The Football Managing Mercenary

[DerbyJack]

September 2019​

14th September 2019
Championship

A short international break see's us make a late start to proceedings in September but when the match finally came around it was certainly worth the wait. An impressive Bristol City lead by new manager Nigel Pearson seemed to have the game wrapped up but new central midfielder, Gaudino and the increasingly efficient Austin dragged us back to take all three points.


17th September 2019
Championship

The close run of games continues as we leave it late to see off a promotion chasing Brentford. Once again Austin ensured we got off to the best of starts but it was his fellow loyal squadmate who stole the show as winger, Andros Townsend not only kept us in with a shot at a share of the spoils but scored a sensational last minute volley to ****** the victory.


21st September 2019
Championship

Brighton have suffered of late, the once promotion favourites are now finding life hard in the division they once used to rule with ease and the inform Magpies certainly added to their woes as we made a repeat of the previous game with Austin and Townsend again combining to drag their new team-mates to another victory on the road.


24th September 2019
Capital One Cup - Third Round

Our run of unbeaten games has come to an end as we are sent packing from the League Cup courtesy of our fellow Championship club, Wigan. The boys never truly looked interested in winning the game despite taking an unexpected lead before the Latics ramped up the pace to secure the win. A late red for Ayala certainly ensured it would be a disappointing day in Newcastle.


28th September 2019
Championship

With our unbeaten streak over so to is our winning one in the league. Despite being reduced down to ten men after just ten minutes in the game, Forest managed to cling on to the point as they parked the bus in front of goal for a mammoth portion of the game. With Austin and company unable to breach their defence we are forced to settle for a disappointing point.


September 2019
Championship

A side from the final two games of the month, September was another convincing one for the Geordies as ourselves and Norwich now start to make a break away from the chasing pack. With just nine games played, it will be interesting to see if we can build on this early gap and ensure our place in the Premier League with ease.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

October 2019​

1st October 2019
Championship

Bouncing back from the draw again ten men Forest we secure a victory over their East Midland - and far superior - rivals as another early red card throws the game in our favour. We left it late but a goal a piece from the midfield duo of Cousins and the increasingly impressive Rashford ensured the win just past the hour mark.


5th October 2019
Championship

The Tyne-Wear derby is soon upon us and despite a huge build up before the game it fails to live up to they hype as both teams are forced to share the spoils. Truth be told the Black-Cats certainly made us work for the draw alone as we struggled to break them down following their opening goal but fan favourite Austin ensured his loyal fans would at least go home with pride intact.


19th October 2019
Championship

Charlton have been struggled to get up to the pace following the start of the season but the Addicks proved to certainly be no push over. A crazy spell of end to end football within just three minutes so both teams scoring and us narrowly emerging from the game with a point. These kind of results could certainly cost us later down the line.


22nd October 2019
Championship

It seems the Championship is absolutely littered with teams that are aiming for promotion and another tough fixture against Ipswich saw us go toe to toe with the team currently sitting in fourth place. The Tractor boys seemed to be on course for a efficient victory had it not been for a looping header from young South African defender, Mbhele. These draws are racking up fast.


26th October 2019
Championship

Three draws are finally replaced by three points as we run out victors over Blackburn. Despite making an attrocious start to the game, we remained composed with our exciting young signing Marcus Rashford eventually making the difference with a goal either side of the break to return us to winning ways and maintaining our unbeaten run in the league.


October 2019
Championship

With three draws sandwiched in between two fortunate victories we fail to increase our lead at the top of the table but we do managed to keep the recently defeated Norwich at bay by a solitary point. As the only unbeaten side in the division we have certainly asserted ourselves upon the Championship from the get go. Lets keep this going.

​

 

[Nnicod55]

I think you will cruise comfortably in top 2 not sure yet can you cruise to the winning the league but good work!

 

[DerbyJack]

​

I'll most definitely take that Nnicod. Anything less then automatic promotion will probably see me sacked anyway.

---

November 2019

2nd November 2019
Championship

Having picked up one too many draws in the previous month we fail to learn our lessons as we struggle to a goalless draw against a disappointing Aston Villa. A red card just three minutes from time for our young Swede Mattsson summed up the frustrations of the team as were forced to settle for a solitary point.


5th November 2019
Championship

We bounce back from the disappointing draw as we smash home four goals against recently promoted Peterborough. Posh look set to continue their yo-yoing in and out of the Championship, currently sitting rooted to the bottom of the table and based on this performance it is not hard to see why as our exciting midfield runs rampant on bonfire night.


9th November 2019
Championship

Despite the superb result against Peterborough we fail to build upon it as we play out yet another disappointing draw at St James's Park. Andros Townsend continues to impress with another goal that opened the scoring after just six minutes but we failed to capitalise with MK Dons scoring a deserved equaliser in the second half.


23rd November 2019
Championship

Another international break awaits but despite the rest we return back to our drawing form as we throw away a two goal lead against promising chasing Wolverhampton Wanderers. Our two impressive midfield talents, Townsend and Rashford opened the scoring before a late collapse gifted Wolves with an unexpected point. Result like this will almost certainly come back to bite us at some point.


30th November 2019
Championship

We make a return to winning ways in the final game of the season with a comfortable victory over Cardiff. Having taken a two goal lead within just half an hour, we didn't repeat the mistakes of the previous game, holding on to the advantage with ease and picking up all three points in a style more befitting of the side at the top of the table.


November 2019
Championship

The two victories this month do just about enough to ensure we remain on the top of the pile as Norwich suffer a poor month that seems them slip out of the automatic promotion spots, with Fulham quickly taking their place just behind us. It seems no one is yet able to take a firm hold of this league, least of all us.

​

 

[Godfish93]

You considered leaving the sunny shores of England at any point?

 

[DerbyJack]

In all honesty Godfish I have been trying to and did come close until my career crashed and I had to restart. I think I need a higher reputation before I can leave the country.

---

December 2019

7th December 2019
Championship

The unbeaten streak is over! The last remaining one in the entire country and quite frankly one of the more lackluster ones as we draw eight games. As if the loss wasn't bad enough, for it to come at the hands of our rivals, Middlesborough stung even more as Tom Lawrence ensures the victory in the Tyne-Tees derby.


14th December 2019
Championship

The loss might have been been a horrible start to the month but to see the club only bounce back with a goal-less draw against Wigan piled on the disappointment. Needless to say after another sluggish draw, I decided to go back to the drawing board in my attempts at getting the team back up and running...


21st December 2019
Championship

...It worked straight away. Charlie Austin gets the boys back up and running with a second-half brace all be it courtesy of an opening penalty following a rash challenge in the box. He rounds of an impressive display with a goal in the last few seconds of the game that should hopefully restart our title push.


26th December 2019
Championship

Austin might have restarted our push for the Premier League in fairly quick fashion but its want-away winger, Alessandri that maintains it. An early goal was soon cancelled out by the Millers prolific Swede, Faour but our Italian wide-man ensured we would leave with another three points and a late Christmas gift for the travelling support.


29th December 2019
Championship

And then things fell apart. Having just beaten Millwall eight days ago, hopes where high that we would repeat the result but it seems at the Den, the Lions where more then capable of turning the result around despite the best efforts of our leading goal scorer, Charlie Austin. No defeats all month and then two come along at once...typical.


December 2019
Championship

With two defeats now under our belt its no surprise that Fulham have jumped at the opportunity and have soon replaced us at the top of the table all be it on goal-difference alone. With half the season still remaining and the race at the top certainly looking like its going to go down to the wire, we need a quick turn around in fortunes.

​

 

[Raaritsgozilla]

Still a fair way to go though, could see a Fulham drop off. Hopefully not a Newcastle one though. Good to see Rotherham up there though

 

[DerbyJack]

Thanks Raar, I'm certainly hoping Fulham slip up soon but they certainly look formidable. Rotherham are certainly not be taken lightly!​

---

Things are going reasonably well as my second spell in the Championship seems to be on course for my second promotion. Before I can begin to crown myself as the prince of the second tier, theirs the small matter of the January transfer window.

A quiet one for the Magpies as we see just the one permanent departure from the ranks with the want-away winger, Romain Alessandrini getting his wish to see top flight action as he joins the struggling Leeds United.

With the way the seasons are currently going it seems that our former French midfielder could soon be back in the Championship whilst we make a resounding return to the promised land.

Hopefully we can make him soon regret his hasty transfer request, for now though its time to concentrate on keeping our promotion push in line.

From: West Ham
Cost: £7 million​

Once one of the hottest defensive prospects in Europe, Papadopoulos's never quite lived up to his potential with his temperament now more well known then his undoubted defensive talents. Non the less the big Greek should make a superb addition to our back line, provided we can keep the former Iron out of the stands and on the pitch.




Once again another quiet new years window.

With just the one long awaited departure and the much needed arrival of some defensive reinforcements it was an extremely predictable and altogether dull window for the Black and White faithful.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

January 2020​

1st January 2020
Championship

The new year kicks off with a potential promotion decider as second place meets third and its an important victory for the Magpies as we ****** an important three points. The ever reliable Charlie Austin shot us into the lead but it took youth product, Lee Morris to secure the victory with a superbly timed first goal for the youngster.


4th January 2020
FA Cup - 3rd Round

The new year continues to a good one for the Newcastle faithful as a gutsy draw at the Etihad stadium see's us claim an important replay back in the North East. With the goal less game we proved ourselves perfectly capable of being able to cope with the best that the Premier League has to offer.


11th January 2020
Championship

And with that the new years celebrations come to an abrupt end. Burnley should be well into a promotion push themselves but with their sluggish start to the season they seem way off the pace but that didn't stop them from potentially having a huge say in the race for the Premier League as they secure victory with a demoralising performance at St James's Park.


14th January 2020
FA Cup - 3rd Round - Replay

The loss in the league might have put an end to the party but that certainly didn't affect us back in the FA Cup as a solo goal from former Red Devil, Marcus Rashford condemned his former clubs rivals to a humiliating early exit from the competition and ensured us a place in the fourth round in style. The Premier League is looking like easy pickings.


18th January 2020
Championship

Our FA Cup adventure might just be beginning but our League campaign took a huge blow as table topping Fulham destroy us at Craven Cottage. It seems Fulham have all but assured themselves of a spot in the top flight with their confident performances and the Londoners certainly looked like a Premiership outfit following a surprisingly one-sided second-half.


25th January 2020
Championship

The previous result may have taken a huge chunk out of our title bid but to their credit we returned to form with a convincing Will Hughes inspired victory over a struggling Bournemouth. The Cherries certainly showed their frustrations as they saw two of their players sent to the stands and gifting us with a convincing win.


January 2020
Championship

A mixed month in the Championship has Fulham finally forge out a gap with a three point lead over us in second place, however we can take some positives following the complete collapse of Norwich. Delia Smiths former club have fallen straight out of the promotion race, with Wolves now leading the chasing pack.

​

 

[TheBattman]

great read this, keep it up!

 

[Raaritsgozilla]

Second is still auto promotion though!

 

[DerbyJack]

​

Thanks very much Battman!

I'll most definitely take it Raar!

---

February 2020

1st February 2020
FA Cup - 4th Round

Having snuck past the might of Manchester City in the previous round of the competition, the belief in the squad has never been higher as they look to claim some long awaited silverware from the depths of the Championship. Polish attacking midfielder Wojtowski ensured the dream remains alive with the only goal of the game int he second half.


8th February 2020
Championship

Sheffield Wednesday are having a season to forget this time around but despite going a goal down the Owls replied instantly to give them at least one much needed point as they look to try and work their way out of the relegation zone. At the other end of the table it seems Fulham are now in firm control of the entire league now.


11th February 2020
Championship

Another quick fire game and another one against a team struggling towards the foot of the table yet in familiar style we once again fail to take all three points despite the best efforts of back-up striker, Adam Armstrong. With points now dropped again and Fulham in sensational form it seems that we're going to be settling for second place...I'll take it.


15th February 2020
Championship

With two disappointing draws behind us we finally make the difference in the next game to destroy Brentford. Armstrong scored his third goal in as many games having been handed a first team opportunity following a minor injury to Charlie Austin, with new arrivals Mbhele and Rashford adding to the one way traffic.


22nd February 2020
FA Cup - 5th Round

Back to the FA Cup and back to winning ways. Armstrong continues to impress with the opening goal and it proved to be just enough to get us past our league rivals and into the next round of the competition in efficient style. Having thrown away all three points against Bristol just two games ago it was hard to relax however with the entire stadium relieved to hear the final whistle.


26th February 2020
Championship

Having only just got to grips back in the league any attempts at creating some kind of momentum come to a quick end as Nottingham Forest score two quick fire first-half goals that left us deflated. Former Ram, Will Hughes did managed to pull one back for us with a coolly converted penalty but a solid second half from the reds ensured the win. Despite the results it seems I somehow managed to impress the right people...

29th February 2020
Championship

Despite the Premier League's West Brom showing interest I still needed to round off our East Midlands match ups against promotion chasing Derby. Despite being vastly superior to their rivals down the A52, The mighty Rams somehow suffered the exact opposite fate, as former playmaker, Will Hughes scored a heart-breaking late goal to ensure the victory and end the month on a high.


February 2020
Championship

Fulhams commanding lead at the top of the table ensures that we're going to fighting to keep the chasing pack at bay for the remainder of the season but with a three point gap we have no reason to panic just yet. With a potential job with the struggling Baggies in the top flight on the cards I might not even have to worry about the promotion race for too long!

​

 

[DerbyJack]

March 2020

3rd March 2020
Championship

With time ticking down and every single point now vitally important losing the Tyne-Wear Derby was not exactly the best way to start to month. Any supporter of a team will tell you that the most important game of the season is against their closest rivals. Nothing else matters. Unfortunately for the Magpies with a draw and a loss this season I can only hope promotion makes up for it and it seems I'm going to need it just as much as they will...

7th March 2020
Championship

And our promotion push was soon back on track with a narrow victory over Charlton. Argentinian winger, Tocalli opened the scoring after just half an hour of football and it proved to be more then enough to win the game as the Addicks struggled to amass any attacks on goal throughout the entire second half before a late red card ended the game early.


11th Match 2020
Championship

The matches are coming thick and fast and another narrow victory ensures that we remain locked into our all important automatic spot. This time it was the increasingly impressive Toni Lato that took the plaudits as the Spaniard rose highest from a corner to smash one in off the post and add more woes to an already disappointing season for the SeaGulls.


15th March 2020
FA Cup - 6th Round

Our FA Cup dream is over. Having humiliated Manchester City in the third round, the Black and White legion of fans where not disheartened at the prospect of going up against Diego Simeone's Chelsea, and to our credit we certainly pushed the Premier League title contenders all the way with only a Solanke goal proving to make the only difference.


18th March 2016
Championship

With the cup dream now completley over we suffer a familiar defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers as a goal in the first half of the game scuppers our hopes of racking up three one goal victories in a row in the league and once again has us looking nervously over our shoulders at the chasing pack.


21st March 2016
Championship

March has really seen the number of games ramp up and before we even have chance to reform ourselves following the unfortunate defeat at the hands of Blackburn we are thrown into a crucial clash against high-flying Aston Villa. The Villians are keen to return to the Premier League and following a ninth minute opener they sure looked determined to reach the promised land.


24th March 2016
Championship

With two defeats on the bounce we finally bring an end to our short losing streak as Charlie Austin smashes home a Twenty Fifth minute goal on his return from injury as we once again witness another narrow victory, this time with The Magpies being on the winning end by the slimmest of margins.


March 2016
Championship

Despite the incredibly mixed month we do somehow manage to increase our lead on the playoff contenders as once again the closest chasers fall off in style, with Middlesborough this time suffering the apparent curse of third place. Taking up the mantle comes the mighty Rams. Having just watched them get smashed by Hull I can only hope they avoid playoffs in this time period.

​

 

[PatrickLFC]

A great month of 1-0 results haha

Still not too late to catch Fulham!

 

[DerbyJack]

Yeah it wasn't exactly an exciting month was it? I remain ever hopeful!

​

---

April 2020

4th April 2020
Championship

With the games dwindling down rapidly and the final few positions in the league very much still up for grabs the last thing we really needed was a one all draw with a struggling Peterborough. Posh are very much in a relegation dog fight but they could still prove to have a large part in the outcome at the other end of the table following a surprising draw.


11th April 2020
Championship

That's more like it. Andros Townsend continues to showcase his admirable determination as he scores a late goal to take the team and himself one step closer to returning back to the all important top-flight. With just a handful of players remaining following my appointment it is encouraging to see those who remain still adamant to restore some pride.


14th April 2020
Championship

Not to be outdone by the long term Townsend, two of my Summer signings combine to pull of a suprsingly one sided victory against a playoff chasing Wolves. Marcus Rashford once again finds the back of the net, with Argentinian winger, Tocalli joining him on the back pages with a clinical brace from the left wing. We're going to walk into the top flight...


17th April 2020
Championship

...and run screaming straight back out of it apparently. Following the whitewash against Wolves we seemed to be on course to cruise to the end of the season until Cardiff and their Malian Striker, Marega destroyed us in the Welsh Valleys. Despite the decidedly disappointing results there was still some good news...

25th April 2020
Championship

With the playoffs in the bag courtesy of others misfortunes in the league we do manage to rally on the good news as we win the all important Tyne-Tees derby courtesy of a Charlie Austin brace. Given that Middlesbrough ended our half a season long unbeaten streak, it was nice to finally get some revenge over our struggling rivals.


April 2020
Championship

A four point gap keeps us both frustratingly out of reach of leaders Fulham but also keeps the playoff contenders at arms length with just two games remaining. With just one month of the season now remaining everything still remains very much in the balance. Glory awaits...or you know another complete **** up.

​

 

[DerbyJack]

May 2020

2nd May 2020
Championship

Things get underway in perfect fashion as we keep ourselves very much in contention with an all important win over Wigan. In fitting fashion it is our two loyal and ever impressive veterans that fire the club not only past Wigan but also into the Premier League with a goal a piece to reward their heroic efforts.

9th May 2020
Championship

The duo again combine to round off the season with a game winning couple of goals to narrowly sneak us past an impressive Rotherham. With the perfect run in to the season now completed and our place in the promised land now assured it simply remains to see if Fulham slipped up to gift us the title...


May 2020
Championship

Of course they didn't. The Cottagers round off their thoroughly impressive season with their own winning end to the season and ****** up the title to go with it. Non the less a promotion is in the bag. It might not have been the record breaking, barn storming season I had getting Leicester promoted but I'll take it!

​

 

[Death Ball]

Well done! Back to Premier. Good luck with next season.

 

[DerbyJack]

Thanks Death Ball! I need it, truth be told I thought I would be sunning it up at the like of Real or Barcelona by now...I suck at this..

---

The Premier League awaits!...Again!

Following my humiliating and predictable exit from Leicester at the end of last season, I've managed to salvage some much needed pride for myself and Newcastle as we climb back into the top flight.

Whilst I make small gains those at the top continue their reign of dominance...

Pep Guardiola	Joachim Low	Laurent Blanc
Manchester City	Barcelona	Real Madrid
£170,000 per week	£94,000 per week	£93,000 per week

...However its not exactly been convincing.

Pep remains by far and away the highest earner in the footballing world but he still remains unable to turn that money into success with the Citizens missing out on the Premier League title to their cross town rivals, Manchester United and failing to even qualify from their group in the Champions League. How the **** does Pep still have a job let alone the best one in the business?

For the distant chasers in the Liga BBVA it was also a disappointing season as both miss out on the title to their growing league rivals Atletico Madrid, with Laurent Blanc only managing a lowly fourth place finish for the illustrious Galacticos, whilst they are thrown to the side of the Champions League with ease following a dominating competition for the Premier League as the English clubs wrap up all three of the semi-final spots.

With my high earning colleagues all failing to achieve literally anything of not this year, it seems I might have finally taken a stride towards catching them up!

Derby Jack

Newcastle United

£16,000 per week

Despite achieving the all important promotion with the Magpies, I fail to trigger any kind of wage rise and the board have sensibly left me sitting with just one season left on my contract. Given that the Premier League completely abused me during my tenure at the helm of the Foxes I can hardly blame them.

With a season in the top flight approaching, its time to continue the revival of my career in the place that very nearly ended it.

I'm back!


​

 

[1magine]

I'm pretty sure I had an account on here but apparently my email wasn't recognised so I signed up(again?) so that I could leave a comment here! I was loving this all the way up until you had to restart again, tough one that I've had to read through all 36 pages since stumbling upon this and I think you have a great idea with this! Been a bit rubbish seeing your recent slide with Leicester but it must've been harder to play! You done the best thing with your Newcastle transfers as you got rid of deadwood, big earners and brought in some fresh young talent as well as some English players too. Look forward to seeing how you fare at The Toon.

PS. You don't like the domestic cups or the month of December do you? Little recurring theme I picked up on.

 

[DerbyJack]

Thanks so much 1magine! I didn't expect anyone to read all those pages, that must have been a rather rough read, I've not been exactly blessed in this play through. I'm hopeful that I can turn my career back around with Newcastle, the club is so big it really should be fighting out at the top of the table. Maybe I am the man to do it? Even typing that seemed stupid.

Believe it or not but I've actually been crying out for a cup run, a trophy would do wonders for my reputation. As for December I put it down to too much Christmas "festivities"... Thanks again!

​

---

The top flight awaits for Newcastle as they make yet another return to the League they once used to thrive in.

Following the clubs impressive promotion, I made it clear that I was going to stick by the boys that had brought us back into the promised land and headed into the transfer window with the sole intention of basically keeping the squad together...

...Mission accomplished.

Just two departures from the first team as rarely used midfielder Jordan Cousins and lowly Daniel Ayala both depart the club for pastures new.

Neither really stood a chance of coping with the level of football in the Premier League but it seems Queens Park Rangers and a recently relegated Everton certainly still see some kind of future for the duo.

With my young talent still held firmly at the club I only needed to add some depth to our threadbare squad but with a thirty million transfer budget in my pocket it was not going to be easy to hold back on my spending...

From: Schalke
Cost: £1.8 million​

If there was going to be one aware of the pitch that definitely needed strengthening it was my back line. The defence did just about enough in the Championship but with the likes of Costa, Aguero and Javier Hernandez scoring for fun in the top flight we needed the added defensive abilities of veteran defender Howedes to help hold the fort.

From: Out of Contract
Cost: Free​

For the first time since arriving back in the top flight I finally land a reputable free signing in the shape of Icelandic star, Gylfi Sigurdsson. When the attacking midfielder was released on a free by the Swans we wasted little time on jumping on their mistake, snapping up the experienced Premier League midfielder and adding him to our impressive ranks.

From: Porto B
Cost: £3.2 million​

The biggest and final signing of the window is our Portugese defensive prospect, Bernando Flores. Right backs seems to be few and far between in the fooballing world latley and in our attempts at landing a suitable first team addition I instead am left to sign up a future prospect in the hopes that he will repaidly develop when thrown in at the deep end of the Premier League. Good Luck.



And that was it...

Before the fans could cry out in panic, I threw the team into the Pre-season as I looked to turn my Championship runners-up into a Premier League outfit.

Its a risky strategy but despite not being entirely convincing in the second tier I still believe that with some tweaking these boys have got what it takes.

I'm starting to realise why the Premier League has been bullying me now...

​