Awesome update mate!Poor Ollie (orrr Ian I guess :P) :'( #CryEvryTym

30 GAME UPDATE
With the new year fresh in our minds, new starts and new beginnings are at the forefront of our minds. For me, it was all about continuing the work from last year, maybe bettering it. Off the back of a humbling 5-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle, our next game against Fulham, was important.

Although it would have been nice to bounce back with a win, but a point is a good stabiliser. At least we stopped what could have been a watershed of losses.
With the team on a poor run, the prospect of Tottenham, was not a promising one, we really needed to find our feet again.

However, we came away with a satisfying point from a strong Tottenham team. I felt optimistic about our prospects.
Having drawn against Tottenham I hoped that we would then continue to improve n our form and advance in the FA Cup, we had drawn Aston Villa, away.

Our cup run was over before it began. A good run in the cup would have been a good fundraiser, morale booster, but if we really had aspirations of surviving in the Premier League, we may have to see this as a blessing in disguise.
With our minds now firmly set on survival alone, we turned our eyes to Liverpool's trip to Selhurst Park, another stern test.

We succumbed to defeat, again. Our season began to go worryingly pear-shaped.
However, Cardiff City presented a different kind of challenge, I saw this game as a real chance to find our winning formula again.

Adam Le Fondre pulled us out from a fairly ominous situation, another loss would have been just short of disastrous. A point was disappointing, but when it could have so easily been none, you have to take it.
An away fixture to Swansea City, was a winnable game, but a tough one.

I would have perhaps taken a draw before this game, however we really needed to find a win, soon.
West Ham. At home, winning was not a choice, it was imperative. We had not delivered all 3 points, in 8 games.

Young Jon Williams and Adam Le Fondre helped us to a win at last, I felt a massive weight lift from my shoulders.
After our win at last we faced West Brom, another winnable, but tough match.

I would have taken a draw prior to this match, however we needed to get back to winning with some consistency.
Norwich away perhaps offered us our opportunity to find that winning formula again.

Considering this game was away from home, the loss didn't worry me, the scoreline did. Any team can lose by the odd goal, but lose by 3 really shows how poor our form has become.
Sunderland was the next stop on our Premier League adventure, I hoped to bag all 3 points.

A point is nothing to sniff at, and Sunderland are no mugs, but with the opposition down to 10 men, this was a game we should have won.
One real highlight of the season so far, is the form of Dean Moxey. A player who before the season I considered as a rotation player, profited from an early injury to Jonothan Parr and his form ever since has made him impossible to drop.

His average rating of 7.96 was the highest in the league and I could only hope that this find of form would continue. They say form is temporary, class is permanent. Only time would tell which we were watching from Dean Moxey. This kind of form also gained Deano the Player of the Month Award for January, an accolade he has more than deserved.

Let's hope Moxey can spread his form to the rest of the squad, for we really have to get some more wins under our belt. We sat 15th in the table.

The team were 11 points above the drop zone which may appear comfortable, however with a tough run of games ahead of us, they was still reason for concern, especially in our current run of poor form. however, there was still fire in my belly, determination in my heart. I never asked for this job, it was thrust upon me, but the saying goes, some are born great, others achieve greatness, and some, have greatness thrust upon them, I would not give up until the last whistle of the last game.

A gruff, calm voice, almost mechanic with an American accent:"His hands are tied behind him with roughly woven rope cutting through the flesh of his wrists. He is blindfolded with black cloth. He is kneeling on the cold, hard ground of the dark room, his head drooping between his shoulders. His knees roll on the hard ground and bleed through his trousers as he rocks in prayer, the dim light set in the room casts his long shadow behind him, rocking on the cold concrete floor. I'm stepping closer. He mutters under his breath. I'm next to him now, I can see the days of sweat dried on his neck, feel his trembling next to my leg. What shall I do?" The phone hung up, I waited to awaken. To get out of bed, wander downstairs tap '402' into the remote and watch Sky Sports, find out something new about myself. To, flick the channel, find The Big Bang Theory, to laugh, to feel happy. I never awoke. I did what I had been deliberating for days. Picked up my mobile, found the message I now expected waiting for me:

Tapped reply, "Who are you? What do you want?" Pressed send, put the phone down and went to the fridge, pulled out a beer. Drank. Found my phone again, a message: "We are The Chosen. We want what you have." What I have? I have very little, that anyone else would want. I convinced myself this was Ian, or a few mates messing around. I pocketed my mobile, opened my door, embraced the biting freshness of the wind. Stood a minute, waiting, then walked. Got in my car, drove t otraining. Another day. But then I thought, Ian never told me why he left Palace...
the game at wba when you beat them 1-0 you posted that twice lol the one that grandin scored in the 89 min at hawthorns anyway great story and a good mixture of results
haha, cheers for highlighting, will get on it right away 
maybe i was just subconsciously very happy with that win

maybe i was just subconsciously very happy with that win


END OF SEASON UPDATE
With survival nearly assured, the last 11 games of the season past in a breeze. Like our season it had ups and downs, a win at Stoke, a 5-0 drubbing. But ultimately, we had survived, I was on Cloud 9, no poor performance could take away the warm glow in my belly, another season of Premier League football beckoned.

With survival a mathematical certainty, the last 4 games of the season were almost friendlies for us. What's the difference between 15th and 16th at the end of the day? I put out a mixture of young prospects and reserve team players. Some of the youngsters fielded are really exciting, disappointingly the dip in form was all too noticeable. But we were staying up!

We ended our campaign in 16th, a few places above the relegation zone. All our hard work and graft, all the long, cold days at training, all the frustrating Sunday afternoons. They'd been worth it.

Dean Moxey claimed the Player of the Season, who else? His unending form throughout the season was a joy to behold. Not only this but his level headed manner and constant fitness earnt him my utmost respect as a player, he is a true professional. Long may it continue. Moxey also had the highest Average Rating for the Premier League season, a feet that pays homage to the season Deano had, congratulations to him.

And so, as the long summer nights drew out in front of me, I sat and thought, time to do it all again. My mind relaxed, drifted, tired and worn out it moved, Moxey, the transfer window, women...Ian! What has happened to Ian?

The pre-season, a unique time. The mixture of relaxing through the summer, matched buy the stress of the transfer window, new tactics, fitness training. It all happens so quickly, before you know it the new season is on the horizon. With a budget of £10m for the forthcoming season, I had some room to manoeuvre:

I felt that I did some fantastic business on the cheap, with free signings such as Craig Gardner and Ricardo Quaresma joining the side. I also had to let many of the fringe players leave, to save the squad from ballooning. One player who joined us who really excited me, was Sadio Mane, a Sengalese winger, who my assistant, Keith Millen and I both agree, could be a star Premier Division winger.

Sadio arrived for a hefty fee from West Brom, I had faith in the young man to deliver, and hoped that I could help him develop into the player I know he could be. But there is always some doubt.
Pre-season had ups and downs as any pre-season does, we faced a mixture of strong teams and weaker teams, overall I was pleased with how things went, results aren't everything.

And so, with friendly, fitness and fees done and dusted, we looked forward to the season, with optimism and hope. Our aim, a mid table finish this season, progress is everything.
cheers, yeah he's not had a great start but hopefully once he gets a couple goals he should be good
You are reading "The Eagles Enlightenment".