Tranmere Rovers 2014-15... Sky Bet League 2 Champions and FA Cup WINNERS
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loves to be home i guess
First pre-season friendly - Tranmere v Athletic Bilbao.
Played two different teams in each half, mostly. Some players I gave a longer run. Three injuries too, hope none are too serious at this point in the season. First half we won 2:0, second was 1:1 for 3:1 final score.
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Played two different teams in each half, mostly. Some players I gave a longer run. Three injuries too, hope none are too serious at this point in the season. First half we won 2:0, second was 1:1 for 3:1 final score.
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We're running through the numbers.
"Hey, I'm just looking at our team sheet. You do realise the match day rules for the Premier League regarding loan players, right?" Assistant manager Dave Watson is looking a bit nervous. "We can only play 2 loan players in a match day squad, and 4 all season". I look up. This might change our strategy a bit!
"OK", I say, gathering my thoughts, "our top four loan signings are Galloway, Kent, Ake and Barbosa. I'd like to play all four. Are you sure we can't?" Watson nods. "Hmm. Well we have Ake as first choice DC, but we have a lot of options under him. DL is a concern, Ake and Barbosa are my preference. Though we could switch Fabio to the left and start Schatzschneider on the right. Better use the trials to test combos. AMR/L is currently Kent/Teixeira, we could use Teixeira / Torrano but he's raw. We still have Almeida here on trial - maybe I'll see what his contract is worth for an MC option in place of Galloway."
"Hey, I'm just looking at our team sheet. You do realise the match day rules for the Premier League regarding loan players, right?" Assistant manager Dave Watson is looking a bit nervous. "We can only play 2 loan players in a match day squad, and 4 all season". I look up. This might change our strategy a bit!
"OK", I say, gathering my thoughts, "our top four loan signings are Galloway, Kent, Ake and Barbosa. I'd like to play all four. Are you sure we can't?" Watson nods. "Hmm. Well we have Ake as first choice DC, but we have a lot of options under him. DL is a concern, Ake and Barbosa are my preference. Though we could switch Fabio to the left and start Schatzschneider on the right. Better use the trials to test combos. AMR/L is currently Kent/Teixeira, we could use Teixeira / Torrano but he's raw. We still have Almeida here on trial - maybe I'll see what his contract is worth for an MC option in place of Galloway."
The bookies have us at 300-1 to win the premiership. Long odds - we are predicted to come 17th
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Very quick post - first game in Premier League:
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brooksey84
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Literally how do you do it?
Premier League Match Day 2:
On a high from the annihilation of West Brom on match day 1, the team prepared to play away to local rivals Liverpool , the reigning Premier Division champs. This was the first Premier League meeting of these two clubs steeped in history, and one the hosts were overwhelming favourites.
The match started brightly for Tranmere, with several good chances but none enough to beat an in form Simon Mignolet. On 26 minutes Galloway stole the ball deep in the Tranmere half, and floated a hopeful long ball towards Teixeira on the left
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It found the Liverpool right back Skrtel, who nodded it back towards Mignolet.
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But Skrtel did not get enough on the ball, and it dribbled slowly towards his keeper. The young Brazilian Gabriel, fresh from the U20 World Cup which brought him to the attention of the world, put on a burst of speed to find himself on the ball with acres of space.
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Worse was yet to come for Liverpool when Mignolet advanced to tackle, but Gabriel's forward momentum took him swiftly past the hapless keeper to have the goal at his mercy
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1:0 Tranmere, and the Anfield crowd are in shock. The score stayed that way to half time.
On 55 mins Moreno put a fairly harmless looking cross into the Tranmere box, filled with white shirts. Billing took the ball on the hip...
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and it deflected past a diving fon Williams into the Tranmere goal! 1:1
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75 mins, Henderson takes a corner for the hosts and sends it towards a lurking, and poorly marked, Balotelli
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Balotelli's shot was blocked by the Tranmere defence, but they could only deflect it out to the hovering Liverpool players circling like sharks for such an opportunity. Flanagan lined it up.
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And shot straight into a charging defender, but the rebound came straight to dos Santos next to him
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This shot was also deflected by a Tranmere defender, fon Williams this time, straight to Lovren right in front of him
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Lovren hit it on the volley, an amazing fourth shot in a row. Again it hit a defender, this time Daniels (I think) on the back post.
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The ball rebounded back out AGAIN to another hovering Reds attacker, this time Lucas Leiva on the right, who took probably the most difficult shot yet
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fon Williams made the save, but could only fend it off... straight to Rondon sitting on the post.
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With fon Williams lying prone he just had to put it to one side of the defender on the line, and he made no mistake. Liverpool 2:1 ahead, after the sixth attempt in a row! Brilliant work from both teams, desperate defending not quite enough to stop the marauding Liverpudlians.
But the game still had one last gasp. In the 86th minute, Torrano had some space and put in a dangerous looking cross
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It found new transfer Macleod, tightly marked by Flanagan.
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Too tightly apparently - penalty! It looked pretty harmless, but the ref saw something. Towell made no mistake from the spot - 2:2! And that's how it stayed.
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Liverpool had the better of the game, although lots of their shots did come from that one passage of play that led to their second goal. They were significantly better in the air though which is something to consider.
Macleod was PotM
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On a high from the annihilation of West Brom on match day 1, the team prepared to play away to local rivals Liverpool , the reigning Premier Division champs. This was the first Premier League meeting of these two clubs steeped in history, and one the hosts were overwhelming favourites.
The match started brightly for Tranmere, with several good chances but none enough to beat an in form Simon Mignolet. On 26 minutes Galloway stole the ball deep in the Tranmere half, and floated a hopeful long ball towards Teixeira on the left
View attachment 325215
It found the Liverpool right back Skrtel, who nodded it back towards Mignolet.
View attachment 325214
But Skrtel did not get enough on the ball, and it dribbled slowly towards his keeper. The young Brazilian Gabriel, fresh from the U20 World Cup which brought him to the attention of the world, put on a burst of speed to find himself on the ball with acres of space.
View attachment 325213
Worse was yet to come for Liverpool when Mignolet advanced to tackle, but Gabriel's forward momentum took him swiftly past the hapless keeper to have the goal at his mercy
View attachment 325212
1:0 Tranmere, and the Anfield crowd are in shock. The score stayed that way to half time.
On 55 mins Moreno put a fairly harmless looking cross into the Tranmere box, filled with white shirts. Billing took the ball on the hip...
View attachment 325211
and it deflected past a diving fon Williams into the Tranmere goal! 1:1
View attachment 325210
75 mins, Henderson takes a corner for the hosts and sends it towards a lurking, and poorly marked, Balotelli
View attachment 325209
Balotelli's shot was blocked by the Tranmere defence, but they could only deflect it out to the hovering Liverpool players circling like sharks for such an opportunity. Flanagan lined it up.
View attachment 325208
And shot straight into a charging defender, but the rebound came straight to dos Santos next to him
View attachment 325207
This shot was also deflected by a Tranmere defender, fon Williams this time, straight to Lovren right in front of him
View attachment 325206
Lovren hit it on the volley, an amazing fourth shot in a row. Again it hit a defender, this time Daniels (I think) on the back post.
View attachment 325205
The ball rebounded back out AGAIN to another hovering Reds attacker, this time Lucas Leiva on the right, who took probably the most difficult shot yet
View attachment 325204
fon Williams made the save, but could only fend it off... straight to Rondon sitting on the post.
View attachment 325203
With fon Williams lying prone he just had to put it to one side of the defender on the line, and he made no mistake. Liverpool 2:1 ahead, after the sixth attempt in a row! Brilliant work from both teams, desperate defending not quite enough to stop the marauding Liverpudlians.
But the game still had one last gasp. In the 86th minute, Torrano had some space and put in a dangerous looking cross
View attachment 325199
It found new transfer Macleod, tightly marked by Flanagan.
View attachment 325197
Too tightly apparently - penalty! It looked pretty harmless, but the ref saw something. Towell made no mistake from the spot - 2:2! And that's how it stayed.
View attachment 325194
Liverpool had the better of the game, although lots of their shots did come from that one passage of play that led to their second goal. They were significantly better in the air though which is something to consider.
Macleod was PotM
View attachment 325193
Match day 3. Tranmere at home to Spurs. The first 75 minutes were saw quite a few chances to both teams, but no goals. Then Macleod was tackled by Dembele deep in the Spurs territory.
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He swiftly moved the ball to Wilfried Bony on half way. Bony found Chadli on the right in some space
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Chadli was a touch faster than Barbosa tracking back, and managed to stay in front enough to put in a cross
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Bony rose to meet it on the near post, an easy headed goal, 1:0 Tottenham.
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78th minute, Shawcross plays the ball out of the backs
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He was looking for Lamela on the left, but Bocek, who had just come on to replace Fabio, read the play and intercepted, sending a deep ball straight back into danger territory
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He found Shawcross who nodded it back toward half way. Da Silva was waiting right there, and hit a raking pass first time out to speedster Cotterill on the right
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Davies intercepts (third intercept in quick succession) and dribbles back towards his own goal.
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Cotterill is pretty strong though, and basically strips him of the ball
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He selflessly passes to the much better finisher Gabriel waiting just next to (in front of???) him.
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Gabriel knocks it in. No offside, it's 1:1! Tranmere rescues a draw again!
The stats favour Tranmere this time
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Spurs centre back Shawcross was PotM. Sweeney and Da Silva the best for Tranmere.
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He swiftly moved the ball to Wilfried Bony on half way. Bony found Chadli on the right in some space
View attachment 325191
Chadli was a touch faster than Barbosa tracking back, and managed to stay in front enough to put in a cross
View attachment 325190
Bony rose to meet it on the near post, an easy headed goal, 1:0 Tottenham.
View attachment 325189
78th minute, Shawcross plays the ball out of the backs
View attachment 325188
He was looking for Lamela on the left, but Bocek, who had just come on to replace Fabio, read the play and intercepted, sending a deep ball straight back into danger territory
View attachment 325187
He found Shawcross who nodded it back toward half way. Da Silva was waiting right there, and hit a raking pass first time out to speedster Cotterill on the right
View attachment 325186
Davies intercepts (third intercept in quick succession) and dribbles back towards his own goal.
View attachment 325185
Cotterill is pretty strong though, and basically strips him of the ball
View attachment 325184
He selflessly passes to the much better finisher Gabriel waiting just next to (in front of???) him.
View attachment 325183
Gabriel knocks it in. No offside, it's 1:1! Tranmere rescues a draw again!
The stats favour Tranmere this time
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Spurs centre back Shawcross was PotM. Sweeney and Da Silva the best for Tranmere.
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So after three games, Tranmere undefeated (just) and in 7th. Chelsea on top
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Da Silva is our best performer thus far by ratings, with Gabriel 3 goals from 3 games. Excellent start for the lads!
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Da Silva is our best performer thus far by ratings, with Gabriel 3 goals from 3 games. Excellent start for the lads!
All skill
. Seriously though the tactics are particularly good, and I think that the computer has a couple of weaknesses that balance out the teams. They seem to select weaker teams for weaker opponents, which is probably realistic, but it makes them easier to beat. And there is a real momentum to games. If you get an early goal, you often see a few more go in straight away with the other team in shock. And in cup games in particular they seem to overcommit if they go behind, which means even the best teams are vulnerable to a blowout with everyone in attack. I had one screenshot in the Chelsea game (which they won, admittedly) that had 9 players in front of the ball, and it was close to the box. They had only one player anywhere near half way! I think it was still even then but it showed how aggressive the computer can be when they want a goal, which leaves them vulnerable.