Cambridge United revolution

2013-04-30 06:14#96452 Northwood : I hope you didn’t take this as a criticism. It was only meant as a comment to different playing styles.

As long as the story is interesting I can live with any kind of unrealism.

Now get back to updating.

No no definitely no criticism and any comments really help and I do agree with what you said :p I should have a few updates today going up

Update! Update! Update!

After that narrow 1-0 loss, we went on a pretty great run, with one of the most nailbiting games I have ever been involved in. We went up against Stevenage, a League One team, in the first round of the Johnstone Paint trophy on my birthday and I was feeling quietly confident that my boys could control the game and win and we did exactly that with Tom Elliott scoring both goals in a solid 2-0 win. That win sparked a run of 7 wins in a row and we sit atop League Two right now, 3 points ahead of York. 11 games in to the season with 10 wins and 1 loss the future is very bright and promotion at the first attempt in the Football League is looking like a real possibility. What was really pleasing was that even though we suffered a large number of injuries through September, 6 players were out for more than 2 weeks, the depth of the squad is so good and enabled us to have an unbeaten month in all competitions.

The game against Burton away from home was insane. It finished 5-4 as we ran out winners but I was very disappointed with my players as we lost a 3-1 lead. However, the one positive outcome was that after conceding those 3 second half goals, they didn’t give up and kept on pushing to take the win.



Tom Elliott has been a fantastic player for us this season with his scoring exploits. 11 games in to the season, hes started 9, played 1 as a sub and scored 10 league goals. He not only gets in the right positions but he finishes his chances and has been the reason we have won a lot of the games until now. I am looking to him to carry this form on and smash his way to the top scorer prize at the end of the season! Just like Michael Gash last season, Tom has really surprised me by being the star player so far and long may it continue.

Press conference with Krupesh Shah Jr

Reporter: Thank you for taking the time out to sit with us today. There have been a lot of rumours lately that you’re unhappy at the club and the club rejected three different offers for you at the end of the transfer window.

Krupesh Shah Jr: No don’t get me wrong I am loving my time at this club and I am only 18, I have a long future ahead of me. We have had an amazing start to the season and my father…sorry I mean the gaffer has made me a promise that we will get promoted by the end of the season. With regard to the transfer offers it is true. Fulham submitted two offers and West Ham submitted one. The chairman here did come to me and let me know how much was offered and whether I really wanted to leave but I figured that right now this is where I need to be. I believe in the boss here and really do see us climbing the Football League on to better things.

Reporter: You only have two years left on your contract. If things go to plan and you get back to back promotions, you will be about to start life in the Championship by the time your contract finishes. Will you sign an extension at that point or will you not hang around?

Krupesh: Well I can’t say what things might be like at that point but if the club can hit the Championship by the time my contract comes to an end, I think right now I would definitely sign because not only has the club achieved back to back promotions but I really believe that we would be able to do it one more time and get in to the Premier League. That’s where I want to be and with the current boss sticking with us, I really see us getting there. If we don’t there is no doubt I will hand in a transfer request or leave on a free transfer. I can’t let my career and potential England career take such a hit just to stick with a club that isn’t going anywhere.

Reporter: Wow strong words there about your future. Well we here would love to see you stick with the club and help get them in to the Premier League. We wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season.

(Peterborough, Birmingham and Leicester relegated)



(Swindon, Scunthorpe, Portsmouth and Walsall relegated)



(Plymouth and Accrington relegated)

What a game against Burton!

Great story!
Awesome first season getting the title, and great start for the second.
I believe you can run for the title again or at least the promotion you'll get.

Good luck

I decided I would upload the tactic I have used as my main one so far this season and last season. It is one that I use with almost any team in any save because as long as you get the right players in each role it is massively successful. It is also the reason my team scores so many goals each season. Right now, we are 19 games in to the League Two season and we have scored 51 goals (most in league, next highest is 36) and conceded 16 (second least). Against weak teams especially this tactic brings lots of goals but I do change it up when I am playing teams that are stronger or as good as my team but once in a while I will still use this against the stronger teams to see whether I can get a result and sometimes I do get away with a draw.

It is a very attacking tactic and is fantastic on the counter attack. I just wanted you to know how I am going about playing my team in my save and if anyone likes it and does well with it I would love to know

The month of October had 8 games lined up for us and we were going in to the month on the back of 7 straight wins.



The first game was a great start, smashing Gillingham and increasing our lead at the top to 8 points. A draw against Morecambe and Dagenham & Redbridge didn’t stop our march at the top and after those two blips we pushed on and won 7 straight games again. However, we suffered our 2nd loss of the season to York, who are pursuing us and brought the gap down to 3 points at the top of the table. There were murmurs in the press that Cambridge United were on the verge of messing up their great start to the season and that we would finish up mid table, as was predicted before the season got underway. I wasn’t prepared to let this happen and in our next game away to Aldershot we put in a commanding performance and took home a 3-0 win and ended the month 6 points clear. We advanced in both cup competitions, the JPT and FA Cup. We’re now in the quarterfinals of the JPT and the 2nd round of the FA Cup, both games we should win comfortably.

December started with cup matches, progressing through to the JPT semi finals to be played against League One’s MK Dons. We had another crazy game against Burton and won 3-2 in the FA Cup 2nd Round, setting up a tie against Championship’s Tranmere in the 3rd round. Our march to promotion in League Two continued with some strong results and lots of goals. It seems we are confident enough to outscore any opponent but defensively we do need to tighten up. January sparked the transfer window and we sold back up keeper for £10,000. He had complained about not getting any games but with my son having a strong season it was very unlikely that he would get a look in unless Krupesh Shah Jr went down injured. We signed 3 players on loan and signed Andy Ross from Seattle as his contract had expired. So far all 4 players have had a successful time with the club, having a positive contribution.



Mid January we began to slightly falter but still carried on grinding out results. We fell behind 2-0 against Oxford United but managed to come back late in the 2nd half to win it 3-2, We drew against Brighton 1-1 in the FA Cup away from home, setting up a home tie replay and lost our 3rd game in the league against Mansfield, who were promoted with us. This was a massive disappointment because we were 15 places above them at the time. We then had our replay against Brighton and this was a ding dong battle. I was only able to play with 4 subs on the bench and this really told because we went to extra time, scored first but couldn’t hold on as Brighton scored 3 goals in the 2nd half of extra time to win. This was massively disappointing for the boys because they had put in a mammoth effort but I was proud. Nobody expected us to reach the 4th round and it just shows even though we are a League Two team; we are a force to be taken seriously.

Progress in League Two has carried on and we seem to just be piling on the wins with great performances all around. The big match in the month of February was against Coventry in the JPT South finals. We drew the first leg at home 1-1, giving them an away goal but it was important we didn’t lose. We then went to the Ricoh Arena and were 2-0 down, 3-1 down on aggregate by the 56th minute. After making some tactical changes and going all out, we fought back amazingly and took the win 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. This has set up the JPT Final against League One leaders Leicester City. This will be an extremely tough game but having had such a strong season I believe we can upset the odds and win the double again this season. We drew the following match against Morecambe but won the next two games in the League and with 9 games left to go in the season and 20 points clear of 2nd place, Cambridge United earnt their second successive promotion. We now have to push on and win our next few games to guarantee top spot and the riches that come with that place.

Congrats on the superb promotion!

EDIT: You just gave me my 100th thank you!

Cambridge United have been promoted to League One at the first time of asking, with many praising Krupesh Shah and the way he has managed the club this year. He's been excellent in the transfer market, he has been a shrewd tactician and a tough manager, demanding only the best. This approach though has got his side back-to-back promotions and now it seems anything is possible. After winning the Blue Square Premier League last season and the FA Trophy, it seems the double is on the horizon again for his team as they look to win 3 more games to secure the League Two title and battle it out with the League One leaders Leicester for the Johnstone Paint Trophy.

Stick with us here at Sky Sports and we will bring you all the breaking news and results as they come in!

Following two wins against Portsmouth and Barnet, Cambridge United have been won the League Two title with 7 games to go after an impressive season. Full end of season details will emerge after the final 7 games of the season but for now we extend our congratulations to Krupesh Shah and his team.