G-Bentley1595
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Absolutely brilliant, definatly following this
Slaying The Dragons -- The English Youth Academy
- Thread starter Eds
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I have been reading this story all the way through and can honestly say, i will be ****** if you dont update soon.
Clark_Messi
"Football is everything"
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Yeah end of season update tonight
"Not after all this?!"
As the rain gently pattered down on my glass conservatory roof, I sat there with my glass of sherry and was so engrossed in thought, that I didn't hear my maid tell me the phone had gone off, thrice. So many things had happened lately, and I knew no more about it than your average fan.
Nathan wasn't going to be back any time soon, and I'd told him to go on holiday a few weeks early. He was delighted that he was getting just under three months away from it all. I reminded him to do his physical exercises, that he was under strict instruction to perform by a leading Swiss orthopod.
All we needed was three points in our last seven games to land the N-Power League 1 trophy, and I had absolutely no queries about the on-field activies. Training's been very good lately, and the lads know the holidays are right around the bend, so they're putting everything into it.
I had a quick look other our squad sheet, and the email I had received from UEFA. I had been told that we needed 4 players that have been at the club for three or more seasons between the age of 15 and 21. I had emailed them back saying the club had only in operation for two seasons, but they hadn't replied.
I was confident that we could pick up the required three points in the second match, at least. Stockport were going to be slightly more difficult, but wouldn't pose a threat, and Lincoln are a side we should really be dispatching with ease.
I'd been told by David Triesman that we'd received an offer for James Tomkins, £3million. After all the work I'd done to help him, he's been desperate to move all season, and he's been dropped from the starting XI in favour of Jordan Spence.
The offer from Hoffenheim came at far too good a time to reject, and Mr. Tomkins would be heading over to Germany, come 1 July, I'm sure of it. Lee Wilcox was growing mentally and physically, as the days wore on and he was becoming a solid partner to the ever present Chris Smalling, with Jordan Spence also fighting for a spot.
In the end, we were posed no real threat from any of the teams, and we went on to go 100% for the month, which was nice, and a good little bonus. I was particularly impressed with the style in which we won, ending the April-May period with a Goal Difference of +23; more than some teams ended up with in the whole season.
All three awards of Manager of the Month, Young Player of the Month and Player of the Month were scooped up as I, Chris Smalling and Fabian Delph collected our respective awards.
I had also began work on the Awards night which was later in May. Last years night had been a huge success and I was looking to attract even more famous guests to the annual event, this year.
I'd heard nothing more from The Spaniard and all contact with him had stopped. No letters, no paint, no nothing. I assumed this was designed to worry me; and it was working. A voice in the back of my head kept telling me he was working on something. Plotting. Who knows, eh?
Solid update again Ed, what a month! Pity about James Tomkins, but £3m is a good price, especially since he's falling out of the pecking order again. Winning the league by 19 points is a superb achievement mate, very well done. I'll follow up with an update in a short while. Or do you want me to do it after your end-of-season?
Great story. I can see the Championship still posing few challenges, the Premier league is where you're going to be tested.
Is there any chance of seeing any updates from an Under 19s, Under 21s perspective to see how many St George players are in there?
Another quick point IRL Bradden Inman is eligible for England, he was born in Australia to a Scottish mother and English father, so you never know what might happen...
Is there any chance of seeing any updates from an Under 19s, Under 21s perspective to see how many St George players are in there?
Another quick point IRL Bradden Inman is eligible for England, he was born in Australia to a Scottish mother and English father, so you never know what might happen...
"Whatever Works"
ST. GEORGE FC - JOSS BENNETT'S OFFICIAL PRESS CONFERENCE: AS LIVE
The usual suspects and more were again present as Joss Bennett gave his penultimate press conference of the season. Bennett has made his name known since joining his 'good friend' Trevor Brooking as understudy at the soon-to-be Championship side. As usual, Joss Bennett discussed what he thought of the month(s) just gone in League 1, as 'The Dragon Slayers' secured a second successive league title and promotion in their two year history. Brooking's new team finished with a remarkable total of 110 points, winning 33 out of 46 games, with just two of the other 13 being losses.
The usual suspects and more were again present as Joss Bennett gave his penultimate press conference of the season. Bennett has made his name known since joining his 'good friend' Trevor Brooking as understudy at the soon-to-be Championship side. As usual, Joss Bennett discussed what he thought of the month(s) just gone in League 1, as 'The Dragon Slayers' secured a second successive league title and promotion in their two year history. Brooking's new team finished with a remarkable total of 110 points, winning 33 out of 46 games, with just two of the other 13 being losses.
Richard Williams, The Guardian:
You've just completed your first season in Burton, how do you feel having won an incredible double against the odds. And, perhaps more importantly, how are the players doing?They must be exhausted!
Joss Bennett, SGFC:
Of course, they are absolutely delighted with their season, and everyone at the club wishes to thank them very much for their work effort this season if nothing else. The players have to put their holidays on hold for just a week or two more, as we have the Annual Awards Ceremony in a short while, but they deserve their holidays and we all need a rest after such a long and hectic season, especially with Nathan's injury shaking everyone a little at the end, they [the players] did brilliantly under the pressure.
Phil Shaw, The Independent:
Who's your player of the year Joss? You must be thinking about where your team needs extra depth next year, and with some of the players, including Michael [Mancienne] and James Tomkins reportedly off to 'bigger clubs', with Tomkins' agent claiming a deal with german club Hoffenheim has been struck for his player...
J. Bennett
Firstly, it would be unfair for me personally to name a player of the year. I don't think i can anyway - They've all done very well, and the slight adjustments to our usual instructions for players like Fabian Delph and Tom Cleverley have reaped the rewards. In terms of next year, we'll see how we go, as always i think it will come naturally - we are not at the moment close to signing any new players, but if a deal comes along, then great, if not, it doesn't matter too much, we have a strong squad. Whatever works. Finally, it's a 'no comment' concerning Michael and James.
James Nursey, Mirror Football:
Can you not confirm or deny reports from the player's agent that he is frustrated at the club having been dropped and denied a move away from St. George's Park?
J. Bennett: I've said this before, and i maintain my policy, that by and large, you can't trust these rumours, we have had an offer for James, yes. We are considering it, and will make an informed decision in the next few days, the timing was wrong before. Michael is not yet out of contract, so i see no need to discuss this further.
Amy Lawrence, The Guardian:
You've just had twelve players called up to the England youth set up, with seven set to play some part in the U19 friendly coming up, and possibly the U19 World Cup in a years time, and a further five in the U21 squad. It must be a great feeling to see youngsters do so well and make serious steps toward their goal of the senior side?
J. Bennett
It's a great sense of achievement for the club. This is exactly what we are trying to do with the club's set up, and it's great to see so much progress in our initial targets set by Lord Triesman when the club was created, so early. I honestly think that players such as Delph, Cleverley, and Ranger will be England candidates very soon, Delph in particular is at a good age and in good form where an England call up would suit both parties, all three i should say, including the club!
POThankyou for your time guys, that's it for now. We'll come back to you after the awards ceremony, and then there will be a break while we take a much needed holiday and prepare for our next challenge.
Diary Entry: Sunday, May 8 2011.
I need to get some sleep one of these nights. I haven't slept properly since the incident at Wembley. It's so difficult keeping this from everyone, my wife is getting worried at my behaviour, she asked me the other day if i was having an affair! I don't think she honestly believed i was though. I hope not... I was trying to think who this spaniard was, what he wanted, and why he hadn't been back in contact. What happened to 'no news is good news'?
That was a brilliant way to end the season, More than 25 goals in just over a month worth of games. I always knew we could do it though. After the Aston Villa game at Wembley i had mixed feelings. I wasn't sure whether our momentum would carry us through and help us get those last few points to really stretch away from the rest of the league, or whether the team would be too tired, and peter out towards the end of the season. I wouldn't have blamed them if they had, i don't think anyone can - Arsenal do it every season, it's only natural that we should do it too, with a similar policy of young players playing a lot of games, and a small group of key players playing week in week out. Cleverley, Ranger, Baxter, Rodwell, Smalling. The gaffer and I are trying everything we can to keep Mancienne at the club for as long as possible, but this U23 rule is damaging those prospects, he's served us brilliantly over the two seasons.
I was confident of pulling some strings and getting the F.A to be lenient considering we had no possible way of qualifying under the current rules. I don't know if we could afford a year out, the kit sponsorship, and packing the stadium out keeps us going financially, Triesman is reluctant to give us any more dosh, i think he's planning some campaign to prove Spain and Russia are planning to bribe referees at the next major international tournament. I don't think he has any proof, but who knows?
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Hope that's OK Ed, and everyone else! If you want i'll do a quick PC after the awards this eve. Any criticism for my layout Ed?
Craig Levein called him up to the Scottish squad pretty early on, and he's had a few Scottish caps.
There'll be something in Joss' update about U19 and U21, I think. I'll also add something into my end of season update about them.
And thanks for the comment.
Made me chuckle! Great updates as always from you both. When will your 'huge' update be up, Eds?
Superb, as per usual, Joss.
Due to the enormisity of the update, I'll be splitting it up. The Standard First XI of the Season, with screenshots, and the other Awards. Then I'll go into an in-depth squad analysis, where you can see screenshots of other players. I'll also give my views on next year, and how the guys who were out on loan went.
It could go up late this evening, although Chesterfield vs Middlesbrough is very tempting. I'll try my best to get it up asap, but could end up being tomorrow morning.
Due to the enormisity of the update, I'll be splitting it up. The Standard First XI of the Season, with screenshots, and the other Awards. Then I'll go into an in-depth squad analysis, where you can see screenshots of other players. I'll also give my views on next year, and how the guys who were out on loan went.
It could go up late this evening, although Chesterfield vs Middlesbrough is very tempting. I'll try my best to get it up asap, but could end up being tomorrow morning.
Thanks
. Had to sneak it in - That's what i'm wondering, i don't think he's seen my update yet.http://www.fm-base.co.uk/forum/f81/slaying-the-dragons-the-english-youth-academy-t42559/post601140.html
Thought that was brilliant, if you can be bothered to do something like that again?
Thought that was brilliant, if you can be bothered to do something like that again?