When They Kick At Your Front Door:
A BRIXTON FC Story

Late March 2014: "And God Created Brixton"

Someone told me it was true
God created me and you
And God created Brixton too                         "And God Created Brixton" -- Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine

First Matches

Remember how I said earlier that I had no coaches but in the database post I said I did? Also remember saying I had Belorussia originally but changed my mind? Well, combine that will the whole simulating until Youth Intake Day thing, I didn’t get the chance to see that all my staff except my AssMan had contracts that expired on 30 June 2013. So the first order of business was signing coaches and a Head of Youth Development.

Well look at that! All my old staff are just sitting out there with no team to work for. I offer them contacts and luckily my HOYD agrees immediately. The rest of the staff sign the next day before the Youth Candidates take on the U18 team. The Youth win 3-0 with Gary Allan getting Player of the Match for scoring 2 goals. Paul Ward got the other playing from the Right Midfielder position in a 4-4-2.

I had planned on going with the Shaun Smith as Captain and Gary Allan as Vice Captain but quickly decided I need an extra body or two and someone who could mentor some of the youths.

Meet our Captain, Neil McMath. (Shouldn’t that be McMaths? We’re in England after all.)

Neil McMath, DC, DM, M/AMC (Stars: 2.0/5.0) I was drawn in by his Determination, Leadership, Teamwork, Work Rate and physicals but he’s really not skilled at playing football. His Stamina will allow him to play full games and he should be ready for the next match quite easily. He’ll end up being a Core player, Core in this case being what I call my midfielders who can play DMC, MC, and AMC. I use Cores because ultimately I’ll be playing 4-4-2 Diamond and two self-created formations I call Arrow and Anchor, which I’ll explain once I get the right personnel for them.

Now let’s get to our first match!

vs. Canterbury City, 15 March 2014

Starting Formation: 4-4-2 Control
Starting 11: Madley, Mason, Mumba, Osborne, Miles, Ward, Egan, McMath, Dunne, Allan, Bowerman
Subs: Barness, Walker, Bodin, Hill, Smith

Allan’s first goal was a nice header from a Paul Ward cross, simply effortless. Egan’s freak goal looked like a cross attempt about 6 yards toward the sideline from the corner of the 18-yard box. I think he was aiming for Dunne who was at the opposite corner of the goal all by his lonesome. Allan’s second goal was an early cross from Mumba, about 12 yards deep into Brixton territory. Canterbury’s DC l completely misjudged the flight of the ball and Allan chased it and sent a screamer in from about 10 yards out. Canterbury’s goal was well-deserved with their ML beating Mason then Madley from a very tight angle. Bowerman got his goal with an easy header from a rebound off the crossbar from Barness’ long-range attempt in the aftermath of our corner attempt.

On the downside, new-signing McMaths was injured the 40th minute but he was able to see out the game. Luckily it’s just a dead leg so he’ll only be out 3 to 4 days.

POM: Gary Allan

The Week Between

I was also thinking I would just stay with the original 16 players (plus 1) but another fallout of having simmed so much of the first season is that I missed the opportunity to opt-out of the U18 and U21 leagues. Ergo, I need bodies. Over the next two weeks I’ll sign several youths to round-out the U18 team, who I’ll introduce later.

vs. Tunbridge Wells, 22 March 2014

Starting Formation: 4-4-2 Control
Starting 11: Madley, Walker, Mumba, Osborne, Miles, Ward, Smith, McMath, Dunne, Allan, Bowerman
Subs: Mason, Barness, Walker, Bodin, Hill, Egan

Allan once again with two goals and PoM award! It’s a pretty straightforward play coming along the left wing with a Bowerman low cross right to Allan’s feet who just taps it in as the goalie is in no position to defend. Bowerman’s goal is a forceful hit from 6 yards out. It came again from the left with Dunne feeding Bowerman. Tunbridge’s goal comes down the middle with their two forwards out-smarting and out-pacing Mumba and Osborne. Allan’s second goal again comes from a deep cross from Brixton territory, this time about 3 yards deep and coming from Ward. It goes straight to Bowerman who nods it on to a streaking Allan, who blasts it from the 18-yard line.

POM: Gary Allan

The Week Between

Here are the 15 players I signed for the U18 team. I expect a couple will graduate to the Seniors team by the start of next season. I make a point of only signing players with Determination and Natural Fitness in the double-digits. I try to avoid bad personalities but I did take a stab at two:

• GK Josh Hancock: Strictly filler, no future.
• DR Ryan Metcalf: Can play a lot of positions and is a Model Professional but really has no future. I’ll keep him around so long as he’s cheap and productive.
• DC Andrew Hammond: Can only play one position but will try to add DR. No real future.
• DC Derek Kinniburgh: Can only play one position but has loads of potential. Is Unambitious so I’m hoping the McMaths tutoring will turn him around.
• DC James Davies: Is left-footed but is Competent at DR. I will try to add DL but not convinced he’ll be around many years.
• DC Matt Anderson: Can also play DMC and MC but is also Unambitious. He’ll be tutored by McMaths after Kinniburgh but probably won’t stick around.
• MC Nick Mason: Can play a lot of positions down the middle and DR in a pinch. Has a 20 Determination and some potential so he should stick.
• WBL Lewis Williams: I’ll eventually have a need for Wingbacks and maybe he’ll get to play. Probably not.
• MR Gary Spence: I’ll eventually have a need for Attacking Midfielders and maybe he’ll get to play. Probably not.
• ML Conall Lamont: Ultimately, I’ll need players who can play attacking wingers in the Arrow formation who can then slide into central midfield in the Anchor formation to close out the game. Lamont will probably get some starts in the future.
• AML Kyle Blair: He’s Professional, he can play AML and ML, and has loads of potential. He’ll eventually start for us.
• MC John Breen: Future Core player but that at this moment cannot play DMC.
• ST Lee West: He can play AMC and MC too and has a boatload of potential. Definitely gonna be around a long while.
• ST Ian Collins: Very Ambitious and can play AML. Going to be good I feel.
• ST Jim Murdoch: He’s just filler. A Resolute filler, but filler nonetheless.

We didn’t have a match set for Saturday, 29 March 2014 so I arranged a friendly with the U18 squad to see how the new arrivals fare and keep my Seniors match fit. It was a 3-0 drubbing with Allan and Bowerman once again shining. None of the U18s did well with Kinniburgh and Collins being especially stinky.

We signed another player after the transfer window closed so he won’t actually join the team until 6 June.

Richie McConachie, DC (Stars: 2.5/5.0) This Scottish wonder is going to have a long stay with us. At 16 he’s already got a 13 Heading and Jumping Reach, and 16 Natural Fitness. He’s two-footed and I envision him as my DC c in a 3-centerback formation.

I hope you enjoy my creation, Brixton (Football Club)!   ;-)