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The training report comes in and I’m happy to see three players have Impressive Performances. I’m irked but not surprised Day has a bad report. I got a notice about a week prior that he was struggling and he has red down-arrows for almost all Attributes. I’ll have to have a talk, he’s our Vice Captain and must do better than that.
I had The Talk (not that talk!) with Chris Day and he promised to do better. You better!
We lost over £122,000 last month. I knew this was coming but it still sucks to see it in black and red. This brings our season loss to almost £445,000. Oh well, luckily Brixton has a Sugar Daddy.
Now on to the match against Tonbridge. We are 6:4 odds so despite them being higher than us we’re favored. Okay. The FA Cup brings the boys to the yard, and I’m like, we’re better than you. And 2,580 fans agree. Yeah money! Amazingly, I don’t botch the pre-game pep-talk! Six players are motivated.
vs. Tonbridge, 2 September 2017
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Parker, Barlow, Smith, Pearson, O’Donnell, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Friend, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Jefcoate, Cullen, McAdam, Jones, Taylor, Martin, Rae
In the 8’ Smith shoves a guy down in the box during a cross and doesn’t get called for it. Two breakaway opportunities for Macey lead to nothing. By half, three of their players have picked up knocks (plus one of their subs started that way with 69% fitness) so this should be a war of attrition we should be winning. Macey is sporting a 6.3. Drat.
With Macey and O’Donnell sporting a 6.3 and 6.4, respectively, I switch to the 4-4-2 and crank it up to Attack. Seven minutes later, Macey redeems himself with a weak effort 16 yards out. A few minutes later I bring on Cullen, McAdam, and Rae for Barlow, Smith, and O’Donnell. Then Jefcoate comes on at 75’. And shortly thereafter, Maguire sends a long ball up the right side, Macey crosses to the far post, and Rae puts us in a commanding position; I immediately switch to Control. Then a minute later Macey gets barged over in the penalty area and Duckett seals it.
POM: Eddie Macey (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
We’re on to the next round! I’ve met the board’s expectation so that’s a plus. Hopefully we get drawn against a creampuff. And we made £28,676! Sweet!
FA Cup Draw Day! And we get…a home match against Dartford of the Conference South, three rungs above us on the FA ladder. They are currently 17th so hopefully their poor form carries over.
We are in the hunt in four cups plus the league so we’ll continue to play a match every 3 or 4 days until 4 October then we’ll have a 10-day break. I kinda hope we lose all cup matches to end the congestion.
I’m going to give the Second XI starts in the 4-5-1 Counter just to get them experience and the First XI some rest.
at Haverhill, 5 September 2017
Formation: 4-5-1 Counter (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC, MC r, MC l, AMR, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Friend, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, McAdam, Thompson, Donaldson, Jones, Martin, Taylor
Subs: Webb, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Smith, Barlow, Cullen, Pearson, Duckett, Rae, O’Donnell
After 32 minutes of absolutely nothing I switch to Attacking just to get something to happen. Something does happen! Another failed corner by us. McAdam pulled his groin around 17’ so I sub him out at half. I Calmly tell the crew that I’m not happy with their performance.
From the restart we get an excellent chance to pull ahead but Taylor, in the clear, sends the shot wide. He tries to redeem himself 11 minutes later but this shot is even worse than the first; it left the 18-yard box before going out of bounds. Time to bring on the First XI and go to 4-4-2 Standard. In the 63’ Rae almost gets it done but hits the right post and Haverhill clears it to the sideline. On the throw in Rae redeems himself, sending in a cross to O’Donnell’s powerful left foot. Then at 80’ O’Donnell returns the favor and Rae gets an easy one. I switch to Defensive for the last 10 minutes.
POM: Ben O’Donnell (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
I just realized something. We haven’t had a single goal called back for offsides. Not in the regular season, not in any friendlies.
It’s FA Trophy Third Round Draw Day! We get to play at Sheppey, who currently are the top of our league. I think we have a fair shot.
vs. Chasetown, 9 September 2017
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Barlow, Smith, Pearson, O’Donnell, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Friend, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Cullen, McAdam, Jones, Taylor, Martin, Rae
I Assertively tell the team I expect nothing but a win. Ghost town. I rarely get much reaction out of this team.
We finally get things going at 19’ when Pearson unwisely passes it up the middle to a pack of defenders. Macey is the only one aware in the area and the ball somehow makes it to his feet and we are up. Our second goal comes off a Pearson to O’Donnell combo after Pearson literally kicks the calf of Chasetown’s left back. Shake my dumb head. I’ve noticed in FM18 that players more frequently come flying in from behind for sliding tackles. So far it’s been funny but I’m sure eventually one of my players will suffer a major injury. A third is added by Macey in 63’ off a subbed-in Martin cross. (Duckett wasn’t playing well.) A couple minutes later they pull one back on a corner. But no worries, Macey gets another hat trick at 78’. Not 3 minutes later, he gets his fourth, again coming from a Martin cross.
For those keeping track at home, we’ve conceded two goals off corners and scored none. Harrumph!
POM: Eddie Macey (4 goals, 1 key pass)
Another day, another draw. This time FA Vase Third Round. Drum roll please…We travel to Salisbury! A level above us but they are currently 19th in a 22-team league. I have hope.
The scouting report for Chatham comes in and they have a pretty darned good Striker, Dave Buckley, who’s scored 3 goals in 2 league games. We actually might face a challenge here!
Chatham are on a five-game winning streak, just like us. This might be The Clash of The (Midget) Titans!
at Chatham, 13 September 2017
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Friend, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Cullen, McAdam, Jones, Taylor, Martin, Rae
Subs Webb, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Cullen, Smith, Pearson, O’Donnell, Duckett, Macey
Well, it finally happened, 17 minutes in and the defense screws up royally, with a defender sending a weak back-pass to an unobservant GK and the ball goes in the goal. It happens pretty regularly in FM14 but I hadn’t seen it at all until now in FM18. Oh, Rae was the lucky guy. And finally we get a goal off a set piece, though from a free kick, kinda. Taylor sends in the freebie from way out on the left side and a Chatham DC heads it up field right to Donaldson, who sends a flier in from about 25 yards out. And just before half Spears sends an extremely long ball into Chatham’s half and Rae out runs the defenders and sends one in from 19 yards out.
Second half begins with another odd play. Chatham’s right central defender tries to lob one in from the halfway line but it bounces off Taylor who came charging in, the deflection went straight to Rae, who was busy watching the sky above the Chatham goal and when he realized what had happened, he ran after the ball, got a one-on-one and sent one in from 16 yards out. What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on out there?! And to cap things, off, Duckett sends in a free kick from the right to the far post where a lonely Taylor waits to get in on things. I switch to Defensive for the last 15 minutes but 6 minutes later Duckett puts an exclamation mark on matters and sends in a weak effort from the left corner of the 6-yard box. Jesus. A minute later, Rae makes is 7-0 with another breakaway. I guess my players just don’t understand not to boot things forward, no matter the instructions I give them.
That striker I feared? He was down as low as a 5.4 but ended the match with a 6.0 and “Very frustrated” Body Language.
POM: Alex Rae (4 goals)
A funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Since our real matches began, on each game day a grey GK would show up on the roster for the Senior team. I never put him on the team sheet and chalked up the event to the game thinking 12 subs MUST include two GKs on the bench. Well, I decided a third permanent GK couldn’t hurt. When I went looking for one I was reminded of Chick Legg.
Back in March I ran across him and thought the name was too funny but he wanted ridiculous wages so I moved on. But I am intrigued by his Driven personality and Unflappable media style so I decided to splurge and hopefully he can mentor Carl Friend. Plus, my players' names are pretty bland and hopefully I’ll be able to make some funny jokes along the way. (Fun fact: He was “born” the day I moved out of Alaska.)
The team report for Dartford comes in and, well, we’re boned.
vs. Dartford, 16 September 2017
Formation: 4-4-2 Standard (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MR, MC r, MC l, ML, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Pearson, Barlow, Smith, Duckett, Macey, O’Donnell
Subs: Legg, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Thompson, McAdam, Jones, Taylor, Martin, Taylor, Rae, Cullen
Well, I should have known. They get out on top at 21’ from a good cross. Nothing much happens for us so I switch to Spade. At the restart we are almost FMed as Day mishandles a back-pass and Dartford striker steals the ball. And sends it high. At 65’ I bring in Parker and Thompson for Jefcoate and Barlow as they are rating 6.2. I’ll give Macey 5 more minutes to do something. But before I can do that, Dartford’s right winger lobs a ball forward, it bounces off the cross bar right to their left striker. 0-2. This was started when Smith was pick-pocketed. So off he comes as well as Macey and Duckett.
Well it was never in the cards that we’d win. But I botch the post-game speech and 11 players “switched off.” So I’ve got that going for me. Oh, and we made £25,101 from the match.
POM: Dartford's Jay Conway (2 goals)
Next up is another Conference South team, Braintree, who are 19th out of 22 in that league. So you’re saying there’s a chance?
English Southern League Cup draw sees us host Wroxham if we make it past Braintree. Yes, Wroxham, not Wrexham. Wroxham are near the east coast, northeast of Norwich. They are at the same level as us.
I also set up a U18 friendly against Farleigh’s youths so I could get some players more match sharpness, especially new-hire Chick Legg. I play everyone who didn’t start against Dartford. Everyone played exceptionally well with Legg coming in the lowest at an 8.1 rating. Rae got a hat trick on our way to a 9-1 slaughtering.
Well, Braintree’s squad report is not that much different from Dartford’s so we’ll probably lose. Sticking with 4-4-2 Standard as we are familiar with the position.
But before we get to that, it’s my favorite time of year! Youth Intake Day! In Ireland, not as good as in England. I send my three scouts there to look for kids 16 and under. Hopefully I find a couple.
at Braintree, 20 September 2017
Formation: 4-4-2 Standard
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Pearson, Barlow, Smith, Duckett, Macey, O’Donnell
Subs: Legg, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Jones, Donaldson, McAdam, Martin, Taylor, Rae
For once I don’t blow the pre-match speech and everyone but Carroll and Webb “Seem motivated.” A counter-attack in 8’ led by O’Donnell gets us a goal off the foot of Barlow. YES!!! But 15 minutes later Braintree hoof one up the field and, Day and Carroll have a confab to determine who’s going to boot the ball out of the box so Braintree’s right striker takes matters into his own hands and embarrasses us all. After a two minute spell of hitting the bar three times, Macey finally puts one away off a deflection and we go into the half up one. At 63’ I have to sub out Maguire and Day cuz they’ve been horrible and Barlow cuz he’s getting exhausted. We still can’t score from set pieces but we manage to retain possession off of one in the 70th and Macey gets a goal in the box off a Smith pass. At 75’ Clark screws up and does a poor job of collecting a ball and it’s a one-goal game again.
Sports Interactive are not that good of a company. They spend each year adding something new to the game that is supposed to be all glitzy and glammy. But they never fix the broken code. Case in point, I have my GK instruction to roll out the ball to central defenders. And he keeps trying to send long passes up the field. I had this problem in FM14 also, and the brief time I played FM20.
But this time it results in a goal for us at 89:18 by Jones. Oh well. We see out the game and I thank the lads but give the defense some curt words as too many had poor games, most notably Maguire (6.2) and Day (6.1).
POM: Eddie Macey (2 goals, 2 key passes, 2 chances created)
And the first Ireland youth scouting reports are in. The best player (who might actually come to us) is Mark Nixon, AMC. He’s better than Barlow by far but with a Stamina of 3 he won’t get to start many games, despite having 14 in Dribbling, Technique, and Flair and also really good other Physicals. I promise him “Rotation” and “Win the league this season” and he agrees to proceed to the contract phase.
Next up is Stephen Dunne, ML. He doesn’t seem to have a great future but I’ll eventually need bodies for the U18 and left-footed players are a premium, plus he can play MC a little. He has a 12 Penalty Taking but 9 Pace. I like his 15 Determination and 16 Natural Fitness. I promise him “Rotation” and “Win the league this season” and he agrees to proceed to the contract phase.
I also look at Martin Duggan, DC l. Again, he’s left-footed and I only have one naturally left-footed central defender. He’s tall, can jump, and knows where to stand. As far as negotiating a contract, is there an echo in here? Same as Nixon and Dunne.
Finally, there is Jesse Gilroy, ST. He’s tall, fast, determined, and knows how to shoot a ball. Probably going to be as good as Ben O’Donnell. Unfortunately, he refuses to discuss a contract. Drat.
Next up is a Sunday (!) match against an oddly named club/city. I have no idea why the game is on Sunday. Time for Legg to make his debut!
at Crowborough, 24 September 2017
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Barlow, Smith, Pearson, O’Donnell, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Friend, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Cullen, McAdam, Jones, Taylor, Martin, Rae
I bring us back to the Spade to get Familiarity higher. This is also Chicken Leg’s debut. I get four positive responses from my Calm speech about being favourites and leaving no doubt as to why. Macey is one of them, which is promising as his Morale has been lower than everyone else’s recently. In the first 12 minutes we have three great heading opportunities off crosses but they’re all to the goalie. Macey is looking a bit complacent so I give him a shout demanding more. Finally in the 18’ we get a free kick but play it short and work it into the box where Barlow feeds to Pearson for a powerful shot and it’s in. On the restart Macey finds himself alone in front of the goal because Ravensburg’s defense screws up. And he sends it right to the goalie, not even bothering to dribble around him with no defenders within yards. Eight minutes later and he sends another soft one right to the goalie.
We finally get a second when, in the scrum after a corner, the ball finds Day in the penalty area and he gets first goal of the season. I can’t count it as a set piece goal due to all the pinballing going on. So of course Macey picks up a yellow but a couple minutes later he becomes bait as he’s on a breakaway when Ratbirdtown’s right back hacks him down; said Ratbird was already on a yellow so now we have a man advantage. I read Macey and Smith the riot act at half as they are underperforming and not looking interested at all. Three other players, including Chicken Leg, are also already thinking about tomorrow but I don’t want to overdo the chastising.
Despite being a player up nothing happens in the second half. I let the team know their performance was unsatisfactory and Assertively tell Macey he was shit. I brought Rae in for him but he fared slightly better than crap.
POM: Daniel Duckett (1 assist, 4 key passes, 4 chances created)
After the match I give Macey an Official Warning. Can’t let a Captain get away with such play.
Another U18 Friendly is scheduled for the Yutes, this time at Rayers Lane on 1 October. I figure the Irish youth arrivals will need to get into shape.
vs. Beckenham, 27 September 2017
Formation: 4-4-2 Standard (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MR, MC r, MC l, ML, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Pearson, Barlow, Smith, Duckett, Macey, O’Donnell
Subs: Webb, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Jones, Thompson, McAdam, Martin, Taylor, Rae
We have a good start with a Pearson-Macey combo getting us ahead before 10 minutes has elapsed. Ben O’Donnell almost gets on the board at 25’ but hits the post. Macey is still horrible beating one-on-ones so I’m going to put him on training to round the keeper. Holy Bat, Shitman! We scored a goal off a corner! Duckett sends it in from the left to O’Donnell who heads it down to Carroll, waiting patiently at the right post, and he sends it in silky smooth for his first career goal. I give a Calm pep-talk at half and for shits and giggles swap Macey and Benny around.
I bring Smith and Carroll off at 55’ because both are on yellow. Immediately thereafter my swap for Benny and Macey pays off with a lovely cross resulting in Macey’s brace. Chris Day on the other hand is still prone to dumb mistakes. Chicken Leg rolls the ball to him and Day just kind of starts looking around and gets robbed then the Beckenhammer sends it into goal before Chicken can react. The rest of the match sees me subbing everyone but Chicken at staggered intervals. This schedule is brutal and I need my lads fresh.
POM: Eddie Macey (2 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
Dunne, Duggan and Nixon sign. I’ll show you their Player Cards at the end of the month.
Glebe are a horrible team with only one non-Grey, a GK who is under a transfer bid. If we don’t win this I will absolutely lose my mind.
at Glebe, 30 September 2017
Formation: 4-4-2 Standard
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Day, Carroll, Jefcoate, Pearson, Barlow, Smith, Duckett, Macey, O’Donnell
Subs: Webb, Johnstone, Clark, Spearing, Parker, Jones, Cullen, McAdam, Martin, Taylor, Rae
Macey seems to be in form getting a goal in the 9th from 19 yards out after a long Benny lob from just inside our territory. At 40’ a long pass forward from the top of OUR arc by Carroll to Macey results in an easy goal from 3 yards out for O’Donnell off Macey’s low cross. At the half I have to tell Day, Smith, and Jefcoate to calm down as they already have yellows.
Nothing much happens in the second half start so after 10 minutes I take off the young offenders for Clark, McAdam, and Parker. I put Maguire at DC r and Clark at DR to get him some experience there. The rest come off at 65’. Eventually in the 84th we get a long ball to the right endline where Taylor crosses to the penalty spot for Rae, who shoots in a powerful shot for our third goal.
POM: Eddie Macey (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 2 chances created)
Stephen Dunne signed on 25 September, Martin Duggan on the 27th, and Dixon the 30th September. Here’s a look at said youths.
Stephen Dunne, ML
Martin Duggan, DC
Mark Dixon, AMC
A pretty good month, I'd say. Aside from the blip against Dartford, which wasn't unexpected, I'm proud of our achievements. We're still in three cups and are on top of the league. We picked up three kids from Ireland with one of them having a serious chance of helping and having a long stint with us.
