Thanks mate. Yeah the director is the guy that created the original database, so I guess he put in a stadium move when setting it up and named it after himself. If i had noticed this when ammending the database I probably would have changed it to the George Best Arena or Danny Blanchflower Stadium or something with a more Belfast meaning.
Belfast F.C.
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Thanks mate. Yeah the director is the guy that created the original database, so I guess he put in a stadium move when setting it up and named it after himself. If i had noticed this when ammending the database I probably would have changed it to the George Best Arena or Danny Blanchflower Stadium or something with a more Belfast meaning.
Obviously we played a number of friendlies and they went pretty much as I had hoped, though the ****** Olympics robbed me of a number of players for most of pre-season including a couple of my new signings.
So who had we brought in to allow us to compete with Barcelona?
Noiw onto the ins:
So what do you think of the signing? Will they be enough to push into the top half, maybe higher?
Our league campaign would see us entertain both Chelsea and Norwich and travel to take on Fulham on the first weekend and Bournemouth on the final Saturday of the month. I felt we should be taking points from all except the Chelsea game and even that game was at home so you never know. A lot would depend on how well our new signings settled.
Against Chelsea I was concerned. We had just failed to beat a newly promoted team and now we had a team who would be looking to win the league. With this in mind we dropped the number 10 and brought back the DM in the hope of being a bit more solid defensively. Whatever we did it didn't seemed to have worked when Chelsea went 1 up inside of 5 minutes. However we responded well, really well and goals from Kuzyaev, Arthur and a brace from new striker Macias put us 4-1 up at the break. We took our foot off the gas a bit in the second half and Barkley did get a 2nd for Chelsea but we were very comfortable.
On a high after hammering Chelsea we welcomed Norwich to the Venner Stadium and we turned on the style again with another convincing win. Another brace from Macias, who has hit the ground running, Arthur and Bellingham gave us the points. I'm dissapointed to have conceed to Pukki and not kept a clean sheet but the 3 points is the most important thing.
Next up we had Championship Reading in the Carabo cup. I had taken the decision to make 11 changes and to completely rest a number of our top players. We were in totally in control of the game until a dodgy penalty gave them the lead on the stroke of half time. They came out all guns blazing to start the second half and got a second which pretty much wrapped up the game. We got a consolation goal late on from Livaja but I wasn't happy at all and I let the guys no it!
We went to Dean Court and the big hitters were all back in the starting 11 and we got off to a flyer with a goal in the 3rd minute from Kuzyaev. Bournemouth got a 9th minute penalty and that was all the scoring for the day. We were by far the better team and created far more chances than them but we couldn't get the winner. An unbeaten month isn't to be sniffed at and we would end the month 6th.
So in good form and on a high from beating City we travelled to Leicester for the Friday Night Football, and Jose Juan Macias put on a masterclass. A hat trick for the lad meant that Vardys 81st minute goal meant nothing. That said on another day we could have lost this game as Leicester had plenty of chances and were wasteful in front of goal.
When Arsenal arrived at the Venners Stadium we were full of confidence and I actually thought we could win this game. We started the game quikley and Meuneir gave us the lead with a smart drive across the keeper. We continued to dominate all the way until half time but failed tio take any further chances. Arsenal kicked off the second half and we pressed them forcing them bak to the keeper. Leno then punted aimlessly upfield only for our defense to still be in the tunnel and Smith-Rowe ran onto the clearance and scored the equaliser. Try as we might we couldn't get the winner ou play deserved and had to settle for a point. It shows how far we have come when we are disappointed with a draw against Arsenal.
This left the table like this, and we were still unbeaten.
Next up was newly promoted Huddersfield and I was keen to take all 3 points from this game. They came to defend and try and senk a goal on the break and this allowed us to dominate possession, however we were doing very little with it. We got our goal from centre half Demiral from a free kick half way through the first half. Not much else happened in the first half as we struggled to break them down. The second half had little of note with the exception of a missed, or rather saved Hudderfield penalty. We contined to keep the ball but created little but probably deserved the win overall.
So after the drab game against Huddersfield we had a really entertaining game against Everton. The game went back and forth between two evenly matched teams. Everton took the lead through Calvert-Lewin inside 20 minutes and we got a quick reply 7 minutes later. We managed to take the lead 2 minutes before the break when Zaha got his 2nd of the game. The second half continued to be an open affair and Everton got back on terms in the 65th minute when Gomes fired home from the edge of the area. Another draw but again a fair result. Based on todays game I'd imagine ourselves and Everton will finish in similar positions come the end of the season.
The fianl match of the month saw a struggling West Ham side arrive in Belfast. Given their form I was confident of a win, and win we certainly did. We we two up by half time thanks to goals from Macias and Zaha. Two more in the 2nd half a penalty from Kurzawa and a 89th minute cherry on top from Livaja rounded off a great display from the team. This win had left us sitting in 3rd place and still unbeaten in the league. Top half was definately looking on and a European place may not be out of the question if we can jkeep this form up.
Brighton arrived at the Venners Stadium and we swiftly put to the sword thanks to a masterclass of Arthur. Two goals inside 30 minutes from the Brazilian midfielder had wrapped up the 3 points. Left back Kurzawa added a 3 just before the final whistle to complete a comfortable win.
Our unbeaten run was then ended when we traveled to Spurs. It was a case of them taking their chances and us not taking ours. Spurs took the lead on 9 minutes, but we would be level again straight from the kick off. However 2 goals in 2 minutes just after the half hour mark meant the points stayed in London and our unbeaten start to the season was over. Despite the defeat we still sat fourth in the table and European football for next season was looking like a good bet.
I had no need to worry. Against a struggling Southampton side we were dominant. They had one attack the entire game 2 shots on target one the keeper push over for a corner and the 2nd a headed goal from the corner. That was 2 minutes in and they bareky touched the ball for the remainder of the match. Zaha got us back on level terms just before the half hour mark and Morilla scored the winner just after the break. We could and probably should have score more but I was just glad to be back to winning ways again.
We travelled to St. Andrews to take on bottom of the table Birmingham, and given that the games were coming thick and fast this month I thought this would be a good time to rest a few players, and boy did those who had come into the team really put down a marker and show why maybe they deserved more game time. Goals from Maksimovic, Livaja, Younes, Thompson and Man left our former keeper Ruddy and his teammates on the wrong side of a thumping.
Next up was the home game against last years runners-up Man U, and what followed was probably our best preformance since the club was founded. We won every battle and out preformed them in every aspect of the game. First half goals from Zaha and Kurzawa were followed by two late goals from Macias and Demiral gave us a deserved and comfortable win.
The Wolves game had a bit of a after thr Lord Mayors show feel to it. We'd been so good against United and then every bit as bad against Wolves. We created nothing and struggled to even get a shot on target (2 in the entire game). We really had keeper Gunn to thank for the point as he had an outstanding game and kept us in it on more than one occasion to get a completely undeserved point.
The final Game of the month would see us entertain a very good Everton side who were performing well this season. We edged things and were definately worth the 3 points but it was another tight affair which could easily have gone the other way. Goals from Man and Thompson wrapped up the 3 points and maen that Tom Davies late strike was nothing more than a consolation.
All of this meant the table looked like this:
Watford came and played like a team happy to take a draw. They defened deep and were happy to concede possession to us. We scored early with a Younes goal on 9 minutes and I thought that might draw them out a bit, but the continued to sit back and managed to hit us on the break on the half hour mark to send the teams in level at the break. Just after the break though Morilla scored the winner and secured the points for us.
Away to Arsenal is never a easy game and so it proved. The first half the teams kind of cancelled each other out with Arsenal shading things if anything. The second half continued in much the same vein and when Macias put us ahead just before the hour I thought we might be about to steal a win, however Arsenal had other ideas and pulled a goal back less than 10 minutes later. Arsenal were probably the better side with a bit more of the ball and a few extra chances so I was happy to take a point.
Huddersfield were struggling at the wrong end of the table so I thought it would be a good chance to rest a few players. It was certainly a game were defenses were on top with very few chances and both teams reduced to pot shots from range. A very dissapointing performance but a draw was the correct result as neither team had done enough to win it.
Wolves were up next and I thought it'd be a tight affair as Wolves are another team I'd say we were on a par with. As it turned out it wasn't so much tight as it was poor. Neither side looked like winning. Wolves had gone in front on 29 minutes and it looked for long periods like that might be enough to take all 3 points until Arthur popped up on 74 minutes with an equaliser. Another draw and another below par performance, our attacking players just aren't firing at the minute.
Away to Chelsea and another draw, which isn't too bad a result and at least we created chances and scored a couple of goals. Zaha had put us in front in the 38th minute after a great through ball from Meunier. Chelsea got level from a corner on 57 minutes and thats how it stayed until the 80th minute when an Abraham goal had Chelsea thinking they had won the game and barring a 94th minute equaliser from Macias to grab us a point they would have done. This kind of felt like a win and although we were unbeaten in the league we had dropped of the pace a bit thanks to 4 draws.
The league looked like this at the end of January:
January is of course transfer window time. I wasn't really looking to bring anyone in But there were a couple that I'd happily move on given the right offer. In the end we signed a couple of youngsters on pre-contract deals and I'll show you them when they join in the summer. A number of players did leave though, mainly on loan and generally because they were complaining about game time and then playing rubbish when they are given a chance.
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I was nervous going into the United game, and even moreso when a player I'd looked at in the summer, Barbosa, opened the scoring on 25 mintues. United had controlled the game up to this point and contined to do so until half time. I gave the lads a bit of the hairdryer treatment at half time, channeling my inner Fergie, and I got a response. We got back into the game and were creating a few chances here and there but weren't taking any of them. Just as it looked like a 1-0 defeat up popped Zaha in the 93rd mintue with an equaliser. I'd take that a point away to United wasn't a bad point at all.
Birmingham were still rooted to the bottom of the table, a place they had held for much of the season, and given we had put 5 past them at St. Andrews I was confident of a win. A bit of rotation, some of it enforced due to a couple of knocks, but I knew we'd be too good for them, and so it proved. In fairness to them they managed to frustrate us until almost half time when Zaha opened the scoring on 44 minutes. The 2nd half saw us score a further three thanks to a penalty from Kurzawa, a header from a corner from centre half Komar and an 89th minute effort from Livaja. A good win but one that was expected.
Two trips to the south coast to take on Southampton and Brighton whilst the only visitors to the Venners this month would be runaway leaders Liverpool. This month could easily go badly with both Brighton (15th) and Southampton (17th) in need of points to pull them away from the relegation zone, and Liverpool looking a cut above everyone esle this season.
Liverpool arrived in town and I was sure we'd loose. They had been spanking teams of late and I was sure w were next up especially given how we'd performed at Southampton. Anyway in came the DM for the AMC in an attempt to make us a bit more solid and it looked to have made no difference when Salah scored with Liverpools first attack in the 6th minute. After that they had a bit more possession and a few more shots but it was us who were creating the better opportunities, all be it not taking them, until with 27 minutes on the clock Macias scored after a good ball over the top to make it 1-1. The game followed this theme for the reminder of the game with them having more shots and more of the ball but us having the more clear cut chances, that was until the 79th minutes when VAR awarded Liverpool a penalty. Replays suggested it was soft and when Gunn made the save it felt like justice had been done. 1-1 final score I was happy enough with that.
What I was far from happy with was our performace and the result against Brighton. It was probably the worse we had played all season and Brighton completely deserved the 3 points. They hit us on the break time and again, and they played the 5 at the back system we really struggle against, the defended well and took a couple of the chances that came their way. A big result for them and could go a long way to secure their Premier League safety.
That poor month had seen us slip to 4th and we were now looking over our shoulder as United, Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs were closing in!
Next up was West Ham and after the Spurs game I was more than happy with a dull 1-0 win. Not too much entertain on show from either side in this one and we nicked the 3 points thanks to a Arthur strike from the edge of the box on 26 minutes.
Burnley arrived in deep trouble firmly in the relegation zone and I was confident we'd pick up another 3 points. However they sat deep and defended well, allowed us to have the ball and challenged us to break them down, and we couldn't. We had plenty of possession and shots but very little in the way of actually chances. Really dissapointed with this performance and just hope it doesn't bite us come the end of the season.
Bournemouth were another team who found themselves towards the bottom of the table, not involved in the relegation scrap but not going to finish top half either. I was hoping that they were already on the beach and we'd easily pick up the win, and so it proved. They rarely threatened and goal just after half time from Kuzyaev and Marcias sealed the win and all 3 points for us.
A good month had left us sitting in 3rd. We didn't have things in our own hands though as the teams in 5th 6th and 7th had several games in hand over us, which if Everton, United and Arsenal all won, and scored a few goals in Arsenals case, could move above us into the Champions League places. The only plus from our point of view were the number of games these teams, and Man City had to play in the final month of the season.
We went into the Leicester game a little more relaxed. United had won both their games, however Everton had dropped points mid-week meaning that the could still catch us but our goal difference was miles better so it was looking more likely that we'd qualify as long as we could win both games. So naturally we blew that chance and I was raging! We went 2-0 inside half an hour thanks to Livaja and Zaha goals and were cruising, and if I'm honest cruised te entire game, however Leicester then scored with their only 2 shots on target, one a header from a free kick the other a long punt upfield after our corner and suddenly things were in the bbalance again.
Going into the final week of the season we sat 3rd, two points ahead of United in 4th and 4 ahead of Everton in 5th, however they had 3 games left to our 1 but they had all 3 games in one week and so like our opponents City had to play Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. By the time we went kicked off against City Everton had won 1 and lost one meaning all we had to do was match either Everton or Uniteds results and we'd be in the Champions League (at least I think thats how it was I played these games a few days ago)
City came into the game with a fairly rotated side with a few players already knackered given that they had played 2 games already this week I felt they were there for the taking. Despite their tired legs it was an even game, though an early goal fro Macias did relax us a little. City had the better chances but we had more of the ball and that was the pattern of the game the whole way through. We scored our second with a break away in the 70th minute and a 2nd on the night for Macias.
All of this and the other results meant the final table looked like this:
With that in mind the board had agreed the following transfer budget:
In terms of awards Arthur was the big winner, though Young Player at 24? Really?