The Final Fling

#64484 akash.vidyasagar : Beautifully written, and the signings will do wonders for you.
By the way, may I ask what notes you created for each one of them?

Many thanks. The notes are my thoughts on the best roles they suit and my presumptions on their personalities with regard to team talks and private chats. I just told Lyskov to be patient and wait for his chance in the team. He wasn't happy. I'll keep it mind to not be so aggressive with him in future.

27.8.11 11am

We Got him! Gary turned up about 9am to put the finishing touches on his contract. He is now a Tigers player. I’m so pleased. I really feel now that we have a squad that can do things this season. I just need to get these guys settled. They still have not gelled together yet and are still getting to grips with the tactics I’m tryng to implement, but they will.
I introduced Gary to the team as we got on the bus for our 70 mile trip to Nuneaton. Gary won't play today, but I’m so glad he’s with us.

V Nuneaton A
1-1 D
Martin Reilly OG 8
Eddie Nisevic OG 22

MoM Adam Walker

Gary Wales saw a much improved display as he sat behind me in the dugout. We were unlucky to concede an own goal on 8 minutes as a wicked deflection off Martin Reilly finds the net. We were controlling the game before that and we continued after. A Neil Mustoe corner found the thigh of Eddie Nisevic to level up the scores on 21 minutues. After the capitulation in the last game I was keen to keep it tight at the back and maybe snatch a goal late on. That wasn’t to be but apart from some late pressure due to a foolish second yellow from Darren Mullings we held our own. A hard earned point.

After 5 games Nigels’s aim of a midtable finish is in affect. Nigel maybe happy but with the players we have I’m aiming for a playoff place. This is my own target that no one is aware of yet, 10 games in we’ll see where we are. Solihull at home next.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/145/screenshot20120828at082.png/


31.8.11
V Solihull Moors H
2 – 0 W
Stevland Angus 6
George Lloyd 17

Just over 200 Gloucester fans tuned out to see us grab two early goals without reply against a tenacious Solihull. Two well-worked set pieces were turned in by Gloucester players inside 20 minutes. The first saw a long looping cross meet Angus’ head with pinpoint accuracy to be tuned in on the five-minute mark. On 17 minutes Lloyd picked up the ball on the half way line only to be pulled down. Tagro this time chipped a low ball forward to Lloyd on the edge of the area who controlled well and smashed the ball into the onion bag for two.
This time we held strong and dropped back and defended our lead. Solihull had some half chances but mostly from long range. Wales made his debut in the last 20 minutes but was largely quiet. A solid win.

AUGUST IN BRIEF

My first month in non-league football went ok. We picked up two early wins despite our fitness and lack of team gelling, but that lack of fitness started to show in the next two as our good possession was undermined by sloppy goals. We tightened up against Nuneaton and that gave us the platform to beat Solihull at home.

I’m very glad to get Gary Wales in to strengthen the front line. Hopefully September will see him mesh into the team.

My player of the month has to be the young George Lloyd. He probably wouldn’t be here if I’d managed to get all my pre-season transfer targets nailed down but after impressing in the friendlies he has cemented his place on the right wing. At only 18 he must be very proud. He needs a huge boost to his fitness and game longevity but Neil is aware of this and shall work on it in the coming months.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/52/screenshot20120828at085.png/

SEPTEMBER

3.9.11
V Gainsborough
0 – 1 W
Wales 52

MoM Romauld Bouadji

East of Sheffield, 171 miles from Gloucester was our destination. Although Gloucester is nestled north of the Cotswolds in the South West some bright spark decided to put us in the North Division. By no means the furthest we’ll travel this season, we needed to make the effort count… and we did. We set up defensively and coasted through the first half without much incident. I was happy with our play but we needed to hold the ball up better. Adam had had a quiet game so I switched him with our new signing Gary Wales at half time.

On 52 mins a long ball over the top was well anticipated by Wales as he broke his marker to slot home for his first goal for the club. I’m delighted for him and a glance to Nigel just behind me told me that the Chairman was delighted too. Nigel really got behind the transfer when I explained how It would benefit the club. A few long nights and trips to Scotland were involved as Nigel put in the hard work to get our man. I’m really happy for Nigel too, that goal was for him I reckon!

We just about held on for all three points as an 80th minute penalty was missed by Gainsborough. Both Reilly and Wales picked up knocks late on so with all subs used we really struggled to get the ball out of our half. We picked up 6 yellow cards as we
stayed strong and got the best result of the season so far. Well done boys.
Due to the long trip Nigel booked a premier Inn for the Lads in Sheffield. There were no further injuries as they got on the coach on Sunday just a few sore heads. Enjoy it lads you deserve it.
The next day we were fined £500 for failing to control our players on the pitch due to the number of yellow cards. Nigel is not happy. Not just the Hotel rooms he’s paying for then.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/594/screenshot20120828at094.png/

Gary Wales’ knock turned out to be more serious than anticipated. We need our best players fit if this run is to continue.

11.9.11
V Guiseley
5 – 1 W
Jamil Adam 11, 42, 61
Martin Reilly 36
Richard Barnard OG 70
Danny Forrest 87

MoM Jamil Adam

My Birthday week saw me turn 31. As a young manager with no pro experience I think I’m just starting to get the respect and ear of the dressing room. When I came in I knew I needed to clear out the majority of the old guard in order to have a chance of making this work. Neil Mustoe made the task so much easier. As the clubs most fielded player over the years I made sure to get him onside right from the start, and although a good few years older than me has really got behind the cause and helped deliver my message to the new players. Adie Harris my assistant has been a bit part so far, I tend to run most things through Neil. I perhaps need to address this so as not to upset him.

The boys really gave me a birthday to remember as after 11 minutes Adam latched onto a poor Guisley back pass and thundered it past the keeper. Adam really started to come alive after this and dragged his marker enough to create the space needed for Tiagro to nip into the box and chip a beautifully weighted ball onto the head of Reilly who guided it into the top right on 20 minutes.
Just before half time a Lock corner was drifted to the near post to Adam who angled it in. Adam is really taking advantage of the Wales injury.
On 60 minutes the hat-trick was sealed as Adam picked up the ball and had a mazy run that resulted in a screaming shot from outside the box, beating the keeper to his bottom left.
An own goal made it five in 70 minutes but with 4 minutes to go, greediness and reckless confidence tainted the rout as a breakaway was badly defended to make it 5-1.

Despite that goal a fantastic day that puts us into the playoff places. Exciting times.

FA CUP DRAW

In our 2nd Qualifying round match we have been drawn against Redditch Away. Hopefully a chance for my fringe players to get some game time

17.8.11
V Hinkley H
3-2 W
Craig Farrell 8
Andre Gray 17
Darren Mullings 46
Neil Mustoe Pen 59
Jamil Adam 66

MoM Martin Reilly

After a good run lately the team suffered from over confidence. Two early goals from Hinkley did nothing to eject The Tigers from their state of lethargy as they closed out the first half with lack lustre passing and little attacking threat.
I had never really experienced the hair dryer treatment before but I seemed to know what I was doing. I was furious with them and let them know that they must improve especially in our final third and midfield.
The guys responded magnificently when straight out the blocks a cluster of good passing relesased Mullings to grab one back.
10 miniutes later Lloyd left a leg to be caught just inside the area to earn a penalty that Mustoe converted.
The fans went spare as on 65 minutes Reilly was involved again as a perfectly waited through ball connects with Adams boot to make it 3 -2. We settled down to possession football to close out the game.

Reilly was truly magical today and despite his height he has filled the role of supporting striker beautifully.

Tues 7:45 20.8.11
V Harrogate
1-1 D
Danny Hawkes 76
Jamil Adam 86

A Tuesday night in Harrogate is not my idea of fun but the 400 mile round trip did earn us a point. An evenly matched with little for the fans to get excited about was tipped on the 76th minute when our very own Bouadji seemed to go walkabout which let a pass carve us open for Danny Hawkins to slot home.

We all knew we had what it took to claw one back so we cranked up the work rate and with a direct move Adam powered into the box and rocketed a low shot that beat the at his near post on 85 minutes.

Our 10th game since the revolution and we are occupying one of the coveted play-off spots. On the bus home I used the on board mic to let them know how well they’ve done. I informed them that where they are sat now, that is our target of where we want to be at the end of the . I won’t let them know just this minute that I expect much more.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/screenshot20120828at115.png/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/screenshot20120828at115.png/

Sun 1645 25.9.11
V Bishops Stortford
4-0 W
Stevland Angus 38
Gary Wales 46,86
Baroan Tagro 58

Our 11th game of the season was comfortably won by 4 goals to 0. Our setpiece specialist Tagro whipped in a free kick from the corner flag to find Angus completely unmarked. Poor defending left an easy job for Angus to score his second goal of the season.

After the break Reilly angled a through ball into the path of Wales to make it 2. With Tagro already having contributed an assist today a quick change of heart saw him smash past Gudelevic as he shaped to cross on 58 minutes.

As the goal went In I heard Nigel behind me in the stands. By his calculation that goal put us top of The North on goal difference. A proud moment for everyone one at black bridge.

The rout was sealed on 85 minutes as Wales scored again. This time from a sublime cross from the much-improved Lewis Thomas.

Reilly suffered an injury that will keep him out for a good few weeks. It’ll be a loss because Reilly has been performing so well, but I have two excellent poachers chomping at the bit to get back in the team Yvan Tomatula and Jamil Adam.

We’re beginning to make Cheltenham’s Whaddon road into a fortress for us. Cheltenham town sit in League 2 at present languishing In mid table. After performances like this hopefully one day we’ll meet them.

News of Dismissal

Bostons poor start leads to the sacking of Jason Lee. They were predicted to finish somewhere near the top but currently find themselves in 19th place.
This is a good reminder of what can happen if we don’t stick to winning ways. Although we currently occupy top spot, we must be mindful to keep the momentum going. My early bad handling of club finances may come back to bite me if the outlay doesn’t bare fruit. FA Cup clash with Redditch next hopefully a cup run might save me come end of the season.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/32/screenshot20120828at135.png/

September in Brief

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/831/screenshot20120828at141.png/

September couldn’t have really gone better. My are starting to play together and we managed to steer clear of too many injuries and sending off’s that plagued us in August. Also, the powers that be saw fit to honour me with a Manager of the Month award. 14 goals to 4 over the last 5 saw us pick up 13 magical points and propel us to the top of the Blue Square North. Lets try and stay there.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/687/screenshot20120828at142.png/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/528/screenshot20120828at141.png/

Our very own Romould Bouadji challenged Hyde’s Danny Hall to the player of the month. Well done Rom! With Camano back in contention after injury I would of usually dropped Rom back to the bench, but he’s given me something to think about after this month’s performances.

My player of the month though would have to be our young LB Lewis Thomas. He took a while to settle in after bringing him in on a free in the close . He was released by Fulham so I new he would have had good experience. The crowd were very critical of him early on but in recent he has been solid and produced some fantastic moments, not least of them a wondrous cross for Wales in the match against Bishop’s Stortford.
A special mention has to go to Martin Reilly too. I have a feeling he is going to be a consistent performer for us this . Just such a shame he picked up an injury.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/39/screenshot20120828at142.png/

Nigel invited me round to dinner to his house in nearby Stroud. We were fairly good drinking buddies before all this madness started but now the dynamic has changed. He's now my boss. It was nice to relax and enjoy the teams recent success for a minute. Nigel let it be know that he was ecstatic with the recent results but later in the dinner he told me that the present wage structure would not stand. Regardless of any success we had this season we wouldn't have a club if we kept haemorrhaging money the way we are. As it stands we're losing £20,000 per week. I promised to reduce the wage bill, and Nigel promised to search for some investment. But with my experience who would back us?

I will analyse the team this month and make my decision. I wonder, who can I lose?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/screenshot20120828at145.png/

OCTOBER

FA Cup 2nd Qual. Rnd
1.10.11 15.00
V Redditch A
0 – 1 L
Anthony Robinson 40

Oh dear Lord, I’ve fucked up! My first taste of the FA Cup has ended in disaster. I thought this was going to be the easiest game of the season by far. I had earmarked it as a good run out for my fringe players. Matthew Malek GK, Nikki Ahamed DR, Stewart Devine DL and Hichum Abdellah ML would all get a start. However, all the changes and experiment would be my undoing. I wasn’t too harsh on the players at the final whistle; I knew the fault lay with me. Nigel is going to be furious. This was the perfect platform to earn some much needed cash, Nigel informed me afterwards that if we had gotton to the second or third round the revenue could have brought us out of debt. I’m so embarrassed.

We started quite flat and let Redditch retain possession. I was waiting for them to tire but they didn’t. On 40 minutes Anthony Robinson got behind our very slow and flatfooted defence and slotted home to the rapturous Redditch fans.
After that we just couldn’t get back into it. I brought on some of the more experienced guys in the second half but, fair play to Redditch, they repelled all our attacks.

I’m really upset about this and will be kicking myself for a long time to come.

Blue Square North
8.10.11
V Altrincham A
2 – 1 L
Yvan Tomatula 60
Michael Twiss 63
Mark lees 90
Marlon Broomes SO 39

MoM Ryan Brown

I got it wrong again! Tactically we were all over the place. The players stuck to the task well but my inexperience shined through as I reacted wrongly to the situation.

Until Broomes sending off on 39 minutes it was an even game and we turned the screws until the 60th minute when Altrincham were napping and Tomatula was through on goal. He rounded the keeper to score.
I told the players to relax and sit back. 3 minutes later Twiss scored from a corner. On 90 minutes, after I instructed the players to push everything forward, they grabbed the winner. I need to learn that a draw is sometimes enough. We have now lost the top spot and two players picked up injuries. Angus looks to be out for a week with hamstring troubles and Adam has bruised a rib, it’ll be perhaps 2 weeks before we see him again.

Blue Square North
12.10.11
V Workington H
1– 1 D
David McNiven 34
Gary Wales Pen 43
Lee Andrews SO 42

MoM David McNiven

A poor home performance against arguably one of the better teams we've faced so far. It seems obvious now how important Martin Reilly is to the side. Tomatula, though promising, is just not forming the right kind of partnership with Wales. He’s certainly been bright and got him self into 2 or 3 goal scoring situations but his final ball let him down. Reilly, you’d feel, would have buried them.

Workington dominated us for most of the first half and the likely goal came on 34 minutes with an angled shot by McNiven. We picked ourselves up well however and when Lloyd was pulled down through on goal Broomes saw red and the opposition were a man light for the second game running. Wales converted the spot kick just before half time.

We need to learn how to take advantage of an extra man because it just wasn’t noticeable out there. The rest of the game had its chances but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.

Hopefully this draw will stop the rot. It’s clear our early FA Cup exit has hurt us.

Blue Square North
22.10.11
V FC Halifax A
2 – 0 W
Gary Wales Pen 44
Romauld Bouadji 65

MoM Romauld Bouadji

It was vital that we got a result today I could feel the momentum slipping away from us in the league and at this early stage, that could have been costly. Another Mammoth trip took us to Halifax. The M6 was tailed right back from Warrington to Stoke so we arrived just before kick off. I did the team talk on the coach. Halifax were on a good run at the moment and were doing their best to climb up the table and Mario Quiassaca was a man to be watched. We set up very defensively with a full strength side minus the much-missed Reilly. Adam came in to cover and I made sure he knew what was expected of him. He closed down players for 90 minutes and on three occasions this created goal scoring chances.

The 3rd such occasion was on the 43 minute mark as Adam’s tenacity led to to the ball spilling in front of Wales who gratefully slotted home. We didn’t change our tactics at this point and stuck to our defensive shape with the front man closing down.

On 65 minutes a corner was forced. Tagro launched it into the 6-yard box. Boadji was completely unmarked and side footed past the keeper on the volley. At this point we began to cruise, Keeping possession and closing the game down as much as possible. Except for a last minute break down the wing and resulting corner Halifax just didn’t have what it took to break us down.

It is really great to have our man Martin Camano come into the side after a injury hit start to the season. Although Bouadji shone today It won’t be long before Camano really owns that defence.

Well played boys, keep it up

22.10.11
V Hyde H
3 – 1 W
Jamil Adam 16
Baroan Tagro 23
Danny Hill 43
Gary Wales 76

MoM Jamil Adam

Although Hyde had a good start to the season they have been poor of late and we most definitely took advantage of that. With all the usual suspects fit bar Reilly I was confident we would have the skills to grab those 3 points.

After 16 minutes A Tiger’s breakaway came to Adam on the half way line he skipped past the frankly pedestrian Poole and bore down on goal. Support arrived but Adam didn’t need it. He smashed the ball past the keeper inside the near post. Adam is really flying at the moment.

6 minutes later Adam got another opportunity to run down the left flank. This time he went to the by-line and cut the ball back to Tagro who powered it home with the outside of the boot. It was superb vision by Adam to direct it to Tagro.

Hyde clawed back a goal just before half time, which gave the second half a competitive edge. By 76 minutes it was all over Wales played a one two with Lloyd on the right wing and was through on goal. A cooly slotted finish put us 2 goals up again with no sign of reply.

As the other teams weren’t playing today that result put us back on top through goal difference. A very pleasing performance and the sheer pace of Adam is proving to be very useful. Reilly may find it hard to displace him.