Klippybo
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PLAY-OFFS
So here we are in the play-offs! I went into them a bit more confident as a couple of players were coming back and against the top teams we done not bad during the season - it was the minnows that caused us the biggest problems.
I also received a boost before the play-offs began as I got offered a new contract so it seemed even though I didn't achieve the Championship title and may not even get promoted they wanted me to stay.
So that was nice lol.
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Play-off 1st Leg
Derby County 2 (Ince 11, 52)
Newcastle United 1 (Gayle 10)
Lineup - Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba (Clark), Lascelles, Haidara, Shelvey, Anita, Aarons, Maddison (Mitrovic), Atsu, Gayle
Not great but not a disaster. Unfortunately my injury jinx struck again as Chancel Mbemba got crocked. As you can see in my lineup there was no Knockaert, Ritchie, Lazaar and Diame so we are still down to the bare bones. Gayle put us ahead but Tom Ince (who I pulled out of signing to get Knockaert) struck twice to give them the advantage.
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Play-off 2nd Leg
Newcastle United 1 (Clark 67)
Derby County 0
(Agg 2-2, Newcastle United won 3-1 on penalties)
Lineup - Sels, Yedlin, Clark*, Lascelles, Haidara (Dummett), Shelvey (Colback), Anita, Aarons, Maddison, Atsu, Gayle (Mitrovic)
Through but phew!!! I didn't know that away goals were pointless here and I was pretty ****** off as I was informed that we had a penalty shoot-out to contest. Any Newcastle fan will tell you that our record in shoot-outs in real life is abysmal so I wasn't confident.
In the end we won the shoot-out easily as although Atsu missed, Mitrovic, Colback and Anita scored while they missed two to see us through. Mbemba's injury proved to be a blessing as his replacement, Ciaran Clark, scored our winning goal during play.
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Play-off Final
Newcastle United 4 (Atsu 14, Gayle 45, Ritchie 66, Mitrovic 68)
Wolves 1 (Edwards 67)
Lineup - Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Lascelles, Haidara (Dummett), Shelvey, Diame, Aarons*, Knockaert (Ritchie), Atsu, Gayle (Mitrovic)
Up we go!!!! I was fortunate to welcome Mbemba, Knockaert, Diame and Ritchie back into the fold and although they weren't all match fit they had enough in the tank to see off Wolves.
We were all but there at half-time as a rare Atsu goal and a Gayle strike had us in easy street. Then I made 2 subs and within 5min they had both scored and even managed to concede one in a crazy 3min spell. At 4-1 Wolves were never coming back.
Fair play to Rolando Aarons who I just picked ahead of the unfit Ritchie as he set up 2 goals and claimed the man of the match award.
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So promotion is gained. I haven't been told who my player of the year etc was but I will post a few screenshots of things. I have been given a budget of £48m for next season so I am thinking how I will blow that lol.
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FIRST TEAM SQUAD
View attachment 101662
MY PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC
View attachment 101661
Jamaal Lascelles was close but I cant not choose a player who scored more goals than he started games!
MY YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ROLANDO AARONS
View attachment 101660
I would say Adam Armstrong as he scored 20 odd goals for Barnsley and is now valued at £6m but he unfortunately wasn't with me. I didn't use too many U21 players so Aarons gets it just for his performance in the play-off final lol.