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

May 2017

I have been awarded manager of the month award for April

EURO Cup Semi Final 2nd leg
Fenerbahce – Crewe: 0 – 3

With an eye on a possible final place if we place very well and are lucky, I took the gamble not to start certain players with yellow cards, namely Catalano, Jonker and Townsend. Hettich was on yellow as well, but had to choose between him and Jonker on the left. Gernsoe opened the scoring just inside the area from a lateral pass from Haddad from the left. Svensson got the second on a quick counter from an unselfish pass from Gro to allow Svensson to pass into an open net. Gro got the third goal with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. We are in the final of the EURO Cup. We will be facing Borussia Dortmund. Hettich’s yellow means he will miss the final.

Premier Division
Ipswich – Crewe: 2 – 0

Think our title challenge ends here. We could not break down a stubborn Ipswich defense and think tiredness over this long season is now showing.

Premier Division
Crewe – Wigan: 3 – 1
Goals: Catalano, Haddad, Townsend
Changed the team as we have an FA Cup final against Man City in 3 days, and the assembled team responded well in the second half to going behind in the 23rd minute to score 3 goals and secure a win.

FA Cup Final
Crewe – Man City: 4 – 1

Superb win! Incredible! I opted to use Tirloni and Catalano as defensive midfielders to shield the defense against Aguero, Dzeko, Nasri, Douglas Costa and Co, the same formation I employed when I beat City 5 – 3 earlier this season. Things started well when we went in front through an own goal by Manoel under pressure from Gro. Modric equalized for City 8 minutes later. We managed to hold on till half time and could have been in front had Hettich shot gone in instead of hitting the crossbar. Hettich redeemed himself and scored a header from a great cross by Svensson. It was 3 when Tirloni freekick on the right was met by Devlin’s header at the far post. Sub Townsend scored from the spot in added time when Jonker was pushed by Obi Mikel in the area. 1st FA Cup for Crewe in its 140 years history and have done the cup double!

Liverpool has won the Premier Division

EURO Cup Final
Dortmund – Crewe: 1 – 2

With Hettich suspended and Gommers still out injured, Haddad came in the central attacking midfield role. I kept the same formation used in the FA Cup final. We opened the scoring through Haddad who shot with the outside of his foot from the edge of the area. Gro was released by Haddad through the middle and he raced up to the edge of the area and struck a powerful shot for the second goal. We were refused a goal by Svensson for a debatable offside from a through ball by Haddad again. Our task was made easier when Toro was sent off with a second yellow card for a foul on Gro on the edge of the area. Tirloni hit the side netting from the resulting freekick. Cigerci managed to pull one back for Dortmund but we held on for the win.

You are amazing!!! getting crewe to the champions league has to be one of the greatest ever feats on fm12

Thanks. Champions League won't be easy as Europa I guess, but I need to make Crewe Premier Division champions as well!

Premier Division
Newcastle – Crewe: 1 – 1
Gave youth and fringe players a chance to shine with Daryl Long, Eddie Singleton, Bryan Vince and Mark Webster coming in. Vince scored the equalizing goal.

Premier Division
Crewe – Liverpool: 5 - 3

We beat the champions in a thrilling encounter on the final day of the season.

Final league standings is

So, now, we must think ahead and see where to add value in order to take the next step to become champions of England! I have a couple of names in mind, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

End of season honours:

Footballer of the year: Antonio Valencia (Man Utd)
Players’ Player of the year: Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Top goalscorer: Edin Dzeko (Man City)
Players’ Young player of the year: Daniel Gro (Crewe)
Manager of the year: ME!
Team of the year:


A select XI dominated by Liverpool, Man Utd, Man City and my Crewe!

World Cup Quals (AFR) 2nd Rnd Grp 6
Nigeria – Central African Rep: 2 – 2
Goals: Obi Mikel(pen), Uzochukwu

We will play Barcelona in the European Super Cup

World Cup Quals (AFR) 2nd Rnd Grp 6
Sudan – Nigeria: 1 – 5
Goals: Temile, Ighalo, A. Odita, K. Odita, Obi Mikel

Season 2017/2018

Midfield is where I currently have a lot of options. Defense would need one or two additions, but attack is where I have sometimes fallen short.
In that department, I am targeting several players who are as well being scouted by the big teams like Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham. I know it would be difficult to compete against the appeal of the established and proven teams. So I will have to be wiser...
I have therefore put up a bid for Pavel Novotny, Pape Sall, and Borja Goikoetxea simultaneously since I have a transfer budget of 37 million pounds. In this way, I hope to be able to lure one of them to Crewe as I know that Chelsea and Arsenal are also interested.
When I placed my first bid on Pape Sall, they followed suit and I took the opportunity to bid for Novotny and Goikoetxea while their attention was on Sall. I hope this strategy can work in my favour!

I have also bid for want away Arsenal centre-back Jeffrey Dekker.

With their attention focused on Sall, Goikoetxea was first to sign for us. The next day, Pape Sall agreed terms with Arsenal and rejected Chelsea and us.

2 days later, it was Novotny’s turn to agree terms to become a Crewe player. I will have a very potent strike force next season!


Dekker as well has accepted my offer.

Now, I need to focus my attention to get more staff in and got some players off the wage bill, and but the latter is rather difficult!

We will play Liverpool in the Community Shield.

Board expectation for the season 2017/2018

I have told the board that they can expect us to compete for the Champions League qualification places for this season after being runner-up second the previous season and with the transfers made this season, there is added pressure to succeed!

Mensah has signed for Birmingham and Adorjan has gone to Huddersfield on a season loan.

Friendly matches arranged:
Portsmouth – Crewe:
Seongnam – Crewe:
Crewe – Lyon:
Dumbarton – Crewe:
Sapporo Mythos – Crewe:
Cesena – Crewe:
Crewe – Villareal:

Friendly results:
Portsmouth – Crewe: 1 – 4
Goal: Pogba(2), Daryl Long, Jonker

FCP has made a bid for Svensson. However, as a result of this bid, his agent has come forward requesting an improved contract for his client, which I have rejected since Svensson still has 4 years to go on his current contract.
The chap now wants a chat with me on same and I told him not to expect a new contract anytime soon since he has a lot to go to fulfill his current contract. He expressed his disappointment to which I replied that he was being unprofessional and should wait to be offered a contract instead of wanting a new one. This seemed to put some sense in him and he dropped the case fortunately!

Seongnam – Crewe: 0 – 3
Goals: Svensson, Devlin, Goikoetxea

Crewe – Lyon: 1 - 1
Goal: Novotny

Dumbarton – Crewe: 0 – 5
Goals: Devlin(2), Gro, Jonker, Catalano

Sapporo Mythos – Crewe: 0 – 5
Goals: Goikoetxea(2), Kaas, Novotny(2)

Juventus wants Catalano and has placed a bid for him which I have immediately rejected. Now is not the time to let go of my best centreback!
Similarly to Svensson case, Catalano's agent has come forward for an improved deal for his client. Rejected as well since Catalano's contract run out in 2021, long way to go!
This one played out similarly to Svensson's case and I told him as well that he was being unprofessional and should wait to be offered a contract and he agreed and dropped the case! Ah... relief...

Cesena – Crewe: 0 – 3
Goals: Goikoetxea(2), Catalano

Crewe – Villareal: 0 – 1
Defeat, but with a team consisting mostly of under 18 players and reserve...

Transfers for the season:

Have you still got Nick Powell or not? If you could post his attributes that would be appreciated

Nick Powell is still here. He was on loan at Portsmouth the previous season and helped them to promotion back to nPower League 1. He had the most MoM of the campaign and most assists for Portsmouth over the season.

I'm not sure how he'll be able to get in my team again this season though... Loan listed again...

Community Shield
Crewe – Liverpool: 3 – 0
Goals: Devlin, Goikoetxea, Gro
Nice cup win to start the season. We had a great start to the match when Devlin scored on the 2nd minute after a scramble in the box following a corner. Goikoetxea got the second goal on the 11th minute from a great through ball by Novotny. Gro added a third at the death on the 91st minute.

The season starts now!
Premier Division
Crewe – Burnley: 1 – 1
Goals: Catalano
Catalano gave us the lead on the 8th minute, but then our play was disrupted by injuries. Goikoetxea had a slight injury on the 31st minute but tried to continue after physio intervention. Jonker got injured on the 35th minute and had to be replaced by Gommers. Novotny was next to be injured just before half time and was replaced by Gro. Though we pressed on, it was Burnley who equalized. Matches against them have always proved difficult!
Jonker is out for about 2 weeks and Novotny for about 5 weeks.
Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea won, but Liverpool and Man Utd lost.

Premier Division
Tottenham – Crewe: 1 – 1
Goal: Devlin
Tottenham scored against the run of play after poor marking on the 35th minute. It was completely one way for the first thirty minutes and Tottenham managed their first shot on goal on the 31st minute! Devlin grabbed the equalizer on the 70th minute after I changed to a more attacking formation.
Liverpool beat Arsenal. Man Utd won whereas Man City lost.

Oh God! Tough Champions League group stage for us. The draw sees Crewe in the same group as Bayern Munich, PSG, and Wisla

Hey webslinger nice job. I'm now in December 2022 of my Crewe save and finished the previous season as premier league champions for the first time. My first foray into the champions league has gone well and finished 2nd in my group which had Barcelona, Benfica and PSV. Hoping to go through the next round too as have been drawn against Lyon. My main problem has been keeping a strong enough squad to compete, my wages don't allow for too many decent backups and when injuries hit I really struggle. Hopefully when my new stadium is complete (in 2025) I will be better equipped to deal with multiple competitions.

#52543 swiss4444 : Hey webslinger nice job. I'm now in December 2022 of my Crewe save and finished the previous season as premier league champions for the first time. My first foray into the champions league has gone well and finished 2nd in my group which had Barcelona, Benfica and PSV. Hoping to go through the next round too as have been drawn against Lyon. My main problem has been keeping a strong enough squad to compete, my wages don't allow for too many decent backups and when injuries hit I really struggle. Hopefully when my new stadium is complete (in 2025) I will be better equipped to deal with multiple competitions.

Thanks! Congatulations to you as well for winning the premier league championship with Crewe and good luck for the champions league! Yes, it is difficult to keep a strong squad. I am not sure how I will fare in the coming seasons when I will have to renew the contracts of the higher wage earners! My highest at the moment is Novotny at 58000 pounds per week. And the stadium can still only have 14000 people! We'll see whether I can convince the board to build a new stadium!

September 2017

European SuperCup
Barcelona – Crewe: 2 – 0
Maybe the players were overawed, but we did not perform as well as we could, perhaps due to Barcelona’s play as well. Fabresgas and Willian scored for Barcelona.


World Cup Quals (AFR) 2nd Rnd Grp 6
Nigeria – Gabon: 3 – 1
Goals: Haruna, Amadi, Ideye

International Friendly
Nigeria – China PR: 7 – 0
Goals: Ideye(3), Ujah(4)


Premier Division
Man Utd – Crewe: 3 – 2

Man U went into a two goal lead thanks to a lively start to the match. Svensson scored 2 goals to equalize just before half time. Catalano’s dismissal for a two-footed challenge on the 80th minute and Man U seized this opportunity to score at the death though Konig misjudged a header to allow the ball to get to Perez.
We sit just above the relegation zone in the table! Will need to climb up soon or my job may be on the line after the big transfer spending I made!

Champion’s League Grp B
PSG – Crewe: 0 – 2

Great win against tough opposition away from home. Gro scored from the spot after Svensson was brought down in the area. Goikoetxea doubled our lead and we should have scored more. Hopefully we can now kick on in the league as well!

Premier Division
Crewe – Aston Villa: 3 – 0

Goikoetxea scored his first league goal for the club. Devlin doubled our lead from a corner. Haddad scored an exquisite chip from the edge of the area following a through ball from Gro. Gave Novotny some playing time at the end to help him get back to full fitness after injury.

League Cup 3rd Rnd
Wigan – Crewe: 1 – 2
Goals: Novotny(2)
Novotny scored his first club goal, a great individual effort to equalize after Di Santo had given Wigan the lead. Pogba played a superb ball for Novotny to score his second and we held on for the win