Results
Goals were hard to come by during December, where we scored five in three games. Four of those goals were attributed to Yusuf Mashego. It may also be that without the home crowd support, we struggled for motivation, and certainly the team was not inspired by my team talks, as often as they were so found that difficult to handle as there was no way to determine whether they would react or not.
Set pieces are a bit of a concern as well, the ass man and coaching staff tell me that the team is well prepared with the tactics I use, but I have noticed that we leak soft goals from defensive set pieces. I will need to work through how to plug that gap, as well as looking to take charge of the possession statistic. We will come up against far better teams in the SA FA Cup, and those teams will not squander chances in the same fashion as some in the NFD.
7.12.13 Away to FC Cape Town
Cape Town has the better of the possession and twice as many shots as we did. Mashego scored the only goal just before half time for Dynamos to record a 0-1 win. The only other cause for concern was an injury to defensive midfielder Gomis in the last min of the match.
14.12.13 Home to United FC
Again, United had the better of the possession, but we had control of the match, and it was only a matter of time before we scored, which we did in the fifty-fourth minute, through who else but Mashego. A comfortable 1-0 win.
18.12.13 Away to Tuks SA Cup Prelim Round
We were unlucky here, with a Hammers penalty hitting the bar, and letting a soft, soft, soft <grrrr!> goal in during refs time. In between all those events, Mashego struck a couple of sweet shots for a brace, Kweleta ran into a perfect through ball from….Mashego, and opposing Namibian striker Louis scored his first goal for new club Tuks. All in all, a bit of a free for all, which made the game look closer than it was, and should have been, but we closed it out 2-3 and can now move on to the next round in the New Year.
I'll be interested to see how the finances hold up this month, and whether they'll contrast with December 2013 as we are playing three away matches. The transfers out will certainly help, but I am not expecting that to be a major factor.
Our sole home fixture will be a bit of a grudge match with Witbank Spurs. We'll be looking to spank them into next week for inflicting a two all draw on us earlier in the season.
It's one of those bad dreams, having sold some players in the transfer window, I have 90K transfer budget, more importantly about 2.5K worth of wage budget. I'm trying not to adjust the budget as it stands, because let's face it, there is not really any standout performers.
I was looking for another scout, and perhaps a coach if I can find the right fit.
I am finding three things:
There is an excellent Ass Man who would run rings around the one I have at the moment, but he won't accept a coaching job;
Some "scouts" have excellent coaching attributes, but want scouting roles;
In order to get a one point bump in one of the four key attributes for a scout, I go from paying GBP300 (which is what I am paying the three I have now) to some asking for GPB1200-GBP2200. That is just highway robbery; and not that I could pay it anyway.
#59275 Kiwi :
I am finding three things:
There is an excellent Ass Man who would run rings around the one I have at the moment, but he won't accept a coaching job;
Some "scouts" have excellent coaching attributes, but want scouting roles;
In order to get a one point bump in one of the four key attributes for a scout, I go from paying GBP300 (which is what I am paying the three I have now) to some asking for GPB1200-GBP2200. That is just highway robbery; and not that I could pay it anyway.
I've been there. Physios with the 'Phy' of 9 are asking for GPB120, while those with 10 are asking for GPB340.
For scouts, have you considered the possibility that it could be because of the nations they are knowledgable about? I mean, a scout who knows more about Spain or England is going to ask a lot more than those travelling only your homeland of SA!
I was extremely lucky to get my physio with a 13 score. Even now, I can only see three others - all employed - and their ratings are far lower.
Finding a decent scout with my setup currently might just be impossible. I'm an ex Sunday League Serbian/Scotsman operating at the lower end of a non prestigious league. Because I can only scout within Africa at the moment, having scouting knowledge of other areas isn't helpful, and certainly none of the staff from either Serbia or Scotland are the slightest bit interested. It might also indicative of the leagues I have loaded!
Nor do any of the scouts who are available look any better - in terms of attributes or knowledge than anything I currently have on staff.
#59285 akash.vidyasagar :
#59275 Kiwi :I've been there. Physios with the 'Phy' of 9 are asking for GPB120, while those with 10 are asking for GPB340.
For scouts, have you considered the possibility that it could be because of the nations they are knowledgable about? I mean, a scout who knows more about Spain or England is going to ask a lot more than those travelling only your homeland of SA!
4.1.14
We are now half way through the season, having played fifteen matches in the league.
Our stats are extremely pleasing, and I have shown them below.
We do have a few aspects to improve on, notably ball retention and a tweak or two to our defensive set pieces, which again leaked two goals against FCAK.
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The competition stats at the half way stage.
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Players stats
The Board still do not want to increase my wage or transfer budget, and I am still killing time before I can ask again about scouting outside Africa!
Veteran striker Ramudzuli is suffering a groin strain and will be out for 5-8 days.
Brandon Barkhuizen who has been a constant feature in my lineup is now one yellow card away from a suspension.
Off topic slightly, he reminds of John Flanagan, who was the resident hardman when I'd signed him on a free from Liverpool for Maidenhead in FM11.
F.C.A.K have made an approach for Mahlanga, and we have confirmed it. Let's hope that this time, it goes through!!
Interesting read this mate, I find it a lot more captivating reading a story where the writer does 'something different' as it were rather than with and English club/to European club.
Anyway yeah top job mate, great read.
Uslan Hyundia have made an approach for striker Kweleta.
Given the state of my striking stocks, I can't believe that I am considering it, but I am.
There are three reasons why I am:
1. There is a very similar, younger striker Malusi Mseluku available on a free at the moment.
2. The offer is 26K, and Kweleta is a relatively expensive player in terms of wages at GBP550 per week.
3. Experience tells me that if I reject an approach, the player or agent will come back and ask for a far better deal to stay.
Thanks for the comments Tom_BcFC. Even though the league isn't first class, and the players/staff coming out of SA are not anything to write home about, I am certainly enjoying myself for the most part. I'd be lying if I didn't also tell you that I didn't find it frustrating on occasion, but I also find that an excellent story maps out your lows as well as the high points in a career.
I'll be staying in Africa for five years and then moving on, looking at Turkey or Iceland as my next destination - I'll try and stay away from Europe and CL for as long as I can.
#59395 Tom_BcFC :
Interesting read this mate, I find it a lot more captivating reading a story where the writer does 'something different' as it were rather than with and English club/to European club.
Anyway yeah top job mate, great read.
Finally, that troublesome former captain Mahlanga has left for pastures new at FCAK.
It took them long enough to organise the transfer, but 18K is 18K, and the 50% sell on fee may amount to something in the future.
Elsewhere, I have accepted the offer for Kweleta.
Eighteen year old defender Nthuthoko Radebe has been signed from ASPIRE as a replacement for the aging Ntshingila whom will be leaving at the end of his contract after he wanted an upgrade worth far more than I was willing to pay.
Funny ole game football. Simon Ramoduma doesn't strike me as a key player for any team. He has been decidedly average in the four games he started and he only started those because I had committed to giving him game time.
As a forward, he didn't make an assist, score a goal and he picked up two yellow cards. At best, he would be considered the back up to the back up for Dynamos.
And yet, somehow Sundowns are interested.
Go on, make an offer and make it really difficult for me!
