Wales' Third Club-A Newport County Story

  • Thread starter Thread starter TheLuckDuck
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 7
  • Views Views 2K

TheLuckDuck

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
1,909
Reaction score
323
Points
83
Note-This is played on FM13, however I have skipped a year so the dates are correct, as are the relegation/promotions apart from a few

A question for you
My Liverpool story was very basic and only offering results etc, so do people want a more in-depth analysis, and if so in what form? Media, diary etc....

EDINBURGH WALKS, HAWKINS TALKS

Early yesterday morning rookie manager Matthew Hawkins was announced as the new manager of Newport County AFC.

The 26-year-old from Cardiff signed a one-year-deal with The Exiles yesterday and was reported to be "delighted".

The previously unknown Hawkins' CV consisted of stacking shelves at the local TESCO up until now, however he has been thrown in at the deep end with the financially-troubled Exiles.

Hawkins, a born-and-bred Cardiff City fan, had this to say.

"Obviously growing up so close to Newport, just down the road from Cardiff, I kept an eye out for their scores and I was delighted at their progress through the divisions under Dean Holdsworth and more recently Justin Edinburgh, hopefully I can carry Newport onto League 1 or even the Championship"


 
I started my job at Newport by evaluating the whole squad and then going to speak to the chairman, Mr Scadding to discuss transfer budgets and player contracts.

Whilst evaluating the squad I made a mental note of the best players, the worst players and where we needed improvement.

THREE BEST PLAYERS

BYRON ANTHONY
View attachment 447023
Club captain Byron Anthony is a top player and top professional, at 29-years-old he's at the height of his defensive powers and is a solid foundation to build on, he can also play anywhere across the back-line
ADAM CHAPMAN
View attachment 447022
The man nicknamed "The Northern Irish Zidane" by the Newport County faithful is our midfield maestro, the skill in an otherwise talentless midfield
HARRY WORLEY
View attachment 447016
Ex-Chelsea trainee Worley is a man mountain standing at 6ft 4in tall, he'll be struggle to get past for the most potent of attackers


OVERVIEW OF POSITIONS
Most positions need improving and strengthening as there isn't much depth at Newport

GOALKEEPER-Alan Julian and Lenny Pidgeley just aren't good enough for this level

LEFT-BACK-Andy Sandell is decent and could provide good cover for a man with more quality

CENTRE-BACK-With Byron Anthony and Harry Worley, it's our best position, Andrew Hughes will provide good cover

RIGHT-BACK-David Pipe is our only decent right-back so Byron Anthony may have to cover

LEFT-WING-Only Christian Jolley can play here really, may need to invest

MIDFIELD-**** poor, only Chapman and Porter are good enough for this level, will need to bring some players in if serious about promotion

RIGHT-WING-Just like left-wing only Kirk Millarcan play there, he's very poor as well

STRIKER-Connor Washington and Aaron O'Connor the only player able to play here, and they aren't the worlds best


SIGNINGS
Believe it or not, some deals have been done already thanks to my assistant, Jimmy Dack.

ADAM DODD-FROM BLACKPOOL FOR ?8,000

Dack obviously realised the lack of quality on the left flank and he's bringing in an exciting prospect from Championship side Blackpool


TARGETS
The scouts have drawn up some possible players to sign and here's the best of the lot

DANIEL BENTLEY-GOALKEEPER-SOUTHEND
FRANK SINCLAIR-RIGHT-BACK-COLWYN BAY
AIDEN O'BRIEN-STRIKER-MILLWALL
STEPHEN HEWITT-MIDFIELDER-BURNLEY
ANTONI SARCEVIC-MIDFIELDER-FLEETWOOD
MARK WRIGHT-RIGHT-WINGER-UNATTACHED

PLAYER CONTRACTS

I spoke to Mr Scadding and he gave me a list of the players on high wages and a list of those who were leaving on frees, they were identical

Ishmail Yakubu
Kirk Millar
Danny Crow
Robbie Wilmott
Joe Perry
Aaron O'Connor
Alan Julian
Lee Minshull
Lenny Pidgeley
Tony James
Jake Thomson

I was given ?400,000 to play with, the ?8,000 spent on Adam Dodd would not be deducted
 
View attachment 446916
PRE-SEASON AND TRANSFERS AT COUNTY-Written by the manager Matthew Hawkins

TRANSFERS
We signed quite a few players during the transfer market and bolstered the squad with good players for key positions

FRANK SINCLAIR FROM COLWYN BAY ON A FREE

View attachment 446910
We signed 41-year-old Jamaican right-back Frank Sinclair on a free from Colwyn Bay to bolster our weak right flank

DANIEL BENTLEY FROM SOUTHEND UNITED FOR ?95,000

View attachment 446904
This guy is an absolute gem, I went to watch him play for Southend in a few friendlies and he looked a world-beater, we needed a replacement for Julian/Pidgeley so we went and signed him for the measly fee of ?95,000

AIDEN O'BRIEN SIGNED FROM MILLWALL FOR ?14,000
View attachment 446903
Washington isn't up to it yet and Danny Crow's contract is ending so I went to to Millwall and nabbed this guy

STEPHEN HEWITT SIGNED FROM BURNLEY FOR ?60,000

View attachment 446901
I signed 19-year-old midfielder Hewitt from Burnley to add a bit of grit and tenacity to a weak middle

ANTONI SARCEVIC SIGNED FROM FLEETWOOD FOR ?200,000
View attachment 446900
English-born Serbian-U21 international Antoni Sarcevic will add the needed class to our midfield, hopefully grabbing a few goals/assists

Pre-Season
We toured Wales for our pre-season, playing Llanelli four times! We tested ourselves against Swansea and the best the Welsh Premier League had to offer.

Swansea City 1-1 Newport County
Shelvey-----------Millar

A good, even games between us and parent club (and current League Cup holders) Swansea City, we went ahead with a Kirk Millar strike just before half-time, however recent ?5m signing Jonjo Shelvey equalized in the 67th minute

Newport County 4-1 Cambrian & Clydach
O'Brien, Hghes, Worley, Crow----Giggs

No, it wasn't Ryan who scored the consolation for Cambrian and Clydach today, but Ian Giggs. Aiden O'brien put us ahead early on and Andrew Hughes doubled our advantage 20 minutes later, Harry Worley bagged a header on 44 minutes, before Ian Giggs scored a brilliant goal for the visitors. Danny Crow capped it off late on.

Newport County 2-0 Calsonic Kansei
Chapman, O'Brien

Adam Chapman scored a penalty in the first ten minutes and we continued the trend, battering the Calsonic defence with attack after attack, Irishman Aiden O'Brien scored our second just before half-time

Llanelli 0-4 Newport County
Own goal, Crow, Pipe, Drais

Our first of 4 games against Llanelli eneded with a 4-0 victory

Llanelli 0-2 Newport County
O'Brien (2)

Another couple of goals for Aiden O'Brien

Llanelli 0-3 Newport County
Sinclair, Washington, Jolley

Another drought against Llanelli

Llanelli 0-0 Newport County

Wow, well done Llanelli

PLAYER OF PRE-SEASON
AIDEN O'BRIEN
 
View attachment 445649
COUNTY OPEN SEASON WITH A BANG


Welsh side Newport County have shocked everyone with a brilliant start to their second season in League 2.

The Exiles have defied expectations by winning all but one of their opening matches

These performances and more importantly the results will have left new manager (who is thought to be the mastermind of this start) Matthew Hawkins delighted.

RESULTS

View attachment 445648
Northampton Town 0-2 Newport County
O'Brien, Sarcevic

Summer signings Aiden O'Brien and Antoni Sarcevic were on target today as we sunk The Cobblers with goals either side of half-time, an inspiring performance from captain Anthony led us to victory.

View attachment 439751
Newport County 1-0 Derby County
O'Brien

A brilliant performance from the boys against Championship opposition Derby County puts us through to the Second Round, amazing

View attachment 445648
Newport County 2-1 Bristol Rovers
Sarcevic, Chapman-----Own Goal

Another great performance from the team, especially the midfield as our two maestros Sarcevic and Chapman grab the goals and the points

View attachment 445648
Rochdale 0-2 Newport County
Sarcevic (2)

This boy can't stop scoring! Serbian U-21 international Antoni Sarcevic scores two beauties to beat Dale at Spotland

View attachment 445648
Southend United 0-1 Newport County
Chapman

A happy return for keeper Daniel Bentley as we steal the points from his ex-club Southend, a goal just after half-time sealed the points for us

View attachment 439751
Newport County 1-0 Hull City
Sandell

Full-back-come-winger Andy Sandell grabbed a goal from the wing today to beat one of The Championships better sides, another brilliant performance

View attachment 445648
Torquay United 1-1 Newport County
Mansell----O'Brien

Back down to earth with a draw at Torquay, an Aiden O'Brien goal puts us ahead, however Lee Mansells equalizer got a point for United

REVIEW-Despite the draw, we're sitting pretty atop of the league on 13 points, slightly ahead of Chesterfield

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ANTONI SARCEVIC

View attachment 445640
Who else? A brilliant month from the new man, I expect great things from this guy
 
View attachment 445624
COUNTY CONTINUE TO IMPRESS


September is thought to be the month the league blossoms and the teams show their credentials, County fans will be hoping this is true as The Exiles have racked up another impressive month.

Unfortunately the Cup Run has come to an end at the hands of Norwich however boss Hawkins remains optimistic and believes it will help the league campaign

View attachment 445622
Torquay United 0-2 Newport County
O'Brein, Amenku

We remained in Torquay for this one and there was no draw in the JPT, a comfortable victory for the lads

View attachment 445621
Rotherham United 0-1 Newport County
O'Brien

Another away game as we go up north to face Rotherham in the league, Aiden O'Brien scored a goal and nabbed the points

View attachment 445621
Mansfield Town 0-2 Newport County
Chapman, O'Brien

Our fourth straight away game ends in victory as we beat the battling Stags 2-0 on their own patch

View attachment 445621
Newport County 0-0 Fleetwood United

Our first home game for a while is a bore draw against fellow promotion-chasers Fleetwood

View attachment 439945
Norwich City 3-1 Newport County
Ellison

We travelled to East Anglia to face Norwich in a fierce cup tie, despite a long battle a superior and stronger Norwich side won the game and advanced

View attachment 445621
Oxford United 3-2 Newport County
O'Brien, Cosgrove

Oxford raced into an early two-goal lead however we pulled it back just before half-time, unfortunately instead of capitalizing we faltered and Oxford nicked with a penalty with four minutes to go

REVIEW-Another decent month, cup progression in the JPT, however we lost our unbeaten record both overall and in the league

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AIDEN O'BRIEN
View attachment 445617
The Irish U-21 international has come into his own this month, bagging 4 goals in 5 games
 
View attachment 445483
COUNTY CAPITALIZE

After being knocked out of the League Cup by Premier League Norwich City, Hawkins said that this could help the club focus on the league season

And it seems that he's right as County rack up an impressive month, losing but one game and that was in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy

Another plus, due to our good form the board have invested and given me ?150K to spend in January

View attachment 445464
Wrexham 0-1 Newport County
Sandell

A North-South derby between us and recently promoted Wrexham ends in a win for South Wales as we come away with the points

View attachment 445464
Newport County 2-0 Walsall
O'Brien (2)

Aiden O'Brien stole the show with two good goals to sink Walsall, O'Brien is proving to be a great signing and I hope he continues like this

View attachment 445463
Newport County 1-2 Swindon Town
Ellison

It looked like a 1-0 win to Swindon until Ellison equalized late on, unfortunately Paul Benson halted our dreams with a 92nd minute goal

View attachment 445464
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Newport County
Chapman

We visited Cheltenham and nabbed a point through an Adam Chapman goal

View attachment 445464
Newport County 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
O'Brien, Sandell

This game was a battle of the Irish strikers as Plymouth's Tyler Harvey took on U-21 rival and team-mate Aiden O'Brien, Harvey put Plymouth ahead however O'Brien equalized and Sandell scored from a wonderful piece of play to win it for us

View attachment 445464
Burton Albion 2-2 Newport County
Sarcevic (2)

Antoni Sarcevic won the Man of the Match award here at Burton and earned us a draw against the high-flying Albion

View attachment 445464
Newport County 3-0 Crawley Town
O'Brien (2), Wright

Three goals in the six minutes before half-time grabbed us the three points as O'Brien continues his free scoring form

View attachment 445464
Newport County 3-1 Accrington Stanley
O'Brien (2), Chapman

Aiden O'Brien continues to impress and gets a fourth in two gamse to sink Stanley at Rodney Parade, Adam Chapman scored the second

REVIEW-Despite being knocked out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this month was very successful, not losing a league game and winning a few comfortably

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AIDEN O'BREIN

View attachment 445461
Who else? The Irishman has shown his class this month bagging important goals and personal awards
 
View attachment 440365
COUNTY CAPITALIZE

After being knocked out of the League Cup by Premier League Norwich City, Hawkins said that this could help the club focus on the league season

And it seems that he's right as County rack up an impressive month, losing but one game and that was in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy

Another plus, due to our good form the board have invested and given me ?150K to spend in January

View attachment 440406
Wrexham 0-1 Newport County
Sandell

A North-South derby between us and recently promoted Wrexham ends in a win for South Wales as we come away with the points

View attachment 440406
Newport County 2-0 Walsall
O'Brien (2)

Aiden O'Brien stole the show with two good goals to sink Walsall, O'Brien is proving to be a great signing and I hope he continues like this

View attachment 440408
Newport County 1-2 Swindon Town
Ellison

It looked like a 1-0 win to Swindon until Ellison equalized late on, unfortunately Paul Benson halted our dreams with a 92nd minute goal

View attachment 440406
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Newport County
Chapman

We visited Cheltenham and nabbed a point through an Adam Chapman goal

View attachment 440406
Newport County 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
O'Brien, Sandell

This game was a battle of the Irish strikers as Plymouth's Tyler Harvey took on U-21 rival and team-mate Aiden O'Brien, Harvey put Plymouth ahead however O'Brien equalized and Sandell scored from a wonderful piece of play to win it for us

View attachment 440406
Burton Albion 2-2 Newport County
Sarcevic (2)

Antoni Sarcevic won the Man of the Match award here at Burton and earned us a draw against the high-flying Albion

View attachment 440406
Newport County 3-0 Crawley Town
O'Brien (2), Wright

Three goals in the six minutes before half-time grabbed us the three points as O'Brien continues his free scoring form

View attachment 440406
Newport County 3-1 Accrington Stanley
O'Brien (2), Chapman

Aiden O'Brien continues to impress and gets a fourth in two gamse to sink Stanley at Rodney Parade, Adam Chapman scored the second

REVIEW-Despite being knocked out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy this month was very successful, not losing a league game and winning a few comfortably

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
AIDEN O'BRIEN

View attachment 440420
Who else? The Irishman has shown his class this month bagging important goals and personal awards
 
what formation did you use? I am doing my fm14 career with newport, cant figure out best formation as i couldnt bring anyone in.
 
Back
Top