Fm19 The Rise of the Poole Town Dolphins!

[Abe Sargent]

I hope your day is strong and amazing, in equal measure!

Let’s get this FM19 thing started, right?

Right!

When I began playing FM back when it was still CM, I had two stints with lesser lower profile clubs in the EPL – Ipswich first, and then Bolton in the same game. My fist team, Ipswich, was meant to have a strong opportunity to learn the game. I brought in Taribo West to join fellow Nigerian international Finindi George on our roster. I built a tactic and moved Matthew Holland to DMC and created a 3-1-4-2 tactic around my DMC, and finished in the top ten in three seasons. Then I restarted as Bolton and took them much higher. I had this.

Then after I had learned the systems, I dove down into lower level English football and invested a lot of time trying to bring teams like Yeovil Town, Wrexham and Carlisle up top. Each year I would take one of these teams up to the EPL and then try to build them into a team that could stay at the top. It was deep into one of my final campaigns as Carlisle when I had just finished a season where they were a few spots short of the promotion playoffs for the EPL, and I got an unusual job offer for Kaiserslautern in Germany. They were offering a large kitty, and wanted to move up. I took the job, and secured one Bundesliga win during my time there, as well as really enjoyed myself. It was fun to do something different.


Next dynasty, let’s push that idea! I remember this, and I decided to head somewhere hard and far away from England. I chose Ukraine. I took over FC Metalurh Zaporizhya in the Ukrainian top league and took them high. I built them into a Ukrainian powerhouse, along with Dinamo Kiev and Shakhtar. I loved this dynasty, and I was bitten.

Over the next few years I would play in lesser leagues - Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece and such and have a lot of fun doing so. I finally decided to come home and rebuild Crewe Alexandria in England to an EPL club, and then I wanted to push my dynasty experiences. Let’s try out some top flights I hadn’t done before. I began a dynasty as Nacional da Madeira at a top flight club in Portugal, built up UD Melillia in Spain into a league winner, and then took La Liga club Athletic Bilbao to its first Champions cup win in its 6th year.

Now it’s time to return to basics and head back east. I built a club out in Romania, Sepsi OSK, into a new Eastern European powerhouse, much like Cluj. Then, during that dynasty, I took a job over at Huddersfield Town in the EPL in a post-Brexit and brought in a few of my Sepsi studs, namely the Romanian Messi Robert Lupu, and then had a strong campaign with Huddersfield in the EPL.

And that was it.

Now I want to Crewe thing thang, and come back to the UK in the turmoil of Brexit and push myself.

This dynasty was inspired by a throwaway line in a long ESPN The Magazine on what an EPL win would meant to Liverpool. That the AFC Liverpool team, a lower division one, is seeking to become the first fully fan owned professional team in England. So I looked it up, and it’s in way back in the North West Counties League. It’s in the 10th rung of the English football pyramid. That ain’t in the game. I downloaded a league option with down to 13th levels, and I created a coach! But I wasn’t feeling the quality of players there. I had an obvious route out (sign the top two or three players from the teams in that league, as most aren’t signed and are on month to month deals.) I didn’t enjoy that. So let’s pull it up.

[Abe Sargent]

I don’t know who I want to take! Here are my top choices right now…


Newport County – League 2. Welsh. I loved taking a Welsh club in Wrexham up to the top flight, and it would be fun to do so again! After Cardiff in the EPL and Swansea in Championship, Newport County are the next highest club in Wales on the English pyramid right now, in the 4th level of the pyramid. Newport is one of the 5 biggest cities in Wales at a mighty 150k. (England is another level of population entirely. Cities in the 150k range are in the 80s, 90s, in terms of population in Eng-er-land). The idea of a Newport County rise is appealing to me. However, up until now, every single Rise from England to the EPL has begun in this league at this level. Do I want to challenge myself and go deeper?


Wrexham – National League. Welsh. 5th level of the pyramid. I have never taken a team more than once. But if I want to take someone back to the top from the next level down in Wales, then why not Rise the Red Dragons again? They are the oldest team in Wales, and the third oldest team anywhere. So they have a fun, storied history. Their stadium is the home of the Welsh National team as well.


In fact, if Welsh club Merthyr Town F.C. were in the 6th level, rather than the 7th, then it would likely have been my choice.


Chester F.C. – National North, 6th level. Chester is a phoenix club formed in 2010 after Chester City went bye-bye and closed up it’s doors. Since then, Chester FC has had a Sepsi like meteoric rise up the charts, and has gone back and forth from 6th into 5 and again over the last few years, and in fact, this year will win their league and head back up to the 5th level. One of the cool things about Chester is that it’s on the border with Wales, and it’s stadium, Deva Stadium, is in Wales proper, but most of the club is in England. The area around Chester is pretty lightly populated for England, by the by.


Darlington F.C. – National North, 6th level. About 5 years ago, Darlington had some serious financial issues and was kicked out of the football league until they were resolved. A supporter’s trust stepped in to resolve the issues. Darlington is just 105k folks, near big cities like….Sunderland and Gateshead. It’s one of the lightest populated counties in England near the Scottish border. Darlington is also just a cool name for me to say. Welcome to Darlington!


Stockport County F.C., NL North, 6th division. Stockport County have had an interesting history. For more than 25 years, Stockport have been in the 2nd level of the pyramid. They were in the 3rd level around 40 years, and 4th around 35. After some financial difficulties around 10 years ago, they tumbled down to the 6th level, where they’ve been for a few years. Taking Stockport County up, and then to the EPL where they’ve never been, would be an interesting challenge. However, in real, in the 18-19 season, Stockport just won the NL North, so I would be taking a favorite into this dynasty for that specific division. That may not be the biggest issue, I just wanted to let you know. In fact there was a time I thought this was going to be Stockport County dynasty for sure, and named it “The Fall and Rise of Stockport County”. But then others came up too!


Northampton Town F.C. – League 2, 4th level. Another fun rise of a team from a city that really gets no respect. Welcome to Northampton!


Poole Town F.C. – National South, 6th level. It is in Poole, which is in farflung Dorset County. It’s a seaside town of around 150k. It also offers a 6th level challenge.


Do I want to take on a team that just got relegated this year, and try to take it up instead?

Those included Ashton United, Nuneaton Borough, Weston-super-Mare, Truro City, and East Thurrock United. What about one of those? Could I take on a WSM challenge? They’ve never been relegated, so let’s keep them from doing that now? Hmm… that’s not a bad idea either. Let’s add them as one of my finalists as well.


Here are my 8 finalists – Stockport County, Weston-Super-Mare, Wrexham, Newport County, Chester, Darlington, Northampton Town, Poole Town,

[JonInMiddleGA]

Over the years I think I've managed around half of these (poorly, but still).

For the sake of my own variety, I'll say Poole Town, largely on the basis of it being the one team in the list that I don't think I've ever heard of.

[Abe Sargent]

Over the years I think I've managed around half of these (poorly, but still).

For the sake of my own variety, I'll say Poole Town, largely on the basis of it being the one team in the list that I don't think I've ever heard of.

That's awesome! Let's leave it in for sure in a moment!


Poole:

https://www.pooletourism.com/imageresizer/?image=%2Fdbimgs%2FSandbanks%20Aerial%20Phil%20Jackson(1).jpg&action=FeaturedPagesLargeMediaGal

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/7727101/?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreen

[Abe Sargent]

Hmmmm…


Let’s pull Northampton first. I have the least loyalty to them, and if I am going to take league 2 club, it’ll be Newport County, not them. Ditto Darlington.

6 left.



All of the other 6 have something different and fun. Never been relegated! Brand new team who’s fast rise up the charts was stopped! Get the big(er) name back up! Get a Welsh club up top!

Let’s pull Wrexham. I’ve done them once. Although I do like them, their name, their crests, their logo, etc,

That leaves these five; here’s let’s look at their logos:


https://i.imgur.com/wq5RwbE.png


The Newport County Exiles; the Poole Town Dolphins; the Weston-super-Mare Seagulls; the Chester City Seals, and the Stockport County Hatters.


Chester? Sorry. Time to head home. You are my fifth least favorite of those logos and names. You don’t even look like a Seal!

I love the idea of a WSM challenge to take the reigns for them and to stop their relegation. But the Seagulls? And that logo? That just doesn’t pop to me. However you do have something here that relates to me better:

Here is how I rate these four dynasties in terms of difficulty –

1. Newport – easiest
2. Stockport – next easiest
3. Poole Town – 2nd hardest
4. WSM – Hardest

WSM is probably the hardest English challenge without using a mod. It came in last in the lowest level of the pyramid that’s available. If I can take them? And move them up? Even getting them to the FA stuff at 2nd league is something. And that challenge? That’s not nothing.


Who sells me? Newport out in Wales? Stockport’s head back up the charts? Poole Town and it’s fun seaside charm? WSM?

If I can stand to look at that tired logo for the next few weeks, then that's a fun challenge; and it wouldn't have been one of my early favorites either. And it has a cool name!

So here, let’s make it easy. I am going to load up FM19. And if I can stand the logo and can work with it there? Then let’s grab the underdog and hardest current English challenge without a mod and then move on.



https://i.imgur.com/1SGfxYq.png

Yuck. Sorry WSM!

I am clearly not a Seagull.

And that leaves three...

[Abe Sargent]

Who am I going to be?

Find out!!!


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/skypdjUTK-U" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Izulde]

FWIW, I'm also on the Poole Town train because seaside city.

So that's 2 votes for PT. ;)

[Poli]

Yay for Poole Town. Crazy to have a video for it, but that was pretty awesome as well.

[Abe Sargent]

Glad you like it!

[Abe Sargent]

Brexit 2018 Update – The Old Firm Compromise


Hello viewers and welcome back! As you know, we have some massive breaking news out of Scotland and England regarding Brexit. As you recall, things were very contentious after the Brexit vote when people from Scotland voted heavily in favor of remaining in the EU. Independence movements have risen since. In order to quell the rising tide of independence, an agreement that had been quietly hammered behind the scenes was made, and it took months to work out the details, but here it is!


In order to help keep the UK together, the two Scottish teams referred to as the Old Firm from Glasgow – Celtic and Rangers, have been moved to the English Premier League. There have been a number of times when this has been proposed, and as recently as 2014, they considered it. Given the current political crisis, bringing everyone together on the pitch is seen as a sign of unity.

Therefore, the following football changes have been made:

1. In Scotland, the Rangers and Celtic are moved to the EPL.
2. In Scotland, Ross County and Dundee are brought up to the SPL. Arbroath and Forfar Athletic will replace them and move up.
3. In England, the following teams are relegated down;
a. EPL – Huddersfield and Fulham
b. Championship – Rotherham and Ipswich
c. 1st League – Bradford City and Scunthorpe
d. 2nd League – Notts County and Yeovil Town
e. National Premier – Maidstone United and Braintree
f. National South/North – Truro and Nuneaton Borough

In all cases, those moved up in Scotland were expected to win their division, and down that relegated were expected to lose.

The resulting changes are going to modify football in the UK forever!

[Abe Sargent]

Its 1987, and Abdullah El Haddad had just left his home in Marrakesh Morocco for his big break in the K League 1 in South Korea for Jeju United. Like many players, he wound up heading east for leagues and teams he had never heard of after being offered more than twice as much as many others make. Or that he was expecting it for his first professional deal. At the young age of 19, he had been capped at the U19 level for Morocco, and now the former youth international was heading on a rotation deal. Abdullah would remain in Korea for 11 years, and moved from Jeju, then Ponhang after four years. Then, despite his versatile ability to play a lot of roles and positions on the pitch, he was not retained. He was capped 12 times by Morocco’s senior club. A minor club in Indonesia made let him know they were interested, but instead, he returned home.

While in Korea, Abdullah married Chan-Ri, a local Korean woman. They had already had two children, a boy named Ibrahim El Haddad who was 8, and a girl named Adilah el Haddad who was 5, another girl at the age of 4 who was named Imane El Haddad, with another child on the way. The money that Abdullah had moved to South Korea for, wasn’t enough for a family of six. (Eventually seven). They took a job in England at Bournemouth, at a local football club AFC Bournemouth, in 1998, when Bournemouth were getting mid-table finishes in what was then the 2nd League (Now known as the League One) in the 3rd stage of the football pyramid. Abdullah joined as a coach for the reserve team, and then after Mel Machin had a strong ‘98-‘99 as the manager and finished 7th he promoted Abdullah to a head coach of the senior team, specifically tactics, where Abdullah was the strongest as a player.

Abdullah survived the purge of Mel Machin after the team fell to 16th the next year, and remained as a staff member for them in different ways and methods for years until 2008, when the team was put into administration, and many of the staff left. By that time, Abdullah was connected enough to survive, and moved to other coaching roles in the area, where he still remains today.

His son, Ibrahim El Haddad, of Moroccan and Korean lineage, takes after his father in many ways. He loves the game, can speak English, but is Moroccan and South Korean, was capped by the U19 Moroccan international team who often brings in foreign children of immigrants to its national side, before being capped 23 times. Ibrahim came up naturally in Bournemouth’s youth club, and then played for their youth team naturally. In 2006, he was signed and became a member of their team, and in 2011, after some loans to lower level clubs, he got some first team substitutions and starts. After Bournemouth dropped to an unfortunate #11, the manager was dropped, and a new one was brought in for the 12-13 season. Could Ibrahim be a part of that? After a poor start to the season, the manager was sacked, and Howe was brought in. In order to bring in fresh blood, Ibrahim got an extended run of 5 starts, but while he never disappointed or embarrassed, he also never caught on either. While the team was rocketing up the charts under the new manager, Ibrahim was sold in the January window to fellow League One team Wycombe, who were looking for help against was appearing as a relegation battle. It was. Ibrahim was played, and his form neither rose to the point he helped recuse their fortunes, or fell, and embarrassed himself. He was always a professional, strongest when used in a tactical role. They were relegated to League 2.

Wycombe was in the midst of it’s own financial issues, and the supporters were looking at buying it, so many players were released on a free, as was Ibrahim. Just one team was interested in bringing him in – Poole Town. They had just won promotion from the Southern League Premier Division and were looking to stock up on players. As the city of Poole is next to Bournemouth, Poole Town AFC was familiar with him from the area, football, Bournemouth, and his father’s reputation as a good tactics coach. Ibrahim joined Poole Town at the age of 23. He has never left.

Ibrahim was a much better player for Poole Town, in part due to the level of competition, and he was just on a part time contract. Two years later, he signed a player/coach deal so he could take on a full time contract. Then, shortly thereafter, he was injured with a six-month broken foot. During his time, his understanding of football grew, and he qualified for 2 coaching licenses in just a half year when they normally take twice as long.

With his mind on coaching more and more, he moved more into that role, and his playing role decreased. He was not the same player after returning from his injury, and slowly, both Poole Town and Ibrahim realized that he was more of a coach. 15 months ago, El Haddad was named as the Assistant Manager of last Poole Town. Poole Town have never been at this level before, and were very competitively early on, and got promoted to the big leagues. Then last year, the new manager, was deep in the relegation zone with 6 games to go, and was let go, and El Haddad was named the caretaker manager, but he notched a surprising 3 wins in those 6 games, when they only had 7 wins in the first 40.They narrowly avoided relegation. Therefore, Poole Town has removed the caretaker title, and granted Ibrahim El Haddad his first football manager role.

[Abe Sargent]

Ibrahim El Haddad, 29, Morocco, South Korea, 23 caps, 2 goals.

https://i.imgur.com/v2IPYsK.png

https://i.imgur.com/WSJaUYs.png

Enjoy!


(This ID is a throwback to my UD Melilla dynasty set in the Moroccan city of Melilla, which is Spanish. I took it to the Champions Cup from Spain and won! We also brought in multiple strong South Korean players to make our team work. Thus the South Korea and Morocco combo)

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to Poole!


http://static.trip101.com/paragraph_media/pictures/000/248/023/large/Durdle_Door_Overview.jpg?1502341873

https://static.trip101.com/paragraph_media/pictures/000/248/024/large/800px-The_Pier_2C_Brownsea_Island_2C_Poole_2C_Dorset.jpg?1502341875

https://live.staticflickr.com/1516/24680519610_7b7714e803_b.jpg

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/8743814.jpg?display=1&htype=0&type=responsive-gallery


https://www.ilivehere.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/9457565522_15088767cd_z-e1455732180104.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

One of Poole's beaches has won the European Blue Flag more than 30 years in a row, btw.


https://citysightseeing-bournemouth.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/sandbanks-beach.jpeg

It's the Sandbanks Beach

https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/public/geophotos/2948264.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Other major tourist-y things in Poole include:

Compton Acres:

https://static.trip101.com/paragraph_media/pictures/000/248/029/large/800px-Poole_Compton_Acres_beboste_vallei_17-10-2011_14-41-54.png?1502341876

https://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/images/galleries/compton-acres/compton_acres_italian_garden.jpg


Poole Harbor

https://static.trip101.com/paragraph_media/pictures/000/248/027/large/800px-023_The_Twin_Sails_Bridge_2C_Poole_Harbour_2C_Dorset.jpg?1502341875


Upton Country Park

https://static.trip101.com/paragraph_media/pictures/000/248/025/large/800px-Upton_House.jpg?1502341875


Corfe Barrows Nature Park

https://pooleprojects.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Corfe-West-site-sign-671-x-900.jpg

https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/styles/node_hero_default/public/getdorsetbuzzing_28.jpg?itok=vylg0Qu0


The Splashdown WaterPark

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0f/da/7b/83/photo0jpg.jpg


The Jurassic Coast

https://www.pooletourism.com/imageresizer/?image=%2fdbimgs%2fDurdle%20Door%20Header.jpg&action=FeaturedPagesLargeMediaGal

The New Forest National Park

https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/imageresizer/?image=%2Fdbimgs%2FNew-Forest.jpg&action=PageHeader

https://images.campsites.co.uk/subregion/188/7d354d0e-d719-4aa3-a88d-5304bb987b3e/1362/600/either/campsites-in-the-new-forest.jpg

Farmer Palmer's Farm Park

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/d3/8e/55/farmer-palmer-s-farm.jpg

https://stockeldpark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Fosters_Farm_Layslider_1230x5004.jpg

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/d9/28/85/farmer-palmer-s-farm.jpg


Pier Approach

https://www.letsgoout-bournemouthandpoole.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/14227_City-Cruises-Poole-Solent-Scene-Red.jpg

http://www.tripstoengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Bournemouth1.jpg

Which includes the Ferris wheel known as Poole's Big Wheel!

https://www.visitbournemouth.com/images/Poole%20Big%20Wheel/Poole%20Big%20Wheel%201.jpg

Poole Quay

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Poole.quay.750pix.jpg

https://www.resortdorset.com/fcimages/images/dorsetnews/Poole-Quay-Chris-Jones.jpg

https://www.pooletourism.com/imageresizer/?image=%2fdmsimgs%2fCRABBING_REF2912_703008547.jpg&action=ProductDetail

https://www.pooletourism.com/imageresizer/?image=%2fdmsimgs%2fBaden-powell_69571969.jpg&action=ProductDetail


Poole Stadium

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Poole_Stadium_grandstand.jpg/1280px-Poole_Stadium_grandstand.jpg

https://www.pooletourism.com/imageresizer/?image=%2Fdmsimgs%2FGreyhounds_Racing_404873253.jpg&action=ProductDetail

BTW - Poole Town FC played at the Poole Stadium for more than 60 years! It hosted the 2004 Motorcycle Speedway World Cup, won by Sweden.

[Abe Sargent]

Welcome to Poole Town FC:


Poole Town, Semi-Pro, 2500 Stadium at Tatnam Ground (we rent Tatnam Ground), Founded 1890, this is the highest it’s ever been, okay finances, expected at 22nd, poor training and youth facilities, no philosophies



Tatnam Ground:

http://d2dzjyo4yc2sta.cloudfront.net/?url=images.pitchero.com%2Fui%2F490922%2Fimage_5a513d7db244e.JPG&w=820&t=fit&q=85

http://d2dzjyo4yc2sta.cloudfront.net/?url=images.pitchero.com%2Fui%2F490922%2Fimage_5b843c6691535.JPG&w=952&h=952

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TdmGm-vCDYI/maxresdefault.jpg


At a Match:


https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/5929648/?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreen

https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article7807182.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Poole-Town-FC.jpg

[Abe Sargent]

Did you know:

That Poole is one of the largest towns in the UK without a professional football team?

[Abe Sargent]

I hand my AssMan friendlies.

Wage – Budget - 4169/week, 2772 current

I have just one AssMan and one coach, so I set up an advertisement for more staff

Because of how complex the new training system is, for now, I am handing that off.

https://i.imgur.com/frHaz98.png

[Abe Sargent]

My AssMan suggests that I ask for an updated training facility. I do not, I just arrived.



What tactics do I want?

I need some good tactics to punch my foes.

Here’s what they have:

7x 4-1-4-1
12x 4-4-2
2x 4-2-3-1
1x 5-2-1-2

As you can see, we have a number of 4-4-2s and 4-1-4-1s. Anything that stands out?

4-1-2-2-1? 4-2-3-1? Let’s try 4-2-3-1 with a Control Possession mindset.

[Abe Sargent]

My Goals for Poole Town –

1. Steer clear of relegation this season. Last season we barely avoided it. We cannot keep that going.
2. Get to a place where we can win this division. Out of a division of 22, only two get out each year. The only guaranteed spot is winning, and then a playoff for the next spot, which I can’t aim for.
3. Compete in the next level in the Conference Premier league. Stay up.
4. Create the financial wherewithal needed to become a pro team.
5. Advance to League 2 and give Poole their first FA league and pro football team, and something to add to the tourism of the city.
6. Ideally? Repeat. Stay up. Promote, stay, etc.

But I can’t do it with these guys; here’s my current squad:


https://i.imgur.com/fw3Qqnt.png

They are not...good.

I need to target some better players – starting with a new GK. I also need to upgrade my DC, and right FB, and maybe AML.

[Abe Sargent]

Now, I do have some good news. We are considered to have the best scouts at our level. That should help bring some balance to the force as we should have a decent chance at finding replacements.

Now, just to show you my team a little, here are my five best players!

Corby Moore is, by far, my best player!

https://i.imgur.com/rcLYPwC.png



Now Moore is not just good, but he’s good for this level as well, so he’s someone I can rely on. Here’s, let’s look:

I take a look at the quality difference in players from my squad to the squad that won the league this year – Torquay. Every single Torquay player is better than mine!

But not that much.

For example, how about we look at the number of pertinent stats at 10 or more for Liam Davis over at Torquay.

Davis:

12 – Agi, Flair, OTB
11 – Cross, Acc, Pace, Teamwork, Balance,
10 – Drib, Pen Take, Techni, Jump, Work Rate, Anticipation

Now here is one of my best players at the same position – Corby Moore:

Moore:

12 – Aggression
11 – Pass, Dribb, Acc, Pace,
10 – Corners, Techni, Work Rate, OTB, Concentration, Agi, Stamina

Now sure, Davis is better overall. He has two more 12s, and 14 total 10+ stats, where as Moore has 12 total, but often lower. His guy is better. But it’s not a blow-out. I need to focus on bringing in new talent that will work for Poole Town.

[Abe Sargent]

Next?

https://i.imgur.com/6OLne1c.png

Here is Marvin Brooks, note the lack of any technical stats in the double digits.

https://i.imgur.com/vrPaPMO.png


Here’s Luke Roberts…as you can see, he’s isn’t that good either.

4th best?

https://i.imgur.com/HeTjvw0.png

At least Will has a decent heading, mark, tack, and pass, so he’s not bad technically. I didn’t think that I’ll move from Will Spetch anytime soon. Now he isn’t a fullback, he’s better at a DC.

#5 is Bedford

https://i.imgur.com/7NRYTz1.png

[Abe Sargent]

6-10 in order.

https://i.imgur.com/LOlLHk5.png

https://i.imgur.com/9Z1lUyE.png

https://i.imgur.com/BAW2Z2W.png

https://i.imgur.com/nYVwTdf.png

https://i.imgur.com/DktXhpH.png

[Abe Sargent]

So now what?

I make offers to:

GK Andrew Thomas

DC Jayden Corbridge

DR Elliot Kebbie

AMR Jordan Elliot


These four are among the best available on frees right now

I am also scouting tons of folks too. Maybe I can find a diamond in the rough! Maybe Akeel Francis at ST? I make him an offer as well. Charlie Ball? Doesn’t think we can send him enough cash, although he would at least return our call. On the other hand, former youth for Fulham, Yazid Khanay is willing to come here, so I make him an offer.

I also offer to two youther unsigned GKs as well. I need backups too.

What about loanees? At this stage I am very, very happy to do anything I can to stay out of the relegation fight, including developing another team’s players! I scout a few potential loanees as well.




Are we ready to hit that continue button? I think so!

Let’s move this game forward

[Abe Sargent]

A day passes, my 1st presser is here.

On the 27th, Elliot joins us

Here’s my first signing!

https://i.imgur.com/8hdxGDd.png

This is Jordan Elliot. As you can see, he’s good on the wings, with solid pass/cross/1st touch/tech and he’s very fast. Very fast. Now he needs time to grow, but he has the chance too.

Here are his reports, in case you care:

https://i.imgur.com/Nazhdd2.png


As you can see, he’s one footed, selfish, and peripheral, and his biggest issue is that he won’t throw himself in there. But….you can see the various pros he has. Not bad, right?

I sign youther GK Jack Collins for depth

[Abe Sargent]

Kebbie joins me, after I up his deal as Eastbridge also made him an offer:

Kebbie is my best new player I’m bringing to the squad:

https://i.imgur.com/i2wRdj5.png

https://i.imgur.com/NzEFu2M.png

Here’s Kebbie!

Kebbie is on the level of a strong player for this level, and he can lock in my DR spot for me all day long.

Welcome to July!

I sign a GK Coach named Hesp.


A few folks have come free and are now interested in us. I make some offers.

[Abe Sargent]

On the 3rd, GK Thomas arrives


https://i.imgur.com/DB02VzG.png


He’s not great. But he was the best we could bring in off the free agency scrap heap, and he’s a definite upgrade.

Corbridge and backups GK Stedman and GK Beardmore arrive as well!

https://i.imgur.com/Avh7Bgk.png

Welcome Jayden!

I now have 4 GKs that could, in a pinch, be pressed for service I move GK Collins to my U23 squad. He’s the least developed of my lot, but Beardmore, Steadman, and Thomas are all around the same ability. My coaches rate Steadman at 2.5 stars, so we’ll start him early to see what’s what. He’s my best Aerial and ball handler and distribution person, but his 1:1s, reflexes, 1st touch, and such aren’t as good as the other two.

https://i.imgur.com/B5TPg4T.png

https://i.imgur.com/UL3w4P7.png

Here you go!

[Abe Sargent]

Score!

My best prospect, someone who just came free, joined us:

https://i.imgur.com/qzY7yBu.png

Kitching could be my best acquisition. But not for now.

https://i.imgur.com/BVIACyi.png

DMC Kitching Is young at 16, and isn’t that great, right? But where he is good is that he has a strong, high potential.

Here’s probably my last signing you likely just read about

https://i.imgur.com/kDFB7QN.png

He’s really just here for depth and fun times

[Abe Sargent]

Right now, here is my Starting XI


GK Stedman

DC Corbridge, Whisken

DR Kebbie
DL Spetch

MC Bedford, Moore

AM - R, L, C, in order – Elliot, Devlin, Brooks,
ST Balmer

I could also see myself with Roberts at ST in lieu of Balmer.


Any stud loanees that came available?

As of right now, I have 3917 of 4064 in my budget spent, so I have a little room for stuff, but I’d prefer a strong loanee right now if possible. Nope. No one. Ah well.

I make an offer for a Fitness Coach.

[Abe Sargent]

I am spending time talking about folks with good training or bad, to motivate them to keep up or turn it around, as the case may indicate.

https://i.imgur.com/8u2Usbz.png


Here’s an example of the new training in practice – this is my weekly review I get sent in.

Our first friendly vs Portland United arrives! We win 4-2, MOM was ST Olly Balmer with 2 goals. Elliot had a minor 1 day injury.

[Abe Sargent]

I sign Dale McFerran as my new fitness coach

I offer English stud Paul Robinson my U23 manager position

I am attending the English Trial Day on July 13th.

We sign Robinson and a Spanish scout

I go to the board and get permission to add another coach

I make offers for a few youthers from the Trial Day.

We defeat Yeovil Town n a Friendly 2-1. MOM is Elliot, and goals by Balmer and Roberts.

I bring in a Ghanian player named Cliff Akurang as my new coach.

I name Corbridge my Vice captain after I keep Whisken as my captain









I sign a few youth and send them to my U23 squad.

Our U23 team thumps another 7-0.

Our third friendly is ours 1-0 against Nottingham Forest U23 squad. Balmer with a goal, Devlin with the MOM

[Abe Sargent]

My board agrees to fund the license classes for two of my coaches

We are 20-1 odds to win and 3-1 that we are going down.


Our 4th friendly against Dorchester Town is here. DC Will Spetch heads out with a Red in the 3rd and it’s a 0-0 tie.

Welcome to August!

Bromley Town are here for their Friendly. We tie 1-1, score by Balmer.

My final friendly is here. We have Brockhenhurst.

We hammer them 3-1 MOM is Elliots, goals by Balmer, Devlin, and Bedford.


Now we finished 4-0-2 with no losses in our friendlies. These includes one team from the 7th level whom we just faced, 2 teams on our level, two teams above us in the 5th, and then the U23 club of a team in the Championship. I consider that to be a good boon for success!


We begin the season with a rough Torquay game! (We started this season 0-4 in this game against Torquay. Can we change that?)

[Abe Sargent]

Luckily, we host them!

Ready?

https://i.imgur.com/DucOKyd.jpg

It’s time!


I am not normally going to do this detailed of a result, but as it is my first match, why the hell not?

https://i.imgur.com/QdtpQzV.jpg

We score in the 21st as Brooks feeds Whisken in the box for goal off a free kick set piece. We’ve been the better team thus far – 6 shots, 3 on target, 61% of possession. Spetch and Brooks have cards in the 1st.

https://i.imgur.com/PZkdmOf.jpg

Brooks with a lethal pass that sets up Moore for a goal 12 minutes later. They claw one back on a counter in the 41st. In the 43rd, they get a 2nd yellow, and get a red card. I pull my two cards in Brooks and Spetch. I send in Pettefer for Spetch and move Moore to the DL spot. SMeeton for Brooks.

Half

Our foes keep collecting cards, we do not. In the 75th they get another double yellow. I send in Kitching. Elliot with a card. They get another red. Smeeton with a card. We win 2-1. MOM is Corby Moore.

The Card Game!

https://i.imgur.com/JwNhMNM.png

[Abe Sargent]

Game 2 – Away vs Hungerford – I retain my lineup. Our foes lost, and are predicted to be 21st, right behind us. We have a chance to get another result after our surprising one against Torquay. We have some early initiative and shots, but their GK is up to the challenge until the 11th when Balmer sinks the ball from an in the box assist by Devlin. One of their middles has to be subbed out to to injury. Half. We are up 1-0. In the 49th, Kebbie feeds Devlin for goal and that should be our cushion. I send in Smeeton and Roberts. In the 68th, they get a red card, the first card of the game for either side. I send in Yazid Kaikey for Moore. We hold and win 2-0. MOM is Kebbie.


Clean sheet? Yeah!


Game 3 – Away vs Weston-Super-Mere – As you may recall, WSM Came in dead last during the year we are currently simming, so this is a doable result. I make no changes to my roster. In the 23rd, they score off a nasty longshot that rebounds off the bar. Then in the 41st, Balmer pounces on a loose ball for goal. Half. I send in DC Walker for a carded Corbridge, and then DR Kebbie is pulled for Smeeton for the same reason. In the 69th, Spetch to Devlin for goal, and we break the tie. I send in Kitching at the MC spot, and he finds Balmer for an attack run in the 83rd for goal. We win 3-1, MOM is Balmer with two goals.

Good job all!


I give Marshall a pro-contract part time after he turns 17.

[Abe Sargent]

Devlin was named in the Team of the Week.

Game 4 – Home vs Slough Town, currently 21st. No changes. Pick up where you left off! Slough scores on the 13th. Our corner score in the 15th is waived offsides. Elliot booked. Another goal by us waived offside in the 21st. 13 minutes later, they score, and we have a few cards at the half, down 0-2. I tell my lads, in no uncertain terms to show me something else. In the 51st, Devlin grabs a goal, and it’s 1-2. I send in Roberts for an underperforming Balmer at ST and a card-ed Spetch for Smeeton. In the 63rd, They score again to make it 1-3. Then over the next two minute, we score twice, including a 69th minute goal by Roberts, and we have it locked 3-3.


https://i.imgur.com/NcFhXuG.png

Now, can we get that 4th goal? I still have two cards that I want to pull as well.

In the 70th?

https://i.imgur.com/44NHowQ.jpg

We have scored 3 goals in 7 minutes! Kitching for Bedford. In the 84th, Moore gets another yellow and is red-ed. Can we hold? Yes, we do! 4-3!

[SirFozzie]

If you get fired, does that mean everyone's out of the Poole? :)

[Abe Sargent]

Moore is banned for our next match vs St. Albans

Game 5 – Away vs St. Albans, currently 19th in the league. Keep up our run! I start Smeeton for Moore. We have a slooow, boring game. 0-0 at the half. Show something else. I send in Roberts for Balmer, and he scores in the 69th off a cross from Elliot. I send in Kitching for Smeeton. Walker too. St. Albans pushes hard. They get off multiple shots and offensives. We hold and win 1-0.

Nicely done!

I think we’re doing well because we got lucky with Torquay and then that set us up for four wins with not-good teams. Here are the current ratings of our non-Torquay victims. Plus Torquay is up to 5th, btw.:

10th
19th
21st
22nd

[Abe Sargent]

If you get fired, does that mean everyone's out of the Poole? :)

I suppose that it would meant that! :)

[Abe Sargent]

September

Sept 1 - Home vs Concord
Sept 8 – Away vs Hampton
Sept 11 – Home vs Billericay
Sept 15 – Away vs Woking
Sept 22 – FA Cup Round #2
Sept 25 – Home vs Dartford
Sept 29 – Away vs Hemel Hempstead

These teams include 8th, 9th, 19th, 4th, 7th, 11th.

Ibrahim El Haddad wins Manager of the Month with 15 points in 5 games.

Game #6 – Home vs Concord – Keep up our run! Moore is back at the starting spot. Multiple offensive turned aside by our GKs. 38th, Concord scores off a throw in deep by the goal. Half. Roberts for Balmer. They grab another goal in the 81st after I send in Dickson and Kaikay. We lose 2-0. We were never really in this game.


Back down to normality

[Abe Sargent]

Game #7 - Away vs Hampton – I start Roberts at ST today. Early, they score in the 9th minute, and then in the 17th, Roberts fires, it’s blocked by their GK, and he fires again after hitting the rebound for goal. In the 42nd, they hit a counter, half, we are down 2-1, but we are ahead statistically. I pull an underperforming Elliot on the right Wing for Dickson. In the 71st, Dickson is found by Brooks for goal to tie it up! Then in the 75th, Roberts again finds goal after Spetch feeds him a cross, and we are up by one just like that. I send in DC Walker. Brooks with the game’s lone card. I pull him for Yazid K. Can we hold? We score in the 91st, MC Jez Bedford to Devlin for goal. That’s going to be too hard to survive. We win 4-2. MOM is Roberts. Good comeback win!

Back up to high flyers? I wasn’t expecting that one, although our 4-2-3-1 is typically strong against their 4-4-2.

We draw Merstham in the Cup.

Four of my players are in Team of the Week – Bedford, Roberts, Stedman, Dickson


Game #8 – Home vs Billericay - I leave in Roberts as the hot leg right now fresh off two goals. Keep up our run! In the 18th, Elliot to Devlin for goal. Quiet half. In the 68h, Roberts breaks through the defenses and hits goal. I sub Walker and Kitching. They score off asset piece in the 82nd. In heads Dickson. We win 2-1. MOM is Roberts again.

[Abe Sargent]

Game #9 – Away vs Woking. This is likely to be one of our toughest matched coming. I leave in Roberts fresh off two MOMs as my hot leg. Boring first half. We dominated possession 72%, but only had 5 shots, 3 on target to their 3 and 0. I send in Dickson, Pettefer. They score in the 79th. I send in Balmer for a tired Brooks. We lose 1-0.

Uh oh?

https://i.imgur.com/FzAWu44.png

I had this happen in Sepsi, and my new owner was with serious oil money and loads of demands. No thanks! I want my Poole Town off the beaten path, and to have EARNED it!

[Abe Sargent]

FA Cup vs Mertham – For today’s matchup, I am starting Dickson, Balmer, Walker, and Kitching. Quiet-ish, first half, with cards for Balmer and Kitching. We led with 54% possession and 5 shots, 2 on target to their 6 and 0. In the early part on the next half, I pull Kitching for Smeeton as I don’t want to have the double yellow happen. In the 55th, Balmer gets another yellow, and I send in Roberts for Brooks, and then, later, a youther DC named Josh Leslie-Smith out at DL. Then in the 79th, Moore sinks a free kick, and we are ahead, and we hold and win 1-0. MOM is Moore.


I massage my starters and put Roberts back in at ST.

Game #10 – Home vs Dartford, currently 17th. Moore fires off a goal in the 3rd minute of the game. It had been cleared to him. Then on a nasty cross, Devlin feeds Roberts a goal in the 8th. In the 34th, Brooks feeds Roberts for a goal. At the half, we lead 3-0. But statistically we are even. Both with 4 shots on target, they are out of 5, we out of 6, just 54% of possession. We’ve just sunk the ball. At the 45:24 mark, Roberts gets his hattrick as Elliot finds him for goal. Again. At the 55 mark, Kebbie gets a red card. I make some changes and pull back. I send in Dickson and Leslie-Smith. Kitching later for a tired Moore. We hold and win 4-0, MOM is, obviously, Roberts.

Obviously, Roberts has earned his starting job for a while.

[Abe Sargent]

We draw Tonbridge in the FA Cup.

I offer a few trials to folks still free to bring them in and kick the tires.

Here’s one I was considering signing to be my ST earlier this month before Roberts owned the position.


https://i.imgur.com/znTzZ7e.png

You can see Hussein Mohammed there. Another is Finlay Wood, a 19 year old Welsh Middie for my left spot, but Wood is actually start-able, but my scouts say he’s fully developed, and he’s not strong technically, just in other places mentally and physically. Compare Mohammed to Roberts?

https://i.imgur.com/PNiG4lb.png

https://i.imgur.com/9S3Nb5W.png

Or to Balmer? Mohammed has a better set of technical attributes, while Roberts is a little better physically (I’d call Balmer and Moh washes), and I’d consider Mohammed better mentally, whereas Balmer isn’t in the conversation mentally. I consider Mohammed a slightly better option.


Game #11 – Away vs Hemel Hempstead – I start Walker for Kebbie. Keep up our momentum! In the 19th, a foul in the box by Spetch, who also grabs a card. They make the PK. Around 8 minutes later, they sink a DFK for goal. Card to Bedfod. Then, in the 41st, Elliot feeds Roberts for goal and we climb one back. Half, we are down 2-1. I sub in Kitching and Yazid K for my yellowed duo. Moore feeds Roberts in the 64th, and we tied it. Devlin and Walker grabs cards. I send in Leslie-Smith for Walker. In the 78th, Hemel score and pull ahead. Do we have any late game magic to tie it? We almost do in the 88th. Nope. We almost had as many shots on target (12) as they had total (14) but we lost 3-2.

[Abe Sargent]

October

Oct 6 – Away vs Tonbridge, FA Cup
Oct 9 – Home vs Hamlet
Oct 13 – Home vs Bath
Oct 20 – Away vs Oxford
Oct 23 – Away vs Eastbourne
Oct 27 – Home vs Gloucester City


This list includes the 9th, 5th, 10th, 11th, and 18th teams, in that order.

Luke Roberts won the Player of the Month! I congratulate him


FA Cup Round 3, Tonbridge – I make my FA Cup changes. Brooks with a goal in the 6th off an IFK. Red card to Moore in the 10th. They hit an equalizer in the 28th. Half. I send in various subs, but they score again in the 79th. I have subbed anyone that could have gotten another yellow as soon as they get one. I also used bigger name subs who would normally start. Can we get that final score? We’ve both had 21 shots, they have 10 on target to our 8. Nope. We lose 1-2 and are out of the FA Cup.

[Abe Sargent]

That’s Moore’s 2nd Red Card. I issue him a warning.

Game #12 vs Hamlet – I start Smeeton for Moore as he is suspended for today’s game, and I have my normal starters back. Brooks to Elliot for goal in the 28th. 1-0 at the half. Don’t get complacent out there! Yazid for a carded Smeeton. They score an equalizer in the 63rd. Balmer heads in. In the 71st, Devlin sinks a PK after they foul us in the box. Here they come. They are bringing the heat. Leslie-Smith for Corbridge at DC. They get a 30+ yard long strike to sink in ET and then tie it 2-2. They had 19 shots to our 4, and 58% possession. MOM is Elliot.

https://i.imgur.com/pRqTGPb.png

The league right now. As you can see, Torquay have shown their quality. We are, barely, in front, with our initial pace falling. I am not expecting it to remain, obviously. But there you are! We just tied Dulwich Hamlet.

But now, we have a rough match….

[Abe Sargent]

I link up Pettefer and Kitching for a mentorship relationship.

Game #13 – Home vs Bath – If I can steal a win today like I did against Torquay? I’d be so in. Wow! That was such an un-Wow half. 0-0, 3 shots to 2. Etc. Pettefer for a carded Bedford. Walker for a carded Spetch. Kitching for play experience. In the 85th, off an IFK, Devlin feeds DC Whisken’s head for goal! Can we hold? Yes! MOM is Whisken.

Our Oxford match was moved for their Cup game.

Injury Note:

https://i.imgur.com/bJ6DrKZ.png


We get these every so often, and as you can see, clean bill o’ health

https://i.imgur.com/ijgXrJi.png

This is not uncommon in my weekly training review report. Kitching is blowing folks out.

[Abe Sargent]

Game #14 – Away vs Eastbourne Borough – Our foes rose to 7th. It’s driving rain. Tense half with many opportunities happening or being snuffed out. Half. They have 4 shots, none on target as we’ve snuffed out theirs, and we have 5 and 3. We have 72% possession. We’ve been the better team, just keep doing what you are doing, and the result will follow! I send in Balmer and Walker. After Brooks steals the ball to get an offensive push started, he slides it to Balmer, who hits him back for goal in the 74th. Now Kaikay heads in. Devlin with a card. We hold and win 1-0. Our GK (In the sweeper keeper role) and defense was able to keep them from having a shot on target, 9 shots, 0 on target. You can’t win if you don’t get your shot on target. MOM was Brooks.


Game #15 – Home vs Gloucester City – I start Walker today. Keep our run going! Moore with an early yellow. I need to keep an eye on him. In the 34th Moore feeds Roberts for goal. Half. Guard against complacency! Kaikay for Moore-kay. Brooks is banged up a bit so I send in Balmer. Kitching heads in. Devlin to Roberts in the 85th. We win 2-0. MOM is Roberts.

[Abe Sargent]

The potential Poole Town takeover talks collapsed. I go to the board and get permission for another coach to be hired.

Game #16 – Away vs Oxford -DC Whisken is back in at DC. Keep up our run!!! The Elliot to Devlin goal in the 6th minute shows they were listening. In the 41st, Devlin returns the favor as he hits Elliot for another goal. Half. Hey! Don’t get complacent out there! They don’t Elliot to Moore for goal in the 65th, and we hold and win 3-0.

[Abe Sargent]

November

Nov 3 – Home vs Thurrock United, 22nd
Nov 17 – Home vs Welling United, 2nd
Nov 24 – Away vs Chelmsford City, 14th

Fast month, eh?

I place an advert for our Head of Youth Development.

I massage my budget. I did have a small 60k transfer allowance, and I drop around 20k to bring my salary to 4500.

Game #17 vs Thurrock – Keep up our run! Devlin to Roberts for goal in the 22nd. Don’t get complacent! Moore is red carded in the 57th. Whisken gives up a professional foul in the 69th and another red card is given to my squad. Are we going to hold on? I send in Walker to help. We manage to hold on and win 1-0. Whew. MOM is Devlin.

Devlin is named in the Team of the Week

I fine Moore and warn Whisken.

[Abe Sargent]

I hire a Data Analysts to join my scouting team.

Game #18 – Away vs Welling – I am starting Smeeton and Walker for my carded folks. Keep our run going! Let’s not belabor this. We are crushed 3-1, our lone score was a Smeeton to Roberts score.


Brooks was lightly injured and will miss the Chelmsford City game

We draw Tillbury in the FA Trophy

Kitching becomes a professional after his 17th birthday arrived.

Game #19 Away vs Chelmsford City – We start Balmer at ST and move Roberts to Brooks’s spot. Smeeton remains in as Moore was banned for two matches. We allow a corner kick in the 23rd to sink and start down. Chelmsford is playing is tight and close, despite the positional difference on the board (1st to 19th). Half. Show me something else! They do. In the 48th, Roberts feeds Balmer for goal to tie us. We are cardless, but they have 4. FB Kebbie feeds Devlin a nasty cross, he is marked, and slides the ball to Smeeton on an attack run, Smeeton sinks in. We are up in the 61st. I send in Kaikay and Leslie-Smith. We turn aside multiple Chelmsford waves. I send in Dickson. Can we hold on…. Yes. We win 2-1. It was very close actually. Statistically, they outplayed us. MOM was Smeeton.

DC Whisken is injured for a few weeks, and Walker will start for him until he returns.

My two coaches finished their courses and improved.

[Abe Sargent]

December

Dec 1 – FA Trophy vs Tilsbury
Dec 8 – Home vs Wealdstone
Dec 15 – FA Trophy Match
Dec 22 – Away vs Torquay
Dec 26 – Home vs Chippenham Town
Dec 29 – Home vs Hungerford Town


FA Trophy vs Tilsbury – Keep up our run! Moore is back. I will start Smeeton for Bedford in the middle alongside him. Brooks is back at AMC too. I’ll skip our pure domination of the lesser club. Goals by Balmer, Elliot, assists by Kesbbie and Devlin, MOM Kebbie, 2-0 win.

Poole Town extends my deal by a year.

I bring in a new Head of Youth Development

[Abe Sargent]

Most of my players have their deals finishing this year. I offer to extend GK Steadman, FB Kebbie, Roberts, DC Corbridge, backup GK Beardsmore and Thomas; Spletch, Moore, Elliott.

This would mean that, right now, Jez Bedford, Devlin, AMC Brooks, DC Walker, Smeeton, Kaikay, DC Whisken, Pettefer would not be extended past this year.

These are for reasons such as age for Devlin and Walker, or quality for Brooks and others.


We draw Eastbourne in the FA Trophy

Spetch, Roberts, Beardsmore, Corbridge, Thomas, Kebbie, Elliot, Moore and Steadman resign!

Game #20 – Home vs Wealdstone – It’s driving rain today. Roberts has a fluke score in the 5th. We’ll take it. Two early yellows to Walker and Corbridge. Otherwise it’s been a quiet half. 1-0. Don’t get complacent! I pull my DCs early. I don’t want a double yellow to reduce my chance of winning. Kaikay and Leslie-Smith head in. In the 57th, they score on a counter and it’s tied up. Devlin sinks a DFK in the 67th to go back up. Pettefur in for a tired Moore. We hold and win 2-1. Devlin was MOM.

Devlin was named in Team of the Week

[thehitcat]

Loving the new team and season. Pride of Dorset! Up to Pool(e)! :)

[Abe Sargent]

FA Trophy vs Eastbourne – Whisken is back from his injury, and Walker heads back to the bench. Other than that, I haven’t made any changes to my squad for today’s way game. It’s gently raining as Kebbie feed Roberts a goal from the side on a strong cross at the 6th minute mark. Then Kebbie drives at the 28th, crosses, but instead of going to a marked Roberts, crosses over him to an unmarked Devlin, who scores. Eastbourne are pros, and they aren’t going to be pushed around in their own house like so in the 37th minute, the grab a nice build up through the center to claw one back. Half. Don’t get complacent! Smeeton, with our only card, is pulled for Kitching. Brooks is pulled for Balmer. Bedford for Spetch. They equalize off a counter in the 87th. End, 2-2. Extra time begins. Dig in lads! Half. 15 minutes left. We are pushing hard, with some nice moves. Tied 2-2.

We have a rematch scheduled


FA Trophy Rematch vs Eastbourne – Now we are hosting! The winner of today will face Torquay next in the Trophy. Ready? Let’s do this thang! All credit to Eastbourne for not folding when down by two. But we are at home now. For the fans! Under pressure, they give us an OG in the 16th. A few minutes later, on a corner, Devlin finds Roberts for a score. Then they score back in the 33rd off a nice long shot. 2-1 half, identical to last time. Again, don’t get complacent. They don’t listen to me. We give up a PK in the 51st and they score. Bedford for Smeeton. We have waves of chances. Extra time. One goal. Kitching for a dead tired Moore. Walker for Corbridge to bring in some fresh legs defensively as well. Half. At the 116 mark, they hit a header off a cross for goal. We lose 3-2 and are out.

Ah well.

[Abe Sargent]

Loving the new team and season. Pride of Dorset! Up to Pool(e)! :)

Yeah Poole!

[Abe Sargent]

Game #21 – Away vs Torquay – I have pulled Smeeton for Bedford. I gave out rests, but I’ll still likely pull folks sooner from tired legs than normal. Torquay have four nice shots turned away in the first 15 minutes, but then things settle down and we find a rhythm. I think they were starting very aggressive to take advantage of our tiredness. We injure their fullback and he has to head out. Half, 0-0. One goal lads. But we can’t get one goal, until we have one goal. Balmer for Brooks, Pettefer for Bedford. They score in the 59th . Kitching for Moore. Then in the 67th and we are suddenly down 0-2. In the 73rd, another goal goes their way. Well it was close. But they blew the doors off the game right there. In the 79th, Bedford scores! 3-1 now. In ET, they hit goal again. We lose 1-4.

Remember we hosted Torquay earlier in the year and barely beat them 2-1 after they had THREE people sent off. We are clearly not at their level yet.




Game #22 – Away vs Chippenham – I make no major changes to my roster today. For the Fans!!! In the 8th, driving up the left flank, Roberts gets the ball and shoots close to the goal, it rebounds off the GK, and falls to a DC who clears it but it bounces off one of their other defenders back into goal. In the 15th, Devlin sinks a DFK. They bang up Spetch, but we’ll leave him in for now. Chippenham get their sea legs, and recover and are fine. Half. Don’t get complacent out there. Moore with a yellow. I pull Moore and Spetch. Here go in Walker and Pettefer for them. They hit us back on a breakaway in the 58th. Then again in the 62nd and it’s tied. Whisken with a card. I send in Leslie-Smith. Game, tie 2-2.

I go to my board, and they agree to upgrade our youth facilities.

[Abe Sargent]

Game #23 – Home vs Hungerford – For the fans!!!!! In the 13th, in the driving rain, Roberts feeds Brooks for goal! A Roberts goal a few minutes later is called offsides. Moore collects a yellow. They have a nice counter, that rebounds off the crossbar to our GK to scoop up. In the 34th, Brooks scores again after Roberts feeds him off a triangle with them and Kebbie. Half. Don’t get complacent. I pull Moore during halftime for Pettefer. In the 61st, Hungerford has used their final sub. What I like to do when I see that happen early is to push ahead strongly, up my tempo and such, in order to take advantage of tired legs and push into harder tackling too. I send in Balmer and Leslie-Smith. We hold and win 2-0, MOM is Brooks.


Today is an important day! Anyone I want to make an offer to for next year who is coming free?

I will not hit continue as I want to take a moment and review potential free agents and such.


I do like 24 year old DC Alex Davey over at Dag & Red. He’s also transfer listed for just 6k,so I could bring him in now if I wanted to. I could easily slide him in, and I think he’d be my best player by a little bit. Along with my other two DCs, I’d have a solid defense, and could rotate someone not named Walker. As a reminder, I have not extended Whisken past this year. Whisken is at a 6.89 league rating vs Corbridge’s 7.01. I could grab Davey for next year (or this year) and then move him into my staring role next to Corbridge, but Whisken is my captain.

I cannot make an offer to Davey. I have waited two days and it’s the 31st. Maybe this is a post-Brexit change. The EU rule of the Bosman transfers six months early may not exist here now. I put him on my transfer request list.

[Abe Sargent]

January, 2019


1 Jan – Home vs Weston-Super-Mare
5 Jan – Away vs Slough
12 Jan – Home vs St. Albans
19 Jan – Away vs Concord
26 Jan – Home vs Hampton And Richmond

Let’s do it to it!

Game #24 – WSM – Here we go. Pick up where we left off baby! Today is Roberts’ birthday, btw. We drive and almost score in the driving rain in the 9th, but are dialed back. They have two large thrusts we turn aside. Brooks with a card. In the 44th, Roberts scores on his birthday; don’t get complacent! I pull Brooks, and Whisken. They score in the 66th, and then a 2nd yellow in the 79th, and I push forward hard, hard, hard. They hold and we tie 1-1.


You know what?

What if I pushed?

[Abe Sargent]

Right now, we are not dominating as we did early.

Current table?

https://i.imgur.com/0D1F7XO.png

As you can see, we are #1. We’ve not had great form recently, and we’ve dropped points to WSM, Chippenham, and Torway, with just one victory against Hungerford, and we are just one win in the last six games.


Because I never expected to be here, I was okay letting the inevitable slump hit. My guess is we’d windup around 8 to 5 after our strong start came back down to earth, which is happening right now:

But what if I took advantage of our early season form to push my team?


Here, these players are available for transfer:

https://i.imgur.com/ek74Kz9.png

This is Rhys Browne, and we are scouting him right now, currently under a contract with Yeovil. On the market for 13k. I have been looking for another good AM RLC option for subbing or starting. He would likely be a strong signing for my club.

Here’s another:

https://i.imgur.com/KWnDPW2.png

This is Josh Ashby, whom I’ve been scouting a little here and there an have a good, strong feel for. He would immediately take up my MC role adjacent to Moore that is currently Bedford’s. He is also a good addition to my squad.

https://i.imgur.com/chcgLKY.png

Here is Davey, for whom I’ve already discussed.

Now, here’s the thing.

What if I brought in all three now?

https://i.imgur.com/OWZORAt.png

Here’s my current budget.

I can make these offers:

Browne – 14k
Davey - 6k

And then let’s say 25k for Ashby.

That would be 45k, with 15k going to my salary to help pay for them

[Izulde]

Go big or go home.

[Abe Sargent]

the one who’s not on a transfer list with a given price attached. So I call them up.


They take my first offer of 15k (his value). Alright.

I make offers to Browne and Davey for 20k total.

Then, as soon as I have that 35k tied up, I spend 25k moving my salary to help pay for them. I know that this is risky (if we don’t make more money,we have jacked up our salary) but I have enough staff and players leave in June that I shoulder fine if I am still in the South. I get my max salary to 5142.

I have offers accepted with Davey and Ashby, and Browne is mulling my key player offer.

I have to get creative with Browne with my max 425/week and 50% raise annually. But he comes aboard as well.


Browne is the first to agree and come over.

Ashby arrives. Davey does as well.

For those that were hidden before, here are they next to the starter they will currently replace:

https://i.imgur.com/mPfF4IE.png

http://https://i.imgur.com/BQoM5bU.png

And at the AMC spot:

https://i.imgur.com/TuvAJal.png

https://i.imgur.com/dU1h8Zu.png

I’m sure you can see why! These are actual, proper, starters for my club. Let’s get stuck right on in!

[Abe Sargent]

Go big or go home.

Exactly!

[Abe Sargent]

Game #25 – Away vs Slough – With my three changes! Moore sinks a PK in the 3rd. In the 32nd, Moore again scores, this time from the field, after he scrambles on a loose intercpetion by Slough. Half. Don’t get complacent! We injure one of their strikers. In the 54th, Rhys Browne finds goal in his debut for us! With a rebound off the crossbar, they get a goal back in the 57th. They get a breakway to sink a few minutes later and it’s a game again. Devlin finds Browne for another goal in the 75th. Nice. I send in Piching and Whisken. We hold and win 4-2. MOM is Browne in his debut!


Browne named in team of the week.

Game #26 – Home vs St. Albans _ pick up from where you left off!!! Roberts finds Corbridge on a set piece for goal in the 13th. They have four cards, but a quiet half. 1-0 us. Don’t get complacent! Devlin to Roberts for goal in the 48th. Bedford and Whisken head in. Spetch is injured. Brooks too. They have a few strong drives late, with lethal shots on target that our GK stops. Then they get one in extra time. We win 2-1. Corbridge was MOM.

Spetch is out for the next game. I’ll just start Moore in his spot and Bedford in his.

Corbridge named in Team of the Week.

[Abe Sargent]

Sigh.

https://i.imgur.com/fQiamC4.png

Dickson was signed away.

Game #27 – Away vs Concord – Concord are 5th. Their pitch is waterlogged and the game is postponed to the 29th

Game #27 – Home vs Hampton & Richmond – Keep up our run! Devlin to Ashby for goal in the 4th minute. That’s Ashby’s first goal for us! Bedford finds Elliot for goal a few minutes later. Ashby feeds Bedford for a score outside the box, in the 22nd. Half. Don’t let up! We injure their left middle, and he has to head out. Pettefer and Whisken head in. Elliott to Moore for goal in the 76th. Balmer heads in for a tired Roberts. They get a consolation goal in the 83rd. We win 4-1. MOM is Ashby, his first for us.

We have not let up and dropped a point since adding my three new folks. But now our first big test arrives…


Elliot, Davey, Ashby in Team of the Week – good job Davey!

Game #28 – Away vs Concord – Concord are now 6th. Ready? I leave my squad as is, even though Spetch is now back from injury. Bedford had an assitant and goal last game, so I want to leave him in the middle with Ashby, and Moore to the FB spot. Keep up that run! Raining water meets our boots on the ground. Devlin hits a DFK in the 9th. Kebbie with an early card. I’ll likely pull him early. Concord gets two cards themselves. They score off a counter at the 36th. Half. Venegance! They score in the 47th. Then they get a red card in the 59th, and I pull Kebbie. I pull bedford after he gets a card too. We score in the 72nd when Browne feeds Ashby for goal. And that’s it. We tie 2-2. MOM is again Ashby.

[Abe Sargent]

February

2 Feb – Away vs Billericay Town
9 Feb – Home vs Woking
16 Feb – Away vs Dartford
23 Feb – Home vs Hemel Hempstead Town

Current table:

https://i.imgur.com/2xHTNr6.png

Game #29 – Away vs Billericay – I start Whisken as I want to give him a start again. Keep our good run going!!! In the pouring curtain of rain, Elliot shoots, the shot is blocked, and he puts it away in the 10th. Moore is the game’s first booking for either side. Half, we are up 1-0. I pull Moore, and then tell them not to get complacent. We give up a PK in the 57th, and they sink it. I send in Balmer for a quiet Roberts. Game. We tie 1-1. Elliot is MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

Update on our takeover:

https://i.imgur.com/oe7StVR.png

Game #30 – Home vs Woking – Starting today is Spetch at the fullback position, and Bedford is out for Moore in the Middle. Davey is back at DC too. Keep our run in this rain storm coming! We begin hemmoraging cards, with cards to Browne, and Moore. They have an offsides goal in the 22nd. Card to Corbridge. Devlin sinks a DFK in the 33rd. Half. Don’t get complacent! I am going to pull Moore and Corbridge now. In head Smeeton and Whisken. Then Brooks for Browne in the 76th. We hold and win 1-0. MOM is Devlin.

[Abe Sargent]

Game #31 – Away vs Dartford – Keep our run going! No changes to my roster! We lose 2-1. I am not pleased., but what am I going to do?


Game #32 – Home vs Hemel Hempstead – For the Fans!!! I like Hemel’s away kits. Elliott with a first-ten minutes yellow card. In the 18th, Moore finds Ashby on an attack run for goal. Moore to Ashby again in the 37th for goal! Half. Hemel have beat us statistically, more shots, more possession. So folks? Don’t get complacent! I send in Brooks for Elliot. I pull Moore the moment he collects a card. Smeeton heads in. Simialrly, the moment Devlin gets a card, I send in Balmer. They are bringing heat. Here is a nasty shot and it rifles off the crossbar. They get a second yellow in the 87th, and now are down a man. They get a long shot to sink in the 92nd. Game, we win 2-1. MOM is Ashby. Good job!

Ashby named in team of Week

[Abe Sargent]

March

1 Mar – New Intake of Youth Players Arrive
2 Mar – Home vs Oxford City
9 Mar – Away vs Dulwich Hamlet
16 Mar – Away vs Bath
23 Mar – Home vs Eastbourne
30 Mar – Home vs Welling


Current Table:

https://i.imgur.com/iFm8SLY.png

You can see that this month includes games against two of the top five teams in the league, and well as 8 and 9. March youth came in? Anyone that triggers my Abe-dar? Not right now


Game #33 vs Oxford City – Ready? Let’s get ready to rumble! Keep up our run! It’s raining today. I like Oxford’s kit too. DC Davey (my ball playing DC) drives, feeds Roberts for goal in the 17th. We stop a strong counter by Oxford right after. Our foes have three cards in the first 25 minutes of play, but us? None. Wow I know. 4 cards. Half. Just because we all know what I am about to say, doesn’t mean it’s not true. Don’t. Get. Complacent. Out. There. Lads. In the 63rd, they score on a break after one of my players gave up the ball, and they passed to someone fast enough to get a 1:1 on my keeper. I pull Browne for Brooks after he gets injured. Whisken for Corbridge for new legs. Kitching for a tired Moore. In the 87th, there is is. Kebbie crosses to Devlin for goal. Game. We win 2-1.


Browne is out 2-4 weeks, and Brooks will start for him while he’s down.

Devlin set a record for most goals scored by a Poole player at 91!

[Abe Sargent]

We have been taken over:

https://i.imgur.com/99nX0W4.png



They hand me a mighty 35k in transfer money I can use too. I drop that down to 12k so my salaary matches now (I went over with my three new players and my signing of my recent youth intake)


Game #34 – Away vs Dulwich Hamlet – Keep up our run! I am starting defensively today. Ashby gives up a card and a penalty in the 15th, and they sink it. Then in the 34th, they hit goal again. Half. Show me something else! I send in Bedford for Ashby. Then Whisken. Balmer for a tired Roberts. We are shut out 2-0, the first time we haven’t scored in quite a long history.

That loss dropped us to 2nd, btw.

Leslie-Smith who was not on a contract with us, was signed away.

[Abe Sargent]

Game #35 – Away vs Bath – I begin cautious today. We need a new result. We’re in the midst of a little slump, and we need all hands on deck to right the ship’s wrongs. Get ready for this!!!


https://i.imgur.com/a8gEgLk.jpg

That’s right! Our Goal keeper hoofed the ball clean to Roberts for a score. Nicely done! They net two, three cards over the next 25 minutes. In the 30th, they get a second yellow, and then that person is out of here! Go home! In the battle of Bath vs Poole, you aren’t going to drown us with your little baby puddle ways. I move forward to positive. Devlin to Elliot, score, 39th. I pull Moore who is carded for Bedford. I am not playing equalizing yellows. I am keeping our advantage. Half. Don’t. Get. Complacent. Bedford grabs a yellow, so Kitching heads in to spell him. They’ve turned aside a number of our attacks, but we’ve been in charge of the game. Devlin finds Kitching for goal in the 79th. That’s his first goal for us, and ever. Peffefer heads in for a tired Ashby. We win 3-0, MOM is Devlin.

That was Roberts’s 20th league goal, so he got a bonus!

Devlin is named in Team of the Week

[Abe Sargent]

Game #36 – Home vs Eastbourne – This game was postpned due to a waterlogged pitch here in Poole. Sorry!

Game #36 - Vengeance!!! Browne is back from his injury and starting at AMC. Welling tied a few days ago, so if we win, we move back into 1st place, btw. That was a boring half. 2 shots each, 1 on target each. 2 cards each. I send in Kaikay and Brooks for Devlin and Moore. Well it was just one of those matches I suppose. 0-0 tie.


Game #37 – Home vs Welling. This is our best chance now to move back up. Home vs the current #1. Brooks is in as Browne is stilll tired from the last game after the injury recovery a few days ago. They start out defensive, and we push. Roberts fires a nasty, lethal shot in the 14th that’s offsides, but barely. We injure one of their middies and they get pulled off. We are moving and pushing them around, but quiet. Half. 0-0. Keep playing our game, and the result will come. In the 57th, they score off a nice counter attack. In the 63rd, Moore hits a penalty kick, and we tie. I send in Bedford for a poorly playing Spetch and move Moore to his fullback spot. In goes Whisken and then Kaikay. In the 88th, Brooks feeds Bedford for goal, and we crack it open. A few minutes later in OT, we get an OG from their DC after he fails to clear a ball off a header and heads it into goal. Then they score off a counter in the 93rd. We win 3-2. MOM is Bedford. Who’s in first baby!


That was Moore’s 100th game, btw

I offer to extend Devlin’s deal by a year. Dude is 33, but dude is dude.

[Abe Sargent]

April

6 April – Away vs Gloucester City
13 April – Away vs East Thurrock United
20 April – Home vs Chelmsford
23 April – Away vs Wealdstone
27 April - Home vs Chippenham

Alrighty!

https://i.imgur.com/hPUK6Nb.png


Current table! We knocked Welling down to 3rd, but they are tied with Torquay on points. As you can see, we have games against 13th, 22nd who has already been relegated and has nothing to play for, 16th, 7th and 8th who are still ikely to be playoff chases for 7th by the time our games roll around. Ready?

Let do this thang!


Game #38 – Away vs G. City – We are starting Browne again. Keep up that sweet run! Devlin collects an early yellow in a tackle that injures one of their foes. They are pushing forward, and it’s hard to fight them off, but we have a useful counter that’s stopped by their GK. Half. 0-0. We’ve played well, just keep at it! I pull Devlin for Brooks at the half due to his card-age. I then send in Bedford for Moore after he gets his 10th card of the season. In the 63rd, they score a powerful counterattack and go up. Then a few minutes later in the 69th, they score again off a DFK for 2-0. Nope. I shout to my lads to fire them up, and then move to all-holds-barred throttle. Roberts is playing badly, so I send in Balmer. In the 86th, we get a score! Balmer assists Ashby for goal. Back in a shout, but surely too late, right?

Right?

RIGHT?!?!?!?!?

Then this happens:

https://i.imgur.com/MKzJznk.jpg

Nice Ashby! And Brooks for supporting him! Whew! I dial back to merely positive. We have 5 minutes of stoppage time though. Are we getting another score? Or they? Or are we holding for a tie? 2-2 tie. MOM is Ashby. Okay. If you had told me this was a tie going in? Not happy. But after going down 0-2 late? Oh yeah, get me some points!

Ashby has been a good signing, right? Right!

[Abe Sargent]

Game #39 – Away vs ETU - Moore is out today with a 10th yellow card ban; I start Kitching. I begin attacking. Why not? They start with a counter in the 19th score, and then Devlin sinks a DFK a few minutes later. Davey collects a card. Kitching feeds Browne a goal. Half. Don’t get compacent. I send in Whisken for him. Roberts to Elliot – goal. This is Elliot’s birthday too. Smeeton heads in. Bedford as well. Browne to Roberts for goal. We win 4-1, MOM is Browne.

https://i.imgur.com/HvUajaL.png

Poole sets records!

Browne named in Team of the Week

[Abe Sargent]

Game #40 – Home vs Chelmsford – I leave in Kitching for Moore as he had a good, strong game last week. Keep our run going lads! We get started. It begins slowly, with little happening. They have three cards. In the 31st, they get a nice built up strike. Half. Do you even want to win this game? Show me some passion! In the 51st, Devlin connects with Roberts for goal! Then they score in the 62nd. I pull a tired Devlin for Brooks, and then send in DC Whisken. In the 78th, Spetch finds Roberts for another score, and we tie in. I send in Balmer for an underperforming Elliot. We tie 2-2. MOM is Roberts.


That was Devlin’s 293’s appearance for Poole, and that makes him the most played Poole player.

Game #41 – Away vs Wealdstone – Moore is back in. Keep up the run! Elliotto Ashby for goal in the 4th! Then in the 18th, they shot, and our GK knocks it in for them and gifts them an OG, and then a quiet half, with Moore a card and them a trio of cards. 1-1. We are domianting the stats board. Just keep going. I send in Bedford for Moore, and Whisken too. In the 78th, we still have pushed for that goal, although we have lots, and lots, of quality shots. I send in Balmer. In the 89th, Bedford feeds Balmer goal, and we win 2-1. MOM is Ashby. We finished the game with 23 shots, 17 on target, but only 2 goals. Thheir GK should have been MOM!

Balmer named in Team of the Week

[Abe Sargent]

Pettefer and Walker have announced their retirement. They are both retiring next month, They are 38 and 35 respectively.

I’ll start them in next week’s matchup.

I hold a team meeting. Win this game? Win the league. Focus on the game, not the title. They all agree with me, uniformally. If Chippenham wins, they get 7th and the playoffs, so they are going to be really up for this game.

Ready?

Let’s keep our run! I begin positively.

Devlin to Roberts, goal, 2:26 mark
Yellow card to Pettefer, 31st minute
Half – Don’t get Complacent
Bedford for Pettefer, 54th
Yellow to Browne, 61st
Brooks for Browne, 64th
Whisken for Davey, 81st


We hold and win 1-0.

Who was MOM? You’ll love it – Walker in his last professional game was all over the map, and led with a big 7.9 rating.

Great job lads!!!

[Abe Sargent]

Let’s pause, before I look at the table or my stats or anything else. Why do I believe we just got out that fast?

What happened? Great question!

Poole Town FC, as a reminder, had just recently risen up the football ranks. About ten years ago, it was around 9th in the pyramid, and that’s around where it was historically. New management and a new coach with a desire to push themselves up the table took over, and then won the Wessex league at level 9 three times (playoffs) before they finally got out. They were consistenly moving forward. Then in 2013, they won their Southern League Devision 1 at level 8, and made it out. This put them in the Southern League Permier at level 7. They missed playoffs by one point in their first year, and then got out in the 15-16 season. In 2016 they began playing in the Conference South, and then winning it under us just a few years later. So this is a team who started pushing quickly up the charts.


Here are some numbers that I suspect help with perspective making:

• 4. We initially added 4 new starters of talent during the summer. DC Corbridge was a much better player at DC, GK Stedman, while not great, was a big upgrade, DR Kebbie was a strong upgrade and aruably our best player in that first round, AMR Elliot was a strong starting addion that joined players like Devlin, Moore, and Roberts.
• 3. We added three very, very strong players at each level in January that were very good for this level. Ashby, Browne, and Davey were all strong additions that helped carve out 1st place for us.
• 4. By the time our new players arrived, we had just four starters left from last year’s about relegation-campaign, all of whom were big upgrades – and only Moore, Devlin, Roberts, and Spetch were left at DL, AML, MC, and ST.
• 13. Our tactics were designed to beat 13 of the teams in our league. We were a wash against four others where we had the same tactic. That means that only 5 games were ones where we didn’t have a tactical advantage
• 3. We got lucky in the first Torquay match when they had three players kicked off the pitch. Beating one of the best teams on the road on opening day was something that was really needed. For example, in real life, we began with a 0-4 drubbing against Torquay. Despite the low score of 2-1, that win ame us early momentum and confident going into matches agiant teams that were not expected to do well with a bigger talent loss.
• 0. We had zero long term injuries. All of our injury reports were telling us about how lucky we had been by avoiding major injury. Browne was out for a few weeks, and a few players here and there for a game or two. Nothing major – 0.

[Young Drachma]

I bought 19, but haven't gotten to playing yet. Following here.

[Chas in Cinti]

Following as well...

[thehitcat]

We're going up! The Dolphins are going up!!

[Abe Sargent]

Thanks everyone! Let's review the season and such!

[Abe Sargent]

https://i.imgur.com/IHpyRm8.png

This is the final table. As you can see, we finished with 5 points more than Woking, and 10 more than Torquay. We are out!

Meanwhile, notice who made it to 6th? We were expcted to be 22nd, and Hungerford was expected to be 21st. That’s right! We both had strong seasons. While I am sure that either Woking or Torquay ill join us instead of Hungerford, I’ll be rooting for them.

You can also see Devlin and Roberts there as well and their mutual successes in the league statistically.

My budget for next year is 9.5k/week and 132k in sweet transfer cash

[Abe Sargent]

Stats:

Corby Moore led the league in red cards and was 3rd most in yellows

Roberts led our team with 5 league MOMs – the most was 8. Roberts was 3rd most in goals with 24 and 6th in minutse played/goal.

Devlin was 2nd, and Elliot 4th in distance covered,

At 16th, Devlin was our most in form player with a 7.24 rating, Roberts was 7.22,

Devlin was 2nd with shots, and tied with Roberts for 5th most on target. Roberts had the 3rd best shot% on target and the 4th best conversion rate.

Devlin was 2nd most in assists and 11th most in key passes, and 6th most in chances created. Elltion was 8th most in chances created.

Brooks was 2nd best in pass completion %

Elliot was 6th most in dribbles/game

Whisken was 4th worst in mistakes leading to goals.

Corbidge was 8th best in key tackles and 7th best in interceptions made and 6th best in shots blocked.

Steadman was 7th in fewest goals allowed with 50 conceded and 5th best in 13 clean sheets. He was 17th best in saves held, and 15th in saves parried.

I feel like we won despite Steadman. He was, at best, merely okay.

A new GK has to be my top priority

For playing for just me, my best rating this year were Ashby, Devlin, Roberts, Browne, Elliot, Colbridge.



The playoffs here work like this:

7 plays 4

6 plays 5

Those winners play 2 and 3.

Those winners play in a final to get out.

[Abe Sargent]

I don’t think the next level will be as hard to get out of as one might think:

What teams made it out?

Lets look at a team that got 2nd – Fylde –

This is randomly one of their starting DCs. Now I haven’t scouted them:

https://i.imgur.com/WUQmlAn.png

And their starting Gk:

https://i.imgur.com/LB3q0d8.png

But does Tunnicliffe look like this major defensive force? Does he look any better than my recents pickups at the position? Does their starting GK look like this force of footballing nature? No? Exactly.

I suspect that, without any major additions, we’ll back back half, but mid-table like 16-12. With some strong, targeted additions I think we can crack top ten.

[Abe Sargent]

Our Fans’ player of the Year was Devlin, then Roberts and Moore

Young player of season was Ashby, and signing was GK Stedman.

I tell our lads that I know next year won’t be easy, but if we bring in some new faces, we’ll have a great shot at avoidng relegation, and all of them are in a little, save for Kebbie, who is clearly very ambitious, and is glad more talent will be brought in.

I give them an extra week off for the season.

Poole is moving up!


https://i.imgur.com/fhyLZTV.png

Tom Killick was my immediate predecessor, and was the one who took Poole from 9th division to 6th in a few years, but then hit a wall, and I was brought in to replace him, and continue his vision for Poole Town. Tom was the Bobby Knight of Football Managers – incredibly passionate, would be banned sometimes for his on pitch yelling at refs or such, but was brilliant and loved by his players. I think that’s why I am a better follow up, as a gifted, tactical, intellectual presence instead. For Tom!

We are moving out of Tatnam Ground this year, and renting space in Avenue Stadium which is bigger, and meets the Premier Conference Expectations

[Abe Sargent]

Now, when it comes to talent, last year I was looking for a team of Moores. Now I want a team of Brownes. Browne was my best player and seems to be rouglly equivalent to a good Conference player. So now I will be looking for some more Brownes.


I go to my board and ask for a few things:

1. Moving to professional status. They say no.
2. Increasing training facilites, they say no.
3. Increase my scouting staff? Nope.
4. Coaching staff? Nope
5. …

Can I get my old board back?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Can I get my old board back?

Nope.

[Abe Sargent]

There are a few players I’m scouting right now:

GK Lewis Moore; AMC Hugo Logan; AM/ST Jonah Ayunga; MC James Blanchfield; DR Sam Ling; ST Ryan Seager; M/AM RLC Billy Clifford, DL Jack Williams, M/AM LR Oscar Borg

The best is likely Logan, then probably Ayunga. Most of them are either strong younger players hungry for their first real chance, or older players desperate for their last.

Let me remind you of the players I am actively looking to replace:

Roberts at ST:

https://i.imgur.com/ZOe4AYk.png


Maybe Spetch

https://i.imgur.com/NzIktzv.png


Certainly Stedman at GK

https://i.imgur.com/8XhLjlE.png

https://i.imgur.com/j1Mpbpf.png

Corbridge didn’t improve much despite a year of starts, and I’d be fine moving him to #3 DC behind a better player if I could find one

Similarly, Elliot has been fine, but not irreplacably so.

https://i.imgur.com/pyLFmtf.png

Browne is very versatile, and I can bounce him to AMR or if I need to and grabbed that awesome AMC I told you about before.

[Abe Sargent]

Playoffs:

1st Round – Hungerford over Concord 3-0; Wealdstone over Dulwich Hamlet 0-0 on penalties.


Come on Hungerford!

I make an offer to free agent ST Tom Heardman

I have great news and sucky news:


2nd Round – Sadly, Hungerford’s challenge for promotion ended at Torquay – 2-0. However, and I cannot express how happy I am, Wealdstone took out he nasty Welling 2-1. So there will be a Wealdstone vs Torquay game for the promotion spot.

3rd Round - Wealdstone defeated Torquay 1-1 in penalties.

They will be joining us!


Walker and Pettefer retire. Both had more than 220 games for Poole Town and were a part of our meteoric rise up the charts. Thanks for your service to the club, and the great city of Poole!!!

[Abe Sargent]

:) Nope.

[Abe Sargent]

Whoa! I might have my GK. On a free, 29 year old Rhys Taylor. I make him an offer.

I extend most of my staff


Taylor signs!

https://i.imgur.com/kXbJYoh.png

Welcome! I couldn’t get him for two years, just one, but I’ll take it. He wasn’t my top choice, but then, we often aren’t each other’s top choice in life, either. :)

Similarly, I had to dig down to my 4th choice for ST. But I found someone. He signs too!

https://i.imgur.com/bS1B742.png

Both of these were on frees. like Heardman as an interesting target guy who can be the target of my many crosses and sends from my three AMs. But that’s just theory, and his finishing isn’t as good as I’d like it to be for that role. He might wind up as my top sT, or wind up 2 after Roberts, or someone else. But the other STs I was scouting all sucked. One had a high stars with my scouts, but a 7 fin. Nope. That ain’t happening. Daddy needs to get his balls into the great net of life.

Now Heardman? My coaches think he’s a good Conference National where we’ll be playing, but Taylor, is more of a good player for the divison we just won. But he’s an improvement, so who cares.

[Abe Sargent]

I hire Manny Williams, a former international footballer from Sierra Leone to be my new scout. He just retired and we are his first staff club.

Celtic and Rangers were both relegated, although Celtic barely at 18, just one point behind Brighton at 17.

I make enquiries for Logan and Clifford.

I won manager of the year.

I have an offer for Blanchfield for 65k and 50% of next sale, but Logan is more than 100k. Can I do installments? I drop my salary to make them both work.


A few days later they sign!

https://i.imgur.com/4IRhWC3.png

Here is Blanchford. I expect to be running him in the middle with Ashby, and then move Moore to Fullback or squad rotation.

https://i.imgur.com/mjOkb2m.png

Logan. We dropped my salary to just a few hundred more than Logan cost, and he wound up being 120k. I also had to give him a 30% wage rise. But he’s here. I expect to move Browne to AM R and fight with Elliot.

Now there are some players out there with 0 transfer costs who would be minor improvements for my club, but we cannot afford their salary, so I won’t be making those players.

[Abe Sargent]

Team Movement

From League 1 – Up - Rotherham, Sunderland, Bansley’

Down – Wycombe, Doncaster, Accrington, Rochdale

From League 2 Up – Bradford, Carlisle, Scunthrope, MK Dons,

Down – Morecambe, Grimsby

Conference National – Up – Notts County, Yeovil

Down – Havant, Hartlepool, Dag & Red, Bromley

Championship -

Up - Leeds, Reading, Derby

Down - Bolton, Wigan, Sheff.


Premier - Down – Celtic, Rangers, Cardiff

Man City won.

[Abe Sargent]

I sign a South African coach named Kingsley Burrows.

Are there any loanees out there that would be useful for me?

Nothing that jumps out at me. I send out some scouts for those loanees that would come my way.


After losing Celtic and the Rangers, the Scottish Premiership rose 11 spots from 28th to 17th best in Europe!

Browne was MOM in an international game against St. Pierre

https://i.imgur.com/MRLPtX4.png



The Poole always rises!


I have an offer for Jordan Elliot from Dundee over in Scotland – as a Scottish player, he really, wants to go. And that’s fair, it’d be hard to put together a package to keep him when we are this far down the football pyrmaid.

We expect to battle bravely against relegation

We agree to 25k from Elliot, a friendly with Dundee, and 50% of next sale.

[Abe Sargent]

It’s June 30th. Time for a lot of motion. We have the following players leave: Whisken, Smeeton, Kaikay, Brooks.


Now I don’t do anything.


Heading into free agency, this is my guess of my current starting XI:


GK – Rhys Taylor

DC – Ashby, Colridge

DL – Moore/Spetch

DR – Kebbie

MC – Ashby, Blanchfield

AM RLC – Browne, Devlin, Logan

ST - Heardman

That ain’t bad. Now should I look for some squad relief at DC/DR? AML?

With squad rotational players of Roberts, GK Stedman, Bedford, Balmer. I move Balmer to my U23 squad. Right now, I have 16 main players, including Kitching, who should probably be moved elsewhere too. I move Kitching to my U18 squad. I can’t be developing him right now on my main squad like I was before. That drops me to 15, so I need to focus on depth.


I now have 12.500 in cash post Elliot in transfer money that got added. I have some space on my roster too.

[Abe Sargent]

Here are a few players that are free I’m looking at:

https://i.imgur.com/ocg2DUP.png

Probably Redundant along Ashby/Blanchfield.

https://i.imgur.com/lUoqyMf.png

Bayli seems more feasible. Plays something where I could see myself grabbing a new Whisken or other player to push for starts there.

https://i.imgur.com/bnicxWo.png

Or maybe Dinzeyi instead?

https://i.imgur.com/EOJJSA9.png

Or maybe Shihab?

Actually, the more I look at him, the more Shihab is my guy. I make him an offer.

[Abe Sargent]

Coleman comes back nice, but again, redundancy.

I make offers to around 10 different hot prospect players.

Welcome to the 1st

Someone wants Ibrahim El Haddad to interview for a job…


This is the team that Ibrahim’s father played for, and he was born in Jeju and is part South Korean.

https://i.imgur.com/qV2TnRM.png

https://i.imgur.com/ydZ6hGt.png

They are currently 6th in the top K League.

From Poole to Korea! That’s a fun idea for a dynasty!


I attend the job interview! I doubt I'll get an offer, but that's nice that they thought of me!

[Izulde]

Playing in non-European leagues is interesting, though the Asian Champions League always feels super boring compared to the European ones (Not that I've ever made it there or anything).

[Abe Sargent]

I've never tried, to be honest.

[Abe Sargent]

https://i.imgur.com/LoNny5c.png

Tareq has joined us! As you can see, he has more ball playing skill, tackling, and such, but he’s not a strong, or good and jump/head, so if I ran him at DC, I wouldn’t want to relay on him to muscle people off or head away danger, and I think the ball playing defenser role that I current Alex Davey’s may make more sense with him. He’s also fine at DMC or MC too, although I’d like a little better passing there. My scouts, and now coaches, love his potential.

https://i.imgur.com/xIeII4b.png

Here you go. As you can see, good for this level, my best DC, and with the potential to improve to the next level of ability. I suspect that I’ll begin with Davey and Shihab at my DC, and Colbridge as my main sub.

Four youth sign with me - I move them to my U23 squad

I’ll let you know if any wind up being noteworthy

I offer trials to the top 6 unsigned players out there that are interested in Poole.

https://i.imgur.com/iWCotOA.png

Thoughts?


Try to get some better things from them, namely investment in the Poole Town FC Insfrastructure? Such as our training stuff?

[Izulde]

Flip to Korea to do something new.

[Chas in Cinti]

Stay and conquer... let's see how far you can go!

[Abe Sargent]

Alright, let’s try this organically. I reach out to my board, I will stay for updated training facilities. They aren’t going to do it. So we are just going to push forward and see what happens organiccally.

About 4 or 5 youthers sign, and a few trialists arrive too, including Coleman, the strong MC I showed you before to see him in action, but he’s redundant. And won’t sign a cheaper deal.

The 8th arrives, and with it my players from their mid-season break. Ready to punch people? Let’s get this year started!

Our first friendly is on the 13th, and as a reminder, I hand those to my AM.

The 10th is here – and I find out about my job offer.


https://i.imgur.com/fOhMsnw.png

Ah well

[Abe Sargent]

I make some offers to my Trialists who are willing to sign for hot prospect deals (just two, none of the bigger names.) This is the best of the group:

https://i.imgur.com/sdGD91K.png

This is 20 year old Noha Sylvestre, currently on a Trial with me, and I just made an 20/week hot prospect deal for him. He would give me depth at MC, and DR. Noha isn’t this great revelation for my squad or anything, but hey – any player in a storm, is any player in a storm – right? Right!


Sometimes my view, and my scouts, view, of these players radically diverge. Here’s a great example:





https://i.imgur.com/dgQ75D3.png


This is 18 year old Rayan Clarke. My folks love him. They think that he is a very good player for the league we are in, and a strong future poetnail for League 1, two above us. He wants at least first team and hundreds of cash/week. I don’t see his current value. He just has four phsyical stats at 10 or more. I don’t see it. But there is just nothing there to hang my hat on.

[Abe Sargent]

I extend my hot prospect James Marshall by a few years. Sylvestre’s deal is confirmed.


We defeat Carmarthen Town 4-1 in our 2nd friendly

One of my U23 players are injured for a month.

We tie Dundee 2-2 in our friendly


I submit my squad numbers

We lose 0-1 to the U23 squad for Albion.

One of my coaches finishes his coaching quals.

We tied the Wolves U23 squad 1-1.

Goodbye July!

[Abe Sargent]

August


3 Aug – Friendly vs Corinthians
10 Aug – League Opens
10 Aug – Home vs Wrexham
17 Aug – Away vs Morecambe
20 Aug – Home vs Sutton
24 Aug – Away vs Harrogate Town
31 Aug – Home vs Fylde


Let’s do it!


We win our friendly 4-0.

I name Blanchfield my captain.

I set up my set pieces and tactics.

We get a few of our coaches onto more classes.

Our promotion odds are 250-1, and 2-1 of going down, but with our big investment of talent, I suspect we’ll be more in the mid-table range. Let’s see though!


League Game #1 - Home vs Wrexham – This should be a good place to hold up, and check in and see where we stack up against the rest of the league. Alright. Game time! On the first corner of the game, Devlin feeds Browne for goal, but it’s waived offsides. They score in the 5th. GK Taylor gives away possession on a kick to the other side, and it’s goal for them in the 32nd. Shihab gives up a penalty, and they sink it. Half. They give us a penalty in the 53rd, and Heardman sinks it for us. Kebbie drives the corner, crosses to Heardman’s head, who sinks it for goal in the 64th. I pull Shihab for Colbridge. Roberts in for Devlin. Spetch for Moore after he gets a yellow card. Heardman feeds Browne for goal in extra time at the 93:55 mark!

https://i.imgur.com/jFm6haV.jpg

Nice!

We hold and tie 3-3 .

Let me show you why I think we’ll be very competitive this year:


https://i.imgur.com/Bg8bclb.png


Remembering that Wrexham finished in the playoffs last year, and were one of the top 6 or 7 clubs, we shellacking them in every statistic that matters, other than the score. We’ll be fine.

I will move my tactics and tell Taylor to distribute the ball to my DCs.

[Abe Sargent]

I loan out GK Thomas and Beardman.

Beardman and Browne were named in the Team of the Week.

One of the ways you compete in games is with tactics. In this match, I didn’t realize that Taylor, who is an experienced 29 year old GK, would give away the ball that easily. So we made that change


League Game #2 – Away vs Morecambe – Morecambe were relegated from the League 2 last year, and thus are expected to do very well in our league this year. Thus, heading away to a team expected to contend is another place for us to test our mettle. The one thing that leans our way today is the tactics. They have a simple 4-4-2, and we are built to have an edge on that tactic. We give up a goal in the 9th. Just a few minutes left, on a counter attack, our shot rifles off the cannon bar to Moore, who puts it away to tie the game. Our foes were dominating in the first 10-15 minutes of the half, but we have been have been pushing hard, and thus the 1-1 tie at the half is actually generous to them, as we have 12 shots, 8 on target, to their 4-2. They knock through an offsides goal in the 49th. Our foes are collecting yellows. Corbridge for Davey is my first sub. Roberts for Browne. We tie 1-1. Corby Moore is MOM.


League Game #3 – Home vs Sutton United – Good luck out there! We begin positively. If we can do well today and finish with a win, then we’d have 5 points in our first three games. Not bad! Devlin has an early yellow and then a light injury, so I pull him in the 25th for Roberts. We are dominating, not just sinking shots. Half. 0-0. Just keep playing, and the result will follow. In the 61st, Kebbie, Beardman and Browne are triangling the ball dangerously on the flank. Kebbie hits Beardman as he breaks, and Breadman scores. I send in Spetch for Moore. In the 79th, Kebbie crosses for Roberts on the other flank, who scores. We win 2-0, MOM is Kebbie with both assists


We have 5 points in 3 games. And Kebbie has three assists, Beardman three goals. Our offense is trucking, and we got a blank game, but they only had 7 shots with 3 on target. I am still worried about Taylor.

In the rest of the league, Aldershot hung 6 on Barnet.

[Abe Sargent]

Let’s take a step back at my history at Poole:


I arrived at Poole, and we were in our 3rd season in the South. We had finished at 5th, then almost relegation, then I took over.

Here were my waves of talent Acquisition:


Wave 1 – GK Stedman, AMR Elliot, DR Kebbie, DC Corbridge

And these joined the current squad, and I started MC Moore, Bedford, AM Brooks, ST Roberts, AM Devlin, DL Spetch, DC Whisken. We did well! But then when we were sliding back and had only won 1 game out of the last six in early January, I picked up:

Wave 2 – AMC Browne, MC Ashby, DC Davey.

I moved Brooks, Whisken, and Bedford to my rotations, and then started them. I didn’t lose a match for six weeks, and then managed to remain in the driver’s spot, despite fading at the end of the season.

And we won! By the end of the season, only Roberts, Moore, Devlin, and Spetch had remained at the ST, MC, AML, and DL respectively.

Wave 3 – We brought in GK Taylor, AMC Logan, DC Shihab, MC Blanchfield, and ST Heardman. We sold Elliott after Dundee wanted to bring him over to the Scottish Premier League.

Right now, I have starting, and I will give you the number of the wave I acquired them (0 if they stated with me)


GK Taylor – 3
DC Davey – 2
DC Shihab – 3
DL Moore – 0
DR Kebbie – 1
MC Ashby – 2
MC Blanchfield – 3
AMR Browne – 2
AMC Logan – 3
AML Devlin – 0
ST Heardman – 3


So, of the four acquisitions I made earlier in this dynasty, only Kebbie remains starting.

I’m a little worried about Taylor


Let me show you why:

Game 1 – 3 goals, in 6 shots on target
Game 2 – 1 goal, in 2 shots on target
Game 3 – 0 goals, in 3 shots on target


Now, the first game may wind up being an outlier, and I want to give him some more starts before hitting the “On Shit” button. Even with a shut out last game helping his numbers, he is giving up 4 goals in 9 shots on target, or roughly 45% of the shots on target are hitting the net. That is not a long term sustainably slate of goal stopping.

I don’t know if you care, but we have the best Goalkeeping and tactical training in our division, and the 3rd best scouting.


Let’s finish up August and see where we stand!

[Abe Sargent]

I loan out Kitching among others.

I bring in 32 year old Brazilian Marcedo to run my U19 squad.


I offer a month trial to GK Yves Ma Kalambay, a 33 year old international from the DR Congo, and wo has been looking for a coaching gig, and that’s how I came across him. He was not in my scouting list for players, but I found him looking for staff, jobs. If he wants to come over, I may like him a lot more than Taylor.


Game 4 – Away vs Harrogate Town – Alright, can I keep our momentum? Can our GK stop the on-target shots from sinking? Keep our run going! We have a fast and quiet half, no cards, nothing. They have 1 shot, none on target, to our 9 and 4. Just keep up, you’ll be fine. In the 57th, Devlin feeds a nice, low pass to the feet of Heardman for goal. Roberts spells Browne . Harrogate gets three quick yellows. They are clearly frustrated. Sylvestre for Ashby. Bedford for Logan. We give up a goal in the 84th. We hold and tie, 1-1.

https://i.imgur.com/TxF4WVg.jpg

Now, this is Taylor as an issue again. Up until the early 80s, our foes had, for the entire game, 2 shots, 0 on target. Then they pressured us, and had just two shots on goal, for the game. Taylor gave up the first.

I don’t think Taylor is my guy.

[Abe Sargent]

Without Taylor right now, and just a decent GK, we win the first game 3-2, and/or this one 1-0.

I’ma give him another game.


League #5 – Home vs Fylde – One of the best teams in the league last year is here – they finished 2nd but missed in the playoffs! Say hello to Fylde. Keep up our run! Browne to Heardman, goal, 7th minute. Moore is carded a few minutes later. I tell him to ease off tackles. Browne to Devlin, goal; 18th minute. In the 22nd, Devlin to Heardman, goal. 34th Heardman collects a free ball off an interception, and scores. Hattrick! Half. I sub out Moore for Spetch. Devlin sinks a DFK in the 51st. By the way, as of right now, my defense has held Fylde to just one shot on goal. Sylvestre for Davey. Roberts for Browne.

https://i.imgur.com/HPo1RWF.jpg

Here – Boom! Again, note that Taylor’s 2nd clean sheet came with only 1 shot on target. My defense has been forcing them to take longer shots, and clamping down on them, so they aren’t as many on target.

Right now Heardman is breaking nets.

Good bye August!

[Abe Sargent]

Good bye August!

Hello September!


Sept. 2 – Away vs Solihull Moors
Sept. 7 – Away vs Boreham Wood
Sept. 14 – Home vs Maidenhead
Sept. 17 – Home vs Barnet
Sept. 21 – Away vs Halifax Town
Sept. 28 – Home vs Salford City


Three of my players are called up for international duty in the beginning of next month.

The youth facilities upgrades we discussed earlier (from my old board) have finished. They have now risen in quality all the way up to “below average”!


League #6 – Away vs Solihull Moors – For today’s match, Browne is on duty. I am starting Roberts, and I have activated youther Jayden Bennetts from the U23 squad as my primary backup. Keep our run going! At first our foes have a few shots. Then the momentum switches to us, and then back and forth. At the half, it’s 0-0. You get us that one goal, we are probably winning this! I send in Bedford, Bennett. And Corbridge after Shihab collects a card. They score in the 78th. On a corner, Devlin finds Davey for goal in the 89th. They get a 2nd yellow and a bath for a nasty foul on Bennetts in the box. He’s banged up, Heardman scores the PK in the 92nd minute. We win 2-1, MOM was Davey!

https://i.imgur.com/VzyBXBb.png

This was the first game where Taylor showed up.

[Abe Sargent]

https://i.imgur.com/P0d6IYh.png

Who’s been showing up? We have been!

Devlin, Browne, and Davey are in the Team of the Week



League #7 – Away vs Boreham Wood – Keep up our run! I have moved another youther, ST.MC Reece Miller to my substitutional main squad to replace some folks heading out to internationals. Roberts is injured early and I send in Bennett to spell him. They score in the 23rd. They have two cards, and then three. At the half, they have 1 shot, 1 on target. Taylor is striking again. Show me something else! Heardman an early card. I send in Miller. Can you get a goal in your first professional match? Almost! Kebbie send him two nice crosses that were on target but stopped by their GK. In the 81st, Devlin crosses deeply, and it sneaks into goal without anyone touching it. And….we hold and tie 1-1.

Roberts is out for two months.

I need to bring in some better depth that Bennetts or other youth on their way up. I sign some more attacking style hot prospect and send them to my U23 squad.



League #8 – Home vs Maidenhead – Our foes are in 22nd. Browne is back, but he’s tired, so I am starting Bennetts at AMR today. Spetch starts at Fullback. I am looking to bring Browne back for the Barnet match in a few days. Keep our run going! Logan to Heardman for goal in the 15th. And then a few minutes later, they score. Half. I send in Moore, Bedford, and Corbridge. But we don’t manage to crack their goal again, 1-1 tie. Taylor, once again, allowed a goal with a small number of on-target shots 93 in this case).

I am tired of Taylor.

[Abe Sargent]

League #9 – Home vs Barnet – Our foes are 9th. Can we thump them? We have 5 ties and 3 wins, so no losses in my 1st 8 games, but we just have 14 points. …….. It’s nice a nice game. We lose 2-1. MOM was Bedford after I send him in for Ashby and he got my lone score. This was our first loss of the season, but we are 10th after it


League #10 – Away vs FC Halifax Town – Our foes are right behind us at 11th. Let’s get started! Card for Devlin in the 18th. Half. Show me something else! Card for Shihab. I send in Corbridge for him. I don’t want to drop to 10. In the 68th, Moore’s cross feeds a hungry Browne for goal. Bedford heads in. They get a nice, built up shot to sink in the 74th, but it’s called offsides. Miller for a tired Heardman. We hold on and win 1-0. MOM was Moore. Now Taylor had 5 shots on target, and a shut out. I consider this to have been a solid game.

Alright, let’s finish September.

[Abe Sargent]

He has arrived:

https://i.imgur.com/3x9gcNv.png

I moved Taylor to squad rotation a few games ago from his initial deal. Yves has arrived. Time to get a real GK! He’s also not a bad coach for later if we wanted to update him.

I am about to move Myring up to my mains quad for rotational needs, and I figured I’d show you him and some of my other new youthers:

https://i.imgur.com/JmD77E9.png
https://i.imgur.com/SucOiiX.png
https://i.imgur.com/TWdAXYp.png

Bennetts is currently adapting to life as a part-timer. Lots of folks will begin to drop shortly after joining, btw, if they weren’t part time before. For many, their stats will pop back up later afterwards.

[Abe Sargent]

League #11 – Home vs Salford City – Let’s start Yves. We have a lot more fans in the stands who are excited to see Yves. For the fans! Browne crosses to Devlin the players in the middle moving on goal in the 27th. Browne with a card. I tell him to lay off the tackles. Our foes are pushing forward hard. Hard. Half. Don’t let up! Myring heads in for Browne. Now Corbridge for Davey. Sylvestre for Kebbie. They push into a 4-2-4 to overload us. Yves has multiple diving saves. We hold and win 1-0. MOM is Devlin. Yves’s impact in a single game?

https://i.ibb.co/TmdJND2/fm1996.png

He pitched a clean sheet with strong saves.

Yves was named in the Team of the Week!


Goodbye September!

[Abe Sargent]

October

Oct. 5 – Away vs Ebbsfleet United
Oct. 8 – Home vs Wealdstone
Oct. 12 – Away vs Barrow
Oct. 26 – Away vs Gateshead
Oct. 29 – Home vs Eastleigh


I went to my board. I figured since the first upgrade to my youth facilities were finished, they might be more inclined for training facilities:

https://i.ibb.co/JscMPqp/fm1997.png

Yes, they are!

Another hot prospect I just signed:

https://i.ibb.co/CtzPJ8r/fm1998.png

I will make him active for my U23 squad while remaining in my Senior one.


League #12 – Away vs Ebbsfleet – Let’s do it! Keep up on run!

Quiet draw

https://i.ibb.co/7QcKmY7/fm1999.png

[Abe Sargent]

League #13 – Home vs Wealdstone – Here are our fellow folks from last year in the South league. For the Fans!!! Browne comes out with an injury early and I send in Myring. Ashby feeds Logan for goal in the 23rd, and then Kebbie drives and Heardman with a score. Half. Don’t get complacent. I send in Bedford. Pull Ashby after he collects a card. Heardman grabs another goal in extra time, and we win 3-0. MOM is Heardman. Nice!


Browne is out for a month with an injured hamstring.

I hand out some rests to Logan. Have you noticed that under the last three games under Yves, we’ve haven’t even given up a goal?


League #14 – Away vs Barrow – Browne is out – Roberts is back and starting for him. Our foes are 23rd right now, against our 7th. I begin positively. Keep up our run of form!

https://i.ibb.co/SVXpRQS/fm1901.png

3-0 victoire

[Abe Sargent]

4th round – FA Cup – Oxford City – Keep up the run! 1-1 tie, sorry.


https://i.ibb.co/1fLMrHy/fm1902.png


Replay arrives! Win this for the fans. 0-0 first half, then 1-1, after they score on a PK in injury time to take us to ET. They score a few minutes later, then Heardman scores in the 114th and we are 2-2 and heading to pks. Heardman steps up, and is blocked by the GK. They score, then Moore steps up and scores. They score too, and here comes Blanchfield. In. They score again. Here comes Bedford and….in. They hit, and here comes Logan. Blocked by their GK. They win 4-3. We are out of the FA Cup.

[Abe Sargent]

League #15 – Away vs Gateshead – We handed out rests so I could make the three-day turnaround. Kebbie is lightly injured and will be out for a few days.

We win nicely!

https://i.ibb.co/7yQKLGR/fm1903.png

4-2 baby! MOM was Logan with 2 scores. Logan named in Team of the Week.

League #16 – Home vs Eastleigh – I start Sylvestre for Kebbie. Our foe is 4th. Keep the run going!
https://i.ibb.co/ZWqs1d8/fm1904.png


Tie.

By bye October!

[Abe Sargent]

November

Nov. 2 – Away vs Leyton Orient
Nov. 16 – Home vs Maidstone United
Nov. 23 – Away vs Kidderminster
Nov. 26 – Home vs Dover
Nov. 30 – Home vs Chemsford

AMC Logan was 2nd most in the league voting for Young Player of the Month

League #17 – Vs Leyton Orient – They are currently #1 in the league. Kebbie is back starting after his injury. We have nothing to lose, so go out there and get a result. Play your game. We lose 0-3. Badly. That loss drops us to 6th.


Browne is back from his injury.

League #18 – Home vs Maidstone, currently #4. No changes to my lineup as Browne is on international duty. We lose in a close 1-0 fight, although they pushed us around in our own house:

https://i.ibb.co/T4xdhTz/fm1905.png


They dominated us offensively, and it’s a credit to our team that we only gave up a single goal.

Yves was named in the Team of the Week.

[Abe Sargent]

League #19 – Away vs Kidderminster – We win this time by another 1 gal score:

https://i.ibb.co/Y8mRM09/fm1906.png

2-1! We are back to our winning ways! Now sure, we had an early 10 man squad, but hey, any victory is a victory, right? Right!

Yves again in Team of Week

League #20 – Home vs Dover – For the fans!!! I start Bedford for Ashby. It’s dousing rain tonight.

https://i.ibb.co/gmgVSZb/fm1907.png


Dover got points from this one very, very, late. Happens.

[Abe Sargent]

The League after 20 games:

https://i.ibb.co/WDdgRHZ/fm1908.png


You can see that we are 5th!

League #21 – Home vs #6 Chesterfield – I move Ashby back to starting. For the fans!!!

Who called for a shoot out?

https://i.ibb.co/D8tGqgT/fm1909.png

Was it you? Were you bored with the many 1-0, 0-0 ties and such and you called for this? Okay, here you go!


Good bye November

[Abe Sargent]

Hello December

Dec. 3 – Away vs Grimsby
Dec. 7 – Home vs Aldershot
Dec. 14 – FA Trophy Round 1 vs Ramsgate
Dec. 21 – Away vs Wrexham
Dec. 26 – Home vs Morecambe
Dec. 28 – Away vs Sutton
Dec. 30 – Home vs Harrogate Town


My next two games include #4 Grimsby and #11 Aldershot.


League #22 – Away vs Grimsby Town – Keep our run going lads! We don’t We lose 0-2.

https://i.ibb.co/SnHLMfP/fm19100.png


League #23 – Home vs Aldershot Town – I start Roberts for Devlin, as he’s on a cold streak. For our fans lads!!! We dominated this match:

https://i.ibb.co/M11pM8T/fm19101.png

[Abe Sargent]

Nicely done!

We remain in 5th place. Heardman now has 18 league goals; the next highest is 13. He may be quiet for a game or two, but then he will just roar us back into competition.

I have been working on bringing up the ability to play other positions in some of my players, such as Blanchford or Shihab, both of whom are much better now at MCs, DMCs, and in the case of the former, the MR spot. I suspect you’ll begin to see them grow more comfortable there now that they’ve been working in that for around half a year.

My next job interview offer arrives:

https://i.imgur.com/0wnt1h7.png

I used to run Yeovil Town FC in a former life. No thanks! They just won this division last year, and now are in dead last in League 2. That’s not something I’m interested in doing - moving to another club like that.

Do I have my new Devlin?

Here’s Tarique Fosu –

https://i.imgur.com/1zAkj8u.png


He was let go by Charlton last year, and has been on a free for months. For the first time, he’s interested in coming to slum it up in our division. I make him an offer. Devlin has been dropping in ability after starting strong, and has been in a bit of a slump.

[Abe Sargent]

FA Trophy vs Ramsgate – I start a few backups and subs today. My starters include Devlin, Roberts, Balmer, Corbridge, Spetch, and such. For the fans! It’s cascading rain, and my attacking mentality hasn’t done much, so I pull back to positive around the 15 minute mark. Roberts scores two minutes later. Then Spetch at the 18th. Roberts an early yellow card. I tell him to ease up. Half. Don’t get complacent! I send in Bennetts for Roberts. Balmer scores at the 45:33 mark. I send in Sylvestre and Myring. We win 3-0, MOM is Will Spetch. Good job!


Once we made an offer on Fosu, multiple teams put in offers as well, and he’ll be heading to Bristol.

League #24 – Away vs Wrexham – Keep our run going! Everyone is back n their starting spots, saved for Spetch, who remains in. Blanchfield feeds Logan for goal in the 22nd, but otherwise, a pretty quiet half. Don’t get complacent!! We send in Bedford, Myring, and Colridge. We hold on, and win 1-0. MOM is Blanchfield. We were the first team to score against Wrexham in games and games, by the by. Good job!


Bedford was injured and will be out for two weeks.

[Abe Sargent]

Rumors have hit the market of some French teams that might be interested in bringing me in, namely Brest (as my main nation is Morocco, I speak Arabic, Berber and French naturally, and then Korean and English).

I go to the board and ask for an extension of my contract. We sit down and work on a new deal. We agree to change our expectation, and offer more budget, and extend my deal a year.

They inject around 115k into my transfer budget for me to move around, but we are now expecting a top half finish. I move my budget to around 1k more than I am currently spending.

Time to look for a new Devlin.

League #25 – Home vs Morecambe – I leave Spetch in. After today’s match, I will hand out rests for the next few days, as I have a gauntlet of three games in 5 days. Keep our run going!!! We tie 1-1 as Browne scores.


League #26 – Away vs Sutton – For the fans!!! Is that…snow? Is this the first time I’ve seen snow at the game? I guess so, I can’t remember it last year. Alright- let’s snow it on! I tell you what, in honor of the snow…let’s begin attacking. I make that change. Heardman delightfully feeds Ashby on an attack run to score in the 16th. Then a few minutes later, Roberts crosses to Logan for goal. I ease back to balanced from attacking. Apparently, they were not expecting me to come out blazing like that on the road and in the snow. Logan feeds Heardman for goal in the 24th. Heardman scores again in the 42nd. Half. We are up 4-0. What do you say? Don’t get complacent? Thanks? Our opponent has more fouls (7) than shots (6). I don’t feel complacency comment would resonate, so just “Keep it going!.” Spetch a card, and I tell him to ease up. I pull two tireder people early – Blanchfield and Kebbie. Yves has a bad clearance, intercepted, and scored by them in the 72nd. They knock down another score off the post. They get a pk to sink in the 89th, but it’s too late, and we hold on and win 4-3. Next time, I’m not being nice at half time. :) Heardman was MOM.

[Abe Sargent]

December 29 has arrived and I pause while I look to see what I might unearth.

I think I may have my new Devlin

https://i.imgur.com/h6YfURx.png

Like Fosu, he’s been free for months, and is now willing to slum it up with us in the Conference. Any job in a storm, right? I make Fejiri an offer to come join us! It will require some cash, but I just got that investment from m y board a few days ago that’ll help a lot, a lot.

I bring in, on trial, the best player on free that’s not at a position of logjam (such as GK) –


https://i.imgur.com/kIvaC14.png



This is Will Collar. I wanted to see if he was my new Ashby or Blanchfield, but I am unsure.

Here is the comparison

Collar vs Ashby:

https://i.imgur.com/i9oLu41.png

As you can see, Ashby isn’t better anywhere. They are even in speed and technical abilities, and that’s it.

Collar vs Blanchfield:

https://i.imgur.com/6WlCMCX.png

Now, Blanchfield and Collar are the same in attacking and technically, and Blanchfield is better at vision. But Collar? He’s better everywhere else.

Now, to bring him on would cost be, roughly, 700/week, which would need to come from somewhere.

I thought I was set at MC, as Ashby played well in half a year, and Blanchfield was an obvious upgrade from Moore. But so far? Ashby has 3 goals, 3 assists, and a 7.02 league rating; Blanchfield has 3 assists, no goals, and a 7.03 rating. Now, to be fair to Blanchfield, he has a deep lying playmaker role. That’s not someone you would expect to be rolling off goals and assists. But Ashby last year had 7 goals, 1 assist, in 6 fewer leagues games for us, in the exact same role. Now, sure, this would be harder, since it’s a level up, but that still worries me a little. The difference in price in Ashby from current salary to Collar isn’t much either.

Right now, I have my AM offer out, and that will likely take up most of my new 1k available in salary.

[Abe Sargent]

But…before I do that, I make offers to my current folks that are ending in 6 months that I want to retain:

Browne by one year
Corbridge by two years, and I drop him to hot prospect
Bedford by a year
Balmer by 2 years


That means I could lose these players: Corby Moore, Alex Davey, Steve Devlin, Will Spetch, Luke Roberts, Josh Ashby

I’m okay with that. Browne is the one I don’t want to try and replace right now. I could bring in new MC for Ashby now, and then move Ashby to squad rotation. Let’s do it. I make Collar the offer, and then massage my transfers to cover both offers.


League #27 – Home vs Harrogate Town - Starting today are Devlin and Moore for Roberts and Spetch. It’s the final battle of 2019. Keep up our run!

https://i.imgur.com/u6QdYch.png


They do not. We lose. Maybe Ashby felt footsteps?

Goodbye 2019

[Abe Sargent]

Hello 2020

Jan. 4 – Home vs Solihill Moors
Jan. 11 – Away vs Fylde
Jan. 18 – FA Trophy – Home vs Stockport
Jan. 25 – Home vs Boreham Wood


Once again, Logan was 2nd in Young Player of the Month voting

https://i.imgur.com/2lMLukM.png

Here are the current standings. We are 5th. I don’t want to finish anywhere below 7th, as I want to have at least a shot of promoting. Now, like the previous league, you cannot get out without winning or winning a playoff, there are no slots for hitting #2 or #3. There are just two spots out. I don’t want to rely of guesses, I want out, out – so I am aiming to win, not to get hot with a playoff.

So, if you hit 7th, then you have a lottery ticket out! Now it may look at first like we would have a 1 in 6 chance of making it out as there are 76 teams in the playoffs. But that’s not how math works. That means for teams hitting 4, 5, 6, 7, they fight against each other, and then the winners against 2, 3, and then in a final. So basically, the math looks like this:

Chance of a team hitting 4-7 getting out – 1 in 8
Chance of a team hitting 2-3 getting out - 1 in 4

You double your chances by getting to 3. That’s my new goal now that I am five. Thus my two new players are coming in hopefully to get us enough form to take us to #3. And that seems feasible. I don’t want to rely on 2-7, but if I have to, let’s get to 3.


Fejiri arrives, and he signed for 850/week plus 30% promotion raise. We’ll be starting him at AML for now.

[Abe Sargent]

League #28 – Home vs Solihull Moors – I will assign Fejiri an Inside Forward roll to see how he handles it, as it plays to his strengths. For the Fans!! This is a good team that is currently 8th. I cannot do this game justice in a paragraph:

11th minute, we hit goal, when Logan hits Ashby.

16th - They get a card, then another soon after,

22nd – They score off a counter.

37th – They score off a DFK

44th – They give us a corner, and then foul us in the box. Heardman sinks the PK.

Half, tied, 2-2.


In the 49th, Browne feeds Fejiri for goal. He scored on his debut with us.


55th – Ashby to Heardman, goal

59th – We send off one of their middies in a nasty looking injury

66th – Ashby feeds Browne, goal

71st – I send in Corbridge for Davey and Sylvestre for Blanchfield

75th - They score again off a strong long shot that was nasty.

82nd – I send in Myring


We win 5-3, MOM is Ashby. Nice!

Collar’s trial ends, we have a bid out for him still.


https://i.imgur.com/ViD1upM.png

Ah well. He heads to Nott’s County.

But the idea is a good one, although Ashby’s recent hot streak suggests he is fine for now.

How about DL where I have Moore and Spetch rotating?

I begin scouting.

I make an offer to unsigned Conor McLaughlin


Ashby and Fejiri are named in Team of the Week

[Abe Sargent]

I go to my board and request another scout, and they agree. I make an offer to Polish scout Lukasz Bednarz. He signs.


League #29 – Away vs Fylde – I open defending today. No one expects us to win – no pressure!!! Tense and nervy first half, but neither team cracked that goal. We each had opportunities and such. Just get that goal! Over the first 15 minutes, all of the pressure is ours, but we can’t crack their GK, and then the system heads back to equilibrium. By the 63rd minute, our foes have used all of their subs. I push forward, and try to break their momentum, and I tell my folks to tackle hard. It happens. In the 72nd minute, we injure one of their defenders. We are now up a person. I ease off tackles and move to positive. I send in Sylvestre. In the 77th, Browne finds Logan for goal, and we have broken the 0-0 stalemate. Is that the only goal of the match? DC Dinyezi heads in next. In the 83rd, Fylde is moving forward to try and correct the scoreboard. I ease back to cautious. Roberts heads in. We hold and win 1-0. MOM is Logan. Nice!

Conor says no – we can’t offer enough money for him to come here. I can’t find a DL that works for me who is also willing to come work for me. Ah well.

Yves named in Team of Week

FA Trophy Round #2 – Stockport – Show why we are the heavy favorites! We begin attacking. In the first half, we have two goals by Heardman and one by Fejiri. Half, 3-0. DON’T GET COMPLACENT! Then goals by Browne and Fejiri. We win 5-0, MOM is Fejiri.

Bedford is back from injury.

[Abe Sargent]

League #30 – Home vs Boreham Wood – Keep up your run! I begin positively. Moore a yellow. I give him my normal instruction to ease up. Fejiri to Blanchfield for goal in the 44th. Half. Don’t get complacent in the driving rain. Heardman off Browne, goal, 67th. I send in Roberts and Sylvestre for Moore. Then Dinyezi. They score off a nice counter in the 89th. We win 2-1, MOM is Blanchfield.

After 30 games:

https://i.imgur.com/WCrhwU9.png


We’re now in 4th and in shouting distance of 2nd and 3rd.

Good bye January!

[Abe Sargent]

February


Feb. 1 – Away vs Barnet, Conference
Feb. 8 – Home vs Barnet, FA Trophy
Feb. 11 – Away vs Maidenhead
Feb. 15 – Home vs Halifax
Feb. 22 – Away vs Salford


I win Manager of the Month!

League #31 – Away vs #6 Barnet – I open today cautiously. Vengeance!!! On a corner, Logan finds Davey for goal. Quiet half. Don’t get complacent! They grab two goals in the 2nd half, and beat us 2-1.



FA Trophy vs Barnet – Well I lost to Barnet last time. But now? Now it really matters! Let’s get ‘er done and move through them. Vengeance!!! Cascades of rain are pouting around. They are sandblasting us at our own home, and we are barely holding on. Half, 0-0. Go get us that goal! Then, in the 61st, goal is made. By us! We’ve had 6 shots, and this is only the 2nd on target, to their 13 and 7. But Ashby finds Fejiri for goal. And we’ll take it! I send in Sylvestre in the 72nd. In the 74th, Ashby to Browne for goal. That is just the 3rd shot we’ve even had on target. I slide back to cautious. I suspect a Barnet Wave is About to Crash Poole Town. Myring heads in. Then Spetch to give my fullback spot some more energy fresh off the bench. At the 89:19 mark, finally, our foes score. They have dominated this match so much, they had to. Can we hold on? Yes we do. MOM is Ashby, and we win 2-1. Nicely nice!

We draw Morecambe for the FAT Trophy Quarterfinals

[Abe Sargent]

League #32 – Away vs Maidenhead – For the fans! Our foes are 24th, so began offensively. Whoa! They score in the 6th, and then again in the 9th. Nope! I clamp down to defensive and hold off any further assault. I slowly open up like a shelled clam. In the 27th I move to cautious. Abut ten minutes later, Fejiri sinks a goal after jumping off a rebound off the crossbar. Half. This is not acceptable!!! In the 57th, I move to balanced. On a built up attack, Ashby scores from a Kebbie assist. I send in Bennetts, and then Myring. In the 81st, Myring finds Browne for goal. In heads Sylvestre. We hold and win 3-2. MOM is Ashby. Huh. Not how I expected that game to go, but I’ll take any result that’s a W.



League #33 – Home vs Halifax Town – Keep up our run! I begin balanced seeing how overconfidence may have left to a more difficult game last week than I was looking for. We lose 1-2. Our lone goal was by Logan late.

[Abe Sargent]

League #34 – Away vs Salford City. For the fans!!! Quiet. Quiet. Quiet. Half in seconds. 0-0. Hm… We’re not doing badly. Quiet. They acquire a card. I send in Dinyezi and Myring. Then we give up a pk in the 77th, but Yves blocks it! In the 81st, Blanchford scores with an assist by Dinyezi, and that score……….stands. We win 1-0, MOM is Blanchford. Clean sheet!

I hand out many a rest

League #35 - Home vs Ebbsfleet – For the Fans!!! Fejiri feeds Heardman for goal in the 16th. Moore to Logan on a counter, and we are up 2-0 at the 28th. They power a score just before the half. Halftime. Don’t. Get. Complacent. We injure their Striker and he is spelled. In heads Sylvestre and Corbridge. Browne feeds Heardman in the 73rd for goal. I ease to cautious. Ebbsfleet have been very lethal at 8 shots on target out of 10, so I don’t want to assume anything here. Spetch heads in too. They grab a consolation goal in the 88th, and we win 3-2. MOM is Heardman.

Heardman is named Team of the Week

[Poli]

I haven't bought the game since 12, but man this makes me want to rethink that!

[Abe Sargent]

Our new intake of youth arrive. Not very promising, sorry!


FA Trophy Quarter Finals – Away vs Morecambe – I begin cautious today. For the FANS!!! In his ball playing defender role, Shihab feeds Blanchfield on a run and he scores in the 15th. By half, we have 3 shots, all on target, to their 10 and 5. Don’t even think of complacency! Our foes move forward for around 12 minutes, but aren’t hitting paydirt. They stop a great offensive strike in the 65th by us. I pull a tired Logan for Myring. They finally crack the code in the 78th. Sylvestre for an underperforming Kebbie. Blanchfield with his first card of the year. End of regular time. Go get me that goal!!! ½ time in ET. I send in Spetch for Moore. And that’s game. We tied 1-1. MOM is Blanchfield. That means we’ll play the rematch at our place.

https://i.imgur.com/3bRLIKW.png

I hand out MANY rests….

[Abe Sargent]

I haven't bought the game since 12, but man this makes me want to rethink that!

I'm glad!

The training is fully rehauled, and I haven't really touched it. I've just handed it off to my folks to do, and I tweak it here and there. It's like every day is the training camp set-up in FOF.


Abe

[Abe Sargent]

https://i.imgur.com/O9ENSrc.png



Here my training screen, and from here I can track folks training well or not, health risks with various training types and levels, moves, etc. It's more detailed than before.

[Abe Sargent]

Oh, and also brand new is this:

https://i.imgur.com/8NYgjme.png

There are a number of ways you can track inter-squad dynamics, social groups,e leaders, respected veterans, personality,etc. Yves, my GK is a perfectionist. He works well with those people. Etc.

[Abe Sargent]

With this, i can hold team meetings any time I want:


https://i.imgur.com/dO1L8gz.png

[Abe Sargent]

March


Mar. 4 – FA Trophy QF Rematch vs Morecambe
Mar. 7 – Home vs Gateshead
Mar. 10 – Away vs Wealdstone
Mar. 14 – Home vs Barrow
Mar. 21 – Away vs Eastleagh or the Semi Final vs Dag & Red of the FA Trophy if we take out Morecambe
Mar. 24 – Away vs Maidstone
Mar. 28 – Home vs Leyton Orient

Logan’s goal vs Halifax was Goal of the Month!

Here’s the League table

https://i.imgur.com/Kbsf3yu.png

Now, if you paid attention, we did not have a good February, with a few losses in there. Well take heart, me laddies! We rose to #3. Which means we’d get a bye in the playoffs this year if the year ended. Please note we are tied with Fylde at 3-4, and Maidstone is just a point behind us. We have both Maidstone and Leyton this month. We’ll have a much better view of where things stand at the end of March.


QF Rematch vs Morecambe – Because we are at home, I open balanced. Moore is jaded and tired, so I have Spetch start for him. For the fans!!! Fejiri a nasty fast assist to Blanchfield, with a nasty fast shot that slips past their defenses and sinks in the 36th They score offa corner a few minutes later. They also grabed a number of cards. Half. SHOW ME SOMETHING ELSE. They collect a yellow. Then another. The moment Spetch collects a card, I send in Sylvestre for him. End of 90 minutes. My foe pulled one yellow card, and has used all three subs, but I have 2. GET THAT GOAL. I send in Dinyezi and Myring. In the 102nd, off a IFK, Logan hits Dinyezi’s head for goal. And that……..holds, and we are out! MOM is Blanchfield.

[Abe Sargent]

League #36 – Home vs Gateshead – Spetch remains in. We are tied 0-0 at the half, boring, ish. But we are ahead on the stats, so keep going. Logan to Fejiri for a goal in the 59th. I send in Roberts for a tired Browne. Corbridge for Davey. Myring for a tired Heardman. Ashby gets goal in the 87th. A very, very poor and stupid pass by Myring gave away possession deep, and they punish with a score in OT. We win 2-1. MOM is Fejiri. We got away with that one.

Browne is out for a week with a hamstring. Roberts will cover.

Yves and Fejiri named in Team of Week


League #37 – Away vs Wealdstone – Keep up our run!!! We tie 2-2, MOM is Heardman with two goals.

https://i.imgur.com/E8OjBv6.png

[Abe Sargent]

League #38 – Home vs Barrow – Moore is back – For the fans, in this light drizzle. We win 3-1, and Ashby’s 1 goal and assist game was MOM with goals by Shihab off an corner, and Fejiri.


League #39 – Away vs Eastleigh – I begin cautious. We take a while to get going, but finally, in the 41st, Kebbie feeds Fejiri for goal. Half. Don’t get complacent out there. They score in the 56th, but then after I send in Dinyenzi and Sylvestre, in the 78th, Ashby feeds Logan for goal. I send in Spetch. Can we hold and win 2-1? We can! MOM is Logan.

[Abe Sargent]

Semi-Final Leg #1 of the FA Trophy vs Dag & Red – As we are beginning in our home, I begin positively. For the FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rain means nothing as we fight for destiny’s embrace! At the 1:47 minute, Roberts fed Fajiri for goal. There we are! Logan scores around 10 minutes later. They collect a card. Then another. They sink a DFK in the 33rd. Half. No complaceny! Logan with a card. I tell him to lay of the heavy tackling. Blanchfield to Fajiri for goal in the 58th. In the 62nd, they get a 2nd yellow. I swap out Logan. They foul us in the box, and then Fejiri sinks a PK in the 68th. I send in Sylvestre. Now Dinyezi heads in.

https://i.imgur.com/C4bHMi6.png

Well, we win the first leg well!


League #40 – Away vs Maidstone – I will begin defensively for this matchup. Vengeance!!! 0-0 tie. Boring. On the day, my vaulted offensse had three shots to their 17. The tie favors us. We’ll take it, and the MOM was Shihab.

[Abe Sargent]

FA Trophy Semi-Final 2nd Leg – Away at Dag & Red - Browne is back from his injury. As we are on the road, and up 4-1, I expect our foes to come in hot and heavy and I begin cautiously. The first leg means nothing. Go out and win this game too! Quiet first 20 minutes, then my foes get two yellows. We are controlling the match, just not dropping scores. Half, 0-0. Stay focused!!! Our foes get a 4th card. Kebbie to Heardman for goal in the 65th. I send in Spetch and Dinzeyi. One of their yellows collects another in the 82nd. We win 1-0 today, and 5-1 aggregate. MOM is Kebbie

We made it to the FA Trophy Finals! In the finals,we are playing Grimsby Town, currently 3rd in the same division as us.

https://i.imgur.com/2H8HMvD.png


Curent Table. We are in 4th, but points wise, we’re close but games got shifted around for our FA Trophy and it’s a mess.

[Abe Sargent]

April


Apr. 4 - Home vs Kidderminster
Apr. 7 – Home vs Leyton Orient
Apr. 10 – Away vs Dover
Apr. 14 – Away vs Chesterfield
Apr. 18 – Away vs Aldershot
Apr. 25 – Home vs Grimsby
May 16 – Neutral vs Grimsby for the FA Trophy Final

So, as you can see, we have 6 games left for the regular season, and we are probably finishing in the playoffs. Which gives us a shot at League 2. With a game in hand against the teams below us, we are likely not to fall below 7th, so I’m good calling this a playoff season. But I covet that bye. Get Poole Town to #3!


League #41 – Home vs Kidderminster – I will begin positively for today’s match. We have everyone rested from the semis too, as it was a while ago. Keep our run going! They score first in the 15th, but Heardman follows a few minutes later. And then…..nothing. Half. Show me something else! Shots, possession, etc were roughly even. In heads Myring and Corbridge. Moore feeds Browne goal in the 77th, and that…..is it. We hold and win 2-1. Good job!




League #42 - Leyton Orient just dropped a game to Grimsby three days ago. We have them tired, and in our place, so this is the best chance to steal a win. If you’ll recall, we did not do well against them away earlier in the year. I begin attacking, because I want to see if I can catch them napping. But Leyton dropped from #1 to #2 with the loss, so they may be angry. So I want to watch it. VENGEANCE!!! I slide back to positive after 12 minutes of playing defense. In the 16th, Browne gives Heardman just a beautiful assist, that he finishes. They collect a card. 28th minute? What happened then? Just a Browne to Fajiri score, nothing much. :) I slide to balanced. In the 32nd, they pop the goal. Half. Don’t get complacent. Another card fort them. Blanchfield a card – I send in Sylvestre. They sink a corner in the 67th. Roberts and Dinyezi head in. That was not good enough. We should have won 2-2.

[Abe Sargent]

League #43 – Away vs Dover – We begin cautious.

We win 5-3

https://i.imgur.com/nkiqu8J.png

Enjoy the crazy!


League #44 – Away vs Chesterfield – Today is my 100th game with Poole Town! Keep up our run! They score 2 in the first ten minutes, and I shell up and slowly unfold, much like before. Moore scores in the 41st from a Blanchfield assist, and we are down 2-1 at the half. Show me something else! They do! At the 45:44 mark, Heardman scores. Our foes collect the first card of the day by either side. They score again in the 77th, in heads Dinzeyi, Roberts and Sylvestre. They score again. In the 89th, off a corner, Dinzeyi scores. Then he gifts them an OG a minute later. We lose 5-3. I am far from pleased

[Abe Sargent]

Two games left! And they aren’t easy. I would have enjoyed some momentum going into them.


https://i.imgur.com/gN5fpLj.png


If I had just tied that game, we’d be even on points with Grimsby and Leyton. With two games left, any of LO, Grimsby, us or Barnet have a shot at winning the league outright. Had we won…we’d be two points in front! But, ah well.


League - #45 Away vs Aldershot – I begin cautiously optimistic. For the fans!!! Boring 0-0 draw! Our 3rd this year! Spetch was injured though and will be out 2-4 weeks.


Now, the bad news is that this tie drops us to 4th. The goods news? W have #3 to finish the season, at home, and they are still just 1 point ahead of us as they tied as well. Win, and we are guaranteed at least 3rd. Tie, and we cannot get higher than Grimsby for sure. That means this last week is crucial. They will be playing for an outside shot at 1st if they win, and if they tie, they are guaranteed a top 3 spot.

[Abe Sargent]

League #46 – Home vs Grimsby Town:


I begin balanced. All of my subs are people from last year that I know like Devlin, Bedford, Corbridge, and Roberts. Now the good thing for today is that Grimsby Town are playing the normal 4-4-2 that my team is designed to help answer. And we are at home too, in front of our peoples. That helps as well.

Vengeance!!!

Let’s do this!

Quiet first 10 minutes or so, but we’ve been pushing them. By 20 minutes, we’ve been in control, but not massively so, of the game. We have a nice counter attack by Grimsby that we push aside, and then we score off of the built up that follows in the 39th minute.

https://i.imgur.com/BE1FZLW.jpg

Logan to Ashby for goal. Nice. Now, we need to keep our early momentum going. This is very very early, and our foes are not someone I want to go to sleep on. I ease back to cautious as Grimsby Town push forward a little before the half. The stats have become more even, as they have around the same number of shots on target that we do.

https://i.imgur.com/0ndHXBP.png

Where we’ve been doing here is really dominating possession though. And they have been a foul-a-saurus on us, although no cards yet for them. They are trying to disrupt our momentum. But we are ahead, and I can safely try to lean on that to exploit them coming at us. I tell my lads that, of course, not to get complacent. They send in a sub at the half.

This may help:

https://i.imgur.com/SMHZhyj.jpg

Ashby feeds Heardman for goal in the 53rd. Nice. I will remain in a cautious state as, again, I would expect that Grimsby are too good, and have too much quality, not to still threaten us. Grimsby move forward, and have two strong offensive pushes we handle. At the 63rd?

https://i.imgur.com/hByVwlD.png

Logan sinks a DFK. Their Hack-a-Poole tactics gave us a DRK almost at the box, and Logan made them pay. Good job! They have changed their formation. But again, I doubt this score holds. We are not going to win 3-0, not with how well the have been playing offensively. I send in my first sub – Roberts for Browne. Bedford for Blanchfield is next. It happens in the 82nd when they score off a corner. Again, I expected this. Now we need to hold. Corbridge for Davey. Can we hold them off? 4 minute of stoppage time. Three. Two. One. Time. We win 3-1, mom is Logan.


Good job!

[Abe Sargent]

Final Standings…

https://i.imgur.com/nW3SZYw.png

We finished 2nd! Not bad for our first year. In a normal league, we’d get out with that sort of a placement, not here. We were also just 1 point off first. Again, that Aldershot, OR Chesterfield match near the end hurt. That surprising tie on the road at Wealdstone hurt! If we converted one tie into a win? We would have won the league outright.

But now’s it’s playoff time.

Can we get out that way?

Yves was in Team of the Week.



Good bye April

Heardman won Player of the Month.

Corby Moore’s goal against Chesterfield was Goal of the Month.

[Abe Sargent]

May:

May 5, 6 – 1st Round of Playoffs
May 9 – 2nd Round of Playoffs – We play winner of the first round
May 17 – FA Trophy Final, Neutral
May 26th – Playoff Final, Neutral


FC Halifax defeats Grimsby Town 2-1. Maidstone over Fylde 3-0.

In the playoffs, we get Maidstone, and Leyton Orient hosts FC Halifax. We host because we have the highest seed, so the 2nd place finish can help.


Today we host Maidstone. I respect my foes too much to make any major changes, and I begin balanced. 15 minutes ebbs off, and they have initial advantages. I ease back to cautious. With 6 fouls already, they get a card at the 19th. 28th minute, another card for them. Our foes are starting to slow down. They are down to 60% condition near the end of the 1st half as they pushed early, and played just three days ago. I up my temp to max around the 35th minute to push them now. Nothing. Half. I’m not happy with that!

https://i.imgur.com/FZVvZbB.png

We open up the 2nd half with some scoring. Shihab gives up an OG on a corner. Then in the 53rd?

https://i.imgur.com/qaLWZeh.png


We score again to make it 2-1. I don’t care how ugly it is when we win, as long as we win. I remain cautious. Moore with card. I tell him to ease up. That’s the one thing we don’t need right now. I remain full throttle at pace, and they have begun to drop to 50s in some places to my 70s.

https://i.imgur.com/bAHBMjh.png

And then we push into another quick score, and we are now outpacing our foes, and doing so while I remain at cautious. I send in Corbridge. They score in the 79th. But don’t worry, my lads have this

https://i.imgur.com/ITE68TJ.png

Sylvestre for Moore. Bedford for Blanchfield. We have 5 minutes of stoppage time. They score, we win 4-3. MOM is Fejiri.

[Abe Sargent]

Leyton Orient won 3-1. We will play them on the 26th.

Tottenham defeat ManUtd to win the FA Cup.


FA Trophy Final!


In a neutral location here in London at Wembley, I begin cautious. I respect my foe too much not too. Logan scores quickly!



Nice way to open up stuff. And then…they just take over and beat us 3-1. We were never in this match.

https://i.imgur.com/BRiHv16.png

Congrats to Grimsby Town.

Now on to the real game.

[Abe Sargent]

Final of Playoffs:

Go out there, set this stuff aside. I begin cautiously. Vengeance!

https://i.imgur.com/D0XkStZ.png

As you can see, Heardman kicks this game off nicely! Good job Tom. He leaped on top of a loose ball and scored a solo strike in the upper right corner of the goal in a 1:1 vs their keeper. But these folks are professional. They are good. They score not once, but twice over the next few minutes to put us down. But’s that’s okay! My folks are pros too!

https://i.imgur.com/PW4z6Ex.png

Such as, say, Fejiri! Kebbie dribbled and sailed over a nasty cross to him as fellows on the attack, and got that sweet sweet score. Great job!

Half time. Keep it up, and you can win this thang. Destiny awaits.


https://i.imgur.com/dz1KWdI.png


And then Fejiri feeds Browne on an attack run just a few mnutes into the half. Again, we got this.

I send in Corbridge and Devlin.


https://i.imgur.com/4FK87MO.png

In the 73rd, Heardman again knocks goal through, this time a shot that was stopped by the GK but then not held, and he puts it away.

But they are pros too, and they keep coming. In extra time, they hit a Moore OG off a DFK. But we hold. Destiny will not be silenced today.

https://i.imgur.com/drBHW10.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Iqxyijk.png

Note that the stats were relatively even, few fouls and no cards as we both played clean. We just sunk a few more shots today than they did. Heardman was MOM with 2 goals.

We made it up!

[Abe Sargent]

League Stats:


Heardman’s 36 goals was 9 more than 2nd place. He also led in avg minutes per goal as well. He was 2nd most in # of shots, Logan was 7th. He was 1st in most shots on target, but just 15th in % of shots in target. He was 7th in conversion rate.

Logan was 3rd in assists at 12. Browne was 4th at 11. Ashby had 9 assists.


Logan was 7th in key passes, and Ashby 11th

Blanchfield was 1st in pass completion %. Ashby was 6th and Logan 7th

Browne was 2nd in dribbles/game.

Shihab was 2nd in key tackles

Heardman was 1st in key headers

Yves was 8th in goals conceded, 9th in clean sheets, 2nd in saves parried

My best ratings were:

7.48 Fejiri
7.27 Heardman
7.26 Browne
7.19 Ashby
7.14 Logan
7.10 Moore
7.07 Blanchfield
7.04 Kebbie
7.03 Yves
6.96 Shihab
6.85 Davey

[Chas in Cinti]

Congrats!!!

[Abe Sargent]

Congrats!!!

Thanks! I figured they would go in the opposite order - we'd win the Final but lose in the playoffs.