Peterborough and The Man From Northern Ireland

This is my first story in FM, I have seen many others before and I want a go myself.
Peterborough haven't won a title since 1974, and seeing as they got relegated last season, I am trying to give Peterborough their first title in 40 years.
My name is James Lavery - The Man From Northern Ireland.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/11/10/1257854982754/Darren-Ferguson-001.jpg


Following the relegation of his team, Peterborough, from the Championship, Darren Ferguson, son of the famous Alex, has been sacked by the chairman of Peterborough United F.C., Darragh MacAnthony

Ferguson has had 2 previous spells at Peterborough, and he took the team to the Championship this season. It is currently believed he was sacked for failing his season expectations.

The new manager will be announced in the coming days along with the friendly fixtures for Peterborough.

http://www.soccervoice.com/ground85.jpg

JL - James Lavery
DM - Darragh MacAnthony

I was sitting outside of Darragh's office in London Road. I wasn't the only person being interviewed today, there were others waiting outside. We didn't make conversation.

DM: Mr. Lavery, can you come in please?

I started to sweat, I must not mess up this interview.

DM: Thanks for applying to be manager of this club.

JL: Thanks for inviting me to this interview. I hope that you will choose me to be manager.

DM: If we choose you as manager, we would expect you to reach the play-offs. Do you think this would be realistic?

JL: I think I would achieve automatic promotion as well as cup success.

DM: You just answered my next question. As you know, it is nearly 40 years since we last won an honour. Do you believe that you will guide us to a trophy this year?

JL: Of course! With the right funding, I can take us to the heights of English football.

DM: OK. Thanks for coming. We will hold a press conference to announce the new manager on Thursday. Good luck.

JL: Once again, thanks for inviting me.

Thursday. Only two days time. I will have no sleep for the next couple of days.

Thursday came. I was on my emails all day, waiting for the decision.
About 5 in the afternoon, I found this in my inbox.




James Lavery, an unknown Northern Irish man, has been appointed as the manager of Peterborough.

Darragh MacAnthony announced his choice in a press conference today, saying that he was impressed in the interview

I only read this part, I was just shocked that I had been appointed.

Good luck Hopefully we'll see plenty of Assombalonga (I love that name)

P-KIDDY - We will see lots of Assombalonga, don't worry about that...

The Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has agreed to go on loan to Peterborough.

Johnstone is the first signing by the new Peterborough manager James Lavery. The first Peterborough squad only has one goalkeeper currently, a position that Lavery himself said he wanted to improve in his squad.

Johnstone has had 4 previous loan spells with Oldham, Scunthorpe, Walsall and Yeovil, all were unsuccessful. He has been at Manchester United for 4 years, but has never made a first team appearance.

LT - Lee Tomlin
JL - James Lavery

Five minutes in to the day, Lee Tomlin knocked on the door. Knowing many people are having concerns about the club being in League 1, I knew exactly what he wanted.

JL: What do you want?

LT: I want to move away from Peterborough.

JL: Why? You are an important first team player, you will need to convince me why.

LT: I know, but it is in League 1. I don't feel I should be playing in that tier of football.

JL: We are promotion favourites...

LT: We wont get promotion because the team is rubbish!

Did that just slip from his tongue? I am having none of this.

JL: Do you think that you will do a better job then me in charge? I know what I am doing. You will be replaced and you will be in the reserves with all of that.

LT: So I am an 'important first team player', am I Lavery?

JL: There is no point calling me by my surname.

I opened a drawer in my desk and found his contract.

JL: It doesn't matter how good you are, you will always face the consequences when you disrespect me like that. This is your contract, and this is the bin. Pack your bags, we'll pay your compensation. I don't want to see you again.

He turned out of the office, and I think it will be the last time that I see him. I decided to ask my scouts to find me a decent attacking midfielder.

Our pre-season fixtures have ended, and now we have to wait a week to start League 1 against Swindon. Our friendlies started well, but the last two were awful.




Peterborough United 5-0 Peterborough United U21
Scorers:
Payne (3)
Swanson (10)
Assombalonga (45+1, 67)
Tomlin (90)

Man of the Match:
Britt Assombalonga



Portsmouth F.C. 0-2 Peterborough United
Scorers:
Bostwick (12)
Kearns (45+1)

Man of the Match:
Daniel Kearns



Scunthorpe United 2-3 Peterborough United
Scorers:
Scunthorpe: Peterborough:
Collins (3, 75) Assombalonga (9)
Payne (25)
Bostwick (53)

Man of the match:
Michael Collins



Newport County AFC 0-2 Peterborough United
Scorers:
Kearns (20)
Swanson (56)

Man of the Match:
Mitch Hancox



Peterborough United 1-2 Brighton and Hove Albion
Scorers:
Peterborough: Brighton:
Newell (59) Andrews (13)
Buckley (19)

Man of the Match:
Will Buckley



Rugby Town 1-2 Peterborough United
Scorers:
Rugby: Peterborough:
Moses-Garvey (14) McCann (pen 27)
Lawrence (34)

Man of the Match:
Grant McCann



Histon F.C. 2-2 Peterborough United
Scorers:
Histon: Peterborough:
Waters (60) Kearns (20)
Sessions (67) Payne (77)

Man of the Match:
Joe Newell

In
Sam Johnstone - Manchester United - Loan
Tom Lawrence - Manchester United - Loan
Tom Thorpe - Manchester United - Loan
Mitch Hancox - Birmingham City - Loan
Doyle Middleton - Free
Jose Semedo - Sheffield Wednesday - £210K

Out
Lee Tomlin - Free
Luke O'Reilly - Free
Joe Day - Free
Gabriel Zakuani - Brentford - Free
Nathaniel Knight-Percival - Plymouth - Free
Liam Marshall - Histon - Loan
Charlie Horton - Histon - Loan
Jermaine Anderson - Wrexham - Loan

Overall, it has been average pre-season, we won the matches we were expected to win, but the latter parts were awful against Rugby and Histon. If that is how we will play, we might as well be in the same league as them. Our signings have been good too, as well as starting to develop some of our young ones with Histon and Wrexham.

OK, my save has just messed up, and it has put me back to the beginning of the game again. I am not bothered to go through with all of the above again, so I have to stop. Sorry.