I am currently into November of my first season as Gateshead manager. Here are our pre-season results:
I would have expected us to beat Gateshead Reserves (for obvious reasons) and don't understand how we lost to Newcastle Reserves by a bigger margin than we did to Newcastle's 1st Team, but hey ho. I was however particularly pleased with a comprehensive victory over FC Halifax and a very capable performance in the goalless draw against a team two leagues higher than ourselves.
Our objective for the season is a top half finish, which meant a transfer budget of £16k and a wage budget of £13,508. We were quite busy, in terms of incomings in the transfer window, with one player leaving the club on loan.
Left midfielder Alistair Taylor was brought in as I felt we were in need of some quality in that position. Barnsley pay 100% of his wages and we can buy him at anytime during the loan for £16k (don't think I'll be doing that with my current budgets). To my despair, after good performances in pre-season, he got injured aginst Darlington in the first game of the season and was declared out for 2 months. So I scoured my scout's reports for another left midfielder and found Adam Reach, again Middlesbrough pay 100% of his wages.
Yann Nsaku, Samba Kanouté and Rui Marques are defenders which my scout suggested I buy. Yann Nsaku is my backup centre back for if my first choice centre backs are fatigued or, god forbid, get injured. I was looking forward to integrating Samba Kanouté into my first team at right back, but he got injured on international duty for Mali, this meant I had to go to my scout again, he found Peter Murphy from Accrington Stanley so I brought him in and placed him directly into the first team. Without a doubt, the best signing I have made is Rui Marques, he has played all but three games this season (rested due to fatigue) and he has played outstandingly in each match. I have loaned out Chris Moore as we had a bust up early in pre-season and his contract expires in December.
I play a classic 4-4-2 formation, playing the counter attack away from home and attempting to control the ball at home. Here is the season so far:
After an opening day defeat to our closest rivals, the players really pulled their finger out and are currently unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions. Up next is the most important game of the season so far, an away tie to Fleetwood, they are top of the league and are unbeaten in 13 league games. Can we beat them?!!
I would have expected us to beat Gateshead Reserves (for obvious reasons) and don't understand how we lost to Newcastle Reserves by a bigger margin than we did to Newcastle's 1st Team, but hey ho. I was however particularly pleased with a comprehensive victory over FC Halifax and a very capable performance in the goalless draw against a team two leagues higher than ourselves.
Our objective for the season is a top half finish, which meant a transfer budget of £16k and a wage budget of £13,508. We were quite busy, in terms of incomings in the transfer window, with one player leaving the club on loan.
Left midfielder Alistair Taylor was brought in as I felt we were in need of some quality in that position. Barnsley pay 100% of his wages and we can buy him at anytime during the loan for £16k (don't think I'll be doing that with my current budgets). To my despair, after good performances in pre-season, he got injured aginst Darlington in the first game of the season and was declared out for 2 months. So I scoured my scout's reports for another left midfielder and found Adam Reach, again Middlesbrough pay 100% of his wages.
Yann Nsaku, Samba Kanouté and Rui Marques are defenders which my scout suggested I buy. Yann Nsaku is my backup centre back for if my first choice centre backs are fatigued or, god forbid, get injured. I was looking forward to integrating Samba Kanouté into my first team at right back, but he got injured on international duty for Mali, this meant I had to go to my scout again, he found Peter Murphy from Accrington Stanley so I brought him in and placed him directly into the first team. Without a doubt, the best signing I have made is Rui Marques, he has played all but three games this season (rested due to fatigue) and he has played outstandingly in each match. I have loaned out Chris Moore as we had a bust up early in pre-season and his contract expires in December.
I play a classic 4-4-2 formation, playing the counter attack away from home and attempting to control the ball at home. Here is the season so far:
After an opening day defeat to our closest rivals, the players really pulled their finger out and are currently unbeaten in 16 games in all competitions. Up next is the most important game of the season so far, an away tie to Fleetwood, they are top of the league and are unbeaten in 13 league games. Can we beat them?!!
