Preseason and first 7 games
Preseason
Normally I don't play preseason but as we are at a new club and we are are non league I wanted to try and get everybody's match fitness up.
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During preseason I feel like we played a good range of games and am overall happy with preseason especially the 2-2 draw against Manchester united under23's Including Ashley Young and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Granted we scored both goals late on but still impressive right? I feel we were unlucky in the Leicester City game but it wasnt our full strength squad so I'm not that disappointed I would have liked to have only conceded 5 goals tho! The Matlock Town game was a big disappointment with us losing to a lower league side but overall it was a good preseason and it # did boast players match fitness.
My first competitive game in management!
My first competitive game in management at Moor Lane against Gloucester City!
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I had many questions in my head leading up to this game.
Would Salford win?
Would Salford score first?
Would the fans be happy?
Would the new signings settle in well?
The line ups
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Salford in the mighty red, Gloucester in the yellow and black
Kick off
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And the game got of to a great start! NOT within two minutes we were already losing!
But could we respond?
On the 32nd minute and shooting from a tight angle "I mean Tight angle"Poole scored 1-1 and back in the game.
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So were back in the game but for how long? Could we hold it out till half time?
HALF TIME
With no further action in the first half it was 1-1 at the break an I was quite happy considering it was my first competitive game with the club which was promoted last season but would I be happy at the end of the game?
79th Minute
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So either Poole or Hopper will scored! Did salford seal a late victory? or did all are hard work go to pot?
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Hughes scored of a counter attack meaning Salford looked set to lose there first match of the season!
Full time
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And that was how it ended A lose in my first game in charge but overall we played well with Salford having more shots and more possession in the match we were unlucky to lose in my opinion.
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So Salford man of the match is James Poole and to be fair he was great in the game. The overall man of the match was Luke Hopper and he was an exceptional player.
2nd Game Stalybridge Celtic (Away)
So are first competitive away game and It was quite the game for neutrals!
Line ups
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In this game we had two sending offs
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Two games in we have had Two red cards. Already at this point I was considering changing The "get stuck in" instruction.
But did we win?
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Well we went ahead with nine men but unsurprisingly we lost. I'm not disappointed with the team as a whole as after going down two nine men it was always going to be difficult to win. However I am disappointed with the two men who got sent of.
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So man of the match was James Ball who came on from the bench after 45 minutes and still managed to score 3 goals amazing.
According to FM Salford man of the match is John Johnston and he did score a goal so I think that he was properbly are best player on the pitch.
3rd Game FC United of Manchester (Home)
So a local derby and what a derby it is, with the owners being ex Manchester United players this came was a must win. Especially in front of our home fans.
Line ups
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So quite a close game but it doesn't matter how close it was it was still a lost. I am devastated after this result an was actually concerned for my job.
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With no real stand out performers on our team the player of the match yet again came from the our opponents.
4th game Nuneaton Town (Away)
So after not picking up a point in our first 3 games we faced Nuneaton Town and sadly for us they were unbeaten in their last 3 games before us. I can see where this is going.
Line ups
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So for this game I dropped my wingers down the field a bit two see if it would work.
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And finally a good result! If I'm honest I thought this game was going to be a lose but in fact we even managed to go ahead through a penalty and although we then conceded two goals Poole hit home with his 2nd of the game to give us a point.
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If I'm honest I don't understand How Poole didn't win man of the match he had a cracking game but sadly for the FOURTH game in a row we didn't get man of the match.
5th game AFC Fylde (Away)
So another hard team to face. They finished 3rd in the league last year but could we manage to sneak a win?
Line ups
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So after the good result with a tactic last time out I decided to use the same tactic as last time.
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A LOT of yellow cards!! So we lost but it was narrow so I'm not that disappointed.
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Nobody played exceptionally for us but Harry Worley was our best player and the man of the match was David Mellor and he can play center mid and left back for Fylde
6th game Gainsborough Trinity (Home)
So its a must win game we haven't won a game all season could we win today?
Line ups
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I revert back to the wingers being a bit higher but did it work?
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A goalless draw great! and we missed a penalty but I'm not blaming Poole becasue he has scored most of our goals so far so its time for someone else to step up and score some goals. Anyone out there listening to me?
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Right I've got know problem with giving the man of the match to a keeper but when he makes one save all day dose he really deserve it and evan the shot was straight at him!
7th Game Curzon Ashton (Away)
A must win with Curzon Ashton not winning any of their games this season either it really was a must win game.
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They played 7 defensive minded players so I thought they would be hard to break down.
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A win and it was a bit closer than I would like but I'm not really in a position two complain we have finally won a game. 3 goals within 20 minutes for us but sadly we couldn't hold the 3 goal lead.
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Eventhough James Poole scored Twice he was yet again piped to the post of man of the match Adam Morgan and he looks like a really good player I might try and sign him.
Review
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Not a great start but it looks like the results are starting to go our way and hopefully we climb up the league table.
If there is any way I can improve please let me know. (Sorry for any spelling mistakes)
Please give me some advice what am I doing wrong