Slaying The Dragons -- The English Youth Academy

[Joss]

Love it. This is just all awesome.

Just one thing about the banner. You left Forest Player as that in the top right hand corner. No wanting tobe picky...

****.. ah well. I'll edit that for next time, thanks for that! Ed, are you going to do another update today?

 

[Eds]

Update will probably be this evening.

 

[Joss]

Update will probably be this evening.

Just saw this, any idea what time?

 

[Eds]

Thinking about 10.

 

[Clark_Messi]

Hey Ed,
I was wondering what media storing site you use (imageshack etc)?
Looking forward to update
Thanks

 

[snooloui]

If you copy the image location, you can find out. Imageshack I think.

 

[Eds]

Up comes the ton​

Nathan's injury had shaken the whole team. No, not just the team, everyone at the club. The backroom staff, the players, and I'd heard some fans were dismayed by what happened at Wembley. Nathan's a good young lad and really doesn't deserve this.​

And at that moment, it hit me. "The ones you wish to save, shall die." It was the ******* players! I called my head of security straight away. A former bouncer and FBI agent, he towered over me as he walked up my gravelled drive.​

"I want you to get some of your finest bodyguards. Place them on each of my players, but it is very important the players do not know they are being followed."
"That's going to be very difficult, but we can just about manage it."
"Your job depends upon it."​

I walked away. I had just threatened a man over his £140,000 a year job, something that made me feel powerful yet slightly uneasy. I knew what a hard task it would be to keep eyes on all the players, but is was very, very important he did so.​

And I couldn't let the players know, could I? They'd want to leave, and the word would spread quicker than AIDS in a brothel. No-one would want to join, we'd be labelled a horror club, and it could potentially bring us to an end. I couldn't let that happen. Not now. Not ever.​

​

On the pitch, it was going to be tough to get the lads motivated after That day at Wembley. But motivation wasn't my only issue as I only had two of my striker fit and ready. If Nile Ranger was to get injured I'd be left with Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni and no backup.​

I pushed the paper work away, which, when I signed, would officially mean Neil Douglas, the young Bohemians centre-back rock, would be joining us from the 1st July.​

​

It was a tough month, as I expected and I was greated after the Huddersfield match with a great cheer from the fans. I was then told by Joss that it was in fact my 100th game in charge, a nice little bonus, that one.​

My Player of the Month is without doubt the masterful magician on the wing, Mr. Cleverley. He's most certainly a fan favourite, and I think he could go down as a legend of the club if he continues in this fashion. We've still got him for a few more years. And his performances this month have been that of a Premier League star.​

The club had recently been confirmed at least the Playoffs, but that didn't mean much to me as I knew, as did everyone involved with the club, that we'd win the league. We just knew it.​

The only downer was the twenty game unbeaten run was finally over after the unfortunate loss, but I feel my favourite saying is appropriate here c'est la vie. What comes up, must come down.​

​

 

[DM08]

Another good update mate. An average month on the pitch, compensated for by story developments I'd say. I'm looking forward to another end of year update with screen caps, it'll be good to see how your boys are improving year upon year. You seem to be the man to ask, so what's your advice on turning youngsters into top quality players?

PS do you know how Bristol City are getting on in your save? On mine they always seem to get to the play off final and lose, haha.

 

[Clark_Messi]

Good update
League games are a mere formality now.
Now we're just all waiting for the Championship and the Spanish man and co

 

[Eds]

Another good update mate. An average month on the pitch, compensated for by story developments I'd say. I'm looking forward to another end of year update with screen caps, it'll be good to see how your boys are improving year upon year. You seem to be the man to ask, so what's your advice on turning youngsters into top quality players?

PS do you know how Bristol City are getting on in your save? On mine they always seem to get to the play off final and lose, haha.

First of all. Get as many scout reports on them as you can. You may get a dodgy one, and it's always nice to have clarification. If all your scouts say the kids got talent, then he is the real deal.

Then, once you've negotiated a fair price for the lad, set him up on Tug's Training. Probably available somewhere on the site. Put him into the slot you think is most ideal, positionwise.

If he isn't going to feature in your plans, and you can deal without him, either send him to an affiliate or loan him out. First team experience is brilliant for youngsters, and can do their fitness, confidence and stats a world of good.

Then, when they're ready to go, make sure they get plenty of first team action and voila, you've got yourself a really talented player.

As for City, their reserves and U18 sides are both doing very well, winning their respective leagues. The main team came 10th last season, and 42 games in this year, they're 9 points away from the playoffs in 9th place.

And cheers for the comment.

 

[MansfieldMagic]

really interesting story mate, read all 13 pages in the last 2 nights 8-| find it a good story to follow, especially with the twist of the mystery spanish man looking forward to seeing you play in the prem and having to bring in a fresh batch of players, im a deffo follower keep it up

 

[Joss]

C'est la vie

Joss Bennett's official monthly Press Conference:

www.StGeorgeFC.com have chosen three questions to publish after this evening's press conference with the club's assistant manager, Joss Bennett. He discussed Nathan Delfuenso's apparent knee injury, his club's latest signing and his dual nationality, as well as the manager's, and the club's 100th game in professional football.

As usual, there was a big crowd outside the MEDIA entrance tonight, and John Cross from the Daily Mirror, as well as usual suspects Andy Hunter and Amy Lawrence, both of the Guardian were there, together with someone from the Sun, and the Independent:​

Amy Lawrence, The Guardian:
Joss, what did you think of St. George's 100th game as a professional football club, it must have been pretty special for everyone involved?

Joss Bennett: I've not been here for as long as Trevor [Brooking] has, but my time here so far has been very enjoyable, the lads are great to work with, so determined and so willing to apply themselves both in training and on the pitch itself. It was so fitting that we should win in such a fashion in this game, and that from it, we should secure a place in the play off's which i'm sure we won't need. The players played without a care in the world, and we scored three very good goals, including one from the the young man from Manchester, Tom Cleverley. He's really hit form this month, he's always been good, but after the gaffer and I had a little chat, and decided that he would be even better if we told him to get forward more, he's always bombing forward in training, and applying finishing touches to several moves a game.

Amy Lacey, The Times: What's the latest news on Nathan [Delfuenso]'s injury Joss - we saw him come out of hospital on crutches and he didn't look very happy, can you tell us any more?

Joss Bennett: The situation is more or less the same as last time, we are giving his family some privacy, and we are not sure of the extent of the injury, he is taking the next month off, and after that, will begin to see specialist physios outside of the club. We can confirm that he has had surgery on his right knee, after an X-Ray revealed he had shattered it, he also had concussion and can't remember anything about that day, except lifting the trophy... We are not sure at all when he will be back with the club, but we will keep you updated if and when we can.

David Hytner, The Guardian: Lastly then, what can you tell us about your new signing, young Irish centre-back Neil Douglas?

Joss Bennett: Firstly, the gaffer had a word with him before he signed the contract last week and he thinks he has convinced him that he's good enough to play for England from what he's seen, and he said that he has recommended him to take his time, and chose the right country to play for, his dad is very keen he should play for Ireland, and his mum is over the moon he's playing at all, so it's a very difficult situation. I don't know a lot about him to be frank, i've seen him play at Bohemians, as the manager took training again, and Steve [Gatting] took my place - he is very intelligent, a good size, and a good ball player, he likes to mark tightly and he is already strong enough to hold off a lot of big strikers. He should fit in brilliantly. Talking of transfers, i've been told to announce that after a three month trial period, Ross Galloway has not signed a new contract with the club due to commitment issues, we wish him all the best in his next post. That's it folks


Diary Entry: Thursday 31 March 2011

I've never had so many cameras and microphones shoved in my face before. At Arsenal, the manager used to take every press conference, except when he was away, or there was something particular for me to talk about. Trevor Brooking perfers not to take these conferences himself, i can see why! I'm finding it very difficult not to tell anyone, not even the wife, about the spanish man, for now, only me and Trevor know about him. As far as Nathan is concerned, he can't remember a thing. If he does, i expect he'll assume it was an angry fan from Birmingham coming to take his revenge with a metal pole. I'm just glad that that ******* didn't turn on the manager too. I kept running through in my head what he'd told me about the Spaniard, the voice, the words, the description. What the f**k was his problem?! What enemies could my boss possibly have, he's at a hugely successful football club, with a brilliant philosophy. The only thing i could think of for motivation was racism against an all English club
I was getting really concerned for Nathan Delfuenso now, concussion and a shattered knee, but what more could there be from this mysterious man? Surely security is going to be enough, for now at least.The 20 game unbeaten run hadn't even been mentioned in the Press Conference, it was almost the norm now. We were expected to win every game, it was almost a shock when we lost to Brighton, everyone thought we'd walk all over them, and yet it didn't matter in the slightest. The gaffer and I have talked several times this month, about Nathan.. We've decided that the only thing we can do now is focus on getting promotion, and winning the league for a second time in a row. I think we're both just hoping that for some reason, he [The Spaniard] goes away, i have a bad feeling though.​

---------- Post added at 12:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:51 AM ----------

Sorry about the length again Ed, hope it's OK for everyone!

 

[Clark_Messi]

Great update Joss
It's good to see an assisstant manager in these stories actually involved and your writing is very good.
Keep going guys

 

[Eds]

Brilliant update, as usual. Really liking the old PC/perspective updates. Awesome mix.

 

[Joss]

Brilliant update, as usual. Really liking the old PC/perspective updates. Awesome mix.

Yeah, i think it really works, so well done to you for the idea, since i was going to do one or the other! For the record everyone, i'm as confused as you are concerning Dr. Evil (Spanish guy )

 

[Martinz0309]

Eds-99, i love this idea .. specially having the extra writers acting as your assistant, who are aswell doing a great job ! Well done ...

 

[jorgerdz91]

great update guys, really looking forward to the next one

 

[Freiromanix]

Brilliant. Followed. <3 u xD keep it up its awesome i wanna see u win premier. GL

 

[Martinz0309]

Eds when is the next update cant wait ..

 

[Eds]

Due to their only being one game in May, I've decided to merge April and May, and then after that there'll be an end of season update, which will be longggg.

Next update will probably be this evening.