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Post by coffers on Jun 6, 2006 13:55:52 GMT
It would never have happened in my days at Southport. :humb: Good work in getting through an update of 100% wins though.
KUTHPW! :thumb: (Hundred Percent)
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 6, 2006 17:15:00 GMT
September 2006 Continued
St Albans vs Halifax St Albans 3-1 / Draw 2-1 / Halifax 4-5 (Fav)
Back at home in Hertfordshire for the only time in a five game run and Purple Hayes is back from injury, but starts on the bench, in favour of French Horn and Rogue Trader, who are fitter and on decent form.
I'm not falling for the old early goal routine this time, so I start off ultra defensive until the sixth minute, when I start edging forward. It doesn't bear any immediate result, but we do start to look more dangerous. In the 34th minute Magic Bird gets down the left wing and swings over a far post cross which Missing Letter is rising to meet, when he's dragged down and we win a penalty. Rogue Trader steps up for the spot kick and sends it down the middle for 1-0.
Halifax start to come forward looking for the equaliser, which is handy as we like this counter-attacking stuff, now we have a midfield who can keep the ball and some quality forwards. Like Purple Hayes, for example, who comes off the bench in place of the poorly performing French Horn. Hayes' first touch is to control the ball, his second gives him space and his third is to bend the ball around the Halifax keeper. 2-0 to St Albans!
Halifax have no way back and we've another win.
St Albans 2-0 Halifax - Rogue Trader, 34 (pen) - Purple Hayes, 76 - Jedi Spider - Pastry Mania
Great news this week as we run off to French Horn and offer him a new contract now, rather than wait for him to become the conference's top scorer. He wants a minimum release fee, but I delete that, extend the contract to 2010 and raise his goal bonus a bit and he says yes!
The some amusing news, as we get to annoy another team. My scout suggests signing a player from newly promoted conference south team Billericay, so I enquire about him. Billericay dismiss my enquiry, which seems odd, so I announce in the papers that we're interested in the player, just to piss them off. Billericay's boss shouts at me in the paper for unsettling his team and one of his most important players, but then the player concerned sticks in a request for a new contract, saying if he's that important, then he should get more money. More to come, no doubt.
[/size] Scarborough vs St AlbansSt Albans 9-4 / Draw 9-4 / Scarborough Evens (Fav) Scarborough are heavy favourites here and it's pretty clear why in the first half, when they're all over us, with 68% possession, but they can't find a way to score, as Turkey Baster comes up with some fantastic saves. The second half continues in the same vein until things get a bit odd on 70 minutes. First they score... boo! Then I score... yay! Then they score... boo! 2-1 with three goals in two minutes. After Purple Hayes came on and scored, he does similar here, coming on, breaking down the wing and crossing for French Horn to score our goal. We go in search of the equaliser, allowing more space at the back, but Baster has us covered with some of the best saves I've ever seen, including one triple-save one-two-three in a goalmouth scramble. Jedi Spider hoofs the ball clear and it goes to Hayes, who sprints away into the Scarborough box and hammers a shot past the keeper... but against the near post. But wait, the ball bounces out to sub New Do and he angles a shot through a crowded area into the far corner for the draw! The home team have a guy sent off on 91 minutes, for hacking down Monkey Moon when he was through, about 30 yards from goal, but we can't alter formation in the remaining two minutes, so we'll settle for the point. Scarborough 2-2 St Albans - Stewart, 70 - French Horn, 71 - Forrest, 72 - New Do, 82 - Cereal Optimist - Turkey Baster INJURYBad news, as Magic Bird picked up an injury during the game. Bird has been outstanding so far this season, but he'll miss two weeks through bruised ribs. Then, in the space of two days, Big Family comes back from his rib injury, then goes out again when he dislocates his shoulder in training. As soon as he's back he'll be on his way to the transfer list, even though he's my only decent left back. TEAM OF THE WEEK Goal keeper Turkey Baster gets voted onto the Conference Team of the Week.
[/size] Kettering vs St AlbansSt Albans 13-8 / Draw 2-1 / Kettering 6-4 (Fav) A game without Magic Bird, which means Cereal Optimist is back on the left wing and Shoot Puke returns from injury onto the bench. 26 minutes in we're in front, as Missing Letter dithers over an empty net after Purple Hayes' shot is saved, but when Letter is tackled the ball goes back to Hayes who slots home. French Horn makes it two with a sweet near post header from a free kick, but then we piss away the lead, allowing to quick goals to send the teams in at half time with the scores tied. The scores stay that way all through the second half, all the way to the 91st minute when Jedi Spider can't be bothered running too far, so unleashes a 35 yard shot which bends and crashes against the crossbar, falling to Purple Hayes who gets his second tap in of the day and seals the three points for us. Kettering 2-3 St Albans - Hayes, 26, 90(+1) - French Horn, 33 - Symes, 34 - Long, 38 - Purple Hayes
More Billericay fun then, as, in last week's episode, the player I had targeted had asked for more money after I unsettled him and now his manager comes out swinging, saying he doesn't deserve a new deal. If he wants one, then he needs to show some reason why Billericay should listen to him. Nice.
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Post by coffers on Jun 6, 2006 18:58:25 GMT
Your on a roll, not quite the 00%er but near enough as to make damn little difference. :thumb:
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Post by Moo on Jun 6, 2006 19:38:05 GMT
You're obviously cheating. No one can ever manage all these non-losses ever.
Is this where I mention being relegated froim the Brazilian Thrid Division with Paranoá in my second season? No? Oh goody.
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Post by Sonic on Jun 7, 2006 8:16:25 GMT
What's with all the late goals, late as in injury time goals to boot? You seem to be able to conjure them more often than not, especially when you need them. I reckon htat's a skill that needs to be taught to the footballers playing today. Moo, No?
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Post by Moo on Jun 7, 2006 8:53:05 GMT
Moo, No? Aye, I'm back to form with a sacking. First one in ages too. I'm not sure where to go next for a GR game either. I'm saving England for 2007 when I can be Blyth Spartans and 800 is already in France, South/Central America have been done recently. It looks like I'm leaving myself with somewhere in Asia, which I'm not overly enthused about.
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Post by coffers on Jun 7, 2006 9:33:09 GMT
No one has done Chile, but that's South America. Have a go in Greece.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 7, 2006 11:26:46 GMT
MLS Moo... That's where I'm going next. I want to draft a football player, then play him as car park attendant, so I can pretend to be Billy.
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Post by Moo on Jun 7, 2006 12:08:56 GMT
I have pondered the MLS, for the whole drafting shenanigans.
You've done Greece recently though, Coffers, so I'm not sure I should go there. Germany or Imaginaryland may be possibles. I was never too keen on any of the Scandi countries thoug, for some reason. I dunno. I'll have a think about it over the next couple of days and start one up at the weekend.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 7, 2006 16:08:04 GMT
More September 2006
St Albans vs Weymouth St Albans 6-4 (Fav) / Draw 2-1 / Weymouth 13-8
The second game of the season in which we're favourites, even though we're playing the team that won the conference south last year.
We start off poorly, dropping to 0-1, but then bounce back to 2-1 as French Horn slots home an easy first and then Missing Letter, who has shown little finishing ability so far finishes off a nice move with a rocket into the far corner. Weymouth eqaulise before the half, but can you guess what's coming next? Yes, it's another of those lovely late goals as Horn grabs his tenth of the short season, outpacing a centreback, rounding the keeper and rolling the ball home.
St Albans 3-2 Weymouth - Eribenne, 9 - French Horn, 14, 88 - Missing Letter, 25 - Bound, 39 - Gentleman's Club, Crunchy Fat - French Horn[/size]
St Albans vs WokingSt Albans 9-4 / Draw 9-4 / Woking Evens 1-4 (Fav) Another "W" team and one that's heavily favoured this time, as Woking are a decent looking bunch. Having scored last week, Missing Letter is kicked off the field this week, and Woking grab a goal while we're down to ten men, before we can bring on a sub and then hang on for the 1-0 win, as we lack a goalscoring threat for the first time. St Albans 0-1 Woking - Burns, 48 [/size]
Tamworth vs St AlbansSt Albans 5-4 (Fav) / Draw 11-5 / Tamworth 7-4 We're favourites again, but this begins to feel like a slump as we can't crack a defensive side and Tamworth nick a goal on the break. They then head into the turtle formation and I can't break them down, despite the best efforts of Hayes, Horn and Trader. Two defeats on the spin and I get the feeling I'm going to be finishing 8th - 10th or so, as I have a good starting 11, but the crust of that team is pretty fragile and there isn't yet much cover underneath. We do, no doubt, have the annual morale dive to survive yet and I'm not sure that I can keep up with the front runners. It may yet be Moo's SIP plan. St Albans 0-1 Tamworth - Fish, 64 - Gentleman's Club, New Do, Jedi Spider French Horn comes third in the young player of the month awards. Harry Redknapp is fired as manager of Southampton and Chris Coleman is rumoured to be on the way at Fulham.
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Post by coffers on Jun 7, 2006 16:55:05 GMT
I have pondered the MLS, for the whole drafting shenanigans. You've done Greece recently though, Coffers, so I'm not sure I should go there. Germany or Imaginaryland may be possibles. I was never too keen on any of the Scandi countries thoug, for some reason. I dunno. I'll have a think about it over the next couple of days and start one up at the weekend. I did Germany with Ansbach (There Ansbach Again), it was bloody boring, I doubt I'll ever go back there again.
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Post by coffers on Jun 7, 2006 16:56:42 GMT
You are still handily placed despite the defeats. I think the term we used to use was lurking. KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 7, 2006 18:37:17 GMT
October 2006
St Albans vs Exeter St Albans 4-1 / Draw 5-2 / Exeter 4-7 (Fav)
Exeter are two spots above us and comfy favourites to take this one, but in the end it's a tale of lost opportunities, as we take the lead twice, but both times crack under pressure as Exeter come forward and allow an equaliser. At least it's a point and two goals, after a brace of games without hitting the net.
St Albans 2-2 Exeter - French Horn, 17 - Phillips, 23 - Cocktail Cubs, 73 - Wark, 81 - Pastry Mania, Magic Bird
After the game, I'm informed that Gentleman's Club has picked up a knock and will miss between four days and a fortnight. Forward Rogue Trader gets called up to represent South Korea in a game against Sri Lanka. The Koreans win 2-0, with Trader on as a sub, rating 6/10. He then does the same in a 0-0 draw in Iraq. Brave lad. Javier Clemente is announced as the new manager of Southampton.
[/size] St Albans vs ShrewsburySt Albans 7-2 / Draw 9-4 / Shrewsbury 4-6 (Fav) Shrewsbury are the serious favourites as they were relegated from League Two a couple of seasons ago. The Shrews are very cagey, playing a 4-1-4-1; the first time I've seen the formation and while we're in our usual defensive 4-4-2, there's not much going on in the way of attacking. The difference is that this year I'm confident in my forward's abilities to take their chances, few as they may be. And, well, look at that... Purple Hayes gets a knock and with Rogue Trader in Iraq it's AM/FC Hunt for Fractions on in Hayes' stead. Fractions' first input is to slide the ball down the right for the overlapping Gentleman's Club, who bends in a low cross. French Horn has timed his run perfectly and dips in for a sweet diving header at the near post. 19 minutes later it's a mirror image, as the ball comes in from the left, courtesy of Widespread Disappointment and Horn belts home an angled volley from 16 yards in what must be a contender for goal of the month. After the game the Shrews are locked in their changing rooms and lambasted by manager Gary Peters. On the other side I'm very happy, as Horn, a free pickup from the MK Dons, has 13 goals in 15 games. St Albans 2-0 Shrewsbury - French Horn, 70, 89 - French Horn [/size]
FA CUP 4th QUALIFYING ROUND Farnborough vs St AlbansSt Albans 6-4 (Fav) / Draw 2-1 / Tamworth 13-8 Last year we crashed out to an amateur team from the division below us. This year, well, it's the same thing. French Horn equalises for us on a half hour after we leak an early goal, but then we allow another and despite going all out attacking we can't find another goal. Concentrate on the league™ time. St Albans 1-2 Farnborough - Gibbs, 8 - French Horn, 30 - Barraclough, 38[/size][/font]
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Post by coffers on Jun 7, 2006 19:00:00 GMT
The proverbial Bag-o-nuts there, a Draw, a win and a loss, but the loss didn't matter as cups are for girls, unless you want the money that is.
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Post by Sonic on Jun 8, 2006 0:25:15 GMT
A mix bag of updates there, though it must be good having a forward like French Horn scoring on a regular basis, even if at times he is let down by the rest of the team.
That cup loss means you can concentrate on the league :humb:
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Post by Moo on Jun 8, 2006 8:19:35 GMT
I did Germany with Ansbach (There Ansbach Again), it was bloody boring, I doubt I'll ever go back there again. I've opened up germany and Holland but have started in Belgium, or at least I would if I could find it, etc, etc... This screen amused me though... And the squad is woeful, which is always a handy start. Anyway, as the others have said, a mixed bag of results there, but you are indeed in a lurking position which I think is a decent achievement. KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by coffers on Jun 8, 2006 9:06:13 GMT
Good luck Moo, at least you can recruit lots of foreigners there, well you would have to because Belgians don't exist or something.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 8, 2006 17:30:13 GMT
Moo, you're an asshat. Resize your image if you have to post it in my thread. It's now fucking up my screen.
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 8, 2006 17:44:15 GMT
October 2006
Grays vs St Albans St Albans 13-8 / Draw 2-1 / Grays 6-4 (Fav)
Grays are favourites despite being 14 places below us and listed as "debt-ridden Grays" in the pre-game press.
Purple Hayes fires us into a first half lead on 25 minutes, but the real fun comes with 15 minutes left to go, when Hayes robs the Grays keeper and rolls the ball into the empty net from 25 yards for 2-0. Six minutes later, Hayes picks up the ball and chips it through to French Horn who hammers home off the bounce from just inside the area.
This is where the game turns into one of those games, as we've less than 10 minutes to play, we're three goals up and yet I'm absolutely convinced we're going to lose, because the highlight screen just won't go away and it's showing attack after attack from Grays.
This is where Turkey Baster thus far rating 7/10 sees his rating jump up to 10/10 as he makes a series of just incredible saves. On 86 minutes there's nothing he can do as he makes a save, but the ball rebounds to a Grays forward to cut the lead, but then Baster gets his revenge with an assist... His long upfield kick is controlled by kid Hunt for Fractions on again as Rogue Trader is still in Iraq, and the kids dribbles around two midfielders, then accelerates between the centrebacks and lofts a simply beautiful 25 yard chip over the Grays keeper for 4-1. We'll take that
St Albans 4-1 Grays - Purple Hayes, 25, 76 - French Horn, 81 - Hooper, 86 - Hunt for Fractions, 90 - Magic Bird (5 : 1 game ban)
Rogue Trader's tour of the axis of evil continues with another game against Iraq and then his 10th cap and third goal for Korea, against evil North Korea, in a 2-0 win.
Less than a year after being appointed as manager, Steve Coppell is giving the vote of confidence by the Palace board.
Turkey Baster and Pastry Mania are named in the team of the week.
I get third place in the manager of the month voting and French Horn seals second in the young player of the month. Incredibly, despite some real corkers, none of my goals make the three goals of the month award.
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Post by coffers on Jun 9, 2006 6:59:32 GMT
Tighter than the proverbial gnat's rear end at the top and you are more than lurking nicely.
KUTGW! :thumb:
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Post by Moo on Jun 9, 2006 7:49:47 GMT
It's in the bag! The others might as well just give up now and take up crochet.
I thought about resizing that image and then decided not to. It obviously annoys you and that's a good thing.
Or in other words, I forgot to do it last night, so I'll do it tonight when I get home.
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Fuzzy
Spider Monkey
stop chewing!
Posts: 918
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Post by Fuzzy on Jun 9, 2006 12:51:29 GMT
You must be proud of your defence
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Post by Mr Bismarck's Electric Donkey on Jun 9, 2006 13:45:10 GMT
November 2006
Leigh RMI vs St Albans St Albans 5-4 (Fav) / Draw 11-5 / Leigh RMI 7-4 (Fav)
We're favourites, but it's a game where we barely even see the field, as the home team come out in a 4-1-4-1 formation and defend for the 90 minutes, not troubling our goal at all. We can't crack the defence and it's our first 0-0 of the season.
St Albans 0-0 Leigh RMI - Pastry Mania, Cereal Optimist
Rogue Trader's and Monkey Moon are both called up for international friendlies.
[/size] St Albans vs AccringtonSt Albans 7-4 / Draw 11-5 / Accrington 5-4 (Fav) Something strange has happened here, because after one average result everyone's morale has gone in the toilet. I've seen this before, last year and it lead to almost a month without a goal and I only broke the funk by shouting about other teams. So I try that here, releasing a statement that we're going to cane Accrington. We don't. We play rubbish, we don't score, they run the game. Everyone's pissed off. St Albans 0-1 Accrington - Brown, 45 Rogue Trader is having a great time running around the world, playing well in a 3-1 loss for the Koreans in Argentina. Get back to St Albans you pantfish!
[/size] Stevenage vs St AlbansSt Albans 3-1 / Draw 2-1 / Stevenage 4-5 (Fav) It appears Rogue Trader listened to me, as he and Monkey Moon return from international duty, tired, but in good spirits. With the rest of the team on a serious downer, both Trader and Moon go onto the bench for the Stevenage game. We're in our usual defensive 4-4-2 for an away game, playing on the counter, as Stevenage fancy themselves as a decent team, so they will be attacking. So it shows as Cocktail Cubs breaks up an attack ( at 6'7" he wins a lot in the air), then breaks forward eventually spreading the ball wide to Missing Letter on the right wing. Letter moves forward, then crosses in for Cubs who has kept going - he rises above everyone and hammers in a header which is saved, but the rebound lands at his feet and he smacks home the opener. After the goal we collapse back on our keeper, going ultra defensive, with the two forwards, Hayes and Horn, pushed way up for long clearances. We hold out until the 68th minute, when Stevenage go 3-4-3 and are all over us, quickly scoring. They don't change out of that formation either, so it's back to walls stuff. I drop Shoot Puke out of central midfield to DM, to make a 4-1-3-2 formation, with Puke man-marking the centre man in Stevenage's front three. I also sub off French Horn who's not having much fun and send on the Korean world traveller, Rogue Trader. That seems to work, as Trader breaks through onto a Puke pass and arrows the ball past the keeper's right hand into the net for 2-1! We do, however, have a real problem defending directly after we score - a lot of our goals are given up within a minute or two of scoring - and it's the same here, Stevenage back at 2-2 within a minute. So it goes, through to the 90 minute mark and into injury time, when Turkey Baster makes a good save, then punts the ball away to Magic Bird on the left wing. Bird looks up and hits and long angled pass in behind the Stevenage defence and, hello, it's Trader, trading in his air miles for a late burst of energy, sprinting through to nutmeg the keeper for 3-2 with 92:43 showing on the clock. With 93:55 showing on the clock, Trader does it again, picking up a loose back pass, outrunning the defence, rounding the keeper and sealing his hattrick with a sidefoot into the empty net! 4-2 to St Albans - simply, simply brilliant! St Albans 4-2 Stevenage - Cocktail Cubs, 38 - Williams 65 - Rogue Trader, 78, 90(+3), 90(+4) - Maamria 79 - Rogue Trader INJURYWe seem to have two injury-prone players on the team - Big Family, who will have missed about four months through injury in my two seasons with the team when he gets back from his current problems and, now, Shoot Puke, who strains his achiles in training and will miss three to five weeks. Joy
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Post by coffers on Jun 9, 2006 15:23:42 GMT
Nice comback in the morale stakes Stu! As for the injuries; what level have you got the training on the top end of medium seems about the best level balance for keeping injuries down and improving skill levels. I sometimes move the slider into heavy for a week or two but drop it back down sharpish as injuries in training happen more frequently at the heavy+ levels.
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Post by Moo on Jun 10, 2006 9:54:34 GMT
Moo, you're an asshat. Resize your image if you have to post it in my thread. It's now fucking up my screen. Done. You can stop whining like a bitch now.
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