[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - May 2027[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Two league games left this season, two league games left in the Sky Bet League Two as promotion was already secured for us last month. Our journey left us with a home game against twenty third place Rochdale who are fighting to stay up this season and a trip to twentieth place Scunthorpe who are only just outside the relegation zone. Two sides fighting to beat the drop, we're fighting for the top spot, going into these last two games just three points clear of Burton, could we do the business our end. Four points would see us crowned as champions.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Rochdale absolutely battered our goal with shots, in fact, they managed nineteen in the end, we were just lucky they only hit the target with five but we still succumbed to a late defeat. Gomes gave Rochdale the lead four minutes before the break. With eighteen minutes remaining Wilkin had pulled us level before Sutton picked up his second yellow card in six minutes and was dismissed. We finished the game with ten men and lost five minutes from time as Edwards converted a late spot kick, a lifeline for Rochdales survival hopes.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Its as if the team didn't want to win the league, just a point would of won us the league here and we lost! We had the majority of shots here but couldn't hold on to our early lead we built up. Borukov netted after twenty three minutes to see us ahead. However two goals in the final half hour for Scunthorpe as Brown and Murray netted saw the host grab a two one win, but what did that mean for the league title.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Champions![/FONT][FONT="] Despite picking up just picking up just two wins in our last seven games, along with five defeats, we've managed to hold on to the top spot of the Sky Bet League Two and are crowned as champions at the end of the season. One more win would see us break our club record of most points in a single season and most wins in a single season. But that doesn't matter. Luton surprisingly closed the gap and moved to second on the final day whilst Burton finished third on goal difference and the pair will join us League One next season. Mansfield will also join us as they went on and won promotion via the playoffs.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Some may say our form towards the end of the season didn't warrant the league title, but just look at this, from matchday result one to the result on matchday forty six, we were top. Not once did another side take the top spot over us this season on any weekend of the season. Also look at the superb rise of Luton who ere down in twenty third after the second and third game of the season, at the halfway stage they were around tenth. But they went on to finish second as Burton blew their chances late on in the season.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Some good news to end the season, with my contract coming to an end this summer the board, who were new in charge last summer, have offered me a new deal and that has seen me sign a two year extension, all being well I'll be here till the earliest of 2029 but obviously I'll be looking to stay here until the end of the career. I was also named Sky Bet League Two manager of the year come the end of the season.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - Pre Season Round Up 2027[/FONT]
Thanks Traczz unfortunately our finances have taken a hit, we need a solid FA Cup run this year.
Superb to be guessing each year we're promoted neavie pops23 if we could reach the prem in the next five years I'd be delighted.
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - Player Stats and Tactics[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Having never ended the season and brought you the player stats, nor delved into the tactics I am using, I figured now, at the end of season eleven, I'd give you an insight into how the players performed over the last season and those tactics I've used over the last eleven seasons. Not a long, in depth post, but just so its on the thread and there for people to see. I'm by no means a tactician, thats for sure, I just try and find something that works and stick with it![/FONT]
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[FONT="]First off, the players stats for the season, and despite having such a large squad going into the season, most of the players still got plenty of game time this year. Infact, there were only two players who didn't feature at all this year and it was Marcus Browne and Rui Da Costa, both who have been with us since our Vanarama National League days and simply didn't make the cut. Both keepers had their fair share of appearances. Tom Grivosti and Connor Tighe were our joint highest average rating with Borukov our leading goalscorer netting twenty one goals in thirty six starts.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Our home tactic is very attacking as I feel we're more comfortable on home soil and you can see the instructions we use, just taking our time a bit more in the build up and then letting the ball do the work.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Away from home we're a lot more structured, playing counter attacking football with four at the back to try and hold a little bit firmer and not concede quite as many goals on the road, however that doesn't always work of course. [/FONT]
[FONT="]** I also use a basic 4-4-2 at times when I feel I just need to switch it up at home or away before the match to stop the opponents reading our game plan.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - Pre Season Round Up 2027[/FONT]
Thanks a lot andy_14clark, I appreciate anyone who takes time to read the whole thing and comment! Loads to come still!
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - Pre Season Round Up 2027[/FONT]
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[FONT="]I've played through another summer here with London City FC and it was our first preparation for life in the Sky Bet League One this season ahead. It'll be a difficult season to survive in the league now with four relegation spots on offer apposed to the two in League Two. But hopefully this summer would see us strengthen in the right areas and ensure we're not relegation candidates as tipped by the media, like we are every single season.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Financially we're quite weak again, especially to some of the teams we face in the league this year, there are a few 'bigger' Championship teams down in League One now so we need to do our best with the resources we have. Currently using the whole wage budget come the end of the summer.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]As usual, a busy summer off the pitch, we brought in seven players with three of them costing us a small bit of money, two on loan deals from Bournemouth and Crewe whilst picking up two free transfers as well. The other side of the rotating door saw nine players leave on free transfers and hopefully I've made the right choices.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Our new faces fit into the squad well, we still have a couple of weaker players who I couldn't release on a free deal as the board wouldn't let me due to financial reasons. We're still quite strong on the front foot this season, Borukov our strongest striker but Scott O'Loughlin certainly has the ability to become a leading player in this squad.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Our summer this year was always going to be a bit easier this year as we didn't play many big teams, infact the only big side we played was Brondby and they comfortably beat us. Once again we faced a load of fixtures to hopefully get the squad competitive and match ready before the season kicks off.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]A huge increase of season tickets sold this year sees us confirm figures of one thousand, one hundred and ninety this year, thats over five hundred tickets more than we sold last year![/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - August 2027[/FONT]
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - August 2027[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Our first ever season in the Sky Bet League One was set to kick off here in 2027 as we head into season twelve at London City FC. It has been a successful career to date but I'm still not anywhere near where I want to take this club to. We had a busy start to the season with five league games as well as a game in both the EFL Cup and Checkatrade Trophy.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]I'd say that was a pretty decent start, four wins and three defeats across the three difference competitions that have kicked off. We won our first ever game in the Sky Bet League One as Borukov netted twelve minutes in against Peterborough to guide us to a one nil win. Championship side Bristol City comfortably knocked us out the EFL Cup First Round, the round we always seem to exit, losing four one, Simmons with our goal. But to league action, we lost two on the bounce as we traveled to Port Vale and then welcomed Birmingham, losing both games two one, Shaw netting an equaliser against Port Vale before we conceded in the final ten minutes whilst Borukov netted the opener against Birmingham, a lead we blew. But it proved to be a strong end to the month as we faced two fellow sides who won promotion with us last season, beating Burton two nil with McInnes and Allen netting whilst welcoming Mansfield and beating them two one, Allen and Wilkin on target. The month ended by us welcoming League Two Leyton Orient and beating them three one in the Checkatrade trophy, a great start to the competition for us as Allen struck twice, his fourth goal in three games and O'Loughlin netted his first goal for the club.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]And now we realise that there are a few big teams in this league, Birmingham, Wigan, Brighton and Portsmouth but we've had a superb start, seeing us straight up in sixth so far with nine points from five league games this season. We have an early seven point gap over the relegation spots which is important early on.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - September 2027[/FONT]
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - September 2027[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We had made a very good start to the league season for our first stint in this division and I was hoping that wasn't going to be just a lucky start. And with our first win the Checkatrade trophy I was hoping we could make it through the group stage for once this year around. Just five league games were on schedule for us in September, could we pick up a couple more valuable wins.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Well, we certainly could pick up a couple more wins, in fact, we went on to pick up three wins, a draw and just one defeat throughout September keeping us more than competitive for the season. A trip to Southend saw us beat the struggling starters three goals to one, Allen netting along with o'Loughlin and Grivosti all in the opening twenty minutes. Lincoln beat us four two after Allen sent us two nil up annoyingly we collapsed and finished with nine men! A trip to Chesterfield saw us back on track, coming from behind with goals from Borukov and Cherry (pen) to seal a two one win. We stunned Wigan with a three one win, McInnes, Simmons and Lipman on target for us before ending the month with a point in a one all draw with Swindon.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]At the end of September, ten games into the forty six game league season we find ourselves up in second place and currently occupying an automatic promotion spot. If you told me that at the start of the season I would of struggled to believe it. Birmingham are the league leaders, three points ahead of us, we're then tied on points with Wigan and Crewe whilst Luton and Plymouth are only a point behind.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - October 2027[/FONT]
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - October 2027[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Into the third month of the season and with us flying high in second place this League One malarkey was looking pretty good for us so far. However October was going to be a very busy month for us as we'd face seven matches, six of those would be in the league whilst we'd face our second of three matches in the Checkatrade Trophy with hopes of qualification in our sites.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Up and down a little bit but we were still performing very well with three more wins, two draws and just the two defeats in seven matches of October. It all began with a trip to Brighton, a big side in this league and we stole a late point from them when Vernon netted ten minutes from time. Our Second game of the Checkatrade Trophy this season saw us pick up our second win in the competition, beating League Two Gillingham four one, putting us on the verge of qualifying now. A goalless draw against Oxford in the league was followed by a three nil defeat away from home against Coventry. We bounced back at home as we beat Luton two one, two late goals brought us back in the game through Smith and Tighe, but then a three one defeat against struggling Portsmouth set us back again. Ending the month at home with a one nil victory over MK Dons.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We're still performing much higher than expectations this season as we sit up in seventh place after sixteen league games have been played and we're still in the Checkatrade Trophy. Birmingham remain top, as expected and are two points clear of second place Crewe. We're eight points off the top but thats not really a target of ours this season, we had just started well. It'd be great if we could seal a spot in the playoffs come the end of the season.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - November 2027[/FONT]
Really cannot believe how well you've started life in League One Dan, although you're perhaps due a blip anytime soon, survival is looking likely at this early stage. KIU.
Thanks Shedender we are probably due to drop form soon but we should survive following our early form.
Could be a while yet FMAdicct
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - November 2027[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Two months left here in the 2027 calendar year and we're performing very well in the Sky Bet League One to date. Originally I just wanted to survive and avoid the four drop zones in the league. However we find ourselves up near the playoffs. Six games again in November with us in league, FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy action, could we hit the second round of the FA Cup? And could we finally get out the group stage of the Checkatrade trophy?[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We've made it another good month, just one defeat in the league throughout November and progression through both cups. We beat Bromley in the FA Cup First Round with Simmons netting, setting up a second round tie with Notts Co. We slipped up against Tottenham U23 side in the Checkatrade Trophy, Simmons gave us the lead but we fell behind and lost two one.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Luckily the defeat against Spurs didn't cost us, as we head through from our Checkatrade trophy group with six points. Gillingham in second also head through, behind us on goal difference whilst Spurs, level on points and goal difference with Gillingham, head out the competition. [/FONT][FONT="]We will play Arsenal under 23s next round, they beat us last season 6-1.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Moving into League action we traveled to Colchester and drew nil nil before returning home and beating Fleetwood two nil, Simmons continuing a strong month and Vernon netting. We traveled away for our final two games of November, losing one nil to Plymouth before beating Bolton three one, a superb showing with O'Loughlin, Borukov and Allen netting.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Down to eighth in the league but its still not concerning me this season. Staying in the top half would be a superb achievement this year around and I'm more than confident we can do that. The table is tight ahead of us, just eight points off the top spot and however Brighton in thirteenth are only three points off us.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - December 2027[/FONT]
Thanks George The FM Addict its been a good start to the season so far. I love a good binge read, hope you keep enjoying it!
Thanks Tracz be superb if we can hold on to a top six.
____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - December 2027
The final month of 2027 and its been another cracking calendar year for us as we are now stepping ourselves up in quality in the Sky Bet League One. Its been a good half a season to date as well with us through the Checkatrade group stage for once and still in the FA Cup. We would see ourselves play in all three competitions throughout December, could our good form continue.
More progression for us, in both cup competitions we remain in and just the one loss in the league as we faced four matches there. Welcoming Notts Co in the FA Cup Second Round we beat them three two, Allen and O'Loughlin both netting, his second five minutes from time. In the third round we have a winnable tie against MK Dons. We welcomed Arsenal Under 23's in the Checkatrade Trophy and beat them three one, after losing six one to them last year. O'Loughlin netting twice again and McInnes on the scoresheet to see us through. Heading to league action we traveled to Peterborough with Borukov netting the only goal of the game. Welcoming struggling Port Vale we beat them three one, O'loughlin netting with Allen and McInnes both striking second half goals. Our only defeat came against Walsall, losing one nil at home before we stuffed Crewe four one, O'Loughlin netting a first half hatrick, taking him to eight goals in six games in December. McInnes netted his third in six.
That superb month in the league has seen us rocket back up the league table and now sees us sitting up in second place and only five points off league leaders Birmingham as we keep pressure up on the side so much bigger than us at this stage. The table is ridiculously close though as just two points separate Burton in seventh to us in second and nine points separate us in second to Wigan down in thirteenth! Theres a long way to go this year.
Still the same formation I used last season that I posted NathanITFC
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - January 2028[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Another New Year, another busy January, except this was going to be our busiest yet as we faced no less than nine matches throughout twenty nine days of the month. We had FA Cup, Checkatrade Trophy and league action all waiting for us through January as we tried to continue our excellent runs in all three competitions. Would we remain in all three come the end of the month.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We have indeed managed to remain in all three competitions come the end of January, extending our runs to rounds we've never featured in throughout both cup competitions. The new calendar year began at home, welcoming Wycombe who we drew one a piece with, Allen popped up four minutes from time to save a point. We then beat league leaders Birmingham three two, O'Loughlin with a hatrick to take the plaudits. FA Cup action saw us welcome MK Dons and beat them four nil, comfortable victory against a fellow League One side to head us into the Fourth Round for our first time ever. And it was progression in the Checkatrade Trophy too, beating Gilingham away from home three two with Lipman, Whiteman and Smith netting, we'll face West Ham under 23s in the Quarter Finals. Back to league action and we took a hit in form, not winning in four games as we lost away at Mansfield three nil, drew back to back home games one all with Burton and then Southend before losing away at Lincoln three nil, a poor patch of form. But we beat Peterborough in the FA Cup Fourth Round two nil, Allen and Tighe netting to set up a trip to St James Park as we'll face Newcastle in the Fifth Round.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We have dropped to sixth but its not surprising after a nine game month and with us still up and running in both the Checkatrade Trophy and FA Cup we're likely to face a couple more busy months yet. Mansfield, who won promotion via the playoffs last season, are top now as Birmingham hit a poor patch of form, we are five points off the top now after thirty matches played.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - February 2028[/FONT]I've kept that throughout.
Its been a superb FA Cup run Tracz much better than I expected and it has helped the finances, we're now almost half a million back in the black. Its good that such a run hasn't upset our league form either.
[FONT="]____________________________________________________________________ London City FC - February 2028[/FONT]
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[FONT="]Into February and somehow, we're still being competitive in the Sky Bet League One and are in competition for a promotion this season if we can maintain this kind of form. We're also under more pressure in the fact that we're still in the FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy this season, making new rounds we've never featured in before. Could we continue in the cup competitions whilst being competitive in the league. Eight more game throughout February.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We came so close to upsetting Premier League side Newcastle but alas, crashed out both cup competitions. A one nil win over Chesterfield kicked off February before we narrowly crashed out the Checkatrade Trophy against West Ham u23s as we drew in normal time then lost four two on penalties. A trip to Wigan saw a seven goal thriller, with us winning four three. O'Loughlin netted inside a minute, with Tighe netting eight minutes later. There were also goals for Borukov and Whiteman as we sealed a narrow win. Another narrow win followed as Allen netted the only goal against Swindon. Then came the big tie, a trip to Newcastle in the FA Cup Fifth round, Bridge gave us the lead from the spot, Newcastle came back, we had a home replay. Our league form took a hit against Brighton as we lost three one at home, Wilkin netted a late goal for us. Bouncing back to beat Oxford two one through Borukov and then Wilkin netting from a spot kick in the final minute. Newcastle visited us to end the month in the FA Cup Fifth Round replay, and knocked us out, we didn't disgrace ourselves against the side 6th in the Premier League, a thirty year old Marcus Rashford netted early on to give them the lead.[/FONT]
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[FONT="]We're thirty five games into the season, the rest of the league are thirty six games in and just have ten games to go. Our game in hand could see us return to the summit of the Sky Bet League One and really push our promotion race. Bolton are the new league leaders with Lincoln second a point behind. Birmingham and us are a further point behind that whilst Mansfield, Coventry and Plymouth only one point further a drift. Just nine points separate the top eleven teams.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Next Update: London City FC - March 2028[/FONT]
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