Beggars can't be choosers!

A wonderful story set in an unusual place, my dream story! I really, really love this story and it has been a thrill to read!

Glad you are continuing to enjoy it Rookie, I'll be doing something similar with FM13 when I get my copy, so keep reading...

2012-10-20 22:58#68020 The FM Rookie : A wonderful story set in an unusual place, my dream story! I really, really love this story and it has been a thrill to read!

Oh the irony, weeks of saying how keeper Mabaso is progressing wonderfully well, come the end of the month and now the tune is "concerns about the progress of...."

Well children, it looks like I am on the look out for another Ass Man come the end of Ngobe's contract. As an aside, doesn't Ngobe sound a bit like Nobby?

October 2014 review

66% Board approval rating (very secure)

Undefeated through October, with an 8 point lead in PSL and progression to semi finals of SA KO Cup.

Captured two new signings, striker Mbongeni Kunene from Golden Arrows and utility Doctor Ntseki from NE Metrostars.

Remained within wage and transfer budget, although will be looking to cut players from roster in January window.

Gcaba and Mhlongo have impressed in training, and surprisingly ‘keeper Mabaso has not. Apparently.

Profit of 107K.

Jomo Cosmos may now be the favourites to finish with the wooden spoon.

I must be the sort of person who is never happy with his lot in life, BUT, I am really struggling with the format of the PSL. The games are spread out over the month, and the average is three games in four weeks.

We are having to organise friendlies to keep match fitness, and while it helps with the bank balance, it isn't helping me to develop partnerships at all. Khripunkov is scoring well, but Mashego doesn't seem to be the same player he was last term.

Maybe it is just that we are playing at a higher level?

October fixtures

1 Oct 14 away to AmaZulu

A hard fought away win for us, with a seventh minute goal from Khripunkov ensuring the three points. Radebe, who provided the accurate cross for Khripunkov to score, picked up MOM honours in a 0-1 win.

22 Oct 14 home to Swallows

These long breaks between competitive games do nothing for the side, and only served to lengthen Mashego's scoreless games.

Mashego was carded early, and Swallows led every statistic, and seized the early advantage through winger Sikhakhane, we fought back through goals to Mngadi and Khripunkov to record a satisfying 2-1 win.

We made full use of our bench as scorers Mngadi and Khripunkov picked up niggles, added to the fact that right back Addai went off early in the match with a dead leg.

For the second successive game, left back Radebe was awarded the MOM.

25 Oct 12 away to Orlando Pirates

Satisfying as far as grudge matches go, and suffice to say that we didn’t create too many clear cut opportunities to score. We did, however, manage to score in each half by capitalizing on the Pirates mistakes.

In the seventh minute, the opposing keeper passed the ball to the right defender, the ball bounced away as the defender was facing towards our goal posts. Mashego needed no second invitation as he scootered away to score. Advantage Dynamos.

Both Khripunkov and Mngadi were substituted in the second half as they had taken knocks, and impressively Pirates were unable to break through the defensive line.

To rub salt in the wounds, and it will go down in the scorebooks as an own goal, but Edgard pushed the ball goal wards from a corner mid way through the second spell to stave off any hope of a comeback. A comfortable 0-2 win and progression to the next round.

November is not looking to be an easy month, with away fixtures against Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns, an away fixture against against Santos (currently eleventh out of sixteen) and home fixtures against mid level teams Platinum Stars and Supersport.

It will not be a cakewalk by any stretch!

I did have some sort of luck with staff recruitment, managing to tempt Lucky Maselesele from Civics. He will arrive to be our new attack coach.

My Board was able to negotiate buyouts of the following clauses, which I have chosen to exercise them:

Gavin Hammers – 8.23K

Doc Matsimbi – 4.33K

Lindani Ntamo – 2.4K

Leshole Segoale – 1.02K

I know I have no right to be disappointed, but the goal productivity of Mashego has been worrying. We are about a third of the way through the season, and he has nine goals, whereas last season he scored 53.

Whether it is the better class of opposition, or whether he has just hit his ceiling, I am unsure at this stage. If I am fair, it hasn't mattered much either, as we have reliable Khripunkov chipping in, and the corner master Mngadi.

With the purchase of Kunene from Golden Arrows - whom has better corner stats than Mngadi, we may need to sell one or more of the strikers, and Mashego is not as indispensable as he was last term.

Dynamos reputation is still such that I can't tempt an average "free agent" staff member to come and ply his trade in South Africa.

Equally, most players whom are coach-player hybrids are either not interested, or are too far outside my price range.

I thought Kim Back-Kwan may be worth a punt, and is retiring (as a player) at the end of the year. Until his club said starting bid 52K please. As a player, he is a DC worth 6K.

The Platinum Stars takeover is complete and they have sacked former manager Serame Letsoaka.

It is not my style to play games in the media, massaging egos, but the relationship status between us is "he feels the two of us could become friends"

Now, his stats are such that I would never actually make a proper attempt to recruit him, and it is probably just as well because even though he has just been sacked, has rubbish attributes and a win percentage of 36, he still doesn't want to discuss terms with me.

With the impending arrival of Kunene, Ntseki and Shaaban, who I have signed to slot straight into the first team, I have made an attempt to negotiate transfers out of no fewer than six players.

I have nibbles thus far on left footed striker Mseluku from Carara Kicks and unimpressive reserve midfielder Ferreira from Bays.

Let's hope something comes of these initial discussions.

And no sooner has Bays declared interest in Ferreira, they inform us that they are declining to make a bid.

I am telling myself it is early days.