A new Toon legend in the making - Debut story

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Markymark1486

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RING RING
RING RING

"Hello"
"Mark, its Derek, Meeting arranged for 9am sharp tomorrow morning in Mike Ashley's office."
"Ok, see you there"

Somewhat reluctantly I had agreed to meet Derek Llambias and Mike Ashley tomorrow morning, I knew what was coming. It was deja vu from two months earlier when I was called to meet Owen Coyle and Phil Gartside. Let me explain.

In 2007, I was a 21 year old centre back playing for Bury. I was on the receiving end of a horror tackle and it ended my career. Double leg break, wouldn't reset properly and I had to accept my fate. Only that wasn't me, I took up an opportunity to obtain my coaching badges in Oslo, Norway. Whilst over there I got offered the job of Head of Academy at Tromso. Whilst at Tromso I also met my wife Natalia.

Everything was settled until in 2010 I received a call off my mate Tony 'Zico' Kelly of Bolton Wanderers, he told me about Owen Coyle's renovation at Bolton and had recommended me as a coach to Owen. Within two months me and Natalia had moved to Bolton and I was part of the coaching staff that was ultimately relegated the following season. It was at this point Owen and chairman Phil Gartside terminated my contract citing cutbacks as the reason. I was gutted, but within weeks Alan Pardew had me up in Newcastle leading his youth charges. That was a month ago, and I was really looking forward to the new season only for Alan to take over England, so after receiving the call from Derek Llambias I knew I was heading to the stadium to be informed I wasn't part of their view of the future.
 
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The Meeting (Mark Hurst, Mike Ashley & Derek Llambias


MH: "Morning Tracey, I'm here to see Derek and Mike"
"Take a seat Mark, Mike has not arrived yet"
MA: "Good morning Tracey, Mark. Apologies for my lateness I was doing an interview with Talksport on dog n bone, come on through Mark"
DL: Morning Mark, Mike"
MH: "Derek"
MA "Morning Dez"
DL: "Right Mark, we will cut straight to the chase, myself and Mike have obviously been discussing staff roles since Alan left for the England job and we both agree it needs a good sorting out, we lack in many areas and we don't feel you are realising your ability in your current role".
MH: "But Der-"
MA: "Let him finish Mark"
DL: "Mark, I understand you have only just come to this club, but I feel we really need more experienced coaches in specialised areas, and once the new manager is appointed he will have his own staff he wants to bring to the club, so with that in mind I would like to-"
MH: "No, just you wait a second, I apologise for this outburst but I want to say what I think, I maybe young in the coaching world but I have been through more in my career than alot of coaches have. I have played as a professional, had to deal with a career ending injury and I had the determination to come back from that and get my badges, I went to Norway and had to adapt to a different Country and I was credited with bringing their youth team up the league, and then I was headhunted by Bolton, I am positive, ambitious and I will bring the youth to this club and that will be the catalyst to any success Newcastle have in the future, so I dont want to listen to your soft soap, with all due respect I'll go away and prove to you two and the Bolton board that I am a quality young coach."
MA: "Mark, that little outburst was not welcome but confirmed what I was debating with Derek last night, I wanted to offer you the chance of becoming Assistant Manager to John carver at this club,but you can forget that now son"
MH: "Oh bollocks, Mike look-"
MA: "Let me finish Mark, you have Geordie passion even if you are a Lancashire boy, I love your desire and it is something we need to inject life into this club, you remind me of Sir Bobby, certainly not for your management qualities but for your desire so I stand by what I just said, I wont offer you the Assistant Manager job, instead I suggest you give your agent a ring because your coming here tomorrow as Manager of Newcastle United Football Club".
MH: "What did you just say?"
MA: "You heard, now hurry up lad there is so much to do before pre-season"
MH: "Yes of course"
 
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I started driving back home, half in shock the other half pondering tactics and training schedules when I stopped at a red light, I looked to my right and there was a billboard with the man himself his his toon days - Alan Shearer, under his picture was the word 'Legend' maybe one day I will be a toon legend.

I got home and told Natalia all about my meeting, she just smiled and made my lunch, she is so calm and collected and doesn't really appreciate how much football can rule your emotions.

My phone rang.

"Hello"
"Mark, its Derek, agreed terms with your agent, meeting at 9am tomorrow with the players, then at 11am me and Mike want to discuss expectations and budgets before you head to your first press conference at 1pm, so much to do gotta go. See you tomorrow"
"By-"

Before I could sign off he was gone, the rest of the day I spent thinking about tactics, training, new staff and players. What kind of budget would I get, who was available. I gave myself migraine. The next time I opened my eyes it was 8am. I showered, shaved put on my best suit and headed off to the ground unaware what to expect.

The carnival of press had already congregated and as I drove through the gates of the ground I flashed a little smile, got to give them something I thought.

As I got out of my car in the car park, John Carver approached me.
"Hi John"
"Hi Mark, listen I aint happy you got the job"
"John, I never asked for it -"
"To be frank, I don't care, I do't want to work for you so I am resigning"

And with that he took off to Mike Ashley's PA's office. I wasn't really too worried I had the perfect replacement in mind, I took out my blackberry.

"Dave, it's Mark"
"Hi Mark, you want to discuss training this early?" Dave Watson was a coach on our books.
"No, not really just wondered if you wanted a promotion"
"What kind of promotion?"
"Assistant Manager"
"Defo, I'm on my way to the ground now boss"

That was easy, right off to meet the boys.
 
Gonna post transfers, staff changes, tactics, pre season and first months matches tonight if anyone is following!
 
Having met the players, Date Watson, the staff and Mike Ashley, I started to make my plans. I reviewed the current staff members and decided it needed much improvement, to be fair exactly what Mike and Derek told me right at the beginning. Also a number of positions needed support to get a team capable of competing in all competitions. In goal I had my first choice with Tim Krul, however I didn't think that Steve Harper was a worthy backup and started to look for a replacement. I wanted to implement my tactic of building from the back, gone of the days of lumping it forward Wimbledon style so I wanted 4 ball playing defenders, full backs with attacking intent, 2 defensive midfielders (one as a ball winning midfielder and the other as a deep lying playmaker. These players will be hard working, to be a unit to press and get the ball back and then use their intelligence to feed the front 4 consisting of 2 fast wingers, a technically gifted attacking midfielder and a clinical striker. I also wanted a couple of experienced pro's to come into the team as and when the situation needed.
 
I called all the staff into my office one by one to inform them I was releasing them, most of them understood. I tried to be as considerate as I had myself been in this position not too long ago.

The following staff were released:

Rich Akenhead - Fitness Coach
Steve Stone - 1st Team Coach
Simon Tweddle - Fitness Coach
Chris Terpcou - GK Coach
Willie Donachie - Coach
Andy Woodman - GK Coach
Jack Ade - Fitness Coach
John Carver - Assistant Manager (Resigned)
Norman Wooster - Scout
Davie Henderson - Physio
Carl Nelson - Physio
Michael Harding - Physio
Kevin Richardson - Youth Coach
Liam Bramley - Youth Coach

And replaced them with the following new members of my backroom team:

Gary Lewin - Physio
Tosh Farrell - 1st Team Coach
John Murtough - Coach
Paul McGuinness - Coach
Phil Cannon - 1st Team Coach
Francisco Ayestaran - Fitness Coach
Bruno Demichelis - 1st Team Coach
Andreas Kopke - GK Coach
Angel Vales - Coach

I then looked at the playing staff, I managed to raise funds by selling Mike Williamson for 1.8million to Leicester and James Perch for 2.8m to Southampton, also bringing in loan fees for Shola Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, and Sylvain Marveaux.

I signed Sime Vrsaljko from Dinamo for 3.8million to be my first choice right back, Pablo Zabaleta from Man City for 4million to cover all areas of defence, Ruben Yttergard - Jenssen for 1million from my old club Tromso, Gerard Deulofeu on loan from Barcelona. I said I wanted to add some free experienced players to bolster the squad so I brought in, Andreas Hinkel, Papa Bouba Diop, Ricardo Gardner and Artur Boruc. I also secured a deal to sign Carlos Fierro next season for 1.3million.

View attachment 274785 View attachment 274786
 
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PRE SEASON

Barnet (away)
5-2
(Ba(3), Sammy Ameobi, OG

Crewe (away)
3-1
(Amalfitano (2), Deulofeu

FC Sochaux (away)
1-1
(Ben Arfa)

Pumas (Home)
0-1

Carlisle (away)
1-0
(Gardner)

Benfica (Home)
0-2

Charlton (Away)
3-1 (Ben Arfa (2), Og
​


 
Will keep an eye on this as I am a Newcastle fan - I had a story with them that I might go back too sometime but doubtful.

One thing though - I would change the font etc of your results as it is really hard to read/decipher.

Good luck!!!
 
August

Premier League 14.08.11

Sunderland 0 - 4 NEWCASTLE
Cisse (2), Deulofeu, Jonas

​
Great opening day victory, made all the sweeter given it as against our main rivals in the Tyne Wear derby. A debut brace from Cisse, a debut goal from Gerard Deulofeu and a strike from Jonas made it an easy victory in the end. Former magpie Titus Bramble also saw read in the last few mins.


View attachment 274817View attachment 274818View attachment 274819
Europa League 4th Round Qualifier 18.08.11

Red Star 0 - 4 NEWCASTLE
Cisse, Coloccini, Ba, OG

​
Another great victory only a few days after the Sunderland win, I felt it as important to get a good steady score away from home, but never thought e would win at such a canter. Great performance.

View attachment 274820View attachment 274821


Premier League 21.08.11

NEWCASTLE 0-1 Southampton

​
Today we was poor, and I think maybe myself and the players for taking our eyes off this game thinking it was an easy win, but great credit to Southampton they were very organised and played better football. The game was compounded with Sime Vrsaljko was sent off on his home debut.


View attachment 274822View attachment 274823

​

 
Europa League 4th Round Qualifier 25.08.11

NEWCASTLE 3 - 2 Red Star (7-2 agg)
(Ba 2 pens, Gardner)

​
After the 4-0 win in the first leg I decided to leave a few first teamers out and give a run out to a couple of reserves. Although it looked close at 3-2 we was always in control of the game. 2 penalties from Demba Ba and a first toon goal for Gardner sealed the victory comfortably over the two legs



Premier League 28.8.11

Swansea 1 - 4 NEWCASTLE
(Ben Arfa, Cisse 2, Ba)

​
After the last european match we played Southampton and lost so today I was taking no chances, I told the team what I expected in my team talk talk and they delivered. Ben Arfa notching his first of the season, Cisse on fire again with two goals and Ba also finding the net. The downside though was Fab Coloccini being sent off and receiving a 3 match ban.



Premier League 12.9.11

NEWCASTLE 3 - 1 Reading
(Cisse, Jonas 2)

​
Another great victory in front of the home crowd, Cisse who cant stop scoring finding the net net again and Jonas bagging a brace. The team starting to play the style of football I asked them to play.



Europa League Group Match 15.9.11

NEWCASTLE 3 - 0 Hadjuk
(Jonas, Ba, Diop)

​
Straight forward victory in a game we controlled from start to finish, Jonas continuing his goalscoring streak, Demba Ba seeming to prefer european football than domestic at the moment after scoring his 4th in europe and Papa Bouba Diop scoring a 35 yard screamer to settle the game.

Capital One Cup 3rd Round 20.9.11


Leicester City 0 - 3 NEWCASTLE
(Vuckic, Zabaleta, Deulofeu)

​
This game worried me, we had played quite a few matches in August and September and had some big matches to come so I knew I had to put my trust in some of the younger players and they didnt disappoint, Coloccini was suspended and Steven Taylor was injured, I had no centre backs so I played Pablo Zabaleta and young Curtis Good at the back, together they were immense against a strong top half Leicester team. First ever goals from Haris Vuckic, Zabaleta and Gerard Deulofeu meant an easy pass into the 4th round. Curtis Good, Haris Vuckic and Romain Amalfitano are definately players I will look to nurture into key first team players.


Premier League 25.9.11

NEWCASTLE 2 - 0 WBA
(Cisse 2)

​
Hadn't heard off him in a while and then BANG! two goals from the machine that is Cisse ensured a decent win against a good West Brom team with former geordie boy Steve Clark at the helm.


​
 
good start, itll be interesting to see how you fair against the stronger teams but so far it seems you are handling all the different competitions well :)
 
Cheers, at work at the moment and had the results on my Blackberry notepad hence no ss of line ups and final scores or lge tables will upload all of those with the next update. However lost 2-1 to Man City and drew with Spurs 1-1, they are in the next update.
 
Sorry, I've had to close this story as my save crapped out. I dont want to start a new save and then this happen again, so I am going to progress my current Bolton save to a decent level then turn it into a story. Thanks for the support!
 
Apologies, I had to reinstall steam and fm12. I have started another story - A rarity on FM Base - A Trotters Story. Feel free to check that one out.
 
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