Slaying The Dragons -- The English Youth Academy

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eds
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Could the two Spanish lads be willing to take English citizenship and play for the three lions, I wonder? Don't put yourself down Eds, that was a good update - after all, you don't want to give too much away I'm assuming?
 
Great layout and story. Love how you have brought other nations into it too. Keep it up mate :).
 
good update, following just not commenting much, thought id drop a comment to say how well your doing :D
 
Spent quite a while going through this and I think this is the best story on the site by a country mile! The effort both of you two put in is unbelievable and the success of this story is 100% deserved. Well done to both of you for such a cracking story and I am gripped for the next update! :)
 
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Little enough hair as it is...​

September 2011. Many years since the intoduction of the Dragon Slayers into the English footballing community, and the Football League's first U23 professional side. League 2 was taken by storm, and we charged on to gain the League 1 title.​

And now, here we sit in the N-Power Championship, a far more difficult task. The fans and board both expect results, and the amount of games the players have to undertake this season is mammoth.​

The unusual email from Lord Triesman was not replied to, and my mind was doing summersaults. What was the meaning of it? I was hoping, praying, that he hadn't put bids in. None of the media had heard anything about it. Every cloud, right?!​

Behind the scenes, the club was running smoothly. Nathan [Delfounso] was returning to light training, and that was lifting everyone's spirits. I'd still heard nothing from the black-dressed Spanish man. Long may it last. But somehow, I seriously doubt that.​

Recently, my new maid Anne had commented on my ever-growing bald spot on the top of my head. As if I didn't have enough to worry about. Although, I couldn't be mad at Anne, I had a soft spot for her. But she was half my age, and I laughed to myself at the thought that popped into my head.​

But alas, footballing matters were of top priority, as usual. And at 61 years of age, when is it going to stop being my top priority? I couldn't stay in football forever. But who could take over as manager if I left? I've set a solid base haven't I? I pushed those questions out of my mind, picked up my last piece of buttered toast and headed out of the door.​

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Serious European Football beckoned, on-field, this month, and PSV Eindhoven were possibly the toughest opposition the boys had ever had to face. Players such as Mark van Bommel, Tomas Rosicky and Pedro are always brilliant to watch can simply bamboozle.​

The income will be a huge boost to everyone at the club should we manage to take the win, and the lads'll know that. Europe is a huge priority this season. We've sorted the Domestic Cup, the FA Cup and League Cup won't be anywhere near the top of our agenda this year.​

But European Nights at the Park, I can imagine them being very, very special. The fans are extremeley passionate about the game, and some fairly amusing chants are beginning to break through along with the recent Vuvuzela-ban at the stadium, thank god for that.​

The key this month was definately going to be finding the right formation. I still couldn't decide between Ranger and Austin, and thus playing both was the only option. Charlie [Austin] seemed to be going better this season, but Nile has been superb for multiple seasons now.​

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I had little enough hair as it is, let a lone after this month. Some hugely frustration performance was really summed up by going 2 goals down early on against Basel in the Europa League.​

The game against PSV had been very special, as I imagined, and the fans were at top volume, spurring the players on, in what turned out to be a magnificent performance from the lads.​

Of course, we needed some luck if we were to qualify and that just didn't seem to be headed out way. Jack Rodwell was injured for the majority of the month, and with the amount of loanees out we have, the squad depth was stretched to it's worst.​

One thing was for certain: juggling Europe and domestic glory was by far the most challenging thing we had come across as a club. Could we overcome it, who knows?​

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More games in hand than we've actually played outlines the fact that we're the first Championship side to play in Europe, and is even slightly amusing. Hovering just above the relegation zone is not a worry, and I see no reason why we can't soar up the table after a good set of results.​

---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 PM ----------

Lack of motivation is starting to creep in. Keep me going, people! ;)
 
Brilliant update as usual :D Love to see a turnaround in the league but playing positive in europe. Looking forward to the next update and is the spanish guy gone forever ?
 
Nooo, brilliant update Ed. Great to see success (of sorts) in Europe, but the domestic league must be the priority surely? Keep going man, never a dull moment
 
Great to see your team in the champion ship, I havent been able to follow much since i just got my internet, but your new update was just great, keep it up
 
Yeah, keep 'the best story on the site' going please Ed. I know you will turn the league on its head and I hope the spainards aren't about to creep into the team.
 
just read through 16 pages of this, was a brilliant read!

wasn't the second date on the Spaniards letter April 2011 though? :(

sorry if i'm wrong, i can't be bothered to look through the posts to check if i'm correct :)
 
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Another great update mate, keep it going. Don't make a grown man cry :'(
 
from what i've read recently,
you're starting to implement what we talked about the other day in here?
 
Update will be some time this morning/afternoon.
 
Great update Ed. :)

One of the first things I check for. :D
 
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Hot 'n' Cold​

The abysmal month of September was one that shocked everyone and I was convinced that we had to improve, or we would have no chance of completing our aim and promoting to the Premier League.​

I was convinced we could qualify in Europe, and despite the poor performances in England, our 4-2-3-1 certainly suited European football. Nile Ranger had all but cemented his place again after 10 goals at the U20 World Cup, walking away with the Golden Ball.​

There were some promising performances in training, and I knew that if we clicked, if we could just get out of third gear, there would be some brilliant performances. But they could come from anywhere; Moses, Cleverley, Baxter, Henderson, Ranger, Austin, Delph, Rodwell, Inman all capable of making something magical happen.​

I had been emailed by Brian Mawhinney, Chairman of the Football League. I'd been told that the up-coming games against Hull and Coventry had been cancelled due to my international call-ups. It was a relief, but later on in the season, the lads are going to struggle with the tremendous amount of matches.​

Things were definately looking up for both myself and the club. Sure, we were mulling around the middle of the table, but that was nonsense, and we are well capable of finishing around the top, still. I had not been receiving any letters, strange emails or anything of the sorts for a while now. Nothing since the Delfounso incident.​

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On the pitch, the two matches cancelled against Hull and Coventry meant the lads were able to peak in training, and given plenty of time to recover. I, ever the oppurtunist, allowed them to have two days off in the thirteen days off between the first two matches of the month, as to raise morale.​

The League Cup was back, and we had to make the long journey up to Leeds to contest for a place in the Quarter Finals of the cup. I wasn't expecting anything this year, but a Quarter Final place would certainly satisfy the board and fans.​

The Burgas game is one we really should be winning, and if we win, and win well, there is every chance we could go through in the Europa League. The extra revenue brought in by a late exit from the competition would be phonomenal.​

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After the absolute annilhation of Burgas, the team grew in confidence and everything clicked from then on in. We were top of the group in Europe, had beaten Leeds on penalties to go through and everything was looking rosy.​

Victories over promotion rivals Blackpool and Reading had set us in very good stead and the only tarnish on what was a terrific month was the away loss to a strong Derby County side.​

Nile Ranger had come back from the U20 World Cup and proved to me why he should be selected as first choice striker. He was doing everything well, and most importantly; scoring goals.​

Tom Cleverley also had a very good month, which certainly contributed to the contiuned brilliant performances of Ranger. These two are certainly a pair I can see combining for England in the not so distant future.​

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7-0 what a performance. would be hilarious if you won europa while in championship. while its possible in FIFA, that would be unheard of in FM
 
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