A decent start
We have started the league well, hopefully that should keep the board happy. Being favourites to win a league is tricky and I can’t afford to slip up.
In the league we have a game against Blyth, they are a good team but I don’t want to lose any points here. We start well, and we take the lead on the 27th minute from a set piece, Bond heads it past an on rushing keeper. Any optimism is quashed when Blyth get an equaliser in the next highlight. We go in at half time 1-1. I tell the players that I believe in them and send them back on their way. We have a few chances and then their centre back gets sent off on the 60th minute. This is our chance to make it count. Nothing. On the 75th minute, I change to a 3-3-4. Still nothing changes and the game finishes 1-1. It is always disappointing not to win but not beating a team with 10 men is frustrating!
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After the match against Blyth, it hit home that I need another striker at least. Someone to bring off the bench to make a difference. It also HAS to be on loan. I am £1.7k over my wage budget and I don’t want to potentially upset people by selling any players…yet.
Naturally, I look at my affiliate for a decent-ish player. Turns out all their under 23’s are all 16 so cant be loaned out. Might have to look for another affiliate but don’t know the rules on that yet! So its looking for loans whose parent club don’t want wage contributions. This is going to be slim pickings.
Somehow we manage to sign Klaidi Lolos in time for the next game. He goes straight into the match day squad as my back up striker. He is only rated as 2.5 stars but I panicked and its only a 5 month loan so it shouldn’t be too bad.
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Away from transfer dealings and back to the league. Our next match is against Leamington. They are 7-1 outsiders to win this game so we should smash through them and get 3 points. However, this being Football Manager, it’s far more likely I will lose 2-1 after taking an initial lead.
The game starts in the best circumstances for us, they get a CB sent off in the second minute. Surely, we should be able to make this count unlike the last game. Hopefully, we can get an early goal and dictate the game.
It is the 43rd minute before we take the lead. Moke crosses for McLaughin to head in at the far post. We go in at half time 1-0 up, I look at their tactics and they are playing 5-3-1. So having 4 defenders is a bit unneccessary. So I change to a 3-4-3 to try and control the game. It also gives Lolos a chance to make his debut without a lot of pressure.
Within 2 minutes of the second half we double our lead, all strikers combining to get Simons to header in at the back post and we are now in full control of the game. On the 72nd minute, we go 3-0 up and Burrow get his first and our third headed goal of the game. Once the ball hits the back of the net, I rest some players and give some others some minutes. The game ambles on and we take the 3 points.
The next match is Boston. They are top of the league, we are second. We should be top but sloppy draws have stopped us. If we win this, we go top and set our credentials as league leaders.
We get the best possible start with a goal in the 2nd minute. Burrow slots past their keeper. Great start. By the 17th minute, we are 2-1 down. Their goals are both long balls over the top and we are losing. We draw level from the penalty spot when captain McNulty smashes in past the keeper. We take the lead just before half time when Burrow gets an assist and crosses for Simons to play a one-two with the post before slotted past the keeper. A hectic first half and we leading 3-2.
At half time, I tell the players I am disappointed with them. Hopefully that will work. We increase our lead in the 69th minute, when Simons returns the favour and plays a slide rule pass for Burrow to run on to and smash across the keeper. Burrow gets his hat-trick 6 minutes later, their defender makes a horrendous error and essentially squares it to Burrow on the 6 yard box so Burrow passes it in against a keeper in dismay. We are 5-2 up with 15 minutes to go. Shut up shop time. Boston get a consolation goal and we go on to win 5-3. A ridiculous game but the sort of game that makes us love FM. Burrow was standout today with 3 goals and an assist.
With the quick turn around in games we now play Bradford PA. They are bottom of the league but as we all know with FM. That means nothing and due to tiredness, I rest the entire back 4 and a couple of midfielders. We start the game well and take the lead on the 22nd. Tait (CB) scores with a volley from an extremely acute angle. FM in its truest form, especially when his finishing is rated as 6. We double our lead when McLaughlin crosses for Simons to head home.
We go in at half-time 2-0 up, I tell the players to not be complacent. Hopefully the new players will want to stay in the team and not balls it up. The second half is quite dull so I gradually make some subs to rest some players/give others minutes. Annoyingly Moke picks up an injury once I have made my changes. We end the game 2-0 winners.
I check my scouting list to see what players I can bring in. I have three scouts and they are all average at best. None rating higher than 9 to judge player ability or potential. That will have to change.
According to my scouting list, I have asked them to look through 103 players. This is too many from now on I will just invite any players on trial and put them in the reserves to see what they are like.
We have continued our good start to the season beating the league leaders and being undefeated so far. Coming up we enter the FA Cup qualifiers and a local derby.
Apologies for lack of pictures as PC has crashed!
