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Well, to be fair, Mr. Donaldson isn’t getting a lot of playing time so his poor training performance is not too surprising. On the positive side, Nixon’s Stamina is improving.
We lost £14,000 last month but are sitting pretty at positive £145k for the season. Those new contracts, plus not having an FA Cup match at home, played a big role in the negative cash flow.
Oh sweet Baby Jesus! My Untouchable-ness is now up to 80%. Hot damn!
Nothing new here, which can be good news or it can be bad news.
New let’s see what some of the second-teamers can do. A lot of players are getting low in match fitness so that’s what prompts the rotation.
at St. Ives, 1 December 2018
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Parker, Day, Pilcher, Al-Ziod, Thompson, McAdam, Hodgson, Cullen, Jones, Rae
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Donaldson, Harding, Pearson, Taylor, Duckett, Thirlwell, Macey
The first half is absolutely devoid of any action sequences and I fear this does not bode well for us. By 67’ there still hasn’t be a single action sequence so I switch to the Club and swap everyone out except Pilcher because I don’t have enough defenders for the formation. It takes until 70:28 for the first action and some fancy passing sees Thriller one-on-one but his shot is weak. Five minutes later he redeems himself but again shows me he’s not to so Thrilling. Holy fucking shit! Three minutes and forty-five seconds into six minutes of injury time St. Ives gets a free kick deep in our end. The shot is errant, intercepted by Jefcoate who sends a long boot forward to Macey. He chests it down and has an inch-perfect pass to Thriller who jukes the GK, rounds him, and sends the winning score in.
POM: St. Ives DR Steve Thompson (4 key tackles)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a match take so long to show actual game play. I have the Highlight settings set to Key but that is just ridiculous. In their previous two matches St. Ives was outscored 11-0, including an 8-0 drubbing by the 11th place team. Sigh.
The boss of Blackpool was present at the match to watch Shadi Al-Ziod. Luke Green, give me a call! He’s available!
The crazy crowd biz continues. Our U23s played the U23s of a County Leagues level club. Got that? The backups of a team from below us. The NINTH level of the English football pyramid. Over 1,800 fans. On a Monday night. In a drizzle at 13°C (55° F). Unreal. Thankfully. Made us £14,000.
at Fairford, 4 December 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Barlow, Smith, Pearson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Al-Ziod, Thompson, McAdam, Hodgson, Donaldson, Jones, Macey, Taylor
Well here’s a surprise, it only took 1:46 to get our first highlight. Hahahah But after 41 seconds of some great passing and ball control, Kemar gathers his own rebound and gets a goal from a tight angle. Good to see him get off the snide. He gets his brace spot-on 12’ after a sweet pass from Nixon. This Shadow Striker and Poacher combo has worked charms, twice today and dozens of times since I first instituted the Spade formation. And so it goes with his hat trick, this time with Nixon getting all Tricky Dick with a fancy back-heel pass while staring toward our goal.
Fairford do get one late when their beautiful cross from the left gets cleared by a diving Jefcoate header that unfortunately goes to their striker, catching Chicken Legg by surprise. The other bad news is that in the 76th Hodgson has to come off for a foot injury. And then Fairford gets a second by going Route One. But Taylor gets his revenge. And then they get third blood. What in the wide, wide world of sports is going on out there?!
POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals)
This is the first time we’ve allowed 3 goals in one match. I’ll chalk this up to my refusal to change to Defensive mentality when we are up safely.
On the Hodgson front, once again we get hit by sprained ankle ligaments. Out 4 to 5 weeks. Poor guy. I was hoping to ship him off in January for a loan spell.
Right after the game I get another email saying we’ll face Yeovil in the FA Cup as they got past Doncaster. This is good news for us.
My enthusiasm about Yeovil is short-lived. The next night their scouting report comes in and they are quite well stacked. Especially their strikers, who are loanees from Swansea and Birmingham.
Also comes news of a rumor that Al-Ziod may make a move to Accrington Stanley (weird name) in League Two. Throw an offer my way, chaps. A journalist comes asking about the rumor and I reply, “I’d be willing to let him go, for the right price.”
The next day Maguire felt the need to opine to the press, saying he’s not surprised and he hopes Shadi doesn’t let his performance drop. I’ve never seen such an email so I have no idea what this might portend.
During Wednesday’s Backroom Staff Meeting I get the advice I always get, recommended staff to fill open staff positions. I generally ignore them because we don’t need them and they usually suck. Sometimes I’ll take a look to see if there is a quality person to sign. I found one this time! He’s a Physio with 20 in Physiotherapy and double-digits in Determination, Level of Discipline, and Motivation. I make an offer.
The day before the Yeovil match we get all the press business. First, notice that we’re 5-4 odds to win. That’s just crazy! Second, the hated press conferences but I feel it’s “wrong” to send my AssMan. I try to be as Calm and bland as possible knowing that my words will be twisted somehow.
vs. Yeovil, 8 December 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, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Jefcoate, Smith, Pearson, Duckett, Cullen, Taylor, Thirlwell, McAdam
It only takes two minutes for us to strike first when Harding sends a corner straight to Spearing’s head. Yeovil prove to be no slouches though when they get a header from open play not 5 minutes later. This is an uncomfortable state. We get two good chances over the next 20 minutes but Macey and Kirkpatrick are not dialed in yet. But Nixon is! He receives a pass after a throw-in, does his best thing, Dribbling, and sends one in down Yeovil’s throat.
I highly recommend to the lads to not get complacent. Will they listen? After 68’ I have to remove Macey and Kirkpatrick as they are rocking 6.4s. At 80’ I bring in the rest of the subs and switch to the Diamond in the hopes that fresher legs will win the day along with the counter. Just before full time we get that counter-attack with Taylor on the right side of the box looking to cross to Thirlwell in the middle but he gets pushed down so we get that crucial penalty shot. Thirlwell is now a perfect 3 for 3 on penalty shots and we’re onto the Third Round!
POM: Noah Harding (2 assists, 6 key passes, 4 chances created)
We brought in 3,000 spectators so we made around £30k from them plus another £51k in prize money.
That really good physio, Dan Hudson, signs with us the evening after the Yeovil win.
I now know where our FA Cup run ends: Millwall. They are a Championship team and we are well and truly fucked. It was fun while it lasted! It will also be good for our pocketbooks: Brixton will receive £64,800 just for appearing.
at Darlington, 12 December 2018
Formation: Club
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Maguire, Jefcoate, Harding, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Al-Ziod, McAdam, Jones, Duckett, Cullen, Taylor, Thirlwell, Smith
Okay, so this is going to be a good Kemar game. We get a counter-attack with Nixon fulfilling the Mezzala role perfectly; he drifts out wide, takes the ball almost to the end line and sends in a low cross to Kemar whose first attempt hits the goalie’s ham-hands but he gets his own rebound. His second goal is also from a cross, courtesy of Maguire, but he uses his head near the penalty spot this time. Macey gets in on things too, getting the ball from Jefcoate but I’m not sure if it was a lob-pass or a cross. It came from deep and crossed roughly a third of the field, left-to-right.
At 58’ I do Ye Olde Outfield Swap and move to the Diamond. I only get about 90 seconds of that before Paul Taylor gets injured bad enough that the game auto-stops for a substitution. I bring on Smith and move to the Spade. A Darling gets a break-away but he’s minorly injured so can’t sprint all-out so he’s caught by Day who makes a great sliding tackle to clear it out to the left flank. On the ensuing counter Parker sends in a cross but before anyone can get to it Duckett gets pulled down. Yet another penalty shot for Brixton! Two minutes later Jones puts an exclamation point on things and we see out the game comfortably.
POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (2 goals)
Now let’s go look at Paul Taylor’s “lower leg injury.” No Whamies, no Whamies, no Whamies! Shin splints?!?!?!? Out 2 to 3 months?!?!?! Oh fiddlesticks! I send him to a specialist, which I’ve been assured means he’ll only be out 2 months.
Immediately after the match Kevin Parker’s agent comes in with a demand for an improved contract. He’s making £170/week and is asking only for £375. I drop it to £350 cuz I need that kind of symmetry. What can I say? I’m a Libra.
We are getting close to the Transfer Window opening. So it’s time to see what interest my players are drawing:
This match should be a piece of cake so I’m gonna do a whole squad flippity-swop.
vs. Fleet Town, 15 December 2018
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Al-Ziod, Thompson, Smith, Pearson, Cullen, Duckett, Rae
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Spearing, Carroll, Jefcoate, Donaldson, McAdam, Macey, Harding, Jones, Thirlwell, Kirkpatrick
I was worried we’d have a no-highlight game again, what, with all the swapping. But Rae settles my nerves, scoring from a Duckett cross before 5’. Sadly that’s all Rae does in the first half; he must have already spent his luck points. Just before the half whistle Duckett gets his second assist from a Cullen goal that wasn’t so much of a shot as it was a redirection.
Rae must have renewed his luck at half as he scores 3 minutes into the second half. Things are made easier for us 10 minutes later when a Fleet midfielder picks up his second yellow murdering Cullen. Then 5 more minutes pass when another Fleet midfielder picks up his second yellow. Such a permissive environment allows Rae to get his hat trick. With 20 minutes left the slaughter is complete when Duckett gets his FOURTH assist from a Day header for goal.
The sole Fleet goal is fully on Webb. Parker sent a pass back with little velocity but Webb’s First Touch roll failed him and then he just stared at the ball. Imagine my anger that we give up a goal while two men up! Rae isn’t finished yet and gets his fourth. Incredible!
POM: Alex Rae (4 goals, 4 key passes)
Yep, you read that right, I made no substitutions. Imagine that! Also, I’d like to point out that Duckett had a spectacular match too with his 4 assists, 6 key passes, and 5 chances created.
We have two more draws to watch. The first is for the Southern League Cup Fifth Round, which only has 16 teams left. One of the best-named teams is still in it and I wouldn’t mind going down to South Park. Nope, we’re going to host the Hunger Games. That should bring in some dosh as they are in the Conference National South. Oh. My advisors have advised me the team is called Hungerford. What a silly name!
The second draw is for the FA Vase Sixth Round. Fleet are still in it and I wouldn’t mind a repeat against them. Nope, we travel to Chester who are in the Conference National North, not the best draw for us.
Parker signs his new deal, which in theory could keep him with us until 2022.
at Ossett Albion, 18 December 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Parker, Harding, Barlow, Pearson, Nixon, Jones, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Smith, Day, Nightingale, Maguire, Jefcoate, McAdam, Cullen, Donaldson, Macey, Thirlwell, Duckett
Just before the 12th Kirkpatrick gets dispossessed in the box after some nice dribbling but the stray ball makes it to Pearson’s right foot and there is nobody in the way to even have a chance to block the shot. Not two minutes later Pearson chases a long ball that Barlow cleared from a corner in our end. His unselfishness shines through when he spies a lonely Kemar and just like that we are in a command position. For fucks sake! We are very vulnerable to Route One attacks and that’s how Albion draw one back. Our two-goal lead is restored when about half the team plays keep-away around Albion’s box until Kemar sees an unmarked Nixon; he sends a rocket in from 8 yards out. If it weren’t for the amazing play of their goalie we’d be up probably 7-1 at the half.
The second started with not much action and I figured it’d be a dull close out but instead I got to witness the shortest cross I’ve ever seen. The ball was above the ground so it counts as a cross, right?
Not even the full width of the 6-yard box. Why he didn’t go for goal? I don’t know.
POM: Steve Pearson (1 goal, 1 assist, 4 key passes, 3 chances created)
There is a small butcher’s bill to pay. Jefcoate picked up a twisted knee in the 90th minute and will be out 3 to 4 days.
In the stands today we had the bosses of Barnsley and Brentford, both in the Championship, watching Carroll and Pearson. Steve’s performance is certainly going to amp up interest now. Hopefully it starts a bidding war.
Now that we're on to the next round of the FA Trophy, it’s time to find out who we next play. We get to travel to Weston-super-Mare to challenge that Conference National South team.
In contract news, Tom Johnstone, in the U18s these days, gets a new contract offer. The kid has League One potential so it’s the wise thing to do.
Shadi Al-Ziod gets another international call-up. This time for the Asians Nations Cup on 10 January 2019. Go Slim Shadi!
I do not know what Swindon Supermarine is all about. Swindon is nowhere near the ocean. Is it another company team like Cray Valley Paper Mill? Wikipedia says it has to do with the merging of clubs, one of which started as a social club associated with the Supermarine aircraft company. They made the Spitfire fighter planes of WWII.
C’mon lads! Let send the fans home with an early Xmas gift!
vs. Swindon Supermarine, 22 December 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, Magurie, Al-Ziod, Donaldson, Barlow, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Rice, Harding, Pearson, Duckett, Cullen, Rae, Thirlwell, Smith
On the first day of Christmas, my players gave to me, a goal at 8 by Macey. On the second day of Christmas, my players gave to me, a fine Kemar header, and a fine two point lead. On the third day of Christmas, my players gave to me, an injured Barlow, just before that Nixon, gives us a solid three point lead. On the fourth day of Christmas, my players gave to me, switch to Dia-mond, in Dean Rice, no further action, and we left with a solid victory.
POM: Mark Nixon (1 goal, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
I tried to do the full 12 days of Christmas but there just wasn’t a lot going on. :-D
Terry Barlow’s injury is enough to keep him out for a week with a twisted knee. What’s with all the lower body injuries?! Aside from Parker’s cracked skull late last year I’m pretty sure they’ve all been knees, shins, or ankles. Oh right, Parker also had a gashed head and Barlow had some cracked ribs. That Injury History tab of the Medical section sure is handy.
Pearson’s agent came in again demanding a new contract. This time Pearson was rocking a 6.7 as a sub. Go away, Dan Haworth! It’s almost certain I’m selling Pearson in a few week because he’s going to become a grump soon.
Johnstone signs his contract, keeping him with us until 2022 in theory.
Also, on the Dynamics front, Spearing and Smith move up to the Influential rung. Too bad Spearing will probably be gone in a month. But if Smith could move up some more, maybe he can replace Day as the Vice Captain. Nope, just checked, his Leadership is only 7.
Next up is our first match against Totton, who are third on the table. In theory this should present a challenge? Al-Ziod is busy being an internationaler for this match so Rice gets on the bench again.
vs. Totton, 26 December 2018
Formation: Club
Starting XI: Legg, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Magurie, Jefcoate, Harding, Smith, Nixon, Macey, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day, Nightingale, Rice, McAdam, Jones, Duckett, Thompson, Rae, Thirlwell, Donaldson
It takes more than a third of the match for us to get some action. From a free kick Harding doesn’t go for the killer shot but sends a pass to Nixon whose shot somehow makes it through the masses, bouncing to Macey’s foot and we’re up. Smith, filling in for Barlow, later tries some of the long shot magic but it hits the corner of the post and crossbar right to Kemar and easy-peasy, we’re up two. It doesn’t take long after the restart for another Brixton opponent to pick up a second yellow giving us an advantage for like the tenth time this season. I don’t wait too long before the switch to the Diamond as several players are below 90% for Match Fitness so they need the minutes. Before the changes can take effect though Maguire hoofs a long cross in to Kemar but the ball drifts way to the side where Totton’s right back tries to head it back to the goalie only for it to be intercepted by Macey. That leaves plenty of time for Rae, Thirlwell, and Day to add to Totton’s misery.
POM: Eddie Macey (2 goals, 1 key pass, 1 chance created)
It wouldn’t be a Brixton post-match without some kind of situation going on. This time it’s not an agent wanting a new contract but Spearing wanting to move on to Carlisle, who are currently 21st in League Two. Buddy, you can do better than that. Hopefully he’ll see that better teams want him and he’ll go to League One. Or better.
It’s Jefcoate’s turn for a new contract. He’ll be important if and when I can sell Al-Ziod. I offer him £450/week so I can keep him until 2021, 2022 with a club option.
This will be my 100th game in charge of Brixton. It’s been a phenomenal start and I hope to continue winning despite what I predict will be a January Sell-Off Bonanza.
Rice impressed me the last match with an assist and a 7.1 rating so he’s going to get his first start. Part of that is I didn’t realize how long Shadi is going to be out. I thought it was just one match. He comes back on 12 February. I sure hope I can sell him while he’s away!
vs. Bishop’s Cleeve, 29 December 2018
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Webb, Pilcher, Spearing, Carroll, Rice, Barlow, Smith, Pearson, Nixon, Duckett, Kirkpatrick
Subs: Legg, Maguire, Day, Nightingale, Parker, Donaldson, Harding, Macey, Cullen, Jones, Thirlwell, Rae
It’s been a while (I think?) since we had the Duckett-Pearson connection but it happened in the sixth minute so I heap some praise on the kids. A minute later a Bishop gets a red card from tackling Kemar as he tried to receive a pass. Kemar sinks the free kick from about 20 yards out and I’m not sure anybody moved in reaction before it was in the back of the net. As per usual, Pearson returns the favor to Duckett, this time waiting until the thirty-ninth minute. Two minutes later we get a Kemar goal that is reminiscent of his early months with us: A slow-speed, placed shot into the upper left corner from 16 yards out. His hat trick is fulfilled a few moments later and I’m thinking of a full swap at half. It was a header set up by a Pearson cross after he skipped over a sliding tackle. He does that with shocking frequency.
I do the full swap but you can’t color me impressed as there isn’t a single highlight sequence and I constantly have to berate The Replacements.
POM: Kemar Kirkpatrick (3 goals, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
The morning of 29 December sees the arrival of an email with all the expiring contacts, players and staff. Most of the players won’t get new contacts as they are mostly in the U18s and not that good. If my youth intake isn’t good I’ll maybe extend some of the ones who haven’t already signed pre-contracts. I’m pretty sure all the staff will return except that stop-gap scout I picked up last year.
I offer Macey a new contract. My AssMan isn’t impressed with his skills but he is my captain and scores a lot.
Kind of a month reminiscent of the previous month. Not much variance except some lackadaisical performances. But hopefully next month will be different with me unloading some players. It’s a good feeling still being in all competitions as we enter the new year but I sure would like to get a chance to type “The Week Between” in earnest.
