So, I’m managing Hartlepool in League 1 and, after a good start to the season, we’ve hit a rough patch of form and are winless from our last seven matches. Last game the team showed signs of life by outshooting the opponents and creating 5 CCCs despite losing 2-1. Morale hasn’t been bad, win drought and all. I could see light at the end of the tunnel.
Coming into this game we were big underdogs with two of my top defenders out injured. We managed a rare goal early on before my best defensive midfielder had to be stretchered off. Approaching HT it was still 1-0, but, of course, my inconsistent backup CB commits a foul inside the box to make it 1-1 at the whistle. I encourage the players at the break and they all react well. There is still hope.
Shortly after HT my other MC goes down and has to be substituted, requiring me to shuffle players around the pitch. Still at 1-1 with 20 minutes left, my MR goes down and has to be taken off. My last substitute on, my ‘Pool are unable to break the deadlock. Then, in the 88th minute, my LB picks up his second yellow and sees red, while at the very same time my ML has to be carried off, making it four game-ending injuries on the day. Down to nine men, I then concede in the 91st minute. Morale plummets.
Talk about FM kicking a team when it’s down.
a lot thanks!