what place are you at the moment in the league?
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Caelis Still first, but because of HJK Helsinki's Europe commitments they have two games in hand so they can get to first place (They actually went very far in the Europa League)
JusticeYes the good old Finnish league haha Thanks thats good to hear
JusticeYes the good old Finnish league haha
Thanks thats good to hear
Keep at it! I'm sure you'll be able to bounce back from this blip and give Derrick something to smile about 
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Okikos Thanks mate
P.S When will John Luther story be back because I was really looking forward to it!
P.S When will John Luther story be back because I was really looking forward to it!
Chapter Nine
After the August debacle, Derrick Smythe was hoping this was just a blip in form. He hoped that the wins came back, Vepsu didn’t want to give up their grand lead of 8 points.
And if they did, it would be entirely Smythe’s fault. He had to change the tactics, bring in new people, change the way the team played. It was his job.
If Derrick Smythe thought the 3-2 edgy win over KuPs was going to be the catalyst for success or the light at the end of the tunnel, he was wrong.
Another poor month, not shocking but poor. But there was a silver lining. The club triumped in the final of the Suomen Cup over Myllykosken Pallo 47.
The month started with an improved 1-1 draw against local rivals Turun Palloseura but Smythe’s side lost 1-2 to IK Marieham. VK Haka then held Vepsu to a draw and FC Honka, the team they had destroyed in his second game in charge, had thrashed them 3-1 at home.
Smythe was starting to get very fed up of the defence, constantly bemoaning their error-prone play. The goalkeeper even dropped the ball to allow the other team to score in one game.
But the silver lining came. A 5-0 annihaltion of Myllykosken Pallo 47 gave the team and the manager new found belief and they went in to the final of the competition with confidence.
An early goal came for Smythe’s side but a controversial penalty was given to Pallo 47. Still, Strandvall found his form and fired home a late goal to make it 3-1 and game over.
Veikkausliiga
1-1 Turun Palloseura
1-2 IK Mariehamn 1-1 FK Haka 1-3 FK Honka Suomen CupFinal
5-0 Pallo 47 Veikkausliiga 3-1 Pallo 47Manager’s Verdict: Poor
if you have good amr (left of either footed) and aml (right or either footed) try to make them inside forward (attack) instead of winger
this way they will look to come to inside from time to time but also give assists from the wings
this way they will look to come to inside from time to time but also give assists from the wings
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2013-06-12 05:58#111479 lwalter66 : Okikos Thanks mate
P.S When will John Luther story be back because I was really looking forward to it!
Perfectly honest, I'm not sure- but hopefully sometime soon!
Caelis Thanks for the advice, I actually think both my wingers might be IF's and my AM is a Trequartista. The whole point of the tactic is that all the attackers are moving around passing. I will put a screenshot up tomorrow.
Okikos Ok, I was looking forward to that story, and by the way, what software was the banner made on?
Okikos Ok, I was looking forward to that story, and by the way, what software was the banner made on?
Chapter Ten
The team went out on a high note, but what a terrible month, and season it had been for Vaasan Palloseura. Smythe’s cup win was the only consolation for himself, and the fans saw how much he cared.
Derrick just couldn’t stand his team’s poor performances, especially defence. He continuously yelled at them and criticised them. He would learn from this mistake.
He kept pressuring them and decreasing their self esteem and morale, leading to poor performances. One he had tried calmly criticising their performance after they nearly threw away a 3-0 lead…
Smythe just couldn’t pick them up after that first defeat. The team slid down the table and by the second last round were in six place, but only 3 points behind first-placed HJK Helsinki.
Smythe’s relationship with his players and the board was deteriorating, so after the Suomen Cup win he decided to delay Riku Asukas’ contract extension.
The fans could see Smythe’s passion. At the final whistle of the Suomen Cup he fell to his knees in joy. The players couldn’t throw him in the air though because of his height (6’5” – 197cm).
The month started terribly. They finally lost their lead on top of the day after his birthday with a 3-0 loss to HJK Helsinki.
This followed with another loss to FC Lahti, a 2-4 demolition. The team reached its lowest point with a 1-4 loss to FC Inter Turku. By now Smythe was ready to quit, but he wasn’t going to give in.
Veikkausliiga 0-3 HJK Helsinki 2-4 FC Lahti 1-4 FC Inter Turku 3-1 JyJaHe had tried and tried. Team talk after team talk, trying to pick up the player’s morale. Telling them he had faith in them at half time and before kickoff.
Nothing. The team just couldn’t win and when Smythe looked over the final four games of the month, he reflected on his short time at Vaasan Palloseura.
The title had slipped out of grasp, and he had a very poor win percentage. The only positive was the cup win and getting the club into the Europa League for the first time.
Smythe said goodbye to his players who would be back in nineteen weeks time. Robin Lod departed back to HJK Helsinki as his loan finished and several youth players were released.
But when Smythe went to bed that night, he couldn’t get to sleep, he just couldn’t get to sleep. Something was bugging him.
He got up, went to his laptop and opened up a new Microsoft Word document. He felt his relationship with the team wasn’t getting any stronger.
He felt it was time to leave. Two players had been granted absence for two weeks due to homesickness but nobody realised Smythe was having trouble too.
Smythe had never really settled down in Finland and wanted to go back to England. He spent an hour typing up his resignation letter and fell asleep at the end.
He woke up the next morning and went to see Riku who accepted his resignation and relieved him of his duties. They shook hands and he told his staff about his decision.
Smythe packed his stuff and left for London the next day and got home to his apartment. But he told himself the truth. He wouldn’t be doing nothing.
Even though he hadn’t been a major success, and he hadn’t settled in to his bizarre home, Smythe loved every bit of football management, and had a massive urge to do it again.
Chapter Eleven
Leicester City, Derby County, Walsall, Sunderland, Brighton. Derrick Smythe’s applications with all these teams had been unsuccessful and sent back to him.
He cleaned up his apartment from the night before where Walton had stayed after they came home from Blackpool versus Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Smythe’s Seasiders had triumphed over Walton’s Palace but they went home happy to have Smythe back.
He had been in London two weeks and had been glad to come back. Finland was a learning curb, and all though the club had choked in the second half of the season, he had learnt a lot.
One thing he had learnt, was that he loved football management. That is why he was desperate to get back into it. Even in those hard times he had loved every second of it.
He spent another week at home, unemployed, he had nothing to do again. He tried changing that but it didn't work to well. He went to a couple of games, watched lots of them but nothing happened.
He was ready to give in to his old life of unemployment but it wasn't to be. When his phone rang, he checked to see who it was. Walton. He answered it. “Hey bud,” he said.
"Derrick, Crystal Palace have sacked Ian Holloway, why don't you apply?!" he said.
Smythe laughed. Of course Walton would have the latest on Crystal Palace. “Ok, that sounds like a great job! I will email my application,” Smythe told him. Walton was a massive Palace fan, a season ticket holder, now he had the chance to lead his friend’s team.
It would be an interesting combination, managing his best friend’s team. Maybe Walton could be his assistant, but Smythe chuckled to himself about the thought of that.
“Seriously, Derrick. Are you there,” he said,
“Yeah.”
“You should. You know football, you played it internationally. You’ll have me for advice,” he laughed. “But you have the talent. Seriously, those Vappi players or whatever they’re called, they didn’t care. Palace players do, you can do well with them!” Walton lectured.
“Ok ok I will Walton, but remember they might not want me,” Smythe tried telling him.
“Yeah I know but it would be great if you were the manager,” Walton replied and they both hung up.
Smythe printed a copy of the application and sent it to the Crystal Palace owner and chairman. They emailed me back saying they had received my application and would read it. He was happy that Walton had called him because this job suited him well.
Hopefully they didn't take too long and he wouldn't have to live his life of umenployment for a nother week but he didn't mind. It was another job coming around.
He went for a run around the park, happier than ever. He was about to get back into football management! Well, at least he hoped.
You are reading "Derrick Smythe - A Bizarre Journey In Football Management".
