Steven Gerrard - into the world of management

After that brilliant win vs Man City, we had another winnable home game against West Brom ...

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Another good win! This makes it 4 wins from 5 with the only skip being the away trip to Leicester.

Raul Albentosa got the opener just before half time with a bullet header.

Ravel Morrison then capped off a good performance with the second.

This now takes us up to 7th in the league.​
 
The next game was our league cup 4th round tie against Leicester. Leicester only beat us a couple of weeks ago so I was keen to put this right.

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What a disappointment.

A 4-2 defeat in a game I felt we should be winning.

I think we went too attacking by using the same tactic that we've used for the last couple of home games.

We seem to be really struggling away from home recently. All the recent wins we've had have been at Pride Park, we'll have to look at changing something here sharpish.​
 
The final game of the month saw us take on 15th place Fulham ...

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Back to winning ways!

I'm really pleased to get back to winning ways immediately, especially in a game away from home.

We changed our style slightly by going a little more defensive and trying to hit the opposition on the break.

Will Hughes converted a penalty after just 25 minutes. Graziano Pell'e then continued his good form by adding another 2 to his total.

The game was pretty even but our finishing was quality and in the end thats what won it for us.​

With this drawing an end to October, the league table looked like this ...

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This is some turnaround, we've gone from being 10th to 6th place and joint points with Man City who occupy 5th.​
 
Just before we started November, we had some injury news ...

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Ravel Morrison was ruled out for 6-7 weeks with a broken arm.

Morrison had been playing well since joining us this season so this is a huge disappointment.

We also heard of some transfer news before the first game of the month which would be an away trip to face Tottenham ...​

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Mason Bennett signs for Sheffield United on a one month loan deal.

Bennett just wasn't getting enough game time here so a stint at the Blades should do him well, just for his fitness if nothing else.
​
And now onto the Tottenham game ...

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Another fantastic win!

I was a little nervous about this game and didn't really expect much but a brilliant defensive performance ensures we run out 1-0 winners.

We only managed 2 shots on target all game but one of those shots was a brilliant strike from Will Hughes which left the keeper with no chance.

We owe these points to Lee Grant who was superb today, he had a difficult start to the season but this was a world class performance today.

We're now over half way to that magical 40 point mark and move 1 point above Liverpool, although they do have a game in hand.​
 
Your team have took very well to the PL! Looks like Leicester could be a bit of a bogey team! Bamford and Pelle seem to playing well together too, How many goals have each of them got so far?
 
JamesScott2908 said:
Your team have took very well to the PL! Looks like Leicester could be a bit of a bogey team! Bamford and Pelle seem to playing well together too, How many goals have each of them got so far?
Click to expand...

Yeah Leicester are really starting to **** me off haha. The two up front have been brilliant to be fair, didn't really know what to expect from them before the season started. Pelle's got 7 and Bamford 5.
 
After our impressive run, I was keen to keep this going against a mid tabled Watford side.


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It took an injury time winner from Darren Bent but we grabbed the win the needed.

Fernando Forestieri put Watford 1-0 after just 20 minutes but influential midfielder, Will Hughes grabbed an equaliser only a few minutes later.

Watford then retook the lead just after the half our mark, the scores then stayed the same until half time.

We really picked up our performance in the second half with a brace from Darren Bent ensuring we claimed all3 points.​

Next up ... Liverpool at home ...
 
I was really keen to do well in our next game, a home game against Liverpool. It will be an emotional day for Gerrard, kicking off against his boyhood club.

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Liverpool dominated the first half and really should have been a couple up.

After several missed chances for the visitors though, both sides went in level at half time.

Liverpool took the lead shortly after half time through Lucas Pratto.

Really, Liverpool should have on to win this game but Patrick Bamford netted late on, after coming off the bench, to make it 1-1.

We finished the game strongly and held out for a very decent point here.​
 
The liverpool game brought an end to November which turned out to be a really short month for us ...

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We moved up 1 place into 5th on 26 points.

This puts us just 2 behind Liverpool who occupy 3rd and 2 clear of Everton in 5th.​

The good performances from Will Hughes also didn't go unnoticed ...

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Will Hughes won the Young Player of the Month award after scoring 2 goals in 3 games during a really impressive period for him.​
 
The first game of December saw us against 13th placed Hull ... Another game we should be winning.

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We weren't at our best here but a wins a win!

Darren Bent with the only goal of the game ensured we won all 3 points.

In truth Hull offered nothing, a few shots from distance but nothing to trouble Lee Grant.​
 
The games are coming thick and fast now with another winnable one at home to West Ham next ...

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Another brilliant win!

An early penalty won by Pelle and converted by Hendrick put us on our way before Raul Albentosa doubled the lead before half time.

West Ham then got one back through Younes Belhanda only minutes later.​

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The biggest concern here was an injury suffered by Will Hughes.

Hughes is ruled out for 3 weeks with a twisted knee. After such an impressive start to the season, this is a big blow!​
 
After 8 games unbeaten and 7 of those being wins, I was pretty confident to come up against Man Utd next ...

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We were just outclassed here against a good Man Utd side, despite them sitting 8th in the table.

The first half was pretty even and end to end. Man Utd then picked up their performance in the second half and went 1-0 up just after half time through Falcao.

Fellaini then doubled the lead for Man Utd with little over 5 minutes to go giving us no chance to reply.

This ends the unbeaten run which I'm still pretty proud of. 7 wins in 8 games is a brilliant achievement after only just getting promoted.​
 
After the Man Utd loss, our first in 8 games. I was really keen to get back to winning ways straight away, with an away trip to Southampton ...

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Back to winning ways!

Again, we weren't great here but Southampton was always going to be a tough game.

Neither team had really any great chances until Graziano Pelle stole the show by scoring the winner against his old side.

Liverpool lost in this game week which means this win means we overtake them and move into 3rd.​

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Next up we had the difficult task of taking on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge ...

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We didn't play too badly here but still couldn't break down a really well drilled Chelsea side.

Chelsea were the dominant side and probably deserved the win but we stayed in their and had a couple of good chances late on.

This defeat drop's us down to 6th place now.​
 
After that defeat I was keen to get back to winning ways with a home game against Aston Villa ...

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A great result!

A nice 3-1 home win over Aston Villa. Younnes Kaboul got us started with a great header after just 10 minutes.

Patrick Bamford then scored again before half time with the scores staying the same until late on.

Kaboul then hit again to make it 3-0. A lapse of concentration allowed Villa to get one back but it was never going to be more than a consolation goal.

This shows the team has great character, every time we've lost we've managed to bounce back immediately.​
 
You are on some run of form at the minute! Nothing bad with loss against Man Utd, Brilliant start to 1st season in PL!
 
The win against Villa ended the month on a high with the league table as so ...

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We've got to be happy with that.

5th in the league at the half way stage, joint points will Liverpool in 3rd and 3 clear of Everton in 6th.

We're also only 2 points off the magical 40 point mark.​

Our good form in the league also won some recognition ...

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Steven Gerrard coming 3rd in the manager of the month award.

WE finished the month with 3 wins from 5 games with losses coming against Man Utd and Chelsea, we can hardly complain at that.​
 
1st of January and Will Hughes knocks on my door wanting to see me.

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Will Hughes: Hi gaffer, thanks for seeing me.

Steven Gerrard: No worries Will, what's on your mind?

Will Hughes: My agent has been in touch and told me Liverpool are interested in signing me. I want this move to happen.

Steven Gerrard: I haven't heard of any interest from Liverpool but I can understand you wanting to leave. But listen, you're only 21 years old. Your development would be so much better served playing football every week here.

Will Hughes: I understand what you're saying but I really want to move on with my career and become the best player I can.

Steven Gerrard: I promise you that if you do well here a move will follow, you don't need to force these things when you're as talented as you are. Give me until the end of the season and see how you feel then.

Will Hughes: Okay boss, thanks for helping me out
 
I've been pretty bust lately so I'm just going to do monthly updates until the end of the season now so I can catch up with the game a little :)
 
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