Road to Glory : The Manager

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The James McKenzie Exclusive!

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Crewe boss James McKenzie hit the headlines in mid-January after being hospitalised for unknown circumstances, it was expected he'd be there for a month and was to be advised not to return to football for a few months as the collapse apparently came from 'stress' and since then words and rumours have flown. Preston boss Justin Merritt criticised the Scotsman, controversially saying "if the games not for you, it isn't. Some just can't cope".

Since then, we have now heard that McKenzie is ready to return - despite Doctors advice and we have all the questions ready to be asked and discussed with the Crewe boss.

BRYAN SWANSON

Well, we may as well start with what happened?

JAMES MCKENZIE

Honestly, couldn't tell you! I was feeling really quite sick. 'Nauseous'. And had a killer headache and then I was travelling then the rest is a blank and I woke in the hospital.

BRYAN SWANSON

And what was the immediate reaction?

JAMES MCKENZIE

'That's an attractive nurse!' Nah, I was totally confused before I was half brought up to speed. I was most shocked at the time, we had Preston to play that night and of course I was handed a newspaper which had Merritt chatting nonsense.

BRYAN SWANSON

And, forgive me for repeating. What was the immediate reaction there?

JAMES MCKENZIE

I was very angry, yeah. I mean, he took rumours of stress and tried to play mindgames with the players of Crewe who had just loss a working colleague and friend for a bit. They had no idea what was up with me, all they knew is that I collapsed and hadn't properly awoken in a few days. It wasn't at all professional and I am shocked he is still in a job.

BRYAN SWANSON

And did you get on the phone straight away ahead of the match?

JAMES MCKENZIE

Yeah, contacted the club and spoke with James [Collins]. I wasn't going to tell him what to really do, he had prepared for the tie. Just made sure we got the win and Merritt had nothing to take away.

BRYAN SWANSON

It was some game, how did you follow?

JAMES MCKENZIE

Just the radio, absolute cracker and I am delighted we fought back. Not good for the heart, mind you!

BRYAN SWANSON

Talking about the heart, what brought you to the hospital?

JAMES MCKENZIE

Officially, no clue. Pressure headache, dehydration, maybe? They are working it out themselves, I hope but really I've moved on. I want to get back into things as we have 16 massive games to play and earn promotion now. If I have issues again, I can easily go back to the hospital.

BRYAN SWANSON

You returned to the sidelines against Notts County, completing shocking everyone? Did everyone at the club know you'd be there?

JAMES MCKENZIE

No, I didn't think I would be. I was there just to watch really, went last minute and let James continue to do his job and I let him take a backseat two days later when I officially left the hospital.

BRYAN SWANSON

Thanks, we have plenty more we want to know but time is off the essence. All the best!

JAMES MCKENZIE

Thanks, yeah.






​
 
"Where's Wilfrid?" I quizzed, looking around.

"Oh, Roche not say? Didn't qualify for a Permit.."

"What?!"

"He can't play, we can only reapply in like 100 days.."

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Story line is fantastic! Hopefully on appeal he gets the work permit! You managed to loan him out in the mean time?
 
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My biggest worry going into this season was "Can Watt fill the boots left by Craig Davies?" and I was quietly confident he could do it. I had rated him ever since my time back in Scotland, watching him score that glorious goal against Barcelona in the Champions League. A goal I often go back and watch to inspire myself as a young manager to get to that next level.

[video]https://youtu.be/MUZRlVDszsw?t=8m[/video]

He had an attitude and according to coaches across Scotland ruined his chances of making it when he moved to Belgium to play his football. It didn't go great and now the 25 year old is finally having the season he deserves after time with Charlton failed too. He has already done as I hoped and he has 14 games still to go. 40 is definitely an aim and that'd be some achievement.

Upon my return from hospital and after the Notts County 4-2 win, my first game back was against Watt's former club Charlton. They were looking good at the start of the season but slipped off the radar and are struggling for 6th.

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Two late goals hit us hard as we failed to win, Tony Watt was very quiet apart from when a great bit of skill found himself and Forde through, he set up the latter as we grabbed a quick goal in the second half. We stopped concentrating and allowed Ahearne-Grant to grab 2 late goals to salvage a point for Charlton.

From there we set up to travel to Barnsley, the big issue was their pitch was a mess and we play a short, nice passing game.

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Thankfully it wasn't an issue, despite a last minute Barnsley goal being called offside as we almost let a 2 goal lead slip again. Davies scored against us, while Watt found his 32nd. The Kavanagh OG was ridiculous as a hasty Joronen clearance bounced back off the Irish U21 international.

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Watt for 40 and Crewe to win the league! What is Watt's average rating? reckon he could be on course for League 1 POY?
 
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"This consistency will have you in the Championship, play good football too. No?" was what I heard as I approached Roche and Leyton Orient chairman Francesco Bechetti from behind. Roche and myself were invited for a few drinks with Bechetti, his managing director Allesandro Allegri and manager Phil Stubbins after the match at Brisbane Road.

I approached and just laughed as they both turned, Phil hadn't showed up while Allegri entertained some sponsors.

"Though, say I must - I don't appreciate your comments about the pitch!" he poked at my chest. Joking, I think. And I mean, the pitch was dire and this was one of the few times he was back in England. He's usually dodging money laundering allegations and on expensive boat trips.

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"The pitch is absolutely shocking! But thanks for the kind words about the football we play." I responded, rubbing my chest - it really hurt! I was really surprised both myself and Roche was invited and I was worried Roche was getting himself into something not to kind. I took the beer I was offered and took a seat. We were soon joined by what I thought was sponsors but may have just been dodgy businessmen and solicitors. We spoke about football before Roche ushered me to the door 'the players must be waiting' and he returned to his seat as I walked down the cold steps.

Was Roche involved in something dodgy? Not my problem, maybe a discussion for another day.

Football was more important anyway, promotion was important and we were in a firm position as we aimed for top spot.

We would welcome Wolves to our home, we hadn't lost here yet but we were beginning to look bare in the midfield. No Liam Warren, or the Cameroonian who can't get a Permit to play. It was a bad situation and we were relying on a late goal to get 3 points.

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Hateley also managed to find himself putting in a stupid challenge late on that merited a red card.

Of course, then we had Leyton Orient away. On a muddy, ***** pitch. We would try play our game again, a little more direct well still trying to play good looking football.

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Two first half goals was thankfully enough as we managed to pick up 6 points in 2 games. I felt it would be much tougher but we are doing our job thus far.

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And our job? To see out the final 12 in the top 1 position - top 2 would do though, if it came down to it. ​
 
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It was my 200th game in management. This was crazy, literally over 200 games ago I was telling some wee lad who preferred his burgers to his football that he wouldn't make it any further with Aberdeen and here I was now leading Crewe through League One - on the back of bringing Shamrock Rovers back to winning ways and a promotion in South Africa. It really was surreal. I had done so much and learned so much in so little time, now I was setting up to embark on another 200. 300. How many I needed to reach the top.

It would be Carlisle at home, we were unbeaten here and off the back of a laboured win at Leyton Orient and a nice run of form. Carlisle were lurking mid table but they can be the teams to cause a hiccup despite them just wanting to be at the end of the season already.

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We looked comfortable throughout but a slow second half start allowed Mark Bech to finally take one of his few chances. However, we responded well and a well-worked goal ended in a silly scrap on the edge of Carlisle's 18. A yard of space was enough for Wayne Brown to place it home for his second this season. From there we continued to press and for once kept going late on as Forde found his second and Twardzik was present at the back post for his first for Crewe.

Colchester would then come to the Alexandra Stadium for a quick kickabout. They are just above the drop zone and are after any points from anywhere in an attempt to look safe.

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I honestly thought we would be in for a real treat, maybe a 4/5 goal win at least but Colchester steadied themselves and we stopped playing too. Stats would almost suggest a bore draw as we had a little more possession but the game only saw 13 shots in total. Impressed by Graham Dalton, the now-17 year old is getting game time and taking it by the scruff of the neck.

We then traveled to the Craven Cottage. Fulham weren't doing as expected but were still in the hunt for a top 2 and an automatic pass back into the Championship. It wasn't going to be an easy tie but I was still confident. A very decent crowd showed up, leaving only 4,000 empty seats.

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Unfortunately we got completely caught out by the pitch, it was short and narrow and this wasn't to be a problem until Fulham opted to congest the midfield. They found the only goal through a corner. We had more chances, but again, they weren't real chances. More possession, like most games but this time it wasn't much use. We were forced to play deeper and couldn't work forward well. Shame!

On the back of this, and desperate to respond well we had Coventry. Away again but it's a bigger pitch. I was worried they'd seen how Fulham dealt with us and they'd try the same but they didn't. They are inconsistent and sat in the bottom half. Safe though, so they are probably just after a Summer break. Tony Watt would need to pull his finger out.

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Wide men Forde and Fosu see us through this one. Been the most consistent and best performing players this season besides Watt at his best but he hasn't scored in the last 4 now. We were confident throughout, Joronen was forced into a few early saves before a Forde run and finish quietened the game for the majority of the first half with slow build-up play and half chances few and far between. From here, Fosu managed to repeat Forde's goal but from the opposite side of the park. Ogo Obi gave Coventry a way back in the game though and we had to keep our wits about us, they tried to press us and 17 year old Dempster replaced Watt to find his first for the club.

Rivals Shrewsbury were next. We have struggled against them to say the least this season. We were at home and I was desperate to keep our record there intact. Watt would start despite thoughts of giving Dempster the nod.

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What a day in front of goal. Jones unfortunately picked up a 12 day rest after taking a hard knee to knee with the opposition. Meaning he misses out on his U21 call for Scotland. Mark Howard, their #1, was unbelievable to be fair to him. I think he made at least 2 'top drawer' saves. A double save and then managed to get on the end of the Watt's dire finishing. He has gone so cold.

All the talk of hitting 40, player of the year and leading us to promotion has gone to his head and he just can't finish. It's a shame, would have been nice to see 40 hit as that really is doing something special. Now he has just had a good season - Fosu has overtaken him in my books as our special player now. I mean he always has been but when Watt was hitting back to back hat tricks I couldn't say otherwise.

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7 games and 7 clear. My theory is that when in the chase is that if there's 1 game and 1 point - it's possible. If it was 5 points and 4 games it would be too much but if it was 5 points and 5 games it would be possible. So, we could lose out to Wolves, but should be safe for automatic promotion.

I want the title though. Really like this squad, definitely ready for the Championship if we make it. Mathematically could drop to 7th!​
 
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We're on the verge of automatic promotion, we could be in the Championship in a matter of weeks.

Please fix player interactions, unless I seem to miss the clear option.​
 
A win welcoming 24th placed Portsmouth can guarantee a play off spot. Just had to play our game, we were at home and we were still to lose here. We would be without the likes of James Jones through traveling and International Duty but had suitable players to step up.

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We dominated and scored early, I again, thought that may we had a chance of a big win but couldn't find the net. Watt snatched at his chances again as he fails to find the net. Dempster will get the nod as we travel to relegation contenders Rochdale.

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