Making a Name for Myself

Reviewing our Cup Run

So we had a very good run in the Capital One Cup


This was a tough game Ipswich where favourites to win and we took them to Extra Time and started to turn the game around. Me and the lads we had been working on our fitness and late game play for this game and it showed by scoring three goals in the last half of extra time. O'Neil scored with a powerful towering header and I am finding it difficult to choose a starting pair out of my Centre Backs. Then Grigg, I don't really know where to start with him. He was quiet all game and then turned it up a gear and got two goals to confirm our progression in the Cup


This game was supposed to be even more harder than the Ipswich game but we handle Palace well and controlled the game from the off. We scored mid-way through the first half and then took complete control of the game with Alli and Baldock commanding the Midfield well. I had to play Carruthers just behind Grigg as Reeves was out injured for the game and Giorgo was not 100%.


Another tough draw for us in the shape of Wolves but we where coming into the game on the back of a good run of form and I had belief in the boys they would pull through and they did. It took us until Extra time to win the game with Will Grigg just scoring before the end of the 1st half of extra time.


I think this was just one game to far for us out of the team remaining we where the only ones left either not in the Premier League or fighting or promotion in the Championship. Totternham outplayed and as soon as we scored first they turned it up a gear and overwhelmed us with Erikson orchestrating every single attack of there's scoring 2 and setting up Kane's first and Spurs third.

Run of Form going into the New Year

So it was a good run of form over November and December enabling us to keep up with leaders Barnsley. We did have unfortunately two slip ups over the course of the two months losing to Walsall 3-2 and Leyton Orient 2-1 in a row I thought that was a sign of things to come going into the Xmas period but we turned it round well with a morale boosting win in the FA Cup

Managers Thoughts

The past two months have been brilliant and the lads have pulled together after tough loses at Walsall and Orient. I wasn't able to extend O'Neils loan so we had to pay a lot of games without the rotation I would have liked there are no real gems in the youth teams so I am not able too bring another player up but there is no one who stands out. I will look to the Loan window in January to see if we can bring in another defender until the end of the year

2015-02-25 20:01#209004 Justice : Some great results there!

Thanks

The FA CUP

First round of the FA Cup brought us up against Forest Green who really where not up for this game and we ran out winner's comfortably 2-0. With Reeves pulling the strings in the midfield and Jordan and Martin leading the defence we where solid. We could of won by more but I felt the game was won at half time and decided to play some of the fringe players in the second half to give them some game time. We then just took control of the game and kept the ball for extremely long periods of time.



I gave the nod to McLoughlin in goal and gave Martin a rest. Unfortunately McLoughlin got injured in the first 5 mins and when he went down. The ref stopped play a oddly booked him for time wasting, McLoughlin was not happy with this and when taking off his glove to show the ref his broken hand. However in doing so the Velcro strap of the glove caught the ref on the nose. ON THE NOSE! and McLoughlin was sent off. In the commotion that followed Morecambe scored two quick goals putting us on the back foot. Thankfully the lads rallied around each other and we pulled level before half time and then took the lead in the 64th minute from a McFadzean header. It was then a backs to the wall job as the Shrimpers tried to make their man advantage count but we held on and saw out the rest of the game.

A great start into the season! Would be great if you would add the league table to your updates!
Keep that work on, I will follow your career.

2015-02-28 08:40#209292 TaroMisaki : A great start into the season! Would be great if you would add the league table to your updates!
Keep that work on, I will follow your career.

Yeah I don't know whats happened with them when I tried to put them in they wont work but my ones for my next season and end of this season table work

New Year still strong

We carried our form over from the end of last year and carried on winning and winning well



We signed Ebanks-Landell on loan from Wolves for the remaineder of the season and from early games and training sessions he looks committed to our cause. New Year's day we won 3-1 at PNE dominating the game from the off. This game was followed up by 5 more wins our run came to an end at the hands of Fleetwood who beat us 1-0 and they deserved the win we didn't turn up for the game and they capitalized on this and scored just before half time and that knocked the stuffing out of us. However we did then go to Crawley Town who where hovering above the relegation zone and with some major injuries to a few of their starting 11 they have had to put out a weaker team and our strength and organisation showed with us running out 4-2 winners with us then going on a 5 game unbeaten run in the league. The run being halted by Peterborough where we shouldn't of lost they scored with the last kick of the game and we could't do anything but hit the woodwork or miss in a game we controlled comfortably.

We are scoring lot's of goals however we are still letting in goals we has tried to resolve this but having spoke with my coaches and the rest of the Backroom staff we have agreed we need to look for a new keeper who can help command the back.

Some fantastic results mate. Keep it up and you will promote to championship!

The End to a long season

Well after a long, very long season we ca be proud to announce that we are champions and sit top of the table. We where challenging all the way to the very end and we did it. With our run of draws we had I thought we weren't going to do it and our opponents where going to beat us however they all faltered as well and then our run of wins right to the end got us over the line. The lads should be proud of themselves as they all played brilliantly and deservingly



Looking at the league table it's obvious we need to look at improving our defence for the coming season or I am afraid we will be swept aside by the stronger teams in the division. I will need to look at adding some more attacking options as a few lads contracts set to expire and they do not wish to enter negotiations over new deals. his is a shame but I am sure we can find the right replacements to fill the missing places in the team.

2015-03-02 21:59#209545 MisterLister : Some fantastic results mate. Keep it up and you will promote to championship!

cheers mate

Congrats on the league title, a huge achievement!

2015-03-03 20:03#209626 Justice : Congrats on the league title, a huge achievement!

Cheers with the squad I had it was difficult

Our JPT Cup run

We won the JPT! I know it's not a big trophy but it is still a trophy to add to the cabinet none the less. The boys played out their skins I told them the target was to win this trophy and they duly delivered. It started with a tough match at Fratton Park where it took an own goal by Shorey in the last 10 minutes for us to gain victory. It was then followed up by another difficult game at Bristol City going 3 nil up but then biting my nails off at the end as Bristol scored two goal in the last 15 minutes.

The Quarter Final and Semi Final where easier affairs controlling the games well and brushing aside Swindon Town and Leyton Orient 3-1 in both games. With Will Grigg and Danny Green playing leading roles in these games also with a bit of help from Dele Alli as well running the midfield.

The Regional Final against Gillingham was a tasty affair with us winning 3-1 on their turf but then losing 3-1 at stadium:MK to take it to penalties. If it wasn't for the crowd I do feel we would of lost on penalties and considering it went all the way back to the first 5 original takers.

The Final of the JPT was against Barnsley and with the injury of Reeves, Grigg and Currathers I had lost part of the spine of my team but the players who filled in in Baldock, Rasulo and Powell. With all three of them putting in a shift especially Rasulo where he scored the opening goal and set up our second after Barnsley scored an equaliser straight after half time.

Payer of the Tournament
My Player of the tournament has to be a toss up between Will Grigg and Dele Alli but I wll have to go for Grigg for this as if it wasn't for his goals and work rate upfront the opposition defences would of had an easier time against us.

End of Season Awards

Here are the End of Sason Rewards

Team of the Season


I agree with a lot of the team of the season picks but I do not understand why none of my players have been selected. Will Grigg was the Top Goalscorer in the League and Reeves was one of the top rated players in the league.

Manager of the Season


I don't think I can disagree with this selection, John organised his team very well through out the season. With Crawley expected to finish mid-table they achieved above that and gained promotion through the play-offs even though they did finish 3rd so the where favourites going into the play-offs. I looked forward to going up against him again next season in the Championship.

Player of the Season


Moore did have a solid season for Yeovil firing them to finishing 5th to contend in the play-offs. He scored a quarter of their goals in the league. I do believe they could of given Crawley a better game if it wasn't for Moore's injury which meant he missed the last part of the league season which saw them drop from the automatic promotion place to 5th.

Transfer Coming and Goings

Considering we only made a profit of around £500k last season, they gave me a transfer fund of £1.5 Million with a wage budget of 80k per week. I straight away went to my coaches and scouts and we all agreed we didn't need the transfer budget as there where enough out of contract players around that we could sign to not have to worry about this we kept back 200k however to cover any fees that we came across.



It has been a busy transfer window for us so far with no less than 12 players leaving. 6 on loan, 1 player was sold and 5 had their contracts expired. We tried to open negotiations with two of them but they had already signed deals with new teams before we had a chance. We sold Boulding to Manchester United. It wasn't my choice, me and Ashley sat down and chatted about this offer and we came to an agreement that he wanted to stay here with us but the board heard about the offer and the monetary gain from this and they agreed the fee and the fact is I also saw none of that money go in to the transfer kitty, it did pay off some debts we had however so it was not all doom and gloom, I tried to sign Boulding on loan from United as he was available but United rejected the offer. We had recently become affiliate clubs but that didn't help me in any way.



We where only able to sign 4 players. Murray Wallace was a centre-back and we needed him as we only had Flanagan and McFadzean as recognised CB's. Simeon Jackson was a straight replacement for the departed Will Grigg, we did try to bring him in permanently but his cost too much. Jackson brings in great experience though from playing in the Championship. Rothwell was sent to us from United as part of our affiliation he seems a good player and I will definitely use him in the rotation of the squad. We brought Isgrove in on trial at first as had already been on trial with 3 other teams who at the end had not offered him a contract so I wanted to see why they didn't. I couldn't see why and offered him a contract.

With Jackson signing he became our highest earner and unfortunately that meant Dean Lewington also received this wage. With this clause in his contract it was a pain as it was eating my available wage budget, I am trying to get rid of this but Dean is not budging so we may have to look to move him on.