New Season, New Goals
"Alright lads this season I know we can kick on and get another top half finish at the very least I've kept those of you I can trust and know you can do it. Any questions?"
Yeah, Boss, Where is everyone" Crawford.
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Good riddance. Now, let's build a team capable of getting us up.
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I was really worried at the start of pre-season as all of a sudden all my shortlisted players no longer wanted to join the club. I guess take this as a warning, if you allow the majority of your squad to leave at the end of the season your reputation will take a short nosedive and it will be hard to sign players.
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Luckily after bringing in Fewster from relegated Spennymoor it seemed to turn this reputation nosedive around. If you play in the non-league you'll recognise this man, normally dominates non-league at the start in this years FM. In this save he has not however and I have been able to swoop in and take him. Already a decent Vanarama National player, should spearhead our attacks this year.
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From one relegated player to the next, Luke Purnell will be the man between the sticks for us this season. Looks very good for this division, though somehow conceded over 70 goals last season. I imagine it was the defenses fault and not his.
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Which is why I brought in fellow WSM defender Jonjo O'Hara to play as one of our two main center backs this season. He is definitely suspect in aerial battles, but really excells othwerwise physically and technically, hopefully meaning he can stop some of those through balls which dominate this division by running back and being positioned well.
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Brought in for free, Cover should act as cover for the defense, good physicals though another who can be beaten in the air.
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Technically our big money signing this season coming in for 11K. Looking back on it, this is a panic buy when the reputation temporarily fell. But, he's great cover this season and could grow into a starting player. An all-rounder, nothing bad, nothing great.
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Brought in from relegated Truro, Allen might be the slowest 22 year old ever but should be a good holding midfielde who can win the ball and pass well. However, he needs to stay back because he is catching no one. This also means Finley will now be deployed as a Box-to-Box midfielder with Allen taking the BWM role.
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In on loan from affiliate club bradford, backup left back. Nothing more to say. Hope he rarely plays.
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Second loanee from Bradford, Kirkpatrick looks to be the ying to O'Hara's yang. Not fast, lacking some technical ability but great for this division as a no-nonsense defender who can win a header.
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One of the big signings, Balogun is 18 and already a vanarama national quality player. Great physicals, might be one of the best players in the league, missing the first few games though due to injury.
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A great loanee from Shrewsbury, Shelis shall be our starting Right Back this season, possessing the pace to do great in the position despite predominantly being a centre back.
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Another Centre Back loanee, this time from Wrexham, Tharme looks very good for the division and should hopefully be okay acting as a rotation/backup for the defense.
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Finally Powell is loaned in from Charlton as a backup, giving us the option to play with wingers if we so desire.
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After all these signings we are clearly seen as one of the best teams in the league. Pressure to succeed is on now.
Pre-Season
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Pre-dominantly good performances, bar Ipswich, contending with far bigger opponents and beating lesser ones easily. Beating senior affiliate Bradford will be a very nice feeling for the loanees at the club.
Hierarchy
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I've made Crawford captain this season, River Allen Vice-Captain. My faith in Jolley and Crawford is clearly being repaid and hopefully they should be very helpful team leaders.
Tactic
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Here's the initial idea for the tactic this season. 12 months ago I wouldn't even know how to pronounce a Mezzala and know after my two qualifications I'm starting with one. Kretzschmar hopefully adequately covering the space on the wing for us. This is still the sixth tier though, so I'm not throwing many instructions at the players, just telling them to use our great ability as tacklers in the middle of the pitch and good work rate to close down much more and hopefullly put Fewster, Crawford or Jolley through.
First game of the season vs. Bognor Regis
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An easy win, Fewster heading in a Finley Free-Kick on his debut for the win. A little concern however that we didn't score more and didn't seem to create many chances. Maybe I'll go more direct again, we shall see.
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This is the best change I've seen though. Last season I would have seen a lot of complacent and uninterested players, this lot seem a lot more hungry, attentive and confident during games.
MOTM: one and a half star Milambo: Good job on taking the opportunity given to him.
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Hopefully this is the start of a great season, we shall see.