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We gonna rock down to Electric Avenue
(Whoa, in a Brixton)
And then we'll take it higher "Electric Avenue" -- Eddy Grant
I guess this is a good time to talk about my scouts. The board won’t allow me to scout beyond the UK and Ireland so I have my four scouts rotate around the four countries until they have full knowledge of each. I probably won’t be able to scout outside this area until we reach the Championship so despite being allowed up to 7 scouts, right now I’m just rocking with 5; the 4 roamers and 1 Chief Scout, who scouts the next opposition.
On 3 April the board offers me a new contract. I’m currently making £950 and they’ve given me a £31,000 weekly budget. (Sugar Daddies are great! But I may have overpowered things by making mine the Foreground variety.) I don’t go hogwild because I really don’t deserve a new contract having simmed for so long. I now make £1,000 per week. They’ve upped the weekly budget by £1,200 but I’m currently only spending £3,800. The advantage of having nothing but a bunch of teens on the team, I suppose.
at Ashford, 5 April 2014
Starting Formation: 4-4-2 ControlIt’s our first away game since I “took over” but the result remains the same. Mumba from just inside Ashford territory launches a long ball to the right wing where Ward awaits to send a short pass to Allan, who has an easy shot. The second goal also comes from the right when Ward passes to Allan who then sends it to the far post for an easy header by Bowerman. We catch Ashford sleeping for the third goal, hitting them with a counter-attack with only four passes: McMath-Ward-McMath-Bowerman. Bowerman hits a screamer from just inside the arc that just clears the goalkeep’s outstretched hands to go into the upper right corner. After that I slow things down and just try to kill time. Ashford gets off four shots all game but none of them are on target.
Not only has Allan scored in every game, he’s been the one to draw first blood each time. Also of note is that we’ve only had two yellow cards so far. I was worried that youthful exuberance would lead to more so I’m very pleased on that front. And one more note, no major injuries so far!
POM: Steven Bowermanat St. Helens, 9 April 2014
Starting Formation: 4-4-2 ControlOur first mid-week game sees us in the in the semi-final of the FA Vase. Dunne was pretty spent from Saturday’s game so I brought Lamont in from the U18s and he did a fine job. Not as fine as Allan as he gets his first hat trick! First goal: about 40 yards out, his free kick goes into the far top corner, the goalie never had a chance. Second goal: It takes a while to get it but it’s “classic” Control football. Thirteen touches by five players then we eventually lose possession but Bowerman recovers from his mistake, steals it from a St. Helens defender and crosses it to Allan who heads it in from about six yards out. Third goal: Lamont sends a prayer into the box from a free kick in Outer BFE with no hope of making anything of it but our opponent’s MC l mugs Allan, throwing him to the ground. Allan has no problem completing the penalty kick.
Of note, a whopping 13 fans showed up to watch St. Helens crash and burn. Also, I hope you noticed that I used Mellor in goal, just like I said I would. But now that we are in the final for the Vase, I’ll probably go back to Madley. The final, by the way, will be our final match of the season. We only have one home game left but the FA Vase final is at Wembley. We’ll get to keep half the concession (I think) and half the gate receipts so I hope it’s a good turnout. We could really use the money as we’ve barely made a profit for the season; only £55,000. We only have £12 and three quarter million in the bank. < insert joke about budding mega-bastards here :-D >
POM: Gary AllanI realize that I really don’t have a good solution at left wing. In the league games I’ve had to move Miles up to ML and bring Barness in at DL to close out the games. That’s not sustainable so I went looking for someone young and cheap.
Glenn Farquhar, M/AML (Stars: 2.0/5.0) Oh, hello! He is only 15 and can cross like a Champ and dribble like a Premier League player. The 16 Determination outweighs the Balanced personality I suppose. He’ll for sure be my starting left winger come next season; he doesn’t join us until 6 June.
(Why was he on the trash heap? I don’t know but I’m sure glad so many players are. Actually, I think it really comes down to the size of the database I’m using. If my calculations are right, and they rarely are, there are 732 English teams in my database. Throw in the 43 from Scotland, 20 from Ireland, 42 from Northern Ireland, 12 from Wales and the unfortunate, still lingering 28 from Belarus…let’s see…carry the 7…that’s 877 teams! The game has to have about, what 36 players per team, give or take, that’s 32,000 players! The law of averages in a simulated world means there will always be plenty of cheap good players for the teams in the very bottom of the pyramid.)
Welcome, Farquhar, I’m sure you’ll be around for a while bringing us glory.
Also this week, Sam McCarthy, my AssMan elects to start a coaching course at his own expense. Coaches need these courses to gain better licenses, which is how the game engine determines whether or not staff will reach their full Potential Ability. I’ll have to remember to have the club cover the cost of his next course.
at Holmesdale, 12 April 2014
Starting Formation: 4-4-2 ControlYou know, a two-nil defeat is not a hammering. Don’t know why the programmers chose that. The players’ lack of Stamina has really caught up to us. McMaths and Bowerman don’t even suit up and Allan rides the bench. Speaking of bench, because we are using 2014 rules, I can only use three subs, which sucks because sub Egan got injured in the 83rd minute and I have to pace the touchline nervously for 10 minutes while a man down. Luckily it turns out Egan’s injury was much ado about nothing.
Our first goal comes after half-time after some beautiful passing I’ve come to expect in this 4-4-2 Control formation. The second comes from a chipshot by Ward on the right onto the feet of a forgotten West who slips past the stunned centrebacks and launches a missile from 17 yards. From that moment until the 83rd it’s just a bunch of keep-away.
POM: Lee WestI also want someone who can play all the wing positions because this far down the pyramid you can only name five substitutes. Versatility is key!
Brian Veale, ML, AMRL (Stars: 2.0/5.0) Another 15-year-old with random great Attributes. He’s gonna be awesome so long as I can get his Pace up to something respectable. Again, he won’t show up until 6 June.
Saturday, 19 April was also a hole in our fixture list so I arranged a friendly. Ideally, in the future when we get to the Premier League, Crystal Palace will be our archrival so I chose them. But there is no way in hell they’ll accept a friendly but their U21 manager was amenable. Also, I have hopes of making some extra cash and want some fans to show up.
Well look at that! I made £13,007! I guess that’s what happens when 1,177 fans show up for a friendly! Which we won, by the way. We got a free kick in the middle of the field about 40 yards out from the Palace goal. They were snoozing so Allan took a quick kick to a streaking Ward who was collapsing in from the wing. He sends in a screamer from about 15 yards out. I get a good scare from Miles who goes down in extra time in the first half. Turns out it was nothing. Harrumph!
I was still looking for U18 bodies and found this unemployed Norn Iron lad.
Gary Todd, AML, ST (Stars: 4.0/4.0) Aside from the nice Attributes, he is also Professional. I think he might have somewhat of a future but there’s one thing that really stands out: his low Balance. I’ve noticed this a bit, especially in FM2022, where a player looks pretty damn good but the Balance is out-of-character low. I’ve wondered if it’s an indicator that they really aren’t that good. Maybe that their CA is really close to their PA. Maybe I’ll keep him around just to test that theory. He too will join on 6 June.
at Deal, 26 April 2014
Starting Formation: 4-4-2 ControlHo-hum, another Two-Nil “hammering.” Another easy header by Allan off a simple cross from Bowerman opens the scoring. Late in the game, Mason tries to cross to Bowerman who is on the six-yard box line but gets sandwiched between two goons. Allan easily scores from the spot.
And best of all? We win the Division! We’re going up! I can take my foot off the gas now and start more squad rotation to get more youngsters experience for next season. Maybe even shoe-horn in a new formation.
It’s been a good season since Youth Intake. No losses, no ties. We’ve outscored our opponents 21 to 2. And six straight shutouts. Allan leads the scoring with 10 goals while Bowerman has 4, to go along with 5 assists. Also of note, both gentlemen have an average rating above 8.00. Pretty darn good, if I say so myself.
POM: Gary AllanAnother week, another body for the U18s; meet Dale Dunphy.
Dale Dunphy, AML, ST (Stars: 2.5/5.0) Well, actually I think he might be better than Bodin. I’ll probably use him as a DC c when I add a 3-5-2 formation if McConachie is Tired. And probably second-choice DC r in my four-back sets. I mean, look at his Heading, Bravery, Jumping Reach, Natural Fitness, Strength and height! Still can’t believe all these youths are on the scrap pile. Maybe he never pans out for the Premier League but for sure he’ll get us up the pyramid. He’s Fairly Ambitious so if I can find him a mentor to get that Determination up he’ll be perfect and reach his max potential. See you on 6 June, Dale!
This week also sees us entering into May meaning we’ll finally get some progress bars of players’ Development, which I'll write about in the next Update.
We won the division! We're taking it higher, just like Eddy said!