My Crewe story - The Railwaymen on track to the top…

August 2014

nPower Championship
Crewe – Watford: 3 – 0
Great start to the league campaign with a 3 nil victory against relegated Watford. Goals from Catalano, Gro and Conti in a 15 minute period in the first half gave us the victory. We had 8 shots on target against 1 to Watford.

League Cup 1st round
Crewe – Rotherham: 4 – 0
Another great win, though against inferior opponent. Two goals each from Vojtus and Gro though Tirloni picked up an injury and will be out for around 2 months with strained knee ligaments 

Friendly
Turkey – Nigeria: 3 – 1
Gave a couple of younger players their international debut in defense and it showed against experienced opponents who took a 2 goal lead thanks Arda Turan. We reduced the lead by Ogbonna from a well-worked free kick just before half time though we were thwarted by the opposing keeper as well several times. Turkey added another goal right after the restart and the score stayed like that till final whistle though both sides had further chances.

nPower Championship
Ipswich – Crewe: 1 – 0
A very hard defeat to take. I thought we were the better team overall with more ball possession (54%) and shots/shots on goal than Ipswich but they took their chance from a corner when it came and we could not find the equalizer. Hope this is just but a hiccup and that the team picks themselves up in the next match. Perhaps we are missing Tirloni more than I think!

nPower Championship
Crewe – Blackpool: 2 – 0
A two minute double salvo at the start of the second half by Gernsoe and Mensah gave us a hard fought win. Blackpool had more of the ball but we had more shots on goal and made it count this time.

nPower Championship
Leyton Orient – Crewe: 2 – 4
Great result away from home, but it could have been different altogether as well. We started well and went ahead with a Conti goal from a superb through ball by Tuninetti. Leyton Orient equalized in the second half and then went ahead, both goals defensive mistakes as the scorers were left unmarked. As I was preparing to make 2 substitutions, Gernsoe equalized for us after being put through by Conti. Substitutes Powell and Gro then combined to put us ahead, Powell the provider. Our fourth goal came courtesy of Conti after a Gro header was blocked by the keeper. It was great to see the impact made by the subs to give us the win. Up to 3rd in the table.

League Cup 2nd round
Gillingham – Crewe: 0 – 3
A good win with goals from Lebourg, an own goal and then a Zinda goal in added time gave us a comfortable win.

nPower Championship
Cardiff – Crewe: 2 – 6
Crewe demolish Cardiff!
We had a bad start as we conceded on the 6th minute. We came back into the match however and got the equalizer through Conti on the 31st minute and 2 minutes later, Conti put us in front with a great shot from outside the area. Devlin added a third from a corner just before half time. In the second half, Svensson got the fourth from a well worked move and five minutes later, Mensah added his name to the scoresheet with a shot from 35 metres into an empty net after robbing the ball from the last defender. Conti then got his hat-trick on the 76th minute. Cardiff got a consolation second on the 84th minute. We are on top of the league! Need to make the spot our own now!

September 2014

Crewe boss scoops August nPower Championship manager of the month award.

African Nations Quals Grp 1
Nigeria – Djibouti: 6 – 0
6 goals scored before the 27 minutes mark! One way traffic match. Djibouti had only one shot and it was off target. Goals from Anthony Ujah(3), Ahmed Musa, Angelo Ogbonna, Lukman Haruna.

African Nations Quals Grp 1
Libya – Nigeria: 0 – 2
A good win with an own goal and a second from Ujah, the later continuing on his good goalscoring form for Nigeria.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Nott Forest: 3 – 1
I’m simply amazed by my team captain Daniele Conti at the start of this season. He already has 8 goals now after a double in this match. To think I was pondering not to renew his expiring contract last season because his performances were so erratic with only 10 goals overall last season. Now he already has 8 goals in 5 league matches to his name! Maybe at 25 years old, he’s starting to peak and this is showing on the field and he is now embracing the responsibility as team captain better. It was Gernsoe who opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Gommers was brought down inside the area. Conti added a second with a placed shot just inside the upright on the 38th minute and then unleashed a screamer on the 65th minute from 25 metres out for his second goal. Nott Forest got one goal back on the 77th minute but the win was already ours with Conti’s third MoM already in the league. Fingers cross his current form continues.

nPower Championship
Bournemouth – Crewe: 0 – 0
A disappointing draw. Though we had enough chances to win this game, the players did not seem to have any luck in front of goal today. Still top though with Ipswich drawing as well away to Crystal Palace.

League Cup 3rd round
Crewe – Wigan: 5 – 3
Great win! By the 40th minute, we were 4 up with 3 goals from Vojtus and 1 from Gommers. Wigan clawed one back just before half time. They got a second on the 71st minute and another one on the 81st minute to make the score 4-3. Vojtus had other ideas though and on the 84th minute, he took the ball from the around the centre circle, ran up the pitch, dribbled one defender before putting the ball into the net between the post and the keeper for his 4th goal of the game. I think this is our first win against Premier Division opponent in a competitive match!

nPower Championship
Crewe – Derby: 1 – 0
Conti’s the man! He popped up on the 75th minute to break the deadlock with an exquisite lob from the edge of the area to beat the advancing keeper and give us the win.

nPower Championship
Crystal Palace – Crewe: 2 – 0
Arghh! This was a bad performance. Changed the team a little bit with a debut for promising left back Barrie Foster, Moller on the right of midfield in place of Svensson, Vojtus and Mensah in attack. Foster gave a promising performance but Moller, Vojtus and Gommers were very poor. Still top though! Crystal Palace goals came through a penalty on the 12th minute after a foul by Gommers and an own goal by centre back Lebourg.

You are doing good with both Crewe and Nigeria ... but more difficult matches ahead. I was asked for the Australia job on my Liverpool save but turned down the offer.

Thanks, it's always difficult to stay at the top! And I've been getting several offers from other Championship clubs as well, rejected them all!

October 2014

nPower Championship
Crewe – Swansea: 2 – 2
We started well and were leading by 2 goals through Gro and Tuninetti by the 19th minute, but Swansea got one back on the 26th minute and leveled the match on the 71st minute. Luckily still on top on goal difference.


African Nations Quals Grp 1
Kenya – Nigeria: 0 – 0


Crewe Head Coach set for The Circle?
Hull president is believed to be targeting current Crewe Head Coach to fill the vacant coaching post at Hull.
Hull approach Crew Head Coach – Offer rejected!


nPower Championship
Huddersfield – Crewe: 2 – 1
We did not compete at all in the first half and were 1 down at half time. We managed to equalize but 12 minutes later Huddersfield scored again and we went to lose this match.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Leeds: 2 – 0
A great performance with goals from Mensah and Moller in the first half. Leeds were restricted to only 2 shots, both off target

nPower Championship
Brighton – Crewe: 1 – 3
Things started badly when we conceded in the 5th minute. Conti restored parity on the 18th minute and from then on, we pushed for the win which dully came in the 55th minute from Mensah after a great run and shot. Brighton were reduced to 10 men on the 60th minute after their already yellow-carded full back tripped Conti in full flight. We took advantage of it and applied pressure on Brighton for another goal which came from a corner met by the head of Devlin.


Preston president has offered a three year contract on 6K per week to take the coaching job at Deepdale – Offer rejected!


League Cup 4th round
Fulham – Crewe: 0 – 1
Upset of the round and tactical masterstroke! I knew going to Premier Division side Fulham and playing 4-4-2 would be suicide, so I decided to change the shape of the team to a more defensive one but with pace on the wings for counters. I opted for my discarded away tactic, 4-1-2-2-1, asked the players to get stuck in and hassle the opponents, and it paid off. We had more possession, 55%, 10 shots with 4 on target, to Fulham’s 12, with 5 on target. First half was goalless though not without chances. In the second half, from a free-kick, Tirloni and Gernsoe combined to release an unmarked Conti who made no mistake to fire us ahead. Changed tactics to a counter attacking one from then on and though we had chances to score again, Svensson was wasteful on two occasion but fortunately without consequences

November 2014

nPower Championship
Crewe – Norwich: 1 – 1
This is a game we should have won. We were wasteful in front of goal, 22 shots only 5 on target. We hit the post 2 times, first it was Gro, then Gommers. Norwich had only one shot on target in 5 and made it count, and what a goal it was! We took the lead through Gro in the 13th minute, but on the 50th minute, on a bad clearance, Norwich equalized. Though we dominated, we could not get the winning goal. Maybe I should not have rested Conti! Down to second

nPower Championship
Preston – Crewe: 1 – 0
Unlucky! Own goal against the run of play. The players did not help themselves anyway by missing chances after chances! Need to be more clinical in front of goal! Down to 6th.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Stoke City: 3 – 1
Good win against a strong Stoke City side with Premier League pedigree, with players like Sorensen, Mark Wilson, Walters, Crouch. We started well and scored on the 4th minute through Devlin, though his shot struck Sorensen and went in, and referee gave it as an own goal. Poor Devlin scored an own goal at the other end on the 14th minute to give Stoke a lifeline when the ball struck his back and went in. Svensson had other ideas though and struck on the 35th minute after he met a great cross from Gommers to score. Then on the 81st minute, Svensson put the game beyond doubt for us by scoring from a free kick in the top right corner. Up to 3rd.


Friendly
Uruguay – Nigeria: 3 – 1
Defeat as expected as I was giving new caps to some younger players who generally performed to a good level in this match.

Nigeria – Andorra: 1 – 0
Tried a new formation and though we got the win, there is work ahead.


nPower Championship
Leicester – Crewe: 0 – 3
We went ahead following a great run and shot by Gernsoe. We doubled our lead at the start of the second half through Catalano’s header from a corner and an own goal on the 86th minute gave us a comfortable away win with the 4-1-2-2-1 formation.

nPower Championship
Middlesbrough – Crewe: 0 – 4
Great start against Middlesbrough with a goal inside the first minute by Moller. Tirloni doubled our lead on the 10th minute. Powell replaced the injured Gommers on the 15th minute. In the second half, Devlin scored a diving header on the 70th minute and Powell added a fourth on the 75th minute to give us a great away win. Only sour note is the long term absence of Gommers with a broken ankle for around 4 months. Nellins will get his chance on the left now.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Reading: 1 – 0
A win by the slimmest of margins, thanks to Catalano’s goal, well deserved though as we had more possession four times as many shots than Reading with 5 on target and none for them. And their keeper was MoM! But Devlin is out for 5 weeks.

December 2014

League Cup Quarter Final
Huddersfield – Crewe: 0 – 2
Our league cup run for this season continues thanks to goals from Vojtus and Tirloni in the second half. We tested their keeper more and deserved to go through.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Southampton: 3 – 1
Goals from Conti and Catalano in the first half and Svensson in the second gave us a good win against a strong Southampton side. Conti had a shot on the upright as well. Back on top!

Drawn against Liverpool in the League Cup Semi Final! First leg away at Anfield.


Crewe Head Coach set for St. Mary’s Stadium?
Southampton president is believed to be targeting current the Crewe Head Coach to fill the vacant coaching post at Southampton.
However, Crewe’s Head Coach current boss John Bowler would be likely to put up a brave fight to keep him at Crewe.
Southampton approach Crew Head Coach – Offer rejected!


nPower Championship
Peterborough – Crewe: 2 – 0
Aahh, I hate it when the opposition scores with their first shot! That’s what happened today. We already had around 5 shots and tested the keeper but no goal and then on a counter and first shot they scored. An error from Siadankay just before half time gave them a 2 goal lead and though we tried, we could not get past their MoM keeper. Swansea beaten as well, meaning we are still on top.

nPower Championship
Crewe – QPR: 3 – 1
QPR took the lead in the 15th minute but we hit back with 2 goals from Vojtus and 1 from Gro to go in at half time in a commanding lead. Vojtus scored his second on the 37th minute to put the game beyond doubt. With games coming thick, my only problem at the moment is injury with Devlin, Gommers, Mensah and Konig injured. Three of them would be definite starters and are currently out. Should I include promising under-18 players in my squad?

nPower Championship
Hull – Crewe: 0 – 1
Have included Eddie Singleton and Bryan Vince from the under-18 squad among my substitute for this match since I am short of capable eligible home-grown players in my squad. Better to give promising players a chance in these ciscumstances. Nellins got his first goal of the season on the 13th minute capitalizing on a defensive mistake to rob the ball and score the only goal of the game.

nPower Championship
Watford – Crewe: 3 – 1
This was always going to be a difficult game against the third in the league and with the league’s top scorer. Watford took a two goal lead in the first half and though we managed to get one goal, Watford scored again to regain their 2 goal advantage in the last minutes of the game.

I’ve been given the opportunity to review my season expectations and as such I have changed expectations to promotion.

FA Cup 3rd round
Peterborough – Crewe: 1 – 1
Conti gave us the lead with a well-timed finish on the 17th minute from a great Gernsoe through ball. However, Peterborough domination paid off in the 83rd minute when they got the equalizer and force the replay.

January 2015

nPower Championship
Blackpool – Crewe: 3 – 4
Thrilling match! We started well and scored early on the 5th minute through Devlin’s header. Devlin turned from hero to villain when he scored an own goal on the 22nd minute, but Conti restored our lead 4 minutes later. But Blackpool equalized again on the 40th minute. I rallied the troops at half time and told them they can still win this match. Catalano restored our lead again on the 61st minute only for Blackpool to again peg us back on the 75th minute. 7 minutes later, Conti popped up to score his second after Mensah’s shot was blocked by the keeper and give us the win.

League Cup Semi Final 1st leg
Liverpool – Crewe: 0 – 2
I’m happy that we held our own against a Liverpool team containing Kelly, Carragher, Gerrard, Henderson, Adam, Kuyt, Carroll and Arda Turan. I opted for the 4-1-2-2-1 formation again and we started well but Svensson had to be replaced due injury on the 18th minute by Moller. On the 26th minute, on a quick counter, Conti initiated a move that saw Tirloni release Gro and the latter raced away and side-stepped the on-rushing keeper to score in an empty net. 1 nil to Crewe at Anfield! Get in!!! Liverpool was going to come at us in the second half. They replaced Adam by Pacheco at half time. It was 2 nil on the 71st minute. A great ball over the top from centre back Lebourg saw Nellins out muscle Kelly and race on and his cross was deflected by Coates into the path of Gro who with a clever header released the unmarked Moller to his right. The latter made no mistake to volley in the net beating the reserve Liverpool keeper. It could have been 3 if Nellins had taken his chance well instead of firing just wide of the post after a great run and cross by Moller on the right. Superb result!

January 2015 Update 1

nPower Championship
Crewe – Ipswich: 6 – 1
We had a great start to the match when Nellins scored on the 3rd minute from Moller’s cross. Vojtus doubled the lead on the 9th minute with a shot from the edge of the area. Ipswich were reduced to 10 men on the 13th minute when Ivens was sent off for clearing the ball with his hand just outside the area as the last defender. Ipswich though managed a goal on the 16th minute through a Michael Chopra free kick into the top right corner. Gernsoe added a third after the keeper spilled Vojtus shot into his path. Catalano got the 4th on the 34th minute with a header from Gernsoe’s corner. A defensive mistake gifted Vojtus the ball in front on the goal and he made no mistake to further extend our lead. On the 62nd minute, substitute Powell scored a tap-in following Nellins’s cross. Ipswich were reduced to 9 men with Jean Groot’s dismissal after a bad foul on Powell. Lead extended to 4 points


African Cup of Nations
We have been drawn in Group A with Morocco, Tunisia and Burkina Faso
Nigeria – Burkina Faso: 1 – 0
Game was goalless until the 86th minute when substitutes Chibuike and Uche combined for Uche to score the only goal of the game after an incisive break away by Chibuike


FA Cup 3rd round replay
Crewe – Peterborough: 2 – 0
A well-worked free kick saw us take the lead in the 59th minute after Gernsoe squared the ball for Powell in the box whose shot went in under the bar. Gro added a second on the 65th minute.


African Cup of Nations
Tunisia – Nigeria: 0 – 1
Nigeria got the only goal of the game after a one-two between Ideye and Ujah releasing Ideye to beat the keeper.

African Cup of Nations
Nigeria – Morocco: 1 – 2
A disappointing defeat, already qualified though being second in the group with 2 wins.


League Cup Semi Final 2nd leg
Crewe – Liverpool: 0 – 1
It was Pepe Reina in goal this time for Liverpool, but no Gerrard or Carragher. Kelly, Coates, Leiva, Sterling, Carroll were on the field though. We had a goal ruled out for offside on the 43rd minute. Carroll scored a powerful shot for Liverpool on the 51st minute after Devlin missed his header. Conti had a chance to level the score right afterwards but shot over. Match finished 1 nil to Liverpool but we are through to the final of the League Cup on aggregate! Wow!!!

FA Cup 4th round
Crewe – Blackburn: 2 – 0
Blackburn’s left back Bedimo sent off on the 27th minute for a professional foul on Gernsoe just before the penalty box. Moller scored a sublime goal from the right edge of the penalty box into the far corner of the net. An unstoppable shot! 4 minutes later, Nellins doubled our lead from a good Redsted cross. The dismissal certainly helped us today, but it was a correct decision when Gernsoe was through on goal.

February 2015

January award for Crewe boss

African Cup of Nations Quarter Final
Nigeria – Zambia: 3 – 1
Good performance with goals from Ideye, Ogbonna and Moses.
It will be Cameroon in the semis!


nPower Championship
Crewe – Cardiff: 2 – 0
Good win with goals from Mensah and Vojtus


African Cup of Nations Semi Final
Nigeria – Cameroon: 1 – 1(p)
Cameroon went ahead through Eto’o on the 54 minutes and we were heading towards defeat when on a last counter on the 93rd minute, a cross by Uche was diverted into his own net by Bassong. Extra time did not change anything though we pilled on the pressure in the last 10 minutes without success. Penalties came… First 3 scored on each side, then Uche’s kick was saved by Kameni. Alex Song scored the fourth for Cameroon and then Ujah kicked wide to give the win to Cameroon. 3rd place play-off against Ghana to come.


nPower Championship
Nott Forest – Crewe: 0 – 2
Vojtus opened the scoring on the 13th minute from a Svensson pass and then Nellins doubled our lead on the 39th minute when a Vojtus shot was blocked by the keeper and fell into his path to tap into an empty net.


African Cup of Nations 3rd place playoff
Nigeria – Ghana: 1 – 2
Ghana scored first at the start of the second half through Jordan Ayew but we pegged them back immediately when Ujah equalized after a great run and cross by Moses. However, on the 85th minute, Ogbonna conceded a penalty that was converted by Andre Ayew to give Ghana the win.
I did achieve the minimum of reaching the semi-finals, so I think my job is safe for the moment 


Friendly
Nigeria – England: 0 – 4
We did not compete enough. England’s goals came from Carroll(2), Henderson and Rooney. Some players will need to ask themselves whether they deserve to stay in the national side.


nPower Championship
Crewe – Bournemouth: 1 – 0
Nellins scored a dramatic winner in the 94th minute. Svensson sent a through ball through the packed defence to the left side of the penalty area and Nellins was played onside by a centre back, picked up the ball and slid it through the keeper and the post for the winner. We are 7 points clear at the top!

nPower Championship
Derby – Crewe: 1 – 0
Catalano conceded a penalty and they scored from the spot. Some players did not perform at the level I expected of them and that’s the other reason we could salvage anything from this game. Disappointing and I’ve made myself heard afterwards.

FA Cup 5th round
Crewe – Hull: 2 – 0
Catalano, Maclennan and Gro dropped for this game due to poor performance in previous match. A Conti double on the 36th and 87th minute gave us a hard fought win.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Leyton Orient: 5 – 1
Gro opened the scoring with a poacher’s effort on the 21st minute. Gommers got our second goal with a fine curling effort from the edge of the area 8 minutes later. Gommers got his second following a superb defence splitting through ball from Tirloni 4 minutes later. Another ball from Tirloni, this time before the half way line over the top, released Gro who raced away to beat the keeper. Leyton got one back but straight away at the other end, Tirloni got on the scoresheet following a scramble in the box.

March 2015

Crewe boss scoops February award - Manager on the month for 2 consecutive months

League Cup Final
Wolves – Crewe: 1 – 2
Back to the 4-1-2-2-1 formation for this match. We started well and were the first to attack but on the 8th minute, with their first foray in Crewe’s penalty box, Wolves scored. On the 41st minute, Konig played a great ball out of defence on the left and Gommers timed his run to perfection to get onto the ball, skip past the on-rushing defender and setup the arriving Vojtus to score into an open net. 1 – 1! All to play for! Couple of minutes later, we had a good goal disallowed for offside from a free kick and replays showed the linesman/referee got it all wrong! On the 58th minute, a neat one-two between Vojtus and Gernsoe saw Gernsoe take the ball forward and skip past the defender Christophe Berra’s challenge and unleash a great shot to beat Hennessey.
We have won the League Cup!!!! Woooooooo







nPower Championship
Crewe – Crystal Palace: 1 – 1
Crystal Palace took the lead through a great 25 metres shot in the bottom corner that was too powerful for Siadankay to keep out. The equalizing goal came on the 72nd minute when Nellins low cross in front of goal was put in his own net by Hanley.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Huddersfield: 1 – 0
This was a six pointer match as Huddersfield was second in the league behind us. A great through ball by Tirloni on the 64th minute released Vojtus to run unchallenged from the centre circle line and score past the keeper into the bottom corner of the net for the only goal of a match we dominated and deserved to win. 6 points ahead with a game in hand

nPower Championship
Leeds – Crewe: 1 – 0
Though not poor, we were second best I think in this match as we failed to create clear cut chances until too late, after having conceded on the 84th minute.

FA Cup 6th round
Crewe – Bolton: 2 – 1
Conti hit the crossbar on the 2nd minute. It was all ours since the start. Then on the 5th minute, from a twice badly cleared corner, Redsted passed to Conti who unleashed a screamer into the top right corner from the edge of the area! On their first attack on the 12th minute, Muamba hit the post. Bolton equalized on the 21st minute. The advancing Gomis lobbed my keeper who came out and the ball fell just in front of goal for Graham to tap in. All to play for. On the 41st, we had a goal ruled off for offside, though I think the decision was correct. But just after, we were denied a penalty for a foul on Svensson. We had chances at the start of the second half but Bolton’s keeper was up to it. With time running out, substituting Gommers for Nellins paid off as on the 86th minute, a great cross from Nellins into the box caused a scramble and Conti seized on Wheater’s mistake to score a real poacher’s effort. Overall we were the better team with 54% possession, 19 shots with 8 on target to Bolton’s 6, 2 on target. We are through! Wembley awaits again!




Crewe get Arsenal in FA Cup


nPower Championship
Swansea – Crewe: 2 – 2
We faced an uphill battle with the dismissal of Devlin on the 14th minute for a two-footed tackle from behind. Changed the team a little bit but didn’t work well and we conceded an own goal from Redsted on the 21st minute. Swansea doubled their lead two minutes later and something had to be done as the makeshift 3-men defense was not working. Tactical sub with Catalano on for striker Vojtus and change of formation to 4-4-1. We started coming back. Moller got a goal back on the 43rd minute via a header in off the upright. Told the team to show me something different in the second half and they delivered. We threatened more and finally it paid off in the 86th minute when Catalano scored a header from a Tirloni’s corner. We leveled the score with 10 men!

nPower Championship
Norwich – Crewe: 1 – 1
We started brightly and took the lead on the 24th minute when a wonderful pass by Gernsoe found Gommers unmarked on the left in the area and he made no mistake to put us ahead. But Norwich peg us back immediately and equalized through Mourad. We should have been ahead on the 41st minute. Conti and Gernsoe exchanged passes in front in the area and a sweet banana shot by Conti hit the post, came out and cleared for a corner by a Norwich player. Just watching the shot as Conti let fly, I could not help but say wow and then watched it couple of times again! On the 48th minute, a Gommers shot was brilliantly kept out by Ruddy and then Conti was denied by Ruddy again. A draw in the end but we deserved more from this match we dominated.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Preston: 2 – 1
Conti opened the scoring with a nice turn and shot from the edge of the area into the far corner of the net. Conti then turned provider for the second on the 43rd minute. Taking the ball from a Gro pass, he sped past Cameron and passed the ball on the left to the advancing Nellins who was left with a simple tap in. Replaced Tirloni and Conti at half time as they were not fresh after playing against Norwich 3 days earlier. Preston got one back on the 77th minute, but we held on for the win. 9 points lead at the top with one game in hand!

April 2015

nPower Championship
Crewe – Brighton: 3 – 1
Brighton took a shock lead on the 3rd minute through a corner. We came back however and on the 38th minute, Gommers run and cross was met by Svensson for a simple tap-in. We finally took the lead in the 84th minute through substitute Nellins. An indirect freekick by Conti from the right was met at the far side by Nellins for the goal. In added time, from a free-kick near the corner flag, Catalano scored at the second attempt after his first header was blocked by the keeper. We are 12 points clear.

nPower Championship
Stoke – Crewe: 1 – 2
Stoke went ahead through Crouch’s header from a corner on the 10th minute. We equalized on the 19th minute however when Vojtus found Gernsoe in space and the latter went one-on-one with the keeper and kept his composure to score a low drive to the left of the keeper. On the 63rd minute, a great ball from Tirloni found Vojtus’s run into space behind the defender and he kept his cool to side-step the on rushing Sorensen and score in an empty net. Both sides had chances but the keepers were equal to them. Stoke had more possession and shots but we took the chances that came our way and got the win.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Leicester: 1 – 1
We went ahead on the 6th minute when a Conti’s pass in the area found Gro who rifled in past the keeper. But in the dying minutes, Leicester equalized through a great lob over the advancing Siadankay.

nPower Championship
Reading – Crewe: 0 – 2
Svensson had two great chances to score in the first halt when released by Conti on both times but he lacked composure in front of the keeper. He then turned provider for Conti but the keeper made a great save. Just before half time, Conti made a great run unopposed from just outside his area to the opposite area and unleashed a fierce that the keeper kept out. We finally broke the deadlock on the 71st minute when Conti found Gernsoe in space and the latter advanced forward and then played a great ball for Gro to run on to and unleash an unstoppable shot past the keeper into the net. 4 minutes later, Conti got the goal his performance on the night deserved when substitute Nellins’s great run and cross was not cleared and fell to Conti to score past the keeper. Conti then had a great curling shot ruled out for offside on the 85th minute. We have secured a playoff place with this win.

nPower Championship
Crewe – Middlesbrough: 2 – 3
Rested some players for the upcoming FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal. Great start to the match with a goal from Devlin from Tirloni’s corner. But Middlesbrough pegged us back immediately and equalized and then took the lead 6 minutes later. We restored parity on the 21st minute when a great ball out of defense from Lebourg found Moller who headed into the path of Vojtus who raced on to fire past the keeper. Powell then hit the bar on the 32nd minute. However, on the 68th minute, Middlesbrough scored what would prove the winner and Tirloni is out for4 to 5 weeks with broken ribs.

FA Cup Semifinal
Arsenal – Crewe: 2 – 0
Arsenal took the lead on the 24th minute when a shot by Ramsey was kept out by Siadankay but fell to Gervinho to score with the keeper on the ground. On the 34th minute, Chamakh had a shot on the crossbar and Siadankay made two important saves after the ball came back in play. Ramsey doubled Arsenal’s lead with a great shot from outside the area. Things went from bad to worse when Redsted got a red card on the 65th minute for a bad foul on Ramsey. It was always going to be tough without Tirloni and Konig.

nPower Championship
Southampton – Crewe: 3 – 3
Svensson opened the scoring when he latched onto a great ball from Devlin over the top and beat the keeper. Southampton equalized from the spot for a foul by Lebourg on Sinclair. Southampton regained the lead in the second half following an own goal by Maclennan but we got numerical advantage in the 63rd minute when Stephen Kelly was sent off for a foul on Gommers and received his second yellow card. We equalised in the next minute when Devlin scored from a Gommer’s corner. Southampton had other ideas and managed to score again through Besic, but two minutes from time, Lebourg scored his first league goal through a diving header from Svensson’s corner. And we have won the nPower Championship already at 86 points and with 3 matches left. Huddersfield and Southampton are still on 74 points.



nPower Championship
Crewe – Peterborough: 1 – 0
Opposing keeper Logan turned a Nellins cross into his own net to give us the lead. We were denied a legitimate goal by Mensah for an offside that wasn’t one on the 85th minute.

Here’s the league standings


And the Premier Division standings


I hope Liverpool can maintain their momentum and end up as Champions!

April & May 2015

nPower Championship
QPR – Crewe: 2 – 5
Gave the reserve keeper a debut in this match as well as having my promising strikers on the bench. One of them, Bryan Vince, just scored 7 goals in a reserve match that we won 9-0! We went ahead on the 4th minute from a Svensson’s corner, met by Devlin with a downward header for the goal. Nick Powell added second on the 24th minute. Bruno reduced the deficit with a great shot from outside the area and they were level on the 44th minute. Devlin got his second goal of the afternoon on the 60th minute, again from a Svensson corner. Nick Powell conceded a penalty on the 65th minute but DJ Campbell hit the post. Devlin got his hat-trick on the 78th minute after Gommers was fouled by Bruno on the left edge of the area. Svensson’s freekick was met by Devlin’s header for this 3rd goal. There was still time for promising striker Webster to score on his debut from Svensson’s low cross across goal. MoM to Devlin, but special mention for Svensson for his 4 assists.

Crewe Head Coach set for The Hawthorns?
West Brom president is believed to be targeting current the Crewe Head Coach to fill the vacant coaching post at West Brom.
However, Crewe’s Head Coach current boss John Bowler would be likely to put up a brave fight to keep him at Crewe.

West Brom approach Crew Head Coach – Offer rejected!
I cannot possibly accept this offer since West Brom is being relegated from the Premier Division whereas Crewe is going up!


nPower Championship
Crewe – Hull: 1 – 0
Nellins gave us the lead on the 73rd minute with a great individual effort and we finish the season with a win in front of our fans.



Elsewhere, Liverpool has finally claimed the title after a hard-fought two horse race with Chelsea. They clinched the title with a 2-2 draw away to Chelsea!






Sunderland approach Diljore – Rejected!


And Liverpool have done the treble by defeating Real Madrid on penalties in the Champion’s Cup Final



But the biggest surprise i could have in this game is the following job offer I just received



I cannot possibly accept that though it's very tempting. However, I wonder how the AI can possibly offer this job to a Liverpool fan!!! And as a Liverpool fan, I cannot accept such an offer... or will I...

Update soon guys... You tell me your opinions in the meantime!

Off Season

With only one year remaining on my contract and this contract offer from Man United, I took this opportunity to request the board a new contract stating the success I have brought to the team as reason. The board was quick to acknowledge my contribution and promised a new contract shortly.

I took this opportunity to as well ask the board to increase the scouting range which was as well accepted. Now I can scout all over the world.

I need more English based(HG) players though in the immediate context to boost my home grown first team players and to be certain to meet EURO Cup requirements.

Crewe boss scoops nPower Championship Manager of the Year and nPower Chamopionship May award

Tried to sign Sterling and Suso on loan but Sterling chose to go on loan at Tottenham and Suso to Dynamo Kyiv

Let go of coach, Charlie Oatway, on his contract expiry as in my second year with Crewe he was the only coach I could sign and did not have good stats! Replaced him by Ruud Knol, who has retired as one of my centre back and has better coaching stats.

Players released by clubs that I am trying to sign:
Paul Pogba, released by Man United
Kristian Adorjan, released by Man City
Robbie Townsend, regen with good promising stats released by Liverpool

I have individual character, show yourself