Making a Name for Myself

Pre-season of Misery

God this pre-season was tougher than planned we lost 2 players through injury in the first week of training and Dele Alli has only had 1 week off as he was with the England U19s squad. I will have to decide whether to lose him for two weeks on leave or most likely sub him off every game because he is tired. As he is our best midfielder so I may have to go for the latter but I will see how our season progresses.



We started off visiting Sheffield United who missed out on the promotion chase last season, we came back for 3-1 down to look like we would draw 3-3 but they then went and scored two quick goals in extra time. Then visiting Gillingham we should of won this game but lost 1-0 and had 2 players sent off. I was furious not only with the loss but also at the 2 red cards, both where deserved but it was only a friendly.

We then took a trip to Lincoln and drew. They put up a strong fight and deserved the draw, we are finally starting to click now after 3 games and hours put in on the training ground, we had started to gel. We finally headed North to face Chester who where on a good run of form until they played us and all the training paid off at last with us running out comfortable winners 6-0. Then we had our last game of pre-season as part of our affiliation we would play United at stadium:MK. It was a brilliant match but their quality showed through in the end running out 3-0 winners, with Mata getting one and Rooney with two.

I am not going to name a player for pre-season as I believe no one really deserves the award as we only won one game and lost 3.

Our First Time Ever

So our first season in the Championship ever got underway and it was a great feeling the lads where pumped for it. We took a couple of days out after the United game for some team bonding sessions and which culminated in a BBQ at the training ground with everyone involved in the club there to celebrate the upcoming season and making the promotion



I wasn't expecting us to win our first game of the season as Bournemouth missed out on promotion by losing in the play-off final. We shocked them by scoring early but they replied with 3 goals before Clayton scored our second, Bournemouth then went a man down but we couldn't make our numerical advantage count and lost 3-2 in the end. We came back though with a solid 1-0 win over Derby with Jackson scoring on his Home debut. What followed was a mix bag of draws, wins and loses. Most notable games have to be the convincing 4-0 win over Huddersfield and Botlon, Coming back from 1-0 down at Charlton and Brentford. We had a brilliant game against Sheffield Wednesday even though we lost with Wednesday finding the final goal in the dying minutes of the game.

After the first two months we find ourselves in a respectable 14th place with the other promoted teams not doing the best being just above the relegation zone. As for the teams that where relegated from the Premier League West Ham are doing the worst currently lying 22nd in the table but with the squad they have they should be dominating this league

Capital One Cup Run not like Last Year

Unfortunately unlike last year we didn't go on a brilliant run in the cup again faltering in 3rd round against recently relegated Burnely.



We came up against Plymouth in the 1st round but this time we played a lot better running our 6-2 winners with Daniel Powell running the show from the right wing scoring two and setting up two. I thought that we would miss the Reeves-Grigg partnership but Jackson as come in and this partnership is even better.

In the 2nd round we welcomed Crystal Palace to stadium:MK and they came here expecting to win and the odds where in their favour with us missing a few key players. However the lads played out of their skin with us going in at half time 3-0 up. We then got a penalty and Scott Dann was sent off with Jackson scoring his second of the game and our 4th. We then eased off the pressure and it almost backfired with Palace scoring 2 goals in the last 20 mins but we where able to shut out the game.

In the 3rd round we came up against recently relegated Burnley who where without their talisman Danny Ings who was sold to Manchester United for £12million in the January Transfer window last season. They still however put up a brilliant match with us going into the break 2-all, their togetherness could be seen though as most of their tea was kept together from last season and the Burnley board had kept Dyche in charge. Powell scored our third goal with 15 minutes to go but we couldn't hold on and they equalized in the dying seconds of the game after a lot of pressure on our goal. It went to penalties and the first 5 scored all their goals we got to kick number ten and we had our Captain Lewington stepped up to take it. He shot straight down the middle at at Ben Amos and he saved it. As Dean walked away it looked like he didn't care and a few of the other players noticed as well, I didn't know whether it was because he had belief in Martin or because he actually really didn't care? Up stepped Rohan Ince for Burnley and fired into the bottom left corner, Martin dived the correct way but it was just out of his reach. We lost and that was that the run was over.

I shook hands with Dyche and invited him for a drink in my office for a chat about the game. People know I only offer this to a few managers who I respect and get on well with. As I walked away from the dug out to go see the players and shake hands with the ref. I saw Dean walking off down the dug out and I asked Tom where he was going. Tom just shook his head a shrugged his shoulders. The fans noticed this as well and some around the tunnel started to boo. I will need to speak to Dean he is our club captain and should be leading by example.

MK Dons - Life without Lewington?

After a awful start to the season for Dean Lewington there are reports coming out of that there has been a falling out between Lewington and Manager Alex Capp. Many thought that the two of them get on very well with reports saying that Capp goes to Dean for advice on the defence regularly. After the game against Burnley where pictures show Dean having no care about missing his penalty or his team being knocked out of the cup heading straight down the tunnel after Ince scored the winning penalty.


On MK Dons website Lewington is now not listed as their captain with vice-captain Jordan Spence taking the armband with young midfielder Dele Alli becoming vices-captain. We will bring your more on this story as it comes

We're improving

We are improving massively and coming on in leaps and bounds and apart from 3 losses we're really strong in the league now sitting in 9th 2 points behind the play of places.



We started with a loss at home to Notts Forest losing 3-0 where their better quality of player showed, they scored 3 great goals and we couldn't do anything to stop them. It followed up with a draw with current league leaders Middlesborough with Jackson getting the equaliser in the 58th minute. We then travelled to Rotherham and ran out convincing winners 5-0.

A visit to Upton Park was on on cards and it ended in a draw, the Hammers re not doing as well as many predicted currently lying in 18th place. Then playing Barnsley at home we ran out again 5-0 winners with Reeves and Jackson running the show upfront. We then followed up these performances with two more wins against Burnley and Crawley Town.

We then lost our next two home games 1-0 to Blackburn then a complete implosion against Watford where we were in a winning position then let in 2 very late goals with Lewingto getting sent off.

I don't know what to do about Dean I have given him chances I really I have, I have tried to talk to him. I've tried to get the lads to talk to him but he is mute. He just keeps to himself and that's it.

Awful Christmas and New Year

I can't really say much about the past two months



We started off poor losing 3-0 to Leicester City at home but then redeemed ourselves away at Wigan winning 3-0, scoring all goals in the first half and controlling the second. What followed was a very long string of draws and loses with the occasional 1-0 win.

I let Dean go he was just showing less and less respect in the club and me, so we let him go. We brought Danny Fox in on loan from Notts Forest but in his first game got injured which will make unavailable for the rest of the season. So we sent him back to Forest. In return we then took Dan Harding on loan from Notts Forest also but with him he brings a wealth of experience which will be useful coming to the business end of the season. We now lie in 10th position but it seems no one really had a stand out two months with Cardiff slowly rising to the top of the table with Big Sam in charge.

Manager's Note

The board have asked to have a meeting with me, I am not sure what it is about I mean we on course to make a profit of £7million this season which is massive considering we where looking at bankruptcy when I first became manager

The Meeting

God I was nervous,I don't know why? We where financially improving looking to make around £7million profit this season so it couldn't be that could it? I was meeting the target's set in the league we were mid-table, me and the guys where looking to consolidate this position.


The door swung open. "Alex! How are you my friend? How are the lads doing?" He was bubbling with pleasure as always.

"I'm fine thanks Pete. Yourself?" I replied "The lads are good, they are all confident for the end of the season and improving our form."

"Ah that's good to hear. Now down to why I asked you here." Pete took a more serious note at this point, which made me worry "Now there is a few things I want to talk to you about, one is your contract and the other is transfer's. Firstly your contract we want to renew it now even though it runs out at the end of the season. We want to give a pay rise to £4,800 a week with a Bonus to avoid relegation well but this will only see you contracted to us until the end of the following season. Is this okay for you?" He was now looking at me with hope I think it was because even I know that we where still paying off the stadium and a few of the loans we had left.

"I will accept your offer but you do not have to pay me so much I will accept a weekly wage of £4,000. And I will not take any more until we are in a much better financial position." Pete looked like he had a massive weight off of his shoulders. "Now what did you want to me about the transfer's?"

Pete shifted in his seat a little and looked nervy "Right Alex now this is not me this is a few of the other Board members. They are not happy with your transfer activity."

"It what way are they not happy? I'm not spending money, I haven't spent any money in the year and a half I have been here." I exclaimed.

"No not like that Alex. They are not happy you let Dean going and they think you should be brining in some bigger named players." Pete said. This just hit me in the face and I was shocked!

"I need to think about this Pete I can't believe this is your concern? Dean wasn't motivated for the cause of the team, he would not go into contract negotiations with us and he just wasn't trying at all. It was having a negative effect on the lads." I really didn't see why this was a problem my reason's to let him go where just and for the good of the squad."With bringing in bigger names we currently don't have the funds for this and we are still not with a big enough reputation to attract those type of names. Give me until the end of the season where we can then look at this again. Now if you don't mind it's late and I want to get home."

Shaking hands "Thanks for this meeting Alex" Pete smiled

"That's fine. Thank you for the new contract" Replying as I started to walk out of the door.

"Oh and Alex. The board want you to get the team promoted" This announcement hit me in the face like a truck and with that Pete closed the door.

It's picking up

I told the lads what the board wanted from us and promotion. Even though they looked dismayed by this request they where all up for the challenge.



We started off slow but then we really hit some form. We lost to Notts Forest and Borough two teams also challenging for promotion losing out by the slimist of margins. We drew against the Hammers and Fulham which both where evenly matched games but we should of been able to beat Fulham as they had a really off day.

We won 2-0 against Brentford and Rotherham who both where also challenging for promotion but we where just to much for them controlling the games well and scoring quick goals on the counter. Jackson nabbing all 4 in these two games. After the draw with West Ham we visited Burnley who where in a good vein of form and I thought it would of been a tougher game than what it was with us running out comfortable 3-1 winners. We then came up against Barnsley and Crawley Town both now staring relegation in the face and both put up a tremendous fight, with Barnsley going ahead in our game with us having to bring it back in the second half. Crawley was more simply we went ahead early on but had a hard time holding onto the lead with them putting a lot of pressure on our goal. They thought they got the equaliser with 5 minutes to go but it was chalked off for offside. We where able to hold on in the end.

Thanks to the form over the past couple of months we now see ourselves sit in 6th place in the final play off place with teams breathing down our necks.

Disappointing Cup Game

We had a disappointing run in the cup only reaching the 4th round.



We started off against promotion chasing rivals Derby County, they brought their full strength squad for this game and where hammering us from the first to the last minute. They scored either side of half time. We found it difficult and we had to play on the counter. With the pace we have on the counter we are a dangerous outfit and that proved in this game scoring all three goals on the break from Derby attacks.

We then traveled to Cardiff City who where in some brilliant form at this point in the season. They scored within 5 minutes of the game starting scoring from a corner, we have been awful at corners this season and we are trying to work on this in training. We equalized in the 80th minute and that gave us momentum to finish the game off strongly but we couldn't find the second goal. The replay was played ten days later and I had signed and new Centre Back on a Free Transfer on deadline day bring in Kaj Rajmestein to bring some more metal to our defensive line. We entertained Cardiff in the replay and it was a brilliant game that was evenly contested with the half time scoreline being 2 all. I had started Kaj from the beginning and he was playing brilliant barely putting a foot wrong. Going into extra time we where hammering the Cardiff goal and it finally cracked. Rasulo whipped in an out swinging corner that found Kaj on the edge of the box who controlled the cross with his chest and smashed the ball into the goal on the half volley and the stadium erupted with celebrations. We held out for the last minute of the game with Cardiff trying to mount a comeback but failing.

We went to Goodison Park on the back of a tricky draw with Fulham league. We went into this game positive as it was the FA Cup and anything can happen. We started off well playing neat football and being able to deal with the Everton Striker partnership of Drogba and Lukaku. Kaj and Flanagan where brilliant in the first 20 minutes of the game keeping those two quiet. We then went ahead with Jackson linking up with Reeves on the edge of the box before Ben played through Powell to smash in a low shot at the near post. Then it went down hill. Lukaku was running through on goal and Tom took one for the team and brought him down on the edge of the box. He was sent off and as he trudged of the pitch all the lads applauded him as they knew he took one for the team. Baines scored the following Free kick and in the second half Everton made their man advantage count scoring two more goals knocking us out of the FA Cup.

The Memories Pt.1

Unpacking my boxes in my brand new office. It was a spacious office, it had a big meeting table in one corner, it was in the corner of the building and my outside walls where big windows where I could see the First team and youth team training grounds. I had asked about my about my office overlooking the youth team pitches and the board had already said this was done as the manager before me had asked the same request. It was good that this team liked to concentrate on the youth set up they have here.

Carrying a box into my office it was labelled "Journals" now these had all my memories and tactics from my time as manager. I always write down this stuff in journals. I took out one just too read and it was labelled "Life in the Premier League" God that was a good season it really tested me and the lads to our limits. We where tipped for relegation before the final whistle had been blown in the Play Off Final. We beat Middlesborough 4-1 but where supposedly undeserved winners even though we dominated from the off.

The money we received from TV rights and the FA paid the remaining debt we had leaving us with still a nice big budget. Much of the media Speculation was around who we would sign in the summer and would we improve our squad as we had this large budget left in the bank, I brought in Virgil Van Dijk for £7.5 million with him being our most expensive signing, I then went about signing PL experience and young players who had experience in the Premier League. I brought in Michael Carrick, Matthew Briggs, Ryo Miyachi, Conor Coady and a few other Premier League faces. I did unfortunately lose Simeone Jackson, Ben Reeves and Samir Carruthers. I was sad to see them leave but they did bring in a combined fee of £12.5 million.

Our first 7 games of that season saw us face the top 7 from last season I was hoping for at least 1 point from these games we came away with 5 points. One win and two draws our win came at home with a 3-1 win over Arsenal, with the draws came against Everton and Liverpool away. There was a knock at the door which took my attention away from the journal. Looking up at the clock I noticed that first team training was about to start. I grab my jacket and looked at the Blue and White striped badge and put it on and walked out of my office towards the training pitches. I thought to myself I would read the rest of my Journal later.

The Memories Pt. 2

Climbing the stairs back to my office. That was a good training session, I was able to see the lads first hand and see where we needed to improve. We have the same views on the style of play so not much will have to change just the work rate of the lads. Walking into my office I looked at the glass cabinet on the wall wear my medals where. I also had a a replica of one of the most famous trophies in the world. It was the last game with them and they got me a replica of the trophy as a thank you.

Getting back to my desk I chucked the letter's I had to one side and would read them later. I picked up my journal and kept on reading. After those seven games we carried on our form and by November we found ourselves sitting in 13th and also taken the scalps of Hull, Newcastle and Norwich. Talks about my contract started to come up in the media and as it was up at the end of the season I thought maybe Pete would talk to me soon.. Hopefully..

December, January and February flew by with us continuing our first season in the PL we tried to add to the squad in January but the board where not giving me permission to go out and find players to add to the squad even on loan. Our defense was very light as Briggs, Flanagan and Kaj where out injured and would not be back until the end of March. We struggled through the March as Keane and Alli went out injured for a month.

April started brightly with wins over Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday. That win against Wednesday confirmed their relegation back to the Championship. Then it happened, we went to Arsenal and in one game we lost 5 players to injury with 3 being out for the season and the other 2 out for a month. I also still hadn't started contract negotiations with the club about extending my stay.

I had to call back Rittenberg from loan as Clayton was out for the month and Keane was out for the season. He came back and impressed me massively he scored 5 goals in the last 8 games. However it didn't stop our slump and we fell from 12th place to 17th place where we missed out on relegation by 1 point, thankfully beating Aston Villa on the day 1-0 thanks to Rittenberg scoring a sweet 20 yard volley. It was then when I saw him, in the Director's box was Mark Hughes. He has been without a club since Stoke had sacked him. It made me think about my future was it set in stone? Was I really not going to be kept on?

Ungrateful c*nts if they sack you!

2015-05-17 14:50#213155 Pauker : Ungrateful c*nts if they sack you!

I know I was sitting there like thinking sh*t sh*t sh*t my story was based around doing it with MK Dons.

The Memores Pt. 3

I had closed my journal for a bit and was reading the letter's on my desk. 3 job offers all back in England - Southampton, Wigan and Newcastle. All team's not interesting me. If I had the letter from Southampton not 2 months ago I would have gone along to the interview but not now. I'm still surprised they are in the Championship. The where in the Europa League Final 2 years ago and where on course for another Top 7 place. I don't know where it went wrong with them but that's not my problem. Newcastle where fighting off relegation and their squad was in no fit state, Ashley has destroyed that club. Setting the letters down I turned back to my journal and I read on.

The teams end of season awards ceremony was a great evening with Dele Alli and Van Dijk picking up the awards. It then happened I was getting ready to make my speech and was waiting for Pete to finish his and he then said it "It is with great displeasure and regret that I have to tell everyone this now considering I haven't had a chance to speak to the man himself but the board and myself feel after the clubs progress over the past few seasons we want to take the club in a new direction and we do not feel the current Manager can take us in that direction." There was silence in the room now the music had stopped. I could feel all the eyes in the room turn to me but I kept staring at Pete, he wasn't looking at me he was forcing himself not too. At this point Alli nudged my arm and whispered in my ear "You can't leave boss." Mumbling back I replied "It's not my choice mate."

I got up took the misses hand and we walked out of the room to the sound of Pete continuing his speech and saying that Mark Hughes was taking over as manager. However I was being applauded as I was walking out the room no one was listening to him. The next few months where a bit of a blur I took two months off away from everything and we went travelling around Asia from Diving in the Great Barrier Reef to exploring Tokyo and Singapore. We came back and there was letters from teams all over the place offering me a job most after researching after not getting my reply had gone with other managers apart from Uruguay. I got in contact with the FA there and next thing you know I was on the touchline in my first match as an international manager. We where currently sitting in 4th place in the World Cup Qualifying places the last spot available. I had to re-call Luiz Suarez from international retirement as by god did the team need some quality up top. We had a menacing front 3 of Suarez, Cavani and Abel Hernandez with Ramirez playing a supporting role.

We rose quickly from 4th to 2nd and stayed there level on points with Chile who where on fire playing very dominate football. Argentina and Brazil had faded off in recent times due to poor form and the chopping and changing of managers. The last game in the qualifiers was against Chile both of us going into this game knowing the winner would finish first. The game kicked off and we started well with our attacking trio running rings around their 3-man defense. We went in at half time 2-1 up with Suarez grabbing both the goals and Alexis Sanchez getting the goal for Chile.

The second half was nail biting stuff, they had changed formation to 5 at the back and where trying to hit us on the break. We held firm however running out 3-1 winners. We finished 1st and considering we where expected to finish around 5th in the play off place I was extremely happy. We went out and celebrated late into the night. Floods of job offers came in but I rejected all wanting to concentrate on the World Cup before I thought about anything else.

We set up games against Nigeria, USA and Scotland all team at about the same level as us to set us up for the World Cup. Our Group Draw draw saw us go up against Italy, Japan and New Zealand. We where predicted to make it out of the group stages but that's as far as we would be expected to go. We finished the Group stages 2nd losing to Italy but beating Japan and New Zealand both 2-0. We where then drawn against Brazil and we lost 2 players to injury in this game but we still won 1-0. Making us progress but then have the daunting task of playing Germany. The game finished 2-2 and we went to a nervy penalty shoot out. It was the Germans at penalties they should win this easily the commentators would of been saying. However the Germans had an off day and we won the penalty shootout 5-3 with our captain, our talisman Suarez scoring the winning penalty to take us to the semi-finals which was against Spain who had just beaten Chile 5-1.

The day came round and Spain lined up I had never looked at the squad but their lined up was Griezmann I thought he was French. I later learned that he had changed nationalities to Spain as he had never been called up by France. The game started off and in 10mins we where already 2-nil down thanks to quick goals from Isco and Rodrigo. We went in at half time with Ramirez scoring from a Free Kick in the 38th minute. We came out in the 2nd half and we instantly got a penalty with Inigo Martinez bringing down Cavani in the box. Martinez was adjudged to be last man and was sent off. Cavani picked himself up brushed himself down and prepared to take the spot kick. There was silence around the stadium, Cavani started to run up and he smashed the ball past the flailing arms of De Gea. The stadium erupted into noise. We had equalised and the momentum and man advantage put us on the front foot. We started to pepper their goal with shots and crosses never letting up. The breakthrough came in the 80th minute a neat passing move in front of their defence opened up for Ramirez to bag his 2nd of the game with a lovely curling effort into the top left hand corner. That was it we where in the final. We did have late scare from a late Spain charge on our goal but we where able to clear the ball away after a siege of corners.

The final was against Poland, the current World Champions. On their journey to the final they had beaten teams like England, Argentina and France. It was the biggest game of my life, this one and the game against Middlesborough in the Play-off Final. Poland where expected to win this game but it would be a close game with odds on for the winning margin to be 1 goal. I lined up with a make shift defence of Estomba-Godin-Coates-Gaston Silva. All of them are firstly Centre back's but luckily two of them can play completely across the back line which was a god send. We started off well playing good football but the game was was evenly matched. Our closest chance was a neat 1-2 between Suarez and Hernandez but finished with Hernandez hitting the bar. The Poles closest chance was Lewandowski's long range effort that crept just over the bar. We went in at half time with the scores at 0-0. I didn't shout at the lads or moan at them I just sat there and let them talk between them. They knew what I was expecting of them and what the fans expected. They ran out together as one, Poland where already lined up but they looked nervous and worried, The lads sensed this and I shouted out to them to get stuck in. We started off the 2nd half at a high tempo not letting them have a moments rest and we where starting to dominate starting to get more and more shots off but Szczesny was standing firm. He had become a great keeper after he left Arsenal. Then it happened one quick break away from Poland and they had scored. Lewandowski with the goal. I'm not how it happened one minute we where attacking and then next the ball was in the back of our net. We had 20 mins to sort this out fast. I chucked on Christian Hernandez for an extra Striker meaning we had 5 attackers on we piled the pressure. With all the pressure Poland had to crack and they did a quick move down the left wing saw Suarez cross the ball for Abel to head home to pull it level with 5minutes left of the game. We ran back with the ball and where all standing ready to go again. The Poles looked exhausted and dejected. They kicked off and tried to hold onto the ball but couldn't and soon again we where attacking again. That was the trend for the next 5 minutes, then came extra time only 2 minutes. We had to score from somewhere. We had 30 seconds left of the game and we had a corner, I sent everyone forward even our Goalkeeper Muslera, The ball went into the box and all I saw was the ball hit the back of the net and our players run away celebrating.

I had to close the journal, the memories where bringing tears to my eyes, it was also 6pm and I should of been home almost an hour ago. I will read the rest later. I walked out of my office looking at that little replica trophy as I left and closed door behind me with a huge smile on my face.

Driving back to the city I was smiling I was at a big club in Netherlands and I've been hired to sort out the mess that has been left by the last manager for a team expected to qualify for Europe, we where sitting in 15th position. We where in the Quarter final of the Cup which was good and we could qualify for Europe through that way but I wanted to do it through league position and that is what we are going to do.

Sitting in the traffic on the outskirts of the city, there was an accident further down the road and we where stuck. I started to day dream about the final again. Imagining the ball hit the back of the net again the elation and emotion from the goal getting mobbed by the bench in celebrations. Listening the the fans singing loudly in Spanish, I later found out they where singing 'Alex Capp the Hero from England who led our Country to glory'

The traffic was moving slowly now but I was still thinking about that day. After the final whistle went I fell to my knees with my arms a loft. I was mobbed by everyone in the team and was being chucked up in the air. There was singing and laughing all around. When I was finally let down by the lads I went over and shook every single one of Poland's team hands and said my commiseration's. As we made our walk up the stairs to receive the trophy we where all buzzing, giving high five's out to our fans. Receiving our medals I had to begrudgingly shake Sepp Blatter's hand. He was ruining the game and many team's where starting to boycott tournaments run by FIFA.

Media speculation was already huge about big clubs asking to become there manager and me and the Uruguayan FA agreed to not renew my contract and let myself become available for hire. At an awards evening after the World Cup I was presented with a miniture replica trophy of the actual World Cup, I couldn't thank them enough they had treated me with the uttermost respect. None of that Media Speculation became apparent however but I did find myself a job in the end in the middle of October I found myself on the training pitches of SC Heereveen. Where I am now coaching a club with some history.

I pulled up outside the apartment blocks where I was living and there he was standing there outside my flat sat on the hood of his car. Steve Parish.