Road to Glory : The Manager

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

What do van der vaarts coaching stats look like? Could be a great piece of business on both fronts perhaps?

Meh mentally. 16 technical, 12 attacking, 10 youngsters. Could be decent with the 18s, tutoring will be good too. Could be captain here tbh, Tootle refuses to tutor and that annoys me.

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

"Right, first real words with you all regarding this season. Obviously there's a few missing faces, Craig's gone. Harry Davies is off today but look around and you know the faces surrounding you. One in particular is the one of Rafael. We all know who f'n Rafael Van Der Vaart is alright? There's also the others who you've all been introduced to. They are all talented, and lets quickly settle in here as a club and friends alright?" I said, as a few late coaches arrived, as well as the late Tootle - the captain. Or once captain.

"Now, you'll also see there's very few coaches from last year here, but trust me it is for the best. One of the big things is that I am done with the direct football. We are a technical side and lets pass teams off the park this year alright? We'll also be doing that with a new captain. Wayne Brown." Tootle was aware of this, at first he was angry but accepted it. And then my coach, friend and keeper - Boaz Myhill spoke out.

"What? You've hardly given him time to prove himself under you?"

"Pipe down, Bo. You're supposed to be a coach here with me. Matt's happy and is still the vice-captain, club captain, whatever you want to name it. It's just he's sat at right back, spent a bit of time injured and I wanted to give Wayne a shot." I called back.

"Now, we all know we want promotion this year. We have a team capable of it. Now get on the training ground. Double the laps for you, Bo. Keeper or not. Coach or not. You know who's the boss!" I half joked, but was being serious. It was a new take for me. While I had been aggressive with players before that was maybe inexperience, I was demanding respect now - it just felt weird - and not me. My bad!​

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

What a final! FOUR goals from Cavani in a WORLD CUP FINAL just to see his side lose out to a Depay masterclass as he scored a hat trick and grabs himself an assist. I spent the night watching it with Van Der Vaart. He knew no one and I only really had professional relationships and the occasional dinner date with that girl from PR.. but hush!

Funnily enough, I was late in the following day and Rafael was still out and hungover on my couch. Model professionals, I swear. We'll give Rafael the day off though, he was supposed to be there but wanted to settle with us - as a viewer by the way! He wasn't still kicking it with them at his age!

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[JamesScott2908]

Van der vaart!! What a guy, He will be great as a tutor but surely Monday would be a good addition to tutor Van Der Vaart

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

Van der vaart!! What a guy, He will be great as a tutor but surely Monday would be a good addition to tutor Van Der Vaart

Monday has some mad issues with his temperament , happy for Rafael to be my drinking buddy now! He is out for like 5 weeks though so will miss the opening games in the glamorous third tier of English football.

 

[JamesScott2908]

Monday has some mad issues with his temperament , happy for Rafael to be my drinking buddy now! He is out for like 5 weeks though so will miss the opening games in the glamorous third tier of English football.

Not a bad drinking buddy to have!! Hopefully he turns out well for the might crewe!

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

Well then, season 2 at Crewe Alexandra. A new philosophy, a fresh looking side and a desperation for promotion. We would open the season against Morecambe. Really I'd be after 3 points, but can imagine it going otherwise with our more patient style of football needing to be introduced for the first time competitively.

Anyway, this is how the both of us matched up for the first big game of the season. We would be without Dutchman Van Der Vaart for a few weeks, a couple of debuts and Tootle is benched as I give Kavanagh a run out.

The game was decent, it was very quiet really but we created a fair few chances and actually looked pretty good. Unfortunately, Morecambe kept fighting and grabbed 2 goals via set pieces.

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

"Alright then, James. What's the meeting for?" Declan Mahon, the assistant manager, said as he entered with a few of our key backroom men.

"Just a quick meeting to look at our squad, eye out replacements or reinforcements. I have documents on them all here. Just a quick chat. Start from the back?" I replied, stretching forward for a pile of paper and notes and nodding towards Richard Fitzgibbon, the newly-appointed Goalkeeping coach.

"Sure, yeah. Well there's Bo and Jesse. Jesse's clearly just been signed and will compete for the #1 shirt with Bo for a bit."

Boaz Myhill

Jesse Joronen

He was right, yeah. Joronen was just recently brought in for £105,000. Mainly as a Ben Garratt replacement. He was Finnish and had a few quiet seasons at Doncaster. He was only 25, ten years younger than Myhill and I now have two quality keepers to pick from.

"And across the back, Marvin. Thoughts?" I now nodded towards Marvin Andrews. I brought the ex-Rangers player in as soon as I came in. We were slightly short staffed and his experience could easily be good for a few of the lads.

"Yeah, gaffer - well full back wise we have no problems at all. I know Baillie may want out and the rest of it, but he's quality. Then of course there's Matt, the young Irish lad and that Clarke from Leicester."

Matt Tootle

Jordan Clarke

Greg Kavanagh

James Baillie

"And then centre back wise, we had Shane and George - didn't we, playing almost 60 games together last season. Over 100 appearances between em!"

Shane Griffin

George Ray

Mathias Bossaerts

Liam Nolan

We were pretty tight across the back. We had some real quality. Nolan is probably too short to ever play properly at centre back because of the nature of the playing styles in the league, but Griffin is improving in the air and signing Bossaerts could be very decent if needed.

"Right, Nicky. Our central midfielders? Tell me." I leaned back, ready to take in his personal thoughts on how they were coming along and looking.

"Brown, Jones and Tunnicliffe were all solid last year, yeah? They worked well, Tunnicliffe's technical ability has kinda gone but definitely an option for League 1. That Tom lad can also add a lot to that midfield now we are without Colkett."

Wayne Brown

Tom Hateley

James Jones

Ryan Tunnicliffe

We had a decent selection, Tunnicliffe had lost his spot for sure. Hateley is a great addition and Jones was very good throughout last year, especially closer to the end.

"In the more attacking roles, lads, it's clear we have talent. No Scott anymore, but the Fosu's and Forde's are any bit as good. Rafa is a great addition for us too." I went on.

Anthony Forde

Tarique Fosu

Rafael Van Der Vaart

Tom Lawrence

"And Jacob, how's the big men up top looking for ya?"

"Pretty good, yeah, boss. Tony looked dangerous against Morecambe, scoring a peno. That Dominic is also a physical presence."

Dominic Samuel

Tony Watt

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

*Journo should have reread that Topic Sentence! Mistake with the James Fowler repetition!*​

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

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[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

"Why are you throwing schoolboys out there with only minutes to go?!" a fan shouted at me waving about his matchday program. We were edged out 3-2 against Brighton, at Brighton and injuries and suspensions did mean playing a few youngsters. Dalton got a start and performed well before coming off with an injury, while Liam Warren and Kenny Martin got debuts late on due to tiring legs and a Forde knock.

"You know of our injury and suspension issues if you read your program, buddy. Tootle started the same way, as did Messi.. Ronaldo." I was late out to the bus due to a catch up with Jason Goodliffe.

"We don't have Messi's here! You're a joke!" the same program ended up flying towards me and I got on the bus to awful news from our head physio.

"It's early days, but Emmett has taken Graham down to the hospital. It looks like a torn hamstring.."

Absolutely broken for the lad, too many times did I see youngsters in Scotland ruin their talent due to Buckie and Burgers, but the odd injury often did the same. Hamstring and knee problems were always bad. Shame as he was becoming a part of our first team set up. Oh well. Another injury.

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

Being honest, we shouldn't be selling. But James wanted out, came through our academy meaning we made £750,000 on him. Very decent fee for the result of a League One sides academy.

We do need to invest to bulking the side up a bit.

So far - business looks like

Some important moves, made money which is always a plus while a fair bit of ours was to build a core of decent players coming through along with our very own.

Sat 9th for money we spend on our players wages. Take pride in not overpaying players and feel 9th is decent since we are aiming for promotion.

Fulham are spending a lot on wages but have taken in over £8,000,000 after their relegation from the Championship, while we still look good on the money front. Unless I splash my little cash somewhere - just don't know where!


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[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

Staff Report:

The man is 6 foot 4, has legs and can work a wall. Griffin is solid but poor in the air so they'll rotate but the £450,00 man Rhys Bennett will be more useful in the side and used a lot more.


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[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

"Tony, Tony, Tony! How about that!" I engulfed Tony Watt with a hug as he finished shaking a few Newport County hands with the match ball tucked under his arm. He laughed as I wandered over to the traveling support to applaud before making my way back towards the cramped away dressing room.

"Excellent performance today lads. That is exactly, absolutely exactly, how we are supposed to play. I'd prefer you didn't toss the ball in your own goal, Bo. And we need to be a little bit better at those balls into the box defensively. I know it's hard since you've never played together but we can work on it." I continued to laugh at Boaz Myhill who had a nightmare with one cross. Sure, a defender missed the clearance but still shouldn't be slipping it into his own net!

It was our second win in a row in the league after a 1-0 win when we welcomed Brentford. Meaning, after 4 league games, we had drawn, lost and won 2. Placing us 6th, but everything is so tight it will only be after 30 games or so where you can consider what is happening in the league. Anything before that is basically seeding points for a final 16!

Injuries and suspensions meant I could never get my proper side sent out but they were still looking good and honestly anyone in my squad can go out and play for promotion in League One - in my opinion anyway.

Had all these youngsters I was breading into decent players too. Along with them, I wasn't finished adding to the squad as I aimed to have depth and quality. Filip Twardzik, once of Celtic, joined on a free while Spanish kid Moreno also came in on loan.

Details of Moreno (West Brom, once of Valencia):

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[Yeti01]

What a game by Tony Watt!! Almost got an elusive 10!

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

What a game by Tony Watt!! Almost got an elusive 10!

Was great all round, high pass/tackle rates and all! Not seen a 10.0 on FM15 yet from my own player in a comp game though!

 

[PatrickLFC]

Rhys Bennett or Rhys Burnett?

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

Rhys Bennett or Rhys Burnett?

Bennett! No one wants a Burnett at their club (H)

 

[JamesScott2908]

Cracking result against Newport!

 

[CantGetEnoughOfJelavic]

We travel and beat the Championship side Burnley! Big win as a penalty separates us. We will take on Burnley next, the Premier League outfit that we managed to knock out of the FA Cup last season in our journey to Wembley.​