FM_TNSSO
Member
- Joined
- May 10, 2018
- Messages
- 2,944
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- Points
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August 2020
August 2020
With a serious lack of funds available to us, I’ve really had to work the loan market this Summer and hope the youngsters I’m bringing in can do a good job for us. The latest to join is Gregor Preston, an 18 year old English central midfielder, from Arsenal. He looks like one of the most exciting prospects from all the lads I’ve brought in and I’m intrigued to see what he can do for us. Preston’s only competitive experience to date was a loan spell at Southend last season where he made 8 appearances in League One.
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We’ve been handed a really tough draw in the Checkatrade Trophy Group Stage. Not only do we take on two sides from League One, but the current holders Chelsea U23s are also in our group!!
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I’m very pleased to report that we haven’t lost any first team players over the Summer and here is the squad for the upcoming season as it currently stands.
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Saturday 8th August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Accrington Stanley (Home)
Kick-Off: 12:45
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies (Pask 71), Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes, Whitfield, Bailey (Preston 73), Hornby, Honesty (Ahearne-Grant 64)
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Perfect way to start the season. A solid home win against a side that did well last year and just missed out on the playoffs. The defence was solid and earned their clean sheet well. Ben Whitfield had a dream debut scoring two first half goals. All in all, I walk away from the opening day of the season a very happy man!
A number of players made their debuts in the Accrington game including Josh Pask, Odin Bailey, Gregor Preston and Roarie Honesty. However, it was Ben Whitfield who stole the show with a superb man of the match performance.
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Season ticket sales a very slightly down on last season. I wouldn’t expect it to rise until we are promoted.
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Tuesday 11th August 2020
Carabao Cup 1st Round: Wolves (Away)
Kick-Off: 19:45
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes, Whitfield (Preston 71), Bailey (Wright 83), Hornby (Ahearne-Grant 71), Honesty
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My first ever taste of the Carabao Cup….and it’s a ****** sweet one! What a fantastic performance from my boys to pull off a massive upset and beat one of the biggest teams outside of the Premier League and on their own turf. Now we’ll have a home draw against a Premiership side in the next round please!
Josh Wright was introduced in the 83rd minute against Wolves to make his debut for the club.
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Well we got a Premier League side in the Carabao Cup 2nd round draw as we wanted, as we are drawn against Brighton & Hove Albion. However, it wasn’t the home draw we was after and we’ll face another tough away day.
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Saturday 15th August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Oxford United (Away)
Kick-Off: 15:00
Lineup: Burge, Willis (Pask 71), Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes, Whitfield, Bailey (Preston 78), Hornby (Ahearne-Grant 61), Honesty
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Absolutely gutted to lose this one as we really didn’t deserve it. We played some beautiful football at times and the lads seem to be getting more comfortable with the new formation. Oxford’s two goals were good though….a well worked corner and a cracker from outside the box and they definitely look like a team to be reckoned with this year, which most would probably expect with them having been relegated from League One last season.
I mentioned the formation in my last game analysis and now I’ll show it to you. I have to admit I am quickly falling in love with it as it has everything. It initially looks very defensive but it’s actually deceivingly attacking. It is based on a solid defence with 3 at the back and a defensive midfielder….but this allows both wing backs to get far up the pitch and both of the central midfielders to go forward with plenty of freedom without having to worry about covering back. Although being defensively strong, it still allows for two strikers up front as well. The player roles change depending on who’s playing as I like to play players in their strongest role if I can, rather than a role I want them to play……I generally find better partnerships between players/roles as the season goes on…..not all are compatible. Also, team mentality, shape and instructions are changed depending on the team we are playing and if we are away/home. Anyway, this is my latest creation so thought I’d share.
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I still had no backup goalkeeper this season and have had a 16 year old on the bench for the past 3 games. I’m pretty happy with Lee Burge as my number 1, and have now added 21 year old Jared Thompson to the ranks as my number 2. Thompson, from Northern Ireland, has 8 U21 caps to his name and has been playing youth/reserve football at Chelsea and West Ham for the past few seasons. In amongst that, he did have a year on loan with Chippenham, where he made 40 appearance in the Vanarama National South….and he only conceded 28 goals in those 40 games!
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Saturday 22nd August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Barnet (Home)
Kick-Off: 15:00
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes (Wright 45), Whitfield, Bailey, Ahearne-Grant, Honesty
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What an incredible first half display the way from the lads as we raced to a 4-0 lead inside 29 minutes. The game was won and I can’t really fault the team for taking it easy in the 2nd half. Young Roarie Honesty is looking like a potential gem if he keeps up this goalscoring form for the rest of the season.
Wednesday 26th August 2020
Carabao Cup 2nd Round: Brighton & Hove Albion (Away)
Kick-Off: 19:45
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes (Donohue 59), Whitfield (Preston 80), Bailey, Ahearne-Grant, Honesty (Hornby 59)
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For the first time in my career, I faced Premier League opposition, and it got off to an absolute flyer as we took an unexpected lead inside the opening 5 minutes! From that 5th minute, I expected the inevitable barrage of attacks on our goal….but they never really came. It then looked like the referee had taken pity on them when he awarded an extremely soft penalty in the 59th minute. And when Lee Burge saved it, I thought ‘hang on a minute, this could be our day’! However, the attacks from Brighton became predictably more intense in the final 15 minutes and they were back on level terms with 10 minutes to go. A shout of encouragement from the sidelines spurred my boys on to hold on and take the game to extra time. ‘I’d take a penalty shootout all day long’ I thought! I found myself counting down the minutes in the final stages of extra time, already picking out my penalty takers in my head…..and it finally came….the final whistle. We’d taken them to penalties! My pride in my team at this point was bursting for all to see….now it just remained to be seen if we could hold our nerve in front of the Brighton crowd and knock the Premiership side out of the competition. And we came so very close, just 1 penalty away close in fact! After 4 perfect penalties, Jack Grimmer just had to put it away for us to win the game, but his shot was straight down the middle of the goal at the Brighton keeper who made an easy save. Brighton went on to win the shootout and we are defeated….but I’m not going to lay into any single one of these lads….they were f*cking brilliant!
Saturday 29th August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Hartlepool (Away)
Kick-Off: 15:00
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Kasim, Haynes, Whitfield (Wright 75), Preston, Hornby (Ponticelli 59), Honesty
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Oh the irony…..after going out of the cup on penalties in the last game, it’s a penalty which gets us all 3 points here against a resolute Hartlepool side.
Winger Jodi Jones just didn’t fit into my plans, so when Blackburn came calling on transfer deadline day I was keen to negotiate a deal to move him on. I’m ****** delighted with the outcome after Blackburn initially offered £200k for him, I managed to get them all the way up to £450k up front with the fee potentially rising to over £500k!
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Which brings the club finances out of the red for the first time since I arrived, and even gives me £112k to spend.
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With three wins from four games in the league, we’re right up with the pace, currently sitting 3rd. Port Vale lead the way as the only team with a 100% record.
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Player of the Month: Jack Grimmer
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Ben Whitfield picked up the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award.
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A very busy schedule ahead in September with no less than 7 games! Looking forward to the game against Billericay and looking at the league fixtures there is definitely some winnable games here and we have the potential to have a very good month.
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August 2020
With a serious lack of funds available to us, I’ve really had to work the loan market this Summer and hope the youngsters I’m bringing in can do a good job for us. The latest to join is Gregor Preston, an 18 year old English central midfielder, from Arsenal. He looks like one of the most exciting prospects from all the lads I’ve brought in and I’m intrigued to see what he can do for us. Preston’s only competitive experience to date was a loan spell at Southend last season where he made 8 appearances in League One.
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We’ve been handed a really tough draw in the Checkatrade Trophy Group Stage. Not only do we take on two sides from League One, but the current holders Chelsea U23s are also in our group!!
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I’m very pleased to report that we haven’t lost any first team players over the Summer and here is the squad for the upcoming season as it currently stands.
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Saturday 8th August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Accrington Stanley (Home)
Kick-Off: 12:45
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies (Pask 71), Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes, Whitfield, Bailey (Preston 73), Hornby, Honesty (Ahearne-Grant 64)
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Perfect way to start the season. A solid home win against a side that did well last year and just missed out on the playoffs. The defence was solid and earned their clean sheet well. Ben Whitfield had a dream debut scoring two first half goals. All in all, I walk away from the opening day of the season a very happy man!
A number of players made their debuts in the Accrington game including Josh Pask, Odin Bailey, Gregor Preston and Roarie Honesty. However, it was Ben Whitfield who stole the show with a superb man of the match performance.
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Season ticket sales a very slightly down on last season. I wouldn’t expect it to rise until we are promoted.
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Tuesday 11th August 2020
Carabao Cup 1st Round: Wolves (Away)
Kick-Off: 19:45
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes, Whitfield (Preston 71), Bailey (Wright 83), Hornby (Ahearne-Grant 71), Honesty
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My first ever taste of the Carabao Cup….and it’s a ****** sweet one! What a fantastic performance from my boys to pull off a massive upset and beat one of the biggest teams outside of the Premier League and on their own turf. Now we’ll have a home draw against a Premiership side in the next round please!
Josh Wright was introduced in the 83rd minute against Wolves to make his debut for the club.
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Well we got a Premier League side in the Carabao Cup 2nd round draw as we wanted, as we are drawn against Brighton & Hove Albion. However, it wasn’t the home draw we was after and we’ll face another tough away day.
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Saturday 15th August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Oxford United (Away)
Kick-Off: 15:00
Lineup: Burge, Willis (Pask 71), Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes, Whitfield, Bailey (Preston 78), Hornby (Ahearne-Grant 61), Honesty
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Absolutely gutted to lose this one as we really didn’t deserve it. We played some beautiful football at times and the lads seem to be getting more comfortable with the new formation. Oxford’s two goals were good though….a well worked corner and a cracker from outside the box and they definitely look like a team to be reckoned with this year, which most would probably expect with them having been relegated from League One last season.
I mentioned the formation in my last game analysis and now I’ll show it to you. I have to admit I am quickly falling in love with it as it has everything. It initially looks very defensive but it’s actually deceivingly attacking. It is based on a solid defence with 3 at the back and a defensive midfielder….but this allows both wing backs to get far up the pitch and both of the central midfielders to go forward with plenty of freedom without having to worry about covering back. Although being defensively strong, it still allows for two strikers up front as well. The player roles change depending on who’s playing as I like to play players in their strongest role if I can, rather than a role I want them to play……I generally find better partnerships between players/roles as the season goes on…..not all are compatible. Also, team mentality, shape and instructions are changed depending on the team we are playing and if we are away/home. Anyway, this is my latest creation so thought I’d share.
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I still had no backup goalkeeper this season and have had a 16 year old on the bench for the past 3 games. I’m pretty happy with Lee Burge as my number 1, and have now added 21 year old Jared Thompson to the ranks as my number 2. Thompson, from Northern Ireland, has 8 U21 caps to his name and has been playing youth/reserve football at Chelsea and West Ham for the past few seasons. In amongst that, he did have a year on loan with Chippenham, where he made 40 appearance in the Vanarama National South….and he only conceded 28 goals in those 40 games!
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Saturday 22nd August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Barnet (Home)
Kick-Off: 15:00
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes (Wright 45), Whitfield, Bailey, Ahearne-Grant, Honesty
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What an incredible first half display the way from the lads as we raced to a 4-0 lead inside 29 minutes. The game was won and I can’t really fault the team for taking it easy in the 2nd half. Young Roarie Honesty is looking like a potential gem if he keeps up this goalscoring form for the rest of the season.
Wednesday 26th August 2020
Carabao Cup 2nd Round: Brighton & Hove Albion (Away)
Kick-Off: 19:45
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Batty, Haynes (Donohue 59), Whitfield (Preston 80), Bailey, Ahearne-Grant, Honesty (Hornby 59)
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For the first time in my career, I faced Premier League opposition, and it got off to an absolute flyer as we took an unexpected lead inside the opening 5 minutes! From that 5th minute, I expected the inevitable barrage of attacks on our goal….but they never really came. It then looked like the referee had taken pity on them when he awarded an extremely soft penalty in the 59th minute. And when Lee Burge saved it, I thought ‘hang on a minute, this could be our day’! However, the attacks from Brighton became predictably more intense in the final 15 minutes and they were back on level terms with 10 minutes to go. A shout of encouragement from the sidelines spurred my boys on to hold on and take the game to extra time. ‘I’d take a penalty shootout all day long’ I thought! I found myself counting down the minutes in the final stages of extra time, already picking out my penalty takers in my head…..and it finally came….the final whistle. We’d taken them to penalties! My pride in my team at this point was bursting for all to see….now it just remained to be seen if we could hold our nerve in front of the Brighton crowd and knock the Premiership side out of the competition. And we came so very close, just 1 penalty away close in fact! After 4 perfect penalties, Jack Grimmer just had to put it away for us to win the game, but his shot was straight down the middle of the goal at the Brighton keeper who made an easy save. Brighton went on to win the shootout and we are defeated….but I’m not going to lay into any single one of these lads….they were f*cking brilliant!
Saturday 29th August 2020
Sky Bet League Two: Hartlepool (Away)
Kick-Off: 15:00
Lineup: Burge, Willis, Davies, Goode, Grimmer, Kasim, Haynes, Whitfield (Wright 75), Preston, Hornby (Ponticelli 59), Honesty
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Oh the irony…..after going out of the cup on penalties in the last game, it’s a penalty which gets us all 3 points here against a resolute Hartlepool side.
Winger Jodi Jones just didn’t fit into my plans, so when Blackburn came calling on transfer deadline day I was keen to negotiate a deal to move him on. I’m ****** delighted with the outcome after Blackburn initially offered £200k for him, I managed to get them all the way up to £450k up front with the fee potentially rising to over £500k!
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Which brings the club finances out of the red for the first time since I arrived, and even gives me £112k to spend.
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With three wins from four games in the league, we’re right up with the pace, currently sitting 3rd. Port Vale lead the way as the only team with a 100% record.
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Player of the Month: Jack Grimmer
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Ben Whitfield picked up the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award.
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A very busy schedule ahead in September with no less than 7 games! Looking forward to the game against Billericay and looking at the league fixtures there is definitely some winnable games here and we have the potential to have a very good month.
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