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The Gaffer - My story

Started on 24 April 2012 by jakegodda03
Latest Reply on 5 May 2012 by jakegodda03
  • POSTS3
  • VIEWS5151
 
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/150pxleytonorientfc.png/


For my Football Manager Story I have decided to start with Leyton Orient. The O’s just missed out on the playoffs last season but are predicted to finish 11th this time around. The board’s expectations are that I finish mid table but I’m hoping to make the playoffs at least (although I kept this secret from the board!)
The squad is decent but somewhat small so glancing over pre-season these are the signings I decided to make:

James Beattie, ST – Free
Stephen Jordon, D/WB(L) – Free
Lee Lucas CM – Loan (Swansea)
Johnny Gorman RM – Loan (Wolves)

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/135/17800064.jpg/

James Beattie is the big marquee signing for me. The veteran striker capped 5 times for England is a good finisher and good in the air BUT slow off the mark and is well out of shape. Laps, laps and more laps for this lad. A bit of a gamble, will he be motivated to play at this level? We will see.

August 2011

League 1 - 6/8/2011 – Brisbane Road
Leyton Orient V Sheffield Wednesday

Starting out against one of the top teams in the division isn’t always helpful. My midfielder Matt Spring settled my nerves though, lashing in a 30 yard strike that went in off the underside of the bar after just three minutes. Cox and Tehoue made it 3-0 to us at HT. James Beattie came on as a sub to score a trademark header before Wednesday grabbed a late consolation. Terrific performance, have to say I’m pleasantly surprised.
Final Score: 4-1

League Cup Round 1 – 9/8/2011 – The Recreation Ground
Aldershot V Leyton Orient

A low key affair saw us dominate the game but not really take our chances. Having been 1-0 for the majority of the game, I brought on James Beattie from the bench again who crashed in another header in the 87th minute to seal the game for us, although Aldershot did bag a last minute goal.
Final Score : 1-2

League 1 – 13/8/2011 – Huish Park
Yeovil V Leyton Orient

Yeovil never threatened us in this fixture. Midfielder Jimmy Smith scored a nice first time drive to give us a 1-0 lead, and it remained so until stoppage time at the end of the game when a Yeovil defender decided to help us out by slotting in from a Dean Cox cross to score an embarrassing own goal.
Final Score : 0-2

League 1 – 16/8/2011 – Brisbane Road
Leyton Orient V Colchester United

Colchester’s manager had some fighting talk before the game commenting on how The Orient’s playing style of pass and move did not suit their inadequate ability. I really wanted to show him. However Colchester outplayed us big time and took the lead early in the game. However from nowhere James Beattie grabbed an equaliser with a close range finish just before half time. The rest of the game we were under massive pressure but weathered the storm to clinch a draw.
Final Score: 1-1

League 1 – 20/8/2011 – MK Stadium
MK Dons V Leyton Orient

A rather drab game against promotion rivals, with neither side coming up with any ideas. Until in the last 15 minutes my star striker James Beattie decided to pull his thumb out and pop up with a nice hat-trick, to make this a comfortable win. 7 yellow cards in this one saw me land a £25,000 fine from the FA. Oops.
Final Score: 0-3

League Cup Round 2 – 24/8/2011 – Brisbane Road
Leyton Orient V Aston Villa

This match was my first to be on Live TV so I wanted to do the fans proud, although never expecting to win this one. It was really Leyton Orient V Gabby Agbonlahor who, with Capello watching in the stands, tore us to shreds scoring all four of Villa’s goals. We managed to get one back late on, but had no answer to Villa.
Final Score: 1-4

League 1 – 27/8/2011 – Brisbane Road
Leyton Orient V Preston North End

League leaders Preston came to visit with a 100% win record so far and favourites to win the league, naturally the bookies gave us no hope despite our impressive league form. However we showed true class over Preston and two goals from Tehoue set us on our way, Beattie put in a penalty and substitute Mooney scored a fourth to cap a really classy performance. See you later Preston.
Final Score: 4-1

Johnstone’s Paint trophy South Round 1 – 31/8/2011 – Griffin Park
Brentford V Leyton Orient

My first rivals match which I was determined to win, also fancied us to go far in this competiton. James Beattie scored early to cap an impressive first month on his part. He then got a dubious red card for a firm tackle on a Brentford player. Paying with 10 men made no difference though as we went on to score 3 more goals in empathetic fashion.
Final Score: 0-4

Review
A very good month leaves us 2nd and undefeated in the league. The highlight has to be the demolition of Preston, but the lads have looked good in all the games we’ve played with the exception of the Villa game. I came 2nd in the manager of the month.

Player of the Month
James Beattie
The big man has had to endure chants of “who ate all the pies” from opposition fans but has been a terrific goal scorer. 6 goals in 5 games say it all, and as the clubs highest earner I’m relieved he is playing well and surprised he has come good so strongly. He is suspended for the next game and will be missed.
Seeing Red

September Results:
Npower League 1

Wycombe V Leyton Orient 1-2 W
Leyton Orient V Exeter 2-1 W
Notts County V Leyton Orient 1-2 W
Leyton Orient V Tranmere 0-1 L
Walsall V Leyton Orient 1-2 W

Last month’s star man James Beattie got a 3 match ban for his red card in the last match so I was worried about where the goals were going to come from. Step up Jonathan Tehoue, the 27 year old Frenchman took up the target man role for me and performed superbly. He scored all six goals in the first three games when we had gone 1-0 down in each of them.

But against Notts County, having turned the game round yet again for us he ended up with two yellows and being sent off, meaning a one match ban. James Beattie was back for the next game but failed to re-capture his previous form. We lost our first game in the league against Tranmere Rovers to my disappointment.

Tehoue was back for the last game of the month and I set him as the target man again. We went 1-0 down to Walsall before he banged in two goals again making it an amazing 8 goals in 4 games. We could of done with him against Tranmere.

Monthly analysis

Another top month despite losing my first game in the league, perhaps the suspensions of Beattie and Tehoue could have been more costly but I feel I got away with it. We didn’t score as many goals as the previous month and no clean sheets means there is more work to do to avoid a dip in form which could be just round the corner. My players are already feeling jaded at times which is a worry.

It leaves me 3rd in the league behind 2nd place Preston and league leaders Sheffield United.

My player of the month

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Jonathan Tehoue
He scored every goal (8 in 4 matches) this month and without him we could have been looking at 5 defeats. Stepped into Beattie’s shoes with ease and has really stolen the limelight from him. He starts as target man ahead of Beattie who is in the less favoured poacher position.
Missed Opportunities

October Results
Npower League 1

Leyton Orient V Rochdale 1-2 L
Sheffield United V Leyton Orient 1-4 W
Leyton Orient V Hartlepool 2-2 D
Chesterfield V Leyton Orient 2-2 D
Leyton Orient V Bury 1-1 D
Leyton Orient V Brentford 2-0 W

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy
South Round 2

Crawley V Leyton Orient 1-3 W

Monthly Analysis
Looking at the results it has been a very mixed month. Only one defeat but two many draws, I am happy to progress in the Paint Trophy and thrashing Sheffield United in the league. Perhaps Jonathan Tehoue getting injured for 5 weeks in the first match V Rochdale is the reason we had so many draws, we missed his prolific goal scoring of last month.

I called this missed opportunities because luckily but very annoyingly the two teams ahead of me Preston and Sheffield Utd also had bad months in terms of results, I could have pulled away from them both if I had won those draws. Still I end the month in 2nd place, so despite the mixed form I have moved up one place and I’m now one point off of 1st placed Sheffield United.

Had an interesting media battle with Uwe Rosler, German manager of our rivals Brentford. In the build up to the game he stated he thinks my style of football isn’t working and I’m out of my depth. You can imagine my confusion when looking at the table, we’re near the top and his team in near the bottom? Hmm interesting, I responded by saying I don’t want to comment on Rosler because I’m not sure who he is? He reacted angrily openly telling the press of his dislike for me.

So I beat his team 2-0, shhhh……….

My Player of the Month
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/stephen20jordan63358023.jpg/

Stephen Jordon
The left full back has turned in some top performances this month. The only defender who has been solid this month but more so because his attacking runs have been brilliant. He has the most assists in the team this month, a top performance.

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