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Simon, Simon, Simon…I had so much hope for you. Get it together, man!
We made over £23,000 last month, bringing our season total to a smidge over £89,000. Such a relief! I was very worried we’d be in the red all season, again.
On the 1st our U23s hosted QPR’s U23s. We lost, big whoop. Over 5,000 fans showed up and we almost made £32,000. That is mindboggling! The large U23 crowds are keeping us afloat.
Still “Untouchable” and still at 77%. I wonder what it would be if we hadn’t sold off O’Donnell.
No changes, which is good. I don’t want Chris Day to move up to Team Leader as he won’t be with us next season. I’m just a little bit worried about the ding to Dynamics that will take. I should really start thinking about his replacement as Vice Captain.
One thing I’ve not been good at this year so far is getting the U18s trained up properly in their new positions. I’ve been too focused on making sure everyone is Match Fit. I have too many kids in that squad. Now I’m going to prioritize players who actually have a future in the Seniors squad.
As part of our switch away from the Spade formation I’ve also added the Diamond. Spade, Club, Diamond. What would a Heart formation look like? Four strikers, one advanced midfielder? Anyhoo…I like the 4-4-2 Diamond because we get to have two strikers, and I have two good ones, pull a DMC as I like to use the Regista role.
Now off to the matches!
vs. Beaconsfield, 3 October 2018
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Harding, McAdam, Pearson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Barlow, Donaldson, Hodgson, Cullen, Jones, Macey, Taylor
We jump out early, before 3 minutes, with a Maguire cross to Duckett. And it take less than another 3 minutes for a Harding pass up the middle to Kemar. It takes 7 whole freakin’ minutes for Duckett to cross to Harding’s head for our third. Well, then the goals just kept coming, including a hat trick for Kemar and a hat trick of assists for Duckey. (Is that a thing?)
POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals)
Finally! Pearson is a Natural at AMR now. Take that and add that Barlow is back and Smith will be back by our next match and I’m going to finally abandon the Spade for the most part.
Another Championship team, Barnsley, comes sniffing around Carroll now. It’ll be interesting what kind of offer we get and if it comes before the January transfer window.
WHOA! It looks like Kemar Kirkpatrick is going to declare for England. He’s been called up by the England Under 19s for three matches in mid-October. I was wondering if Jamaica would call him up first. He’s barely 16 and already getting the call-up. Pretty darned cool. I now fear that he’ll become a transfer target in January. Oh, and Simon McAdam has been called up to join the Northern Ireland Under 19s for the same period. Pretty darned cool.
The scouting report on Harrogate indicates we should have a problem as they have many highly-rated player. But almost all of them are very tired from a recent match or have match sharpness of 61% or lower. Should I embrace hubris and say we are going to win?
Alright, lads! Let’s keep our FA Cup dreams alive!
vs. Harrogate, 6 October 2018
Formation: Club (GK, DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Nightingale, Day, Smith, Parker, Jefcoate, Thompson, Cullen, Donaldson, Taylor, Rae, Hodgson
One of their midfielders gets two yellows in the first 12 minutes. Despite the advantage it takes us 15 minutes to score; Spearing cleans things up after a corner kick. Or so I thought. He was offsides.
I have to chide the crew at half time about their lackadaisical attitude. Despite their getting Fired Up they don’t really shows signs of life but we’re saved by a penalty opportunity after one of their central defenders pulls Macey down from behind. Nixon sends it right to the goalie’s gut and it goes right back to Nixon who doesn’t botch his second chance. Nixon gets a second goal spot on 59’ so I switch us to the Diamond counter-attack and make some swaps. Five players have earned yellows so they come off. We get an insurance goal with 7 minutes left in the match from Rae, via Cullen. And then another insurance goal with a penalty shot, courtesy of an overzealous ref. The offender got a red card for his efforts.
POM: Mark Nixon (2 goals, 1 key pass)
It’s time to see who we play in the next round of the FA Cup. …rolls the dice… We’ll play either Coggeshall (same level as us) or Lowestoft (a level above us); either way we have to travel to them.
Remember how I said I’d be dropping the Spade formation? Well, with two starters out for international matches, I’m going to revert. We’re going up against the absolute worst team in the with zero points after 6 matches. What? Me worry?!
at Winchester, 9 October 2018
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Nixon, Smith, Pearson, Barlow, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Legg, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Thompson, Donaldson, Hodgson, Cullen, Jones, Taylor, Rae
In the 6th Duckett almost scores from a free kick but the goalie’s last-second desperation lunge keeps things clean. It takes another 61 minutes for us to get a chance and Taylor sends it right to the keeper’s knees. In the last minute of regulation we get a lucky score when Cullen sends a free kick to Nightingale’s noggin; he did a wonderful job of rising above everyone and nodding it in.
POM: Ricky Spearing (1 key pass, 1 chance created)
Whew! What a fucking embarrassing performance. Looks like I jinxed myself. Macey, Duckett, and Barlow were all 6.4 or under. Looks like a fine for Eddie and an official warning for Barlow are due. Luckily both accept their punishments.
International reports come in. Kemar had a great first match, scoring a goal. Not so hot second match. McAdam had a not so hot first match but had a very good second match, scoring a goal.
at Trafford, 13 October 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Nixon, Smith, Pearson, Barlow, Duckett, Taylor
Subs: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Harding, Thompson, Jones, Cullen, Macey, Rae, Donaldson
This match is all about hazards of the command Work Ball Into Box with so many passes in the 18-yard box instead of shooting. Luckily it’s Pearson’s head and feet that make the difference, though he missed two absolute sitters. Many of our “on target” shots were right to the goalie, plus we had several hit the crossbars; 11 out of 29 shots were Clear Cut Chances.
POM: Steve Pearson (3 goals)
Billericay force my hand on McAdam by offering a contract, straight up. I don’t know how much they are offering him but if he signs they’ll have to pay Brixton £170 for each league appearance he makes for the first 40 matches. I do not like this. I offer him a professional contract.
Oh, and yes, another draw for a cup. In the FA Vase Fourth Round we host Droylsden, who are in a league similar to ours.
On the international front, McAdam had a less-than-stellar performance against Germany but Kemar had a spectacular performance against the Faroe Islands, an 8.1 with a goal.
I can’t believe Al-Ziod is almost in automatic suspension territory for having too many yellow already this season; he gets to ride the bench. I’ve started formally training Jones as AML now so he gets a start there.
vs. Frickley, 16 October 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Parker, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Harding, Smith, Hodgson, Barlow, Jones, Macey
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Day, Nightingale, Al-Ziod, Thompson, Cullen, Pearson, Donaldson, Duckett, Rae, Nixon
We have a slow start again and a tremendous Chick reflex save in the 7th keeps us afloat. Our first opportunity comes 15 minutes later but first Macey kicks it right at the goalie then bounces the rebound off the crossbar. After some more sloppy crossing and crossbar action I have to get the team to go Attacking after the break.
It takes 60 minutes but finally a fast break allows Hodgson to cross to Macey who finally terminates his rectal-cranial inversion and scores from six yards out. At 65’ I do almost a full swap as I switch to Counterattack in the Diamond formation. It only takes 3 minutes to work. Macey gets a breakaway but his shot was blocked but the rebound went to Pearson who had an open, undefended net in front of him. These late-game heroics are doing wonders for my blood pressure. Pearson gets a brace with 15 minutes to play to seal the victory. Mostly. We give one up late, which kind of proves my point (that I’ve only made to myself) that the Counter is a horrible tactic. And Germans love David Hasselhoff.
POM: Noah Harding (1 assist, 5 key passes, 1 chance created)
For the next round of the FA Trophy we will host either Matlock (Matlock! /Grampa Simpson) or Harrogate. That’d be crazy if we got Harrogate again. It’d be great for our bottom line methinks. Later that day it’s confirmed, we get Harrogate. Ahahaha
David Donaldson is the next item up for bid, for a new contract. He didn’t complain or turn 17, this was because of the weekly (monthly?) transfer and contracts advice summary email.
I know what you’re thinking: Don’t we already have enough Strikers? A) You can never have enough strikers because you never know when one of your favs will go into a slump and B) they usually sell well on the secondary marker. I think I’m going to grab this guy. There are many things to like about Marcus Thirlwell: height, quickness, set pieces, and dribbling. By the new year Macey will have finished mentoring Kemar so he can work on Marcus’ Determination and Balanced personality. He’ll also be insurance if Kemar leaves. I don’t believe the scouts’ assessment that he’s only 1.5 stars.
at Lowestoft, 20 October 2018
Formation: Club (GK, DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Smith, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Jefcoate, Donaldson, McAdam, Thompson, Taylor, Rae, Jones
Another game with a horribly slow start and several woodworks hits and unbelievably acrobatic saves by our opponent’s keeper. But finally after 35’ Kemar finds himself in a one-on-one and cracks the seal on this one. Just before the halftime whistle Carroll gets a rare by-the-foot goal and my idea of chastising the lot during the break changes. The ref left enough time for us to get in a quick counter and Kemar showed he’s not selfish when he and Macey are on a two-on-one.
The second half by contrast starts quickly with a Harding free kick to the upper left corner from 30 yards out. Barlow robs a defender in Lowestoft’s box and passes to Macey for his brace. I then do my trademarked swap at 60’ but before the instructions can get processed, Macey gets his hat trick from some great passing after Harding’s corner goes astray. Fifteen minutes later our job becomes easier when a Tofter hacks down Thompson and gets a straight red card.
POM: Eddie Macey (3 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
Our prize for beating Lowestoft is a trip up north to Nuneaton who play in the Conference National North. The FA Cup First Round sees the introduction of League One and League Two teams (3rd and 4th rungs of the football ladder in England) so we lucked out, all things considered.
Nightingale picked up a knock very late in the last match plus my wingers are losing match fitness so I’m going to have a one-game return to the Spade.
vs. Taunton, 24 October 2018
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Parker, Pilcher, Day, Jefcoate, Donaldson, Smith, Hodgson, Cullen, Jones, Rae
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Al-Ziod, Thompson, Harding, Pearson, Taylor, Duckett, Macey, Nixon
Our scoring starts with a penalty shot after Jones is pushed to the ground trying to get on the end of a Hodgson cross. The push results in a straight red. Hodgson, denied the assist, scores the goal. Later Parker overlaps Hodgson, receives his pass and sends in a cross from way over in right field. A charging Rae introduces his forehead to the ball at the six-yard line and just like that we’re up two.
Rae’s noggin makes a second appearance in the second half and shortly afterward his chest gets a goal, but for Taunton. Whomp, whomp. We also allow a legit Taunton goal after 90’ when Spearing sends a sloppy back-pass that Carroll wasn’t expecting and though Webb stonewalls the opposing poacher, the rebound goes right back to the striker who one-shots it in.
POM: Alex Rae (2 goals, 3 key passes, 3 chances created)
I notice an interesting situation: Brixton isn’t technically top of the league table. Totton has played two more matches than us and have yet to lose, with 2 draws. Our next match is against the third-place team, Horndean, funny name, who have only one loss and one draw. In theory, we could fall to third place ourselves if we lose that match.
Even weirder, St. Ives has somehow managed to only play 6 matches so far (they’re in 5th) and two teams further down have played 11 matches already. The problem with all the lower-level cups, I suppose.
Another Brexit email comes in on the 26th. No changes are expected but the formal details have yet to be confirmed.
We aren’t the only ones interested in Thirlwell. Goole, in the Northern Premier League, one level above us, have made him an offer. I don’t know the details so I’m not sure what we’re up against. I’m banking that the full time contract plus full time coaches and outstanding facilities will give us the edge.
vs. Horndean, 27 October 2018
Formation: Club (GK, DC r, DC c, DC l, WBR, WBL, MC r, MC c, MC l, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Nightingale, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Pilcher, Smith, Day, Parker, Jefcoate, Thompson, Cullen, Donaldson, Taylor, Rae, Jones
Oh my. 1:26 in and Harding sends in a screamer of a free kick from 30 yards out. Things are clicking just fine with Macey goals in the 14th, 20th and 32nd minutes. The middle one was assisted by Harding with a tremendous no-look back-heel pass. Wondeful stuff! Best signing, ever! We continue to pile things on and all my pseudo-fretting about not being top of the table are washed away. (Totton finally lost.)
POM: Eddie Macey (3 goals)
Frohawk?! What kind of name is Frohawk?! A funny one, thats what kind of name it is.
Marcus Thirlwell signs with us on the morning of 28 October. Good thing we have a U23 match the following day as his Match Sharpness is all the way down to 47%.
In Dynamics news, James Jefcoate is now an Influential Player, which further cements my thoughts about off-loading The Jordanian Prince.
Now let’s see how the new kid on the block handles being a sub for the seniors. His debut with the U23s was a 6.5 in 71 minutes of action.
vs. Norwich United, 31 October 2018
Formation: Club
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Al-Ziod, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Nightingale, Day, Jefcoate, Smith, Jones, Duckett, Taylor, Thirlwell, Rae, Jones
I’ve been on a streak of unmotivating speeches of late but I nail this one and it pays off just at 9’ when Harding gets another long-range goal but this time from open play. Second goal comes 90 seconds later when Pilcher gathers a rebound off the goalie, then the post, during the melee post-corner, courtesy of Harding. We march into the locker room after a Macey tight-angled header and the only thing bugging me is Kemar being complacent. I give him a pep-talk and he gets motivated.
In the second half nothing happens in the first 20 minutes so I swap out the lads and move to the Diamond. Thirlwell misses an opportunity but Duckey doesn’t. Marcus manages only a 6.5. I can’t expect him to be jelling already, right?
POM: Noah Harding (1 goal, 1 key pass)
Just before the end of the month Nixon comes to me asking for a new contract. I promise I’ll offer him one “soon” meaning after the first of the month.
Holy smokes! Nine matches in 31 days! That’s a lot of football, my friends. Luckily we won them all but there were some close calls. We definitely got a lot of help from the referees too. We added a potential steal in Marcus “Thriller” Thirlwell who has yet to show I made the right choice but, much like that ant, I’ve got high hopes.
