Journey into unknown by an unknown

Brilliant read this, I live very locally to Lye myself, I live in an area you have already mentioned, namely Quinton...so I will definitely be following this...the detail you have used is brilliant. Keep up the great work.
 
Appreciate it mate... Will try to entertain you as much as I can. Though my team is playing like bunch of clowns....
 
Moving in

29th July 2014:

All this travelling up and down from Birmingham has been getting on my nerves. Last week, I had asked Helen to be on the look out for a not too shabby, not too flashy digs where I can think of moving in for some months at least. I had also asked her to be mindful of what I had to pay as well.

She called me up to say, that she had found a good place on rent. She had sent over the details, but wanted to know a few things. I went over the details on the mail. It was in a place called Hurst Court. Walkable distance from the club. I was to be charged around 90 £ for a week. Having no idea about the rent benchmarks and never having to pay rent last six months. I though I had a good deal. I asked her to go ahead and book me in.

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A little while later I took a call from a crestfallen Helen, "Sorry, but they have a minimum age limit of 55 years. You sure are not 55 years are you?" I laughed out loud, "No Helen, I sure don't look like 55 do I?
"Well, I guess not, I am not able to find anything suitable within Lye, do you want me to take a look at what is available in Stourbridge?"

I thought for a moment, it was imperative that I live close by, but also important that I did not have to travel a lot. Stourbridge, though seemed to be a good idea. "Yes, please. If you can find somewhere which does not present a hassle in travelling and well within the budget, please let me know."

Helen promised to get back to me in couple of hours with some news on the accommodation. She is one efficient lady, I was sure I would get exactly what I wanted if I just left it with Helen. Who botched up the Mills contract then? He was turning out to be my worst gamble so far. Ineffective in front of the goal mouth, he was not even helping out defensively. I ought to do something about it.

As promised, Helen came back with a property detail that I liked on the first look and asked her to finalize it. It was down in Stourbridge. Near the Gold club, I could go and learn Golf in my free time. Fantastic, though don't know if they take in members without reference. Only problem was transportation, it would take around 15minutes for me to drive down to the club. Not a problem in itself, but I somehow do not like to drive a four wheeler. Even back in India, in my past life (seems so far off now that I think back) the wife used to drive our car, while I preferred motoring around on a two wheeler. I could actually get myself a bicycle and pedal down to the club. Fitness boost in addition. Gotta look for a bike then.

I talked to Surjeet / Smita over phone and gave him the details. He seemed agreeable to the idea, but being Indian, she did not want to be seem eager to let me go. We played the courtesy game for 10 minutes where it goes like this,

S: "You surely are not thinking of leaving us."
M: "I think it will be best for me if I stay near the job."
S: "Who will take care of your food?
M: "There are lots of Indian eateries out there, and I can cook as well. I will manage Smita, don't worry."
S: "What will your wife say? She entrusted you to our care and now you are going away! She will think, we are not treating you well."
M: "I will talk to her and tell her that I couldn't have done anything without the excellent support that both of you have been providing. And I am not going far away, just a little farther. I will be around."
When you tell an Indian woman, that you could not have done something without her support, she will be ready to do anything for you. Try it at home (I will not be held responsible for the consequences though :P )
S: "You promise to come every week?"
M: "Yes, Smita. Every time I feel like I will come down to eat food made by you."
S: "Then OK, but call us everyday OK. Otherwise, I will come there and drag you home by your ears."
M: "Everyday may not be possible Smita, but I promise I will keep in contact frequently."
I also hear Surjeet in the background, urging Smita to be rational, but women and rational....

Finally, I extricate myself from the phone and ask Helen to go ahead and get my accommodations sorted out. It's going to cost me around 150 per week, but hey I will have access to two bedrooms and a nice golf course just across the road.

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I move in next week.
 
Do I get a loan?

29th July 2014:

I have one more discussion with Gavin Harrison before the night ended. Michael Cottrill the Goalkeeper with us on trial, played decently if not spectacularly. He was let down badly by the back four sitting in front of me. Inspite of that I was not too sure about taking him on. If no other option emerges before the end of his trial period, I may have to go with him.

I asked Gavin to forget about finding gems in the rough. It was not happening, we had to focus on now and here. There was only one friendly (on 3rd August) before the season was to start. We needed players, good quality and proven, immediately. Both of us agreed that Gavin will be on the lookout for a player with decent skills. Only condition, he should be willing to come to us on loan.

Gavin promised to work his network and have a report ready for me in couple of days time.

30 July 2014:

I am back in Birmingham to start the process of moving away. I decide to take only the necessities and leave most of my things at Surjeet's. Nothing happens, and I understand the need to have patience. Savita decides that she wants to be the person in charge of deciding what should be taken and what should not be. I seem to have no choice in this, but I am resigned to it.

31 July 2014:

I reach Stourbridge around noon. I need to take a look at the digs, and I have asked to have a discussion with my staff. We need to discuss not only the upcoming friendly with Stevanage U21, but also discuss the training concerns or observations.

Robbie Pilkington, in charge of youth development, has been talking to the young players and he suggests that Kamara could be paired off with Whitcombe to pick his brains and understand the finer nuances of the game. I am not too sure I want the youngsters to focus on anything other than the game and the challenges that we are facing. Not sure if Whitcombe would be a source of knowledge.

I promise to look into it and wait for Gavin Harrison to give us some inputs on Stevenage Reserves. Gavin looks at his notes, "They usually play a flat 4-4-2, but boss considering the way they and us play, we could get hammered. They have a short passing game, and they have some quality shooters who can breach the defenses with long range shots. The keeper, whoever it is, will have a hard time facing them."

Scott said with resignation heavy in his voice, "I will get them doing defensive drills, but I don't know what happens to the boys once we concede a goal." We all shake our heads collectively. We need to sports psychiatrist, can we afford it? **** no.

With promises to look into suitable players available for loan, Gavin departs and we break up the meeting.

2 August 2014:

Gavin has sent over few possible loan signings. I have asked him to focus on Defenders first, as we are in a bad shape in the defense. He has sent over four possibilities for me to take a look at. All four are Central Defenders.

Nathan Harrison (Nuneaton)

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Ellis Short (Ilkeston)

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Arcadi Esposito (Mickelover)

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Ryan Marsden (Northampton)

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I am sending a feeler to all four of them to check if they can play for us on loan for the rest of the season. We do not really have a complete idea about what these players can do, but considering the way my current back four has played, they cannot be worse than that.

We get a confirmation from the parent clubs, that they have accepted our enquiry and will look into the possibility. Hopefully couple of them should convert.

3 August 2014:

My third game in charge, and I am not yet confident about my players. I do not know how they will hold up during the game. Can't really get mad at them. Finally, it's my responsibility to ensure that they don't act like a chicken with it's head cut off. The learning curve is pretty steep, but I am learning and I vow to get the team playing like a machine before long.

Scott has been drilling the boys since morning in short sessions, I really need to talk to the chairman and see if we can get somebody else to reduce the load on Scott and myself. Reminder to self: Arrange a meeting, if possible.

Last game we faced a harrowing time from the right flank, where Andrewartha completely lost it, this game it's on the other flank and I spend a lot of time talking to Whitcombe, making him run and twist and just track the ball. We have notified by Gavin in the morning that they have a penchant for making runs down their right flank. Fortunately for me, we have two professional players on our left wing in the form of Whitcombe (LB) and Evitts (LM).

I decide to go with a flat 4-4-2, with one of the local boys paired up with Mills. Cottrill is still available with till tomorrow, so he starts in the goal mouth. None of the other goalkeepers we had inquired about are ready to come even fro a trial, so I guess we are stuck with Cottrill.

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The defense has been asked to stay back, wide players have been instructed to stick to their roles, they are not wingers. We are ready to play the game.
 
Stevanage U21s

3 August 2014:

We start off the game against Stevanage reserves.

As predicted, Stevanage U21s have the first pop at our goal on 6th minute. A push towards the right, compacts our lines. The defenders are marking the players closely, midfielders are near the 18 yard line tracking the ball, but that leaves Kennedy (S - CM) open. A thrown in from right is inside the box, but Zibaka cuts back to Kennedy who is hovering outside the box. First touch shot, nobody is aware, the goal keeper is caught out. Thankfully for us, the ball swerves to right a little and hits the upright. Leonard (CD) scrambles it away to safety.

15 minutes into the game, and we are still 0-0. There have been forays into our half, but Stevanage is finding it difficult to get the ball into the final third. Boys are holding up so far. There have been a couple of excellent tackles and sacks by my boys. Hopkins (CM) and Barlow (MR) have been playing well.

We have our first shot taken at 18th minute. Cottrill launches an ICBM that reaches the Stevenage box, Bolland (AF) jumps higher and gets his head to the ball first and knocks it down for Mills(DF) who is about 30 yards away. Mills traps the ball, looks up, aims and lets one go. Nowhere near the goal, but we clap and shout nevertheless. He has been playing better than the first two games.

A wonderful move develops down the left flank. Whitcombe (LB) dispossess the opposition player near the touchline with a perfectly timed tackle, both the players end up tangled on the ground and ball rolls free. Evitts (LM) picks up the ball at our 30 yard line and dribbles his way forward. He is hounded by one, two and then three Stevenage players, but he shakes all three off with his pace and gets into their final third. A nice cross is launched towards Bolland (AF), but a defender cuts it off and the move breaks down.

We have a shot on target!!!! Near to halftime, Evitts (LM) takes a corner, that is headed out. Hopkins (CM) is lurking outside the box. He gets to the ball, holds off a Stevenage player, turns deftly and hits a scorcher. The goalkeeper just about manages to palm it away. We were jumping with joy only to feel deflated a bit. The boys are pumped though.

0-1

On the stroke of half time, we concede. Same pattern same mistake. A ball is lobbed behind my back four on the right hand side. Andrewartha (RB) misses yet another header. He has been unable to get his concentration right. The ball runs out towards the goal line, Andrewartha does not recover in time, and Lobjolt rushes in from central areas, Kamara (CD) fails to keep up with him. All the while the other striker is rushing into position inside the six yard box. The boys fail to pick him up. A simple cross towards center and Storer has to just tap in and Cottrill (GK) can do nothing about it.

The boys cut a very dejected figure, trudging back into the locker room. They really have given everything, and there seems to be a little bit of aggression towards Andrewartha, who is sitting in a corner with his head in his hands. I decide to take him off at half time. I ask McAuley to kit up and get ready to play.

Andrewartha is replaced by McAuley for the second half. We still play with the shape and deny Stevenage any space in our half. We are losing the battle for possession, but I don't care. We are playing with a discipline. At the hour, I replace Mills (DF) with Wardley(AF). He is sent on with the instruction to shoot whenever he can. The message is also passed around. can't hurt, can it? As it is we are down by 1, I decide to roll the dice and ask the players to ping in the balls as and when they can.

No further incident of note occurs, and we escape with a 0-1 score. The team played with passion today, constantly hounding the stevenage ball players, not allowing them space. Most of their shots came from outside the box. I ensure that the boys do not drop their heads and praise them for a great shift put in. This brings a smile to their faces and ultimately that is what will make us a good team, if not great.

Now I have two major issues that need sorting out immediately:

1. What to do with Andrewartha? He does not seem to be learning from his mistakes. Making mistakes is perfectly fine, but if you keep on making the same mistake, it costs you and your team. I can probably carry him for couple of more games, but if the same patterns continue, I fear I will have to move him on.

2. Strikers: Mills was a major gambit that failed, and I take full responsibility for that, and the scene became worse with the kind of contract snafu that happened. He does not justify what he is getting and that is raising a few eyebrows in the locker room after the game. I need a quality finisher. Mills is not that person. A loanee would solve the problem, but Gavin Harrison has not yet reported anyone worth looking at.

Hopefully, we will have something to take a look at before we play our first competitive game against Ryton in FA Vase.

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We gave away just 9 shots this games with only one on target that resulted in the goal. In the previous game against Oadby, we had given away a whopping 21 shots on goal with 9 on target. Even though we lost... again. I can see the improvements, most importantly in the psyche of the players. I have dropped the idea of playing Leonard in the holding midfielder role. For the time being, once I get good wingers and strong central midfielders, I plan on moulding him in the Makelele role.
 
Filling up the team

4 July 2014:

Morning in Lye Town are a peaceful affair. I have been staying in Premier Inn Stourbridge for the last few days, but have been ignoring my fitness routine. Once I move into my new digs, I will be travelling on a new bicycle. Surjeet is gifting me one. To get myself a little acquainted with the notion of exercise I decide to walk around in the morning. Get up and get fresh, put on a new track suit (courtesy: Smita) and start strolling down the Birmingham road. Walk right up to Stamford road, decided to be brave and explore the roads. Turned left on Lickey road and walked ahead, enjoying the cold weather. After about 15-20 minutes, I realized I was lost. I couldn't find my way back. Being early morning, I couldn't even ask anybody. Started back in general direction of the first left which I had taken. After almost giving back, I turned up back at the junction where I had left the Stamford road.

This is where I got lost:
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I reached back to inn and showered to get back to the club.

Before leaving, I checked the cell, and there was a heartening news. All four requests that we had sent for loan were approved by the parent clubs, now it was upto the players to decide whether they wanted to come down to Lye Town FC to play the game. I replied to Gavin to look for full backs now. With a jaunt in my step I left for the club.

I have called Evitts to meet me at the club, I need to discuss the captaincy issue with him. He has not seemed at ease with the arm band and lacks the aggression to force the team to play as a unit. I think, He needs to be questioned about whether he really wants the armband or not. Truth be told, if I had any other option I would have taken the armband away.

Me: "Hello Kalum!"
KE: "Good Morning gaffer!!! Anything special? Am I the only one asked to come in?"
Me: "Yes, please have a seat. I need to talk to you about the arm band. Do you really want it?"
KE: "Yes, sir... I mean, I don't understand why you are asking the question?"
Me: "Kalum, to be honest, I am not seeing you asserting yourself as a captain on the pitch. Take the Oadby game for example. When they scored the first goal, everything broke down. I expected you to pick up the pieces and do something about it."
Evitts seemed uncomfortable and there seemed to be a colour coming into his cheeks. If I was making him angry, then there seems to be some hope for the boy yet.
KE: "Let me tell you this, boss. I want the arm band badly and I wouldn't do anything that would force you to take it away from me. I will show you over the next few days that I am good enough."
Me: "Good, let's go with that spirit, but Kalum I need the words converted into action on the ground. Consider yourself a stand-in captain for the time being. We will talk about this in few days again. We are done"

I may have been a little sharp with him, but it was needed. The boy needs to show some spine on the field. He should be the one kicking the team forward. If I need to give him a kick to make him realize that. I am willing to be the bad guy.

We have announced the plan for Travel to Ryton game, and I have been getting only moaning texts from the boys about starting travel so early. There's nothing to be done about it. I just hope that they do not be in a downward mood when we actually travel.

Scott and I have been getting the defensive areas strengthened. Barring the mistake by Andrewartha, the defensive unit had displayed improved performance. I still have not found any solution for the RB situation though.
 
More loans

5 Aug 2014:

Another peaceful day, and I am back in Birmingham packing away my stuff. I move on 7th August. The flat is ready, interiors have been done. Now, it just needs me to take residence.

Gavin Harrison has set up a call with me to discuss Ryton. He has been out observing them since the draw became public. He has sent over few more possible loan players.

Connor Wood (Chesham) - LB

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Danny Reynolds (Cheltenham) - LB

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Mike Simpson (Skelmersdale) - RB

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Jordan Wright (Curzon Ashton) - DM, CM

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I have sent a mail immediately to the respective clubs to enquire if we could get these players on loan for the rest of the season. Additionally Harrison has also sent over Ryton details.

Harrison has been uncharacteristically brief about details. The only thing he has highlighted is that they do not really have a strong back line and we should not be troubled by their forwards much. This is not good, I need to have the discussion with Eckersley about increasing the number of staff members available. Gavin has been motoring around trying to find something for us. Must be pretty exhausting.

I sent over a text to Scott asking him to get the boys to focus on attacking outlets. Wingers were asked to practice crosses, fullbacks were made to run fast and long. I need to set up a central spine of the team fast, around which my wide players can pivot. Ben Jevons (CM) can do a passable job, but I will need a partner for him. In the long run Niall Leonard will fill in the gap, but it's a long term project. I need somebody now.

At night I get a mail confirming that Ryan Marsden will be transferring to us for a season long loan. I was ecstatic and got in touch with Trevor Guild (Head of Youth Development) at Northampton. I requested him to pass on whatever details he had on Marsden, so that I can ensure he develops while playing with us. Guild promises to do that first thing in the morning.

6 August 2014:

I receive the document on Marsden at 9:30 AM. Not something to set the world alight, but everything helps when you are scraping the barrel.

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Stacked up against Kamara, my strongest CD so far, it seems that Marsden is better at the skills that matter. Should be interesting few days.

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Further confirmation that the latest four clubs that we had contacted for players, have agreed to let the players leave on loan(The fullbacks and the lone DM). More power to us... Hopefully, the other CDs also come through.
 
Facing Ryton

7 Aug 2014:

Two more confirmations along with their detailed sheets arrived today. Ellis Story and Nathan Harrison will be joining us on loan till the end of the season.

Ellis Story

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Nathan Harrison

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This means now we have 5 central defenders and I can rotate at will.

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This seems to be my Central Defense choices, with Storey pushing Whitcombe for the LB position.

While I am going through the details of the new boys coming in, I get few more confirmations coming in. Most importantly, I now have a choice at RB, Mike Simpson can come in at RB and on paper, at least, seems to be an upgrade on the hapless Andrewartha.

Mike Simpson Vs. David Andrewartha

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It has been raining confirmations and now I have got the midfield and defense sorted out. I have to work on the Goalkeeper puzzle and Chris Mills problem. Hopefully will be sorted out before the next game against Ryton on 10th August.

As of today, this is how my squad looks like:

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I am missing a Goalkeeper and a Right Midfielder. Once we fill these positions. We can actually start working on tactics and such.
 
FA Vase 1st preliminary round

8 August 2014:

The move got postponed by a day as 7th did not turn out to be an auspicious day according to Smita's pet astrologer. I gather my belongings in two large suitcases, pile them into the polo. I also hook up the bike Surjeet had 'gifted'. I plan on using it for going to and from the club.

Helen has asked to be picked up at the club. I stop at Lye Town FC to pick her up and she directs me to the place. She has taken extra care to ensure everything is in place for me to enjoy. I must say she has done a really splendid job.

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While we were admiring the interiors of my new flat, my phone pinged again. One more text whining about the early hours we had picked for traveling to Ryton. Imploring me to find any alternate traveling mode that would reduce the time required. I must've sighed loudly, as Helen turned around and looked at me enquiringly. I shrugged and turned the cell over to her. She read, smirked and raised her eyebrows at me.

"What can I do? We can't fly now can we? We take the train to NewCastle and then a bus to Ryton. It does take more than 5 hours. I can't make it go faster." I said heatedly.

"You really underestimate me", she said with a twinkle in her eyes. "The club will manage to send the boys and their manager by a chartered coach. Don't you worry about anything. It will be taken care of."

If Helen says it will be taken care of, we can be assured it will be taken care of. We finished inspecting the flat, but I was still not completely at ease. "Mr. Firebird, let me handle the other things that need to be done. You can focus on your team. Ask the boys to be present at the grounds on 10th at exactly 8 in the morning."

8 was still an upgrade over the time that I had scheduled. I was sure the boys would be ecstatic with the additional couple of hours they were getting. I dropped the message on WhatsApp group that was set up. Within seconds, smiley's with happy faces started appearing.

10 August 2014:

It really is difficult to ply a bicycle early in the morning, especially when you have not done so for the last 12-13 years. Out of breath, I reach the grounds at 7:30 in the morning. Few of the local boys have already arrived and so has the bus that will ply us to Ryton. By 8 the full contingent is present, Scott arrives just as the last boy is getting in the bus.

We are traveling about 360 Kms, and it will take around 4 to 4.5 hours for us to reach there. We should be reaching Kingsley Park, Ryton by 1:00 PM. That will give us about an hour and half to get acclimatized and get ready.

I cannot seem to be awake during road travel, and promptly went to sleep. I wake up with my phone buzzing in my ears. An unknown number, I picked it up tentatively.

"Hello."
"Hi, I am Kevin Maclaren from BirminghamPost.net. We have never met or talked. I believe this is your first competitive game."
"Yes, right. Are you doing an interview? On the phone?"
"Is that a problem? I thought of coming down yesterday, but then something else came up. If it is not a good time to talk to you, we can catch up after the game, maybe."
"No, no. We can talk."
"Do you think that the chairman, err, the chairman of your club backs you with whatever demands that you have?"

I could make out that he did not recollect the name of the chairman and was utterly indifferent to a small club like ours. Possibly, he was talking to me to ensure his column inches did not go to waste. I hate talking to reporters.

"Actually Kevin. Mr. Eckersley, the chairman of Lye Town FC talks to me on a regular basis, but then what we talk is hardly of any interest to the general public now is it?"
A short pause, and then "Do you think you will be able to keep relegation away as expected by the club? Is it realistic based on the resources available to you?"
"I think, if we want to achieve something worthwhile, everybody at the club, right from the groundsmen to the chairman have to be looking at what can be achieved beyond the possible. I believe that we are doing exactly that right now."
"Ryton is a club that not many are expecting to defeat you. Do you think your boys will become complacent and may not be motivated enough to play to their best?
"Not really, my staff have ensured that we do not treat any team less just because of their position relative to ours. We will be sufficiently motivated."
"Will getting a new contract help Kamara or hinder him in realizing his potential?"
"Know what Kevin, I think it's too early for us to put any kind of pressure on David Kamara. He is just a kid who has started playing football regularly. Why don't we revisit this question next year maybe. And if it is alright with you, I would like to get back to what I was doing."
"Not a problem, was a pleasure talking to you and best of luck for the game."

I forgot to ask him how did he get my number, but maybe another time.

13:15 We finally reach Ryton. A big honk wakes me up and I find myself scrambling to get out with the team. An official, I presume, guides us towards the locker room where the boys are going to kit up. I take a little time to look around.

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The stands seat 1500, but we expect it to be mostly empty. I don't know exactly how many of our supporters will be available, but I guess the trip is a little too far. Maybe a few of the parents of the boys might turn up, we'll see.

Gavin has been short of news on Ryton set up but my wandering around the stadium, listening to locals hinted that they may just come up with a 3-man defense in a 5-3-2 formation with two wing backs. I will be asking my fullbacks to be ready for overlaps by the Ryton wingbacks. They need to be pinned back.

The boys are kitted up and ready to go. Scott and I whisper last minute instruction as they get out on the ground. I curb the enthusiasm and go with the tried and tested. We play with a defensive flat 4-4-2. We will break the shackles if we go up in the first half. I do not want to boys to playing with abandon, just yet.

We haven't been able to find a suitable goalkeeper, I am going to put Luchford in the goal today. We are also a striker short, Mills will start more as a compulsion rather than based on skills. Praying to GODs that he does not foul up again. Kamara (CD) and Harrison (CD) have been instructed to hit hard, while Whitcombe (LB) and Mike Simpson (RB), a loanee, have been asked to hang back but play wide.

The lineup:

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The game:

Initial few minutes, both sets of players are just getting acquainted with the ball. At least it seems to be so. The handful of spectators who have turned up are being presented a nice tennis match. Both set of defenders are happy to just hit the ball out of their own half. It's boring to watch. I like boring, in fact, I just love boring. It means we are still in the game.

0-1

We take the lead. A flighted ball by Jevons (CM) lands just behind the Ryton RB, Evitts (LM) sneaks in behind the player. Ryton central defenders are playing him on. Credit to Mills(AF) and Brett (DF), their pushing forward with the ball is forcing the central defenders. Evitts gets to the ball, couple of touches brings him face to face with the goalkeeper. A weighted shot is put beyond the goalkeeper and I exult. We finally score a goal.

Just three minutes later, we see excellence at the other end. Midfield is scrambling to get back when a ball is kicked beyond them. Ryton striker gets to the ball before Kamara, who is pulled out of his slot. The Ryton player is dangerously close to shooting, when Harrison (CD) slides in to make a perfect tackle without touching the player.

I get up and start pointing and shouting as the Ryton strikers falls over, possibly in hope of getting a penalty. Thankfully, the ref is having none of it and we clear the ball.

around half hour mark we are enjoying a period of possession, which results in yet another flight by Jevons (CM), again Evitts (LM) sneaks in behind their right back. This time, though Ryton defense crowds Evitts, who has no choice but to pass on to Mills (AF). Mills takes a crack at the goal from 18 yard box. It is straight at the goalkeeper, who can just palm it away. Brett (DF) is perfectly positioned to kick it back into the goal, but he gets upended by the defense. If that was not a foul, I don't know what was.

I try to remonstrate with the ref, but it just falls on deaf ears. I feel as if I am talking to the wind.

Nothing noteworthy happens further and we break for half time. We have been playing with patience and have restricted Ryton to take pot-shots from deep. We are keeping possession and frustrating Ryton.

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Second half:

Immediately after the break, we have one more incident of mental freeze. Whitcombe (LB) collects the ball near the touchline at 18 yard box. Centers it towards Kamara (CD), who is not aware that the ball is coming to him. The pass is also half baked. Ryton striker streaks in before Kamara can wake up and shoots at the goal. Thankfully, Luchford (GK) sprawls across to deny the shot and it is cleared off. I am sure I will tear up another clump of hair before the game is over, either mine or one of the defender's.

1-1

Ryton score from a corner. My boys are ball watching as the corner finds a Ryton head and the ball is in the net. Just a simple tap in with the head. We sink back in our seats.

I am learning to be afraid of set pieces. We seem to be waiting for something to happen. Evitts or the senior members need to show more assertiveness in directing the youngsters to tasks. Every set piece, I am at the seats edge dreading the outcome.

We are now running out of normal time to make something happen. Jevons (CM) and Evitts (LM) have been linking well, but that moment is not found yet.

We head into extra time, I talk to the boys and ask them to focus and concentrate.

Extra time:

I introduce Leonard in place of Jevons (CM) has been battered by the Ryton players and is close to dropping off. I can't risk him further.

The clock ticks over the first half of extra time as Evitts (LM) takes the corner. The ball lands in the six yard box for Mills (AF). He takes a crack, but unfortunately hits the defender standing at the near post. Ryton clear.

For the last ten minutes, Ryton are going to lay with 10 men, as one more player retires with injury. Unfortunate for Ryton, but we have not been hitting anyone. I ask the boys to push up harder. We need to take advantage of the numerical superiority. Do I sympathize with Ryton, yes sure I do. Am I sorry? Yes I am for the boys who got injured. Am I happy? You bet I am, as it gives me a chance to push.

1-2

We make the advantage count immediately. Evitts (LM) hits a diagonal pass bypassing the entire Ryton midfield towards Barlow (RM). In a stunning display of incredible, Barlow (RM) does not even trap the ball, as the ball is dipping, he connects with a thunderous right foot. The ball takes off as a missile and the goalkeepr can do zip as the ball lands in the net. What-a-shot!!!!

The game ends in 10 minutes and we have won the first match of my tenure.

The numbers make for a happy reading, and I let the boys know that.

View attachment 306629

We move ahead. I just hope we can learn from this and become a better team as the season progresses.
 
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