Taking over Manchester 1 league at a Time

[Poodles]

December
A unbeaten month means progression in the cups, security at the top and a few goals as well. I finally decide on a striker to bring in, however with the transfer window we will have to wait to January to see him

Fixtures

Forest Green 0 - 0 FC United FA Cup 1st Rnd

Disappointing we have 42 Shots 28 on target and manage no goals shocking but at least they couldnt score with there 4 chances either sure we can over come them in the replay. Downside a couple of league games have to be moved to make the replay happen this will become a theme throughout December

FC United 3 - 1 Forest Green FA Cup 1st Rnd Replay
Theophanous
McAllister
Mele

Great replay had everything yellow cards saves and goals and were into Rnd 2

FC United 2 - 2 Stafford FA Trophy North 1st Rnd
Theophanous
Walton

Stafford 0 - 2 FC United FA Trophy North 1st Rnd Replay
MeleBird

Barnet 1 - 3 FA Cup 2nd Rnd
Ventre
Elding
Bird

High league oppenents away in the FA Cup 2nd round and we own it, the result was never in doubt and at the end of it I open a new achivement. Beating Expectations

FC United 7 - 0 Braintree
Bird (3 Inc 2 Pens)
Elding (2)
Santos
Melo

Finally a league game and we are 3/4s of the way through December but for the crowd it was worth waiting for as we steam roller Braintree out the way and send them home with there tails between thier legs. Strikers getting 5 of the goals is always nice.

Chester 0 - 2 FC United
Bird(2)

FC United 3 - 0 Blackpool FA Cup 3rd Rnd
Walton
Bird
Theophanous

Just wow biggest game of our game so far after 3 seasons we go entertain a Blackpool side playing reasonable well in League Sky Bet 1 and destroy them. Now then the big boys come in for Rnd 4 so this might be as far as we go this season. BUT its a chinese meal out for the boys at the end of a crazy December.

View attachment 269507
Even though we are now trailing the rest of the division in games played the most important thing is we are still 3 pts clear and at the end of the day its points that make the prize. We now have a Striker in the top 4 of the scorers in the league and 4 of the best average ratings in the league as a team we enter January in fine form.
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[AJ0207]

Just read this, you're on a brilliant run at the moment!

 

[Poodles]

Just read this, you're on a brilliant run at the moment!

Thanks and we are with a smaller squad working out the game tactics for each match much easier .. attack score goals dont let any in. I shall hopefully update tomorrow with January and February games. Draw against Sheffield Wednesday in the next round of the FA Cup so that might be that for this season

 

[KeiranB]

well played pal league football is coming what database are u using to get the lower leagues?

 

[Poodles]

well played pal league football is coming what database are u using to get the lower leagues?

Morning yeah football league in touching distance, I used in the "League & Data Upates" in steam and searched for Steve 85 April 8th 2015 Update, There are a number of lower league updates but I found this one covered the league I needed to start in

 

[Poodles]

January
A 2nd almost unbeaten month see's us build a little lead at the top, a decent run in the FA Cup comes to a stunning end. We progress in the FA Trophy and that'll see us into February I make a bit of a silly one to end the month in defeat

Fixtures

FC United 4 - 2 Boreham Wood FA Trophy Rd 2
Melo
Santos
Walton
Bird

Progression secured we maybe have a chance at a Trophy.

Macclesfield 0 - 3 FC United
Bird
Melo
Oldnall

Such an easy game Bird also misses a penalty, I was going to throw a tea cup or 2 but just before the half time he netted from 5 yrds and then we owned the 2nd half

FC United 4 - 0 Lincoln
Oldnall
Melo
Bird
Yates (Og)

Cheltenham 2 - 3 FC UnitedTheophanous
Bird
Gardiner (og)

1st goal from another other striker than bird for ages, and I decide if we are to really push on I need to start looking for maybe one or two more strikers to boost the attack


FC United 1 - 3 Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup 4th Rnd
Amond

Ouch painful, what a lesson we were battered no other word for it 21 shots to 7 65% game to 35%. I'll need to change a lot or at least boost the squad a lot if and when I get into the actual league. BUT 4th Rnd not bad achivement. FA Trophy still a possiblity.

FC United 3ae - 1 Alferton
Bird
Theophanous
Oldnall

1-1 at full time we control extra time and go through I'm still worried about our front three and Bird picks up a know here so missing the next game.

Reinforcements arrive for the final push

View attachment 269276
Sam I pick up on a free from Portsmouth, for this divsion and probable the next he must score goals, I'm going to play him to the right of the front 3, Bird already plays on the left and has 30+ goals this season. This 21yr Irish lad could be a really class player

View attachment 269272
Wes at 30 will bring experiance to the front 3, as I known poacher he can lead the line and hopefully do what he does best score goals, most recently, his been at Birmingham in the Championship then scored 7 goals for Luton in League 2 before being released

FC United 0 - 1 Forest Green
Hmm I didnt see that coming bossed the game had 3 times as many chances but with Bird injured and both Sam and Wes just getting game time for the 1st time in months we were poor in front of goal.View attachment 269264
However I'm 7pts clear with games in hand. I have to be honest I'd rather have the points but that cup run has cost us in the league. I hope having to play 2 games a week probable now until the end of the season doesnt kill us. But only time will tell
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[Poodles]

February
A rocky month see's the rest of the league close up on us, a large amount of games in a short time means injuries and suspensions and BAD team selection will cost us points and the possibility of a trophy in the cabinet. However the month starts out well

Fixtures

FC United 4 - 0 Ebbsfleet FA Trophy Rnd 4
Walton
Thomas (2)
Byrne

Both new strikers find the new as Ebbsfleet and sunk. Hopefully this is a thing to come with the front players

FC United 4 - 1 Eastleigh
Thomas
Bird (2)
Potter

Grimsby 2 - 1 FC United
Walton

Had to happen eventually 2 injuries to CD's and boom we are open as a hooker on a Saturday night. Poor show but one of those teams having no real strength in depth proves costly. However the hangover doesnt just last one game

FC United 2 - 2 Hartlepool FA Trophy Semi 1st Leg
Thomas
Walton

2 goals in the last 5 minutes and last seasons devils are back to haunt us. An away trip to Hartlepool in the 2nd Leg maybe be a game to far with away goals

FC United 1 - 1 Sutton
Byrne

Phew our turn to be lucky 89th minute finish gets us a point

Hartlepool 2 - 1 FC United Semi Final 2nd Leg
Bryne

I push with 5 minutes to go to try for the winner as its 1-1 letting in a silly free kick with just seconds to spare joke. But now its just down to league progression. The bonus is my 2 injured CBs are finally fit again and both should play in the last game of the month.

Gainsborough 0 - 2 FC United
Bird
Byrne

Have last years title pretenders really are suffering in this league and we dont offer any sympathy with only the league to go for. I shall be fielding my strongest team as much as possible.

View attachment 269247
So I managed to hold onto my 5 point cushion through a difficult February, even else seems to be closing up in the hunt for top spot. I do still have a couple of games in hand and Strikers that have now found there feet. With Arnason back and fit at the back I'm hoping the number of goals we score dwarves the ones we let in.

13 games seperate us from the league proper and it will of been done in 3 seasons. EDIT here also I have as yet not had to go back to any earlier saves except where the cloud messed up BUT for that one it was at and the end of season one and we'd already been promoted. In fact all it did was make season 2 a little harder as I couldnt get in the loan players I wanted.
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[Poodles]

March
A Big month for us, we have some great games a little dodgy bit in the middle and a silly defeat again towards the end of the month. As a manager I do need to learn to stop messing so much with the tactics in some games and just let the players do the talking. However by the end of the month we are just a handful of games from Immortality as a team.

Fixtures


Wrexham 3 - 4 FC United
McAllister
Arnason
Walton
Oneto

7 goal thriller feels like the Newcastle vs Liverpool of old games in the premier league, we take the lead 4 times pegged back three times I thought at one point we might let in the equalizer but we hang on, cant really fault the team it was just one of them games

Altrincham 1 - 1 FC United
Walton

Goal scorers go AWOL leaving it to a wonder strike from Walton from midfield, a late penalty and its a draw ******

FC United 1 - 1 Gateshead
Bird

Dejuv what the **** a late penalty again and its just a point from a game we wanted three. Are the team pushing to hard in our own box and throwing themselves into some challenges they shouldnt a mini meeting takes place after the game

FC United 3 - 0 Alferton
Walton
Bird (Pen)
Thomas

Yes yes and yes much more like it.

Barrow 2 - 4 FC United
Bryne
Thomas
Walton (2 inc a pen)

Kidderminster 2 - 1 FC United
Byrne

Silly Silly Silly, I try giving a new LB a run out plus ask the team to increase the tempo in the play. We take a 1st half lead and then let in 2 goals on the counter attack in the 2nd half. Stupid on my part and lesson learned, We'll revert back to high tempo for the next game. Not much higher tempo.

FC United 4 - 1 FC Halifax
Bryne 3
Walton

View attachment 269245
So there we all all games caught up 9pts clear 6 games to go. Nervous you bet, were finally in touching distance of the promised land of league football. Gainborough as suspected have finally slipped into the bottom 4, I dont think they can escape this. We have already confirmed at least the play-offs BUT I want promotion as the top dog. My goal over the next 6 games is to stop MESSING and let the players do the talking. Hartlepool have really pushed on in the last 2 months with a decent run so thats one to watch. ALL 6 of the last games are in April so this will be a month to remember unbeaten will I'm sure give us the Title. Unfortunately one of those games is away to Hartlepool
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[Poodles]

April
As its such an important month for us, I'll do an update per match. The goal of course to secure promotion to the football league. I believe my squad and players are strong enough. So going into the last 6 games I've managed to secure a couple of extra loan players in.


End Season Squad List Last 6 Games
View attachment 269243

Tactics
View attachment 269242
Ok so its the 1st April 2017

Fixture

FC United 6 - 0 Boreham Wood
Byrne (2)
Thomas (2)
Melo
Oneto

View attachment 269241
Possible our best game of the season comes when we need it Boreham are reduced to 8 attempts just one on target, we dominate every department. Hartlepool dont play they await us in just 3 days. but now we already have another 3 points on the board.
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[alphaguru]

Playing attractive football and getting the results, that's what I like to see!

 

[Poodles]

Playing attractive football and getting the results, that's what I like to see!

Aii taking a different approach to the lower leagues tried to pass/attack my way out. Hopefully be back online in short while to finish the season off. RL called just as I was setting up for the Hartlepool game lol

 

[alphaguru]

I'll be at work for hours yet so no rush, you're just encouraging my procrastination lol

 

[Poodles]

I'll be at work for hours yet so no rush, you're just encouraging my procrastination lol

Nice use of the word Procrastination there my friend .. I'm happy to report I had a days holiday and now my RL issues have cleared off, This Manager is hooking up the coffee drip and settling in for an afternoon of FM. Hartlepool lets go

 

[Poodles]

April
4th April 2017

View attachment 269218
Away but favourites, I dont mess about my strongest team goes into the game

View attachment 269217
Even with my main man in midfield seeing red it doesn't bother us we break through score 2 and just need a point from 4 games to secure promotion "WE ARE TOP OFF THE LEAGUE", "I SAY WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE"

Fixtures

Hartlepool 0 - 2 FC United
Melo
Luscombe

It was never in doubt, the rock Melo scores and gets Injured, Walton sets up Melo's goal and gets himself sent off, I sacrifice a striker to bring Luscombe on and he secures the win, Its what dreams are made of

We win the last 4 games of the season and are promoted with 3 of them to spare.

View attachment 269216
121 goals scored, 105 pts, leading goal scorer 2nd least goals conceded tick tick boom

Any chance of a Manager of the Year award boys??

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[Poodles]

End of Season Review
View attachment 269209Halifax will join us in the pro league'sView attachment 269208
And with that in mind we decide to go Pro
View attachment 269207
I finally win a Manager of the Year award, add to that Walton wins player of the year and Bird golden boot of the year. So all round it was a good finish.

View attachment 269206
Hmm Immediately the board UP the pressure wanting a above Mid table finish yikes, we have the lowest wage bill in the league and one of the smallest stadiums, with that in mind I make some suggestions

View attachment 269200
Another 3000+ seats will be useful in about 5 months time but its a start at least.
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[alphaguru]

Nicely done bud! I wonder where you will be playing your home games until the work is done.... :O

 

[Poodles]

Season 4 Preview
Ok so here we are in the pro league's cant say I'm not just a tad nervous, The big new last years number 9 Bird has flown the nest. He didnt feel comfortable and when Halifax offered 18K I couldn't keep a unhappy player in the dressing room. However I've done great business in the window boosting the squad size with both strength and quality. At least 3 of the players have gone straight into the 1st team with the rest filling out the bench
View attachment 269188
More in than out but at a profit surely?
View attachment 269187
Recently retired player joins as Assistant Manager and he brings with him a LOT of tactical knowledge Mr Woodgate may proof my best signature of the close season

View attachment 269186View attachment 269185View attachment 269184


And with these 3 going straight into the starting 11, I feel we suddenly have a great chance of further progression. Conor has joined on a Free from Coventry as they drop into this division with the hope were going the other way. Tricket-Smith is on a season long loan from Liverpool, and I hope if he does well and settles in I may just make that deal permament IF we get promoted. Finally Martyn is another free this time from Championship Side Wigan, he wanted a 1st 11 spot they didnt want to give it him. I think we us we could see goals goals and goals


View attachment 269183


Unfortunately the down side to all this, the bookies put us 2nd favs for them league, heaping even more pressure on the team. I hope I can deflect most of that pressure onto myself as the season progress's
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[Poodles]

Sky League Bet 2 August

So kick of 12th Of August our 1st game is away to Burton with a quick trip to Shrewsbury in the Capital One Cup mid week, my plan to play a few juniors in the cup games and keep my 1st team fresh for the league. However with in a few days its injuries that are a problem and by Mid August I decide to hire 1 extra Physio and a Fitness Coach.


Fixtures


Burton 0 - 4 FC United
Byrne
Trickett-Smith
Thomas
Oneto

Wowzers didnt see this start coming, 2 strikers score, both new midfielders net, if this is hint of the season ahead its going to be the sweet smell of success.

Shrewsbury 1 - 0 FC United Capital One Cup Rnd 1

Well playing a few kids failed, we had 3 shots on goal and go down 1 nil poor game, I shall consider if this is a good approach for the new cup game

FC United 0 - 2 Coventry

A missed penalty at the start costs us, then injuries to 2 of the front 3 and tick tick boom, Coventry proof this isnt going to be the cake walk I thought at Burton ouch.

Northampton 0 - 1 FC United
Tricket-Smith

FC United 0 - 2 Exeter

Ok what's going on here can't score at home, 5 of the 1st team now in the treatment room. Arghhhh new physio and Fitness coach join but 2 of the 5 are out for 5 months including Arnason my main CB.

View attachment 268967
1st month 2 wins, 2 defeats and exiting the Capital One Cup .. What a poor start. Coventry and Exeter that beat us are top dogs. Halifax who came up with us are already in the playoffs. Phew nice wake up call
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[Poodles]

Sky League Bet 2 September

Suns shinning through September and we go on an amazing unbeaten run before end of the month old style faults come back to haunt us. I start to tweak the system a little, I favour an attacking approach and as I now seem to have an abundance of attacking players its time to set them free.

Fixtures


Luton 1 - 3 FC United
Tubbs (2)
Thomas


FC United 3 - 0 Newport
Waghorn (2)
Clarke

Hmm playing with an overload policy, we are hitting the target more and more, a little open at the back BUT liking the goals flying in.

Cambridge 2 - 7 FC United
Santos
Thomas
Waghorn (pen)
Trickett-Smith (2)
Oneto

Well this has been coming the team are playing so well at the moment with the new system someone was due a hiding and today it was poor Cambridge we battered them from minute one till minute 93

FC United 6 - 1 Torquay
Thomas (3 in Pen)
Oneto
Santos
Matthews (og)

2nd team in a week to feel the momentum of the FC United band wagon Goals Goals Goals, We are starting let a few in but if everyone's firing we win games

Mansfield 0 - 3 FC United

Arggghhh near the end of the month again, I lose my 2nd best CB, RB and a Striker before the came to a flu bug so effectively I'm now playing 6 of the back ups. It was never even close urghh

FC United 4 - 1 Crawley
Oneto (3 Inc Pen)
Byrne

View attachment 268966
Ok the change in formation a little more pushing forward and slowly we have climbed over everyone and sit top of the league, its early days but maybe just maybe we have the winning formula back. Coventry are still close, Exeter who looked dangerous in that 1st month have fallen off a bit, Oldham and Blackpool look especially in trouble. Blackpool will come offering me a job next month I quickly decline. FC Halifax are towards the bottom but look reasonable ok at the moment.

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[Poodles]

Sky League Bet 2 October

Weather turns a little with a lot of matches played in the rain for us that's ok, the ball is zipping across the turf and with September behind us we are ready to push on, Johnstone Paint Trophy will give me another chance to let the kids have a run out and try a few games.

Fixtures

Port Vale 2 - 4 FC United
Byrne (2)
Oneto
Trickett-Smith

FC United 1 - 2 Crewe Johnstone Paint Trophy Rnd 1
Waghorn

Oops I did it again, flip I thought we'd beat Crewe with the team I sent out all the odds were in our favour. The team called me in for a mini team meeting after the game. They were worried about my tactics and attitude. I must admit I may have thrown one or two tea cups after the match. WE air our opinions I listen to what they all have to say AND "Then we all I agree I WAS RIGHT" .. problems with a bigger squad and keeping everyone happy. I think about letting one or two BAD EGGS go

Dag & Redridge 0 - 0 FC United

Fall out from the last game and we play poorly BUT we dont lose

FC United 5 - 2 York
Oneto
W Thomas (New Striker)
C Thomas (2)
Byrne

Doncaster 1 - 3 FC United
Waghorn (2 inc pen)
Trickett-Smith

FC United 4 - 1 Carlisle
W Thomas
Byrne (2)
Trinkett-Smith

Last game of the month, hmmm forget the cup match and that counts as an Unbeaten month. Trinkett-Smith is proving a gem in midfield. I'm wondering what the chances of Liverpool letting him go next season when he's contract expires. I could see him controlling this midfield well into a Champion Ship side

View attachment 268965
An unbeaten month has us still top of the table, we are starting to see the players appear on the average ratings sheet, and most assists, what I'd love now is to see one of the strikers move on to the leading goal scorers sheet. Arnason is still listed on there however I've now been without him for 10+ games and it will be the same for most of November. Yet we are still looking good
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