of Good results too, and hope this some good signs of things to come in the up coming season. Holland is probably a good time to leave after the next WC no matter what anyway. :thumb:
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Post by coffers on Dec 25, 2010 19:27:41 GMT
It felt like forever at the time.
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Post by coffers on Jan 14, 2011 21:01:24 GMT
August 2017
The friendlies continue with a televised away trip to Fulham which proves to be a good workout, in that we struggle in the first half and go in a goal behind from a 41st minute strike by Joe Power, a player I had in my England U21's team some time ago. I send on French Pepper for Gianni Conrath at the break and then make 4 changes on 55 including Adam Baker for Noe Fritsch and things start to happan. On 57 French Pepper centres to the edge of the area, Baker collects and hits the ball home with his second touch. On 69 French Peppers through ball is controlled by Baker and again with his second touch he scores from 25 yards. ON 81, Baker crosses to teh near post French Pepper heads on to the back post, Cornetto heads it back towards the middle of teh goalmouth and French Pepper heads in with the keeper looking bemused. On 85 Baker feeds teh ball to Luciano, the young Brazian cooly draws the keeper before sliding home the final goal. Won 4-1
Two days later we travel to Cremonese for another televised friendly and the viewers witness a goal glut: Bakker (29 & 42), Canales (36), Rodwell (44), Long Putt (70), Pale Vespa (81 & 86) and Noe Fritsch (84) are the scorers. Won 8-0
As we run up to the Italian Super Cup Final there are a couple of transfers to report:
Stiff Chariot an 18yo Right Back was deemed surplus to requirements, as we have DR's falling out of our ears, so he's sold to Catania for £1M plus extras. On his way in is Pascal Mettlen a 5' 10" 22yo Belgian D/LC who I tried to snare 3 or four years ago, but he elected to go to Torino instead. He's ours now and costs me £6M for his 2.5* potential. Mind that's the Assmans view. The scouts thought he was better than that and so do I.
The first 'competitive' game of the season is at home to AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup and what we thought would be a hard game turns out to be fairly easy even if they did have 57% posession. Sergio Canales opens on 7 smashing a loose ball home from 8 yards after French Pepper's shot is parried out by the keeper. On 43 Canales is tripped in the area by former target Michael Albert and Noe Fritsch smashes home from the spot. On 72 Toilet Truck sends over a corner and SciFi Author heads in at the back post. With the game in the bag on 76 SciFi Author slices a cross into his own net to give Milan a chance, which tehy didn't take any further. Won 3-1 The first silverware of teh season is in the bag.
Goalkeeper Bull Fight is sent to Bordeaux for £4.9M after spending a season in the sulks.
A home friendly to Fenerbache follows and so does another 3-1 romp. Goals from Gianni Conrath (29), youther DC without a future Christian Coli (48), and Risotto (51) give us a 3 goal lead, but on 54 Fenerbache hit a 256 yard free kick which Cooking Oil can only parry and Romizi pokes teh ball into the empty net. won 3-1
The final friendly of the pre-sason is at home to Cruzeiro it's probably the hardest game of the pre-season but SciFi Author opens on 20 with a trademark back post header from a Fritsch corner. We have to wait until the 85th minute to feel more comfortable about the score, when Valencia deflects a Toilet Truck Header into his own net. Won 2-0.
Unwanted youther Daniele De Luca is the last sale of this transfer windo he goes to Valenzana for £55k plus extras.
So the first league game of the season, at home to Genoa is also the final game in August. As we did last season we made a hash of it. Genoa opened on 22 when Edin Dzeko headed in a corner at the back post. Dzeko double his tally on 29 when he latched onto a long ball over our defence and drilled a low shot inside the right post. That sinking feeling started to make itself felt as we struggled to gain a foothold and were still struggling in teh second period. But wait on 60 Baker is tripped in teh area by Vertonghen and Noe Fritsch slots home from the spot. The game is running away from us hen on 83 Speedometer breaks down the left and feeds the ball inside to Pale Vespa, he flicks on to the near post and Fritsch gets in ahead of his marker to glance a header inside the left post to give us an unlikely share of the points. Drew 2-2. French Pepper was injured after only 39 minutes to compound a bad start to the season .
In the final days of teh transfer window I make to sudden almost panic buys:
Lukman Haruna a 27yo 3* Nigerian DMC is purchased from Monaco for £13.5M. Neymar a 25yo Brazilian AM/FC is purchased from Bordeaux for £25M in the hope of adding something to the attack that we haven't got, namely, flair, fisrt touch and Dribbling.
So we spent £49.5M and sold £26M worth of talent.
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Post by coffers on Jan 16, 2011 16:58:33 GMT
September 2017
The first game in September took place in Monaco, against AC Milan in the European Super Cup, smarting from their Italian Super Cup defeat they put up a much more spirited performance, though their keeper got the MOM award. The game ended 0-0 after extra time but we won on penalties. Drew 0-0 Aet, Won 8-7 on penalties
A trip to Torino in the league was next and we got off to a good start when Jack Rodwell headed in a Mettlen corner at the far post after only 5 minutes. we didn't really take a grip on the game after that and Torino equalised a minute before the end of the half, when Delicate Mate screwed up a clearance rushing out to the half way line and Milevskyi picked up the ball and hit the empty net from the halfway line. Six minutes into the second half Fritsch broke down the right cut back and centred, Jack Rodwell met the ball with his head and we were back in the lead. On 82 Baker collected the ball inside the left side of the area and drilled a low cross to the near post, Toilet Truck reacted first and diverted the ball past the keeper. Won 3-1
Holland - Group 9 World Cup Qualifiers Holland opened the Group qualifiers with a home game against Latvia, if we thought it would be easy we were wrong, it should have been easy but out of 17 on target shots we only made 3 count. The scorers were Harry Janssen (36) and Huntelaar (42 & 51pen). Won 3-0
Back to the Domestics
We returned to domestic football with a home game against Inter Milan, a game that we expected to be a close run thing. It wasn't, their keeper had a belting game but he couldn't stop Baker on 45, when Speedometers long ball cleared the way for Baker to slot in from just inside the area. The lead was doubled on 81 when Marcellis centred, Baker's shot was parried and Noe Fritsch followed up to smack the loose ball home. Won 2-0.
On to the Champions Cup Group G, a home game against Manchester United and it was every bit as difficult as we expected it to be, they bossed the game from the off and Rooney opened the scoring on 18 with an angled shot from the edge of the box. We hauled ourselves back into it a minute into first half injury time, Canales collected on the edge of their area and split two defenders with a neat pass, Fritsch was onto it and stroked the ball under the advancing keeper. Three minutes into the second period and Speedometer got his marching orders for a 2nd yellow card after tripping Rooney, which made life very difficult as Manchester's 60% possession stat showed, but we hung on to the bitter end. Drew 1-1
A trip to Livorno awaited and it wasn't pretty, however we took all the points with a French Pepper strike from 17 yards in the 50th minute, Fritsch supplied the cross. Won 1-0
What followed was a crazy match against Catania in which they had 59% of the possession, but Baker opened on 6, latching onto a blocked Rodwell shot he swept the ball into the net before anyone could react. Baker doubled his and our tally on 43 when a swift counter attack saw Risotto put him through one on one with the keeper, Baker kept his cool and finished from inside the area. Catania came back at us and kept pressing for the rest of the game but on 80 Another counter attack saw Neymar take the ball down the left before centring for substitute French Pepper to side foot home from 8 yards. on 85, Risotto's thunderous strike was parried out by the Catania keeper, Delph mis-controlled the loose ball instead of shooting and Pepper pounced to collect his second from 6 yards out. Won 4-0
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Post by coffers on Jan 16, 2011 21:04:35 GMT
October 2017At this point the board decided to tell me that they were somewhat disappointed with the signing of Neymar, they could be right he's hardly set the Alghero faithful alight with his displays so far. Back to the Champions Cup and an away fixture at Fenerbache, the game proved to be easy as Fritsch opened on 3 minutes pouncing on a loose ball that the Fenerbache defence failed twice to clear and smashing in from 8 yards. French Pepper made it two on 7 minutes drilling in a half cleared ball from 16 yards, just inside the right hand post. The gusty conditions didn't help to make for a flowing game but we finished the Turks off on 79 when Delph's angled ball was thumped in from 12 yards by Noe Fritsch. Won 3-0Fast on the heals of the trip to Turkey came a trip to Udinese and the game was settled by one goal in the 19th minute, an angled ball from Fritsch was driven home from 20 yards by Baker, it was the only shot from 11 on target that hit the net. Won 1-0 Time for an international break: Holland - Group 9 World Cup QualifiersHolland traveled to Georgia and got the easy expected victory with goals from Armrabat (9), Huntelaar (36, 41, 51) and Harry Janssen (46), Georgia's sole reply came on 55. Won 5-1Following the Georgian rout came a disappointing home game against Scotland, we went 1-0 down on 5 when Alan Williams headed in a near post corner. Toilet Truck equalised on 15 hitting in a rebound from A De Geus shot from 12 yards. On 39 Wijnaldum turned his marker in the area and shot home from 14 yards. Toilet Truck then started the rot on 42 by getting himself sent off for Clattering Wire into the ground and collecting a second yellow, the decision was described as dubious by the TV pundits, but we were down to 10 men. Scotland came at us in the second period and we struggled to cope, finally caving in on 73 when Sneijder upended Wlliams in the area, Naismith scored from the spot. Thankfully we held out to the end of the game to collect a point, but a home draw against Scotland is frankly embarrassing. Drew 2-2Back to the DomesticsThe next game at home to Roma uplifted my spirits, the totally unexpected happened, we broke a scoring record; Canales opened on 4 smashing home a short layoff from Fritsch from the edge of the area. On 29 Neymar ran clear following a clearance by Rodwell, he ran half the length of the pitch before driving an angeled ball under the keeper. On 31 Neymar broke down the left cut back and hit a low pass to the edge of the area and Haruna did the rest with a powerful rising shot. Five minutes later and Iko Iko hit a corner to the far post where Marcellis headed home. We were rampant. On 61 Canales passed the ball inside a defender for Fritsch to run onto and thunder a shot in from 18 yards out. On 66 Neymar hit the ball along the edge of the area, Canales let it drift past his marking defender and then turned and thumped it home with a first time shot. Canales claimed his hat-trick on 75 when collecting a short pass from Neymar he hit a thunderous 25 yard effort into the top left corner. To round things off on 85, Neymar curled a 30 yard shot around two defenders and the keeper to claim a club high scoring record. Won 8-0 Just to astound you even more, Roma had 62% of the possession and we scored with 8 of our 11 on target shots. In midweek we entertained Brondby in the Champions Cup and it was another stroll in the park. Fritsch opened on 8 pouncing on a blocked Delph Cross, to slip in from 6 yards. On 34 Risotto was tripped in the area and Fritsch converted from the spot. Two Minutes later Rodwell's ball to the right corner of the box was driven across the keeper for number three by French Pepper. A minute into first half injury time Fritsch claimed his hat-trick finishing off a 6 pass move by driving in a 12 yard shot. Risotto rounded off the scoring on 71 stroking home from 8 yards after the defence failed to deal with a Delph flick into the area. Won 5-0A stunning month came to an end with another stunning scoreline at home to Brescia. It all started on 4 minutes when Neymar collected a forward ball by Delph, beat two men and fired in from 20 yards. Ten minutes later French Peppers pass to Neymar was intercepted but mis-controlled by the Brescia defence, Neymar reacted quickly and fired home from just inside the area. On 31 Neymar's shot from 20 yards was pushed out by the keeper but Canales followed up to drive home from 16 yards. A minute later on 32, Delph played a ball towards the penalty spot, Neymar beat two defenders to it and claimed his hat-trick. On 35 Marcellis headed in an Iko Iko corner from 6 yards to give us a five goal half time lead. On 51 Speedometer hit a long ball out of our area over the Brescia defence and French Pepper was away, he struck a powerful shot to make it six from 25 yards. On 53 Carlos Costly claimed a consolation for Brescia heading in a chipped cross at the far post. Two minutes later Iko Iko hit a deep corner, Macellis headed it across the goal and canales poked in number seven from close range. On 89 Rodwell headed in a Neymar cross from 5 yards to complete the rout. Won 8-1 What a pity we let that goal in, we'd gone nearly the whole of October without conceding. The board weren't complaining about the Neymar signing now. The League Table at the end of OctoberUploaded with ImageShack.usThe ground improvements continue as we operate with a reduced capacity of just over 20,000.
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Post by coffers on Jan 17, 2011 1:12:06 GMT
November 2017Into November and we travel to Sampdoria, traditionally a 4-2-3-1 favouring team and one that we don't like playing against. This time we batter them but their keeper is on top form and we have to wait until the 60th minute to open, Lukman Haruna opens his account diverting a free kick from Head Tennis into the net from 8 yards. A minute later and Mettlen puts French Pepper clear down the left, the striker's shot is pushed out to th edge of the area by the keeper and Jack Rodwell follows up to double our score. On 69 Fritsch angles a ball behind the defence and Baker is free to drill the ball under the keeper from 14 yards. Won 3-0At home to Juventus next and we restrict them to 7 off target shots, but their keeper gets MOM, a single goal from French Pepper on 31 is all it takes to get us maximum points, Neymar's shot is parried and in the resulting scramble around 12 yards out, French 'shot finds it's way into the net. Won 1-0The second half of the Champions Cup group games starts with a trip to Brondby; on 13 Nearly My Namesake crosses to the near post and Canales walks the ball into the net. Four minutes later and Jack Rodwell hammers On Speed's inside pass home from 25 yards. On 26 a parried shot from French Pepper is slotted into the empty net by Jack Rodwell. On the half hour mark Jalapeno Shrimp's header across the goal is parried and slotted in by Canales who claims his hat-trick from 23 yards, on 34, after Delph puts him clear. Slack defending on 43 sees Brondby pull one back when De Gues puts Bemburg in with only the keeper to beat. On 62 Rodwell's superb defence splitting pass is hammered home by French Pepper from just inside the area and on 70 Baker puts Rodwell clear inside the area to claim his hat-trick from 12 yards. A minute into injury time sees Brondby break, De Geus sees his shot parried by Cooking Oil and Bemburg follows up to claim his and Brondby's second of the game. Won 7-2 We are struggling regarding keepers at this point as Delicate Mate is out for 3 weeks with a pulled hamstring. The difficulties come home to roost in the next game away to AC Milan who get their revenge for the two close season defeats. Jozy Alidore puts Milan in front on 5, with a near post header from a corner. Altidore strikes again from 21 yards on 16 when Pato plays him in with a short pass. Defensively we're a mess. On 21 a long ball through causes their keeper to have a rush of blood to his head, he slashes at the ball outside his area and it travels less than 5 yards to Neymar who gratefully plants it into the empty net from 25 yards. That is it though, game over on all counts. Lost 0-1Away to Atalanta next and a chance to put things right, things look good on 23 when Delph wins the ball in midfield and fed it forward to French Pepper his first time pass into the path of Neymar, give the Brazilian carte blanche to open from 18 yards and he duly obliges. Unfortunately despite having the best of the ball we can't finish the game off and Atalanta make us pay on 52 when a deep cross finds Santarelli in acres of space on the edge of the area, he duly equalises with Sampdoria's only on target shot. Drew 1-1Holland - Group 9 World Cup QualifiersThe follow up to the Scotland debacle is an away trip to Turkey, that is almost another debacle but Sneijder takes the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half and thumps a rising shot into the left corner on 51 to open. on 90+1 De Jong sends Amrabat clear to ensure we got all three points with a 15 yard strike. Won 2-0to Serbia next and boy was that nearly an embarrassment, Millecevic opened on 43 3when a route one ball fooled our entire defence and he finished form outside the area. Despite controlling the game for long periods we did zilch with the ball, until on 87 Emanuelson's cross found Janssen unmarked on the edge of the 6 yard box and he slotted home with a right foot shot. Drew 1-1 Things are slipping badly here. Back to the DomesticsWe needed a ship steadier and along came Siena at home, our ground extensions complete we entertained a crowd of 30,468, but it didn't get off to a great start and Siena actually took the lead on 36, Brandao glancing a near post header between the keeper and the post. Not the best of starts for Delicate Mate's return to action. We were level on 41 though when Neo Fritsch planted a 6 yard shot in during a goal mouth scramble. on 45 Canales collected a Delph pass inside the area and turned and shot in one to give us a half time lead. On 78 Rodwell tripped Brandao and received his second yellow, so we were down to 10 men but we held on and even better was to come. On 90+1 Iko Iko sent Neymar into the area, the forwards diagonal run put Siena's defence in a panic, but before they could do anything he squared the ball across the keeper and Neo Fritsch had the easiest chance to stroke the ball home for number three. Won 3-1 It's a great way to celebrate a record crowd as we open out extended stadium to a crowd of 30468 fans, just over 600 short of capacity which is now 31,114. Finally we traveled to Manchester United for the Champions Cup Group G match, frankly we did better than expected and on 31 we took the lead when Rodwell's through ball was blasted in from 20 yards by French Pepper. Despite intense pressure from the home side we coped well, but finally buckled on 89 when Rooney collected a near post corner, cut he ball back and Marcano sent the Old Trafford faithful into raptures with a drilled shot from 12 yards. Drew 1-1The League Table at the end of November 2017Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Post by coffers on Jan 17, 2011 1:13:50 GMT
One month left to write up and I can get back to playing the game.
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Post by coffers on Jan 17, 2011 22:14:52 GMT
December 2017An away trip to Napoli has always proved to be a tough game and this time it is no different. It's a very even affair and Delicate Mate takes away the MOM award, the game is settled in the 79th minute when we successfully defend a corner, Risotto collects the ball on the edge of our area and launches a ball forward to just over the halfway line, Baker streaks off to outstrip the defence, his run takes him into the area and he slots under the hesitant keeper from 15 yards. Won 1-0Another tough game follows, this time at home to Bari a team who favour an attacking 4-2-4 which means there is always the chance of a goal glut. On 33 Delicate mate hits a long free kick from our half, French Pepper heads on and Fritsch gets behind the defence to open the scoring with a shot from just inside the area. They are holding possession but we are creating the chances. That said Bari claim an equaliser on 64, Marrazzo gets behind the defence to head in a deep free-kick into the area. Straight from kick off we move the ball forward and Fritsch pokes it through a defenders legs to send French Pepper clear into the area to score from 12 yards. On 78 On Speed heads a ball forward from our halfway line, Risotto looks up and slots a simple pass forward to French Pepper, the young striker composes himself, wrong foots his marker before moving inside to stroke the ball in from 18 yards. On 84, Delicate mate makes a mess of a cross into the area and Acosta pulls a goal back with Bari's third of three on target shots all game. The last six minutes were nerve tingling but we held onto maximum points. Won 3-2A capacity crowd attended the next home game, the final Champions Cup game at home to Fenerbachewe were already top of the group by virtue of both scoring more goals than anyone else and having a better goal difference a decent win would maintain that position. We got off to a great start on 5 when Jack Rodwell smashed a 30 yard shot into the roof of the net. Despite that we made heavy weather of the rest of the game and didn't really do much until we sent on 3 subs bewteen 61 and 69. Then on 71 On Speed splits the defence with a sweet pass and one of the sub 's, Risotto, found himself with time to spare to make it 2-0 from around 16 yards. Ten minutes later French Pepper repeated On Speed's trick and again Risotto finished the move, this time from 12 yards out. On 90+1 SciFi Author was impeded as he tried to get a header in from a corner and Risotto claimed his hat-trick from the spot. Won 4-0 Man United won 6-0 away to Brondby, but they would have needed to score 4 more to overtake us. So we finished the group stages on top of the group with 4 wins and a draw. The final league game of the year was away to Mantova we were expected to romp it and after a 1st minute individual goal from Canales it looked as if the pundits might have a point. on 28 Neymar flicked a cross on and Canales struck his and our second from 18 yards but Mantova were making life hard by cramming their defence. On 36 they pulled one back when Boya finished off a well worked move from the angle of the box and that was that, the game just died after that point. Won 2-1It was time to travel to Japan for the World Club Championships, a Semi Final against Seongnam from South Korea. This was just a stroll as Long Putt slots in from 1 yard following a scramble from a corner. On 8 Rodwell feeds Baker just inside the area and Bakers first time shot bulges the net. On 35 SciFi Author gets above the defence to head our third from 6 yards. The scoring is wrapped up on 49 when Baker toe pokes home a ball into the area from Rodwell. Won 4-0 We will meet Sao Paulo in the final in the first game of 2018. The Table at the End of December 2017Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Post by coffers on Feb 22, 2011 10:26:46 GMT
Now finished the regular season. I did get to the Champions League Final and that is left to play. Then updates will slowly follow for January 2018 to May/June 2018.
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Post by Moo on Feb 22, 2011 10:32:22 GMT
Yay! :_handclapping_smiley_:
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Post by coffers on Mar 8, 2011 0:16:50 GMT
January 2018Where were we? Oh yes 2018, I guess the first thing to do is run through the January transfers, the easiest first, that being my buys, there were none, zilch, zero nil. I did attempt to lure some top class players for huge sums but either no team was willing to part with them or when I did get a bite the player wouldn't come for what we could afford, so I concentrated on thinning out the squad a little. The Outgoing PlayersJam Butty went on loan to Fenebahce for the rest of the season for a fee of £1.5M plus an option to buy. Hear The Drums a fine left back who had found it hard to get a game since the purchase of Speedometer was shipped out to Inter Milan for £10M plus extras. The new year opened with the Club World Championship final against Sao Paulo, looking to add a new trophy to our bow I started with a full strength team and it quickly paid off as after only 5 minutes Delph was hauled down in the area and Noe Fritsch opened from the spot. On 23 On Speed's corner was headed in by SciFi Author. We dominated the rest of the game seeing 63% of the possession but we couldn't add to the score. Sao Paulo pulled a goal back with their only on target shot on 84 minutes, Alex poaching a scrambled affair following a half cleared corner. Won 2-1 Another tin pot in the bag. The games would then come thick and fast as our schedule had us down to play 7 games between the `0th and 31st January. The first match back in the domestic competition was away to Lazio in the league. we started with the same line up as started against Sao Paulo and totally dominated the game so much that Lazio didn't manage one on target shot. SciFi Author opened with a towering header on 10 following another On Speed corner. We had to wait until the 54th minute for the next goal when Delph fed the ball forward to Fritsch who laid it off to free French Pepper, the striker needed no prompting as he found himself free to slot in from 18 yards. Neymar completed the scoring on 76 finishing from just inside the area after French Pepper had played him in. Won 3-0At Home to Palermo, in front of a capacity crowd Neymar continued where he left off, opening on 5 minutes getting behind the defence to head in a deep Canales free-kick from 6 yards. On 27 Fabian Delph thumped an unstoppable shot home from 25 yards to make it two. Three minutes later in a 7 pass move Canales received the ball about 40 yards out and advanced without being challenged, as the gap widened he chose his spot and stroked the ball in from 22 yards. No more scoring ensued despite Palermo going down to 10 men after 67 minutes. It was another dominant performance where we restricted the opposition to a couple of long range on target efforts. Won 3-0. The Italian Cup 1st round saw us host lowly Mantova, it was a walkover. Adam Baker opened after 2 minutes, poking home a rebound from a Fritsch shot. Head Tennis volleyed in a deep Canales free-kick from 12 yards after 25 minutes. On 29 Fritsch hit a curling 40 yard free-kick that stunned Mantova into total submission. On 52, Fritsch added a second from 6 yards after being played in by Baker. On 62 Fritsch notched his hat-trick pouncing on a loose ball after SciFi Author had tried to dribble round the keeper. In 80 Fritsch grabs his fourth of the game as he collects the ball 22 yards out with his back to the goal, he turns his marker and hits a first time shot that rockets into the net. In the first minute of injury time, Delph completes the rout drilling the ball in from the left angle of the box after Long Putt hits a forward ball splitting what was left of Mantova's defence. Won 7-0We now have 4 games in the 10 days left in January, the first of which is away to relegation threatened Potenza, though we allow them the majority of possession they don't know what to do with it, so we show them on 29, Canales forward ball plays Fritsch in and the Frenchman's angled drive evades the keeper to send the traveling fans into raptures. On 36 Canales turns his marker on the edge of the area and hits a neat shot inside the near post. On 40 French Pepper sends Fritsch clear to run into the area and slam a low drive under the keeper for number three. Neymar is next as Apolloni hits the ball over the defence for the Brazilian to run onto and beat the static keeper from 6 yards.On 86 On Speed upended Saul to earn a second yellow in the game and he had to go. A minute into injury time and Apolloni fed Neymar again this time the Brazilian hit the ball from just inside the area to catch the keeper off balance. Won 5-0We expected a tough game at Genoa and got one, they battered us with shots like no other team since the turn of the year but couldn't make them count. We had 4 shots on target and scored with 75% of them. The first came on 19 when Jack Rodwell collected a loose ball following a tackle on French Pepper, Rodwell drove into the area before unleashing an low angled drive when the keeper expected a cut back. on 23 Delph collected a ball from Long Putt on the edge of the D, turned his marker and hit a rising drive before anyone could close him down, to make it 2-0. On 48 Iko Iko drifted past two players as he charged down the right and cut the ball back into the area, Rodwell collected and went past Casey before drilling low and hard across the keeper for number 3. Won 3-0Torino cam visiting next and went home having received a shooting lesson. Canales opened on 7 from just inside the area after being played in by Fritsch. The second didn't arrive until 49, when a forward ball by Rodwell was collected by French Pepper and thumped between two advancing defenders from the edge of the area. Head Tennis headed in an On Speed corner on 55. Canales thundered home a 25 yard shot on 68 with Torino chasing shadows. On 81 French Pepper was given too much room after a forward ball by Toilet Truck, and he turned unchallenged to hit home from 23 yards. Won 5-0The month finished with an away trip to Serie A Atalanta in the Italian Cup Quarter Final and they proved to be a pushover as our stampede continued. Neymar opened from 12 yards following a defence splitting pass by French Pepper. On 30 French Pepper tried to force the ball past the keeper but it was helped into the net for an own goal by Ozer whilst under pressure. one minute into first half injury time a long ball out of defence allowed Fritsch to race away from the half way line and finish with an angled drive from the edge of the penalty area. On 53 Rodwell split the defence with a superb ball into the area and Fritsch's first time shot from 13 yards completed the scoring. Won 4-0January sees us score 32 goals in 8 games and we only let one in. The Table at the End of January 2018Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Post by Moo on Mar 8, 2011 10:28:17 GMT
That's an absolutely insane month. You really need to show me how to play this game, Coffers, it's embarrassing.
KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by coffers on Mar 8, 2011 11:14:26 GMT
It was an insane month, everything just clicked nicely into place. but you know what follows insane months? Stay tuned to find out......
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Post by Moo on Mar 8, 2011 11:44:08 GMT
More insane months?
OAP.
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Post by coffers on Mar 8, 2011 13:13:59 GMT
That would be where you might be wrong.
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Post by Moo on Mar 8, 2011 15:06:52 GMT
Boring George Graham style 1-0s all the way?
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Post by Sonic on Mar 8, 2011 22:02:40 GMT
What Moo said Coffers. Lots of clean sheets there too.
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Post by coffers on Mar 9, 2011 9:22:17 GMT
I'm really happy with my defence, they are really gelling this season.
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Post by coffers on Mar 10, 2011 11:19:22 GMT
I may get another month of this written up tonight, I've a late job between 11:00pm and 01:30am, of which I will probably be kicking my heels for the couple of hours.
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Post by coffers on Mar 11, 2011 1:24:10 GMT
February 2018
After such a great month, what could go wrong? Inter away that's what We had the beating of them for possession and shots but we didn't make them count. They opened against the run of play on 36 when MOM Dossevi headed in a near post corner. On 44 SciFi Author upended Lopez in the box and Sneijder made it 2-0 from the spot. Thankfully that was the end of their scoring, On 63 Neo Fritsch broke down the left channel, his shot was blocked by the keeper but Baker rushed in and drove a low angled drive into the net to give us some hope, but it was not to be. Lost 1-2 SciFi Author and Neymar were awful during the game and both got a rollocking.
There was the usual after match shenanigans with Mourhino. I was less than complimentary about him and his chances, his opinion of me went down. Like I fooking care.
Next came AC Milan away in the 1st leg of the Italian Cup Semi Final, It was even stevens all the way, Delph was sent off for us on 53 for a second yellow, then Micheal Albert was sent off 10 minutes later for Milan for a two footed tackle on Fritsch. a minute into injury time Pato was sent into the area and drilled his shot between 4 pl ayes to give Milan the advantage coming out of the first leg. Lost 0-1
A home game against Livorno sees us have a chance to get things back on track and we don't disappoint. On 2 Neymar's ball into the area frees Risotto to fire in from 6 yards. On 27, Risotto's pass to Baker gives the striker his opener when he fires home from 18 yards. Two minutes into the second period and Risotto heads a Livorno goal kick back towards the area, Baker streaks ahead of the retreating defenders and blast home from the edge of the area. On 58 a neat passing movement through the middle ends with Neymar on the left, he plays the ball inside and into the area for Risotto to smash home a first time shot. On 75 we lose Delph to a serious long term injury, a torn hamstring it will keep him out of the team for 3 months. Won 4-0 Risotto took the MOM award with a rating of 9.1
Time to get revenge on AC Milan at home in the 2nd leg of the Italian Cup, French Pepper starts proceedings on 15 with a shot from 18 yards following an angled Noe Fritsch pass. Head Tennis adds a second on 40 heading in an Iko Iko corner. On 70 French Pepper breaks down the left and sends a deep cross for substitute Salt Haka to drive in first time from inside the area. Milan were pummeled. Won 3-0, Won 3-1 on Aggregate We will meet Inter Milan in the final.
Catania away is the next game and we stroll the first half. French Pepper opens on 7, slotting in at the near post following a low cross from Neymar. On 37 Noe Fritsch races in collecting a Neymar pass, his shot is parried by the keeper but he recovers quickly to snap up the rebound and double our lead. On 44 French Pepper sends Neymar away down the left, his eventual ball into the area is hammered in by Fritsch. The second period is a different story as our normally strong defence falls apart. On 63 Alles snaps up a parried shot to pull one back for the home side. Alles adds a second on 85 with a glancing header from a near post corner. Catania pile forward for the equaliser but somehow we hold out. Won 3-2
It's away again this time at Seville in the Champions Cup first knockout round we manage to open on 38 when Marcos diverts a shot into his own net. we havee the better of the possession but on 75 Seville equalise when Henrique heads in from a corner, it's only there second on target shot. We'd already lost Fritsch on 62 with a fractured arm, that's a 5 week layoff. With a draw looking likely Canales hits a thirty yard pass into the area, baker collects and fires in from 12 yards, with 92 minutes on the clock. Won 2-1
The final game of the month is at home to Atalanta and we get back in the groove. OK first up is an own goal by Franco diverting a SciFi Header into his own net on 32. Three minutes later, Rodwell's forward pass into the area is gleefully hit in by Canales. On 53 Canales plays a forward angled ball to the right edge of the area for Neymar to run onto and drill home. On 81, French Pepper sees his parried shot slotted into the empty net by Toilet Truck. Won 4-0
The Table at the End of February 2018
Errrr I didn't screen shot this month, but basically Inter had pulled 3 points back on our lead at the top when they bat us earlier in the month
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Post by coffers on Mar 11, 2011 20:16:45 GMT
March 2018March starts with an away trip to Brescia and they all but don't turn up, with us seeing 58% of the ball and restricting them to a total of 3 shots only one of which is on target. On 18 Haruna's angled ball behind the defence allows Baker to creep in and slot in from 10 yards unopposed. On 43 SciFi Author heads in a Speedometer corner at the far post. We ease up for much of the game but on 91, Toilet Truck's far post corner is converted by Dirk Marcellis. Won 3-0 Three days later Undinese call in for a half time cup of tea; they get nothing, we allow then 2 off target shots all game, that said we find it difficult to convert our superiority and our 14 on target shots until the 57th minute, when Canales finds French Pepper on the edge of the area, Pepper draws two defenders before curling the ball between them for the opener. Three minutes into injury time Pepper breaks a tackle near the halfway line and races away into the area before unleashing an angled shot to put the final nail in Udinese's coffin. Won 2-0We then travel to Roma and rough house follows as they attempt to kick us off the park, however we draw first blood on 24 as Aquafresca leave the field injured. Three minutes later we lose French Pepper for 5 weeks due to a fractured arm. On 27 a swift passing movement ends with Neymar splitting the defence with a through ball for Baker to stroke in from 14 yards. On 44 Baker is upended in the area and Long Putt strokes home the spot kick. Roma continue kicking gaining 2 yellow cards in the process but we kick harder and they see another player, Benatia leave due to injury. On 65 they pull a goal back heading in a far post corner, something we are normally good at. On 81 Surging Nazgul's chip into the area is volleyed in by Neymar from 6 yards. Won 3-1 With our two big strikers out it's down to the small fast guys Neymar and Adam Baker to lead the line. The 2nd leg of the Champions Cup 1st round knockout is next up at home to Seville, it could be tricky but Rodwell gets us off to a flyer with less than a minute on the clock, as he smashes home a Baker layoff from 25 yards. On 18 On Speed heads a clearance to the halfway line back over the defence and Neymar drives home from 18 yards. On 48 Surging Nazgul knocks the ball into the area and Baker is fastest of the mark to half volley the ball in from 15 yards. Won 3-0. Won 5-1 on AggregateSixth placed Sampdoria are our next visitors and despite dominating possession we don't create enough clearcut chances to win the match. It peters out into a surprising 0-0 draw. Drew 0-0We travel to third placed Juventus for our next fixture and once again dominate possession but the chances are few and far between. Delicate Mate has an outstanding game to keep the Juve forwards at bay. Toilet Truck wins the game for us heading in a Speedometer corner at the far post on 41. Won 1-0International Friendlies timeWith the World Cup 3 months away, Holland have a home game against Hungary to keep tabs on the players. the game turns out to be a one sided affair and Holland ease to victory with goals from Sneijder (42), Marsman (50), Sem De Graaf (57) and Afellay (70). Hungary snatch a consolation with their only on target shot on 76. Holland have 15 shots on target out of a total of 23. Won 4-1Back to DomesticsThe final game of the month is away to Siena, normally a tough encounter. Neymar puts us in front after only 3 minutes when he puts the finishing touches to a goal mouth scramble. On 30 Speedometer drives down the left and into the area shaking off his marker to drill a cross hard across the face of the goal, Adam Baker stoops to head in from 3 yards. On 35 Canales plays the ball forward to the edge of the ares and Baker hits it first time to put us 3-0 up. It's the last of our three on target shots in the game and we've scored from all of them. Siena have 3 on target shots themselves and all are saved. What a difference clinical strikers make. Won 3-0The Table at the End of March 2018Uploaded with ImageShack.usThankfully when we wobbled with a draw so did Inter Milan.
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Post by coffers on Mar 14, 2011 9:09:07 GMT
Looking back at what seemed like a dangerous wobble at the time doesn't seem as bad in hindsight. But despite the wins I didn't feeel trhat we were playing well at the time.
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Post by Sonic on Mar 15, 2011 11:43:48 GMT
It's such a two sided table that, and your that again on top of Inter. Neyar also looks like he's still playing well too. It looks like all your strikers play well together, no matter the type.
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