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I heart O'Keeffe, Roberts, and Watkins. Pugh, you're on your way out anyway and Collopy, you're almost certainly going down to the U23s.
We're rich! Rich, I tell you! On the first of the month, we have £25,525,172 in the bank. Is it time to edit the game to remove the Sugar Daddy status? Probably.
No change at all from last month.
No changes in the Dynamics really but just before our last friendly I have to select my captain and vice captain. I go with Macey and Jefcoate again. No real choice here as I'm not sure the other options, O'Shea and Roberts, are gonna be around long-term. Well, neither are Macey and Jefcoate but that's a problem for tomorrow.
One last practice match before the real fun begins.
Just as I expected, with Kemar's departure, everyone's star ratings get reassessed and there are now new 5-star quality gents. To be exact, GK Gareth O'Keeffe, DMC Alan Coates, AMC Bill Taylor, and AMR Tommy Watkins. Players who are now 4.5 are probably Championship-quality; that would be GK Adrian Lee and ST Mickey Morris.
For a player with no future I sure do pay a lot of attention to Terry Buckle. In July he grew another 2 cm and is now up to 180. At this pace he just might cut it as a central defender after all.
Now for something completely belated: I totally missed that Liam Roberts went Natural at DMC on 16 July, after our match against Bradford City. It took him 22 starts and 19 sub appearances to get there.
Mickey Morris' Determination is up to 15 now. Adrian Lee's tutoring may have come to stall as his Determination remains 16.
It's now time to assess the changes to the starting lineup. I really wasn't expecting to go with the Spade but McLeish's injury dictates otherwise.
As you can see there's quite a bit of turnover with some players being essentially forced out, because they are too good for us, to make way for youth academy graduates. Liam Roberts is an interesting case: He was signed as an extra U18 body around the same time as Noah Harding, who I thought would be a starter eventually too.
Johnstone is the only player from the initial batch of 16 who is a starter. On a side note, of those 16 only 6 remain with us. GK Webb is our U21 keeper and could move up this season if Chick Legg continues his inability to keep a clean sheet. DR Johnstone I've already addressed. DR Parker is down in the U23s recovering from his ligament tears but he'll be a fullback super-sub once he's healed up. (In January?) On the other side of the field is DL Jefcoate, our vice captain, our second-choice leftback. DC Connor Smith is our first backup in the middle of the defense. MC Simon McAdam is in the U23s and barring a major plague of injuries he won't be seeing Senior action this year, his last year.
New season, new cups. We are now in the Conference League Cup and for our first match, which is the First Round, we get to host Weymouth, a fellow Conference South side.
Now let's get on with the real matches!
For our first Conference South match we travel to a team roughly 25 miles east-northeast of Brockwell Park, just north of where the River Thames turns into the Thames Estuary. They are not a good team, finishing just above regulation last year but predicted to finish last this year. Despite Hibbert, Pugh, and Taylor being available for loan and transfer, two of them get to start today. It will be a fun year trying to live with only five players on the bench.
at East Thurrock, 8 August 2020
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: O'Keeffe, Johnstone, Nightingale, O'Shea, Rice, Roberts, Coates, Watkins, Taylor, Pugh, Macey
Subs: Ferreira, Smith, Lemon, Leary, Rae
Just like so many times before, we start scoring early from a mistake by a fullback passingly lazily to the keeper. Macey pounced on it and we start the season strong just 5:23 in. What is surprising about the match is O'Shea gets the second goal not from a corner but by a cheeky back-heel pass from Watkins in the box. Just before the half my faith in Watkins is affirmed when he gets a shot into the upper right from a tight angle. The second stanza is nearly devoid of action until O'Keeffe bobbles a header from a free kick in the 76th and an angry Taylor steals a ball then sinks a goal six minutes later.
POM: Tommy Watkins 9.0 (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 1 chance created)
Now that we're in a "real" league, I'll have to attend a lot more pre- and post-match press conferences. Today's post-match one was about O'Shea scoring and Taylor's great display generating more interest. I chuckle at the first and avoid the second. I'll probably send my AssMan to a lot of these.
Again, now that we are in a "real" league, we get an email on Tuesday morning telling us the players of the week. O'Keeffe, O'Shea, and Watkins get named to this week's team. Good on, ya!
I think I finally found a U23 DL! His name is Sam Sterling and he's from Bournemouth. He's got pretty good physicals though a bit slow, and he has some pretty good Mentals for his age. He has no team currently so I offer him Hot Prospect money; £300 p/w, £500 signing bonus, 2 years, and an option.
Truro are our next opponent and like East Thurrock are expected to be relegated. We'll help them along the way. Oh sweet baby Jesus! Just over 2,300 fans in the stadium today! We might actually turn profits from attendance alone!
vs. Truro, 11 August 2020
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: O'Keeffe, Johnstone, Nightingale, Smith, Jefcoate, Lemon, Ferguson, Watkins, Harding, McGregor, Macey
Subs: Ferreira, Collopy, Roberts, Leary, Rae
Again the scoring starts with Macey but this time it's from great passing and a bit of Flair from McGregor. McG picks up a bruised shin but carries on and gets his second assist from a Macey header for goal. I'm telling you, for a chap with only a 3 in Heading, he's amazing at scoring with his dome. Macey's triple before half ensures that I take McG off, move Eddie to left wing, and bring on Rae. Even being on the wings Macey scores again. And again.
POM: Eddie Macey 10.0 (5 goals)
We made just around £20,000 from the match. I was expecting more. Hmmm. Conversely, I think with Eddie rocking the suburbs I can ease off on trying to find a striker for sale. I wasn't really having much luck anyway.
Draw time! For the FA Trophy we get to wait until the Second Round to enter and we end up hosting a minnow of a team called Clevedon Town. It will definitely be a match in which I run out those that aren't Match Fit and kids. Well, the U23s first, then the U18s.
I was poking around for a right centreback for the U23s when I found Sean Peers. He signed with us on the 12 August. There's a bit to like about him. Good physicals and key defensive skills. His Determination, Teamwork, and Work Rate are what really caught my eye. I think he'll be good enough some day to get some Senior sub appearances.
This match is a cup match against a team in our own league. Weymouth are expected to finish 5th and the have a pretty good team that could make that happen. Doesn't matter, some second stringers and a U23er get the start. I haven't completely lost my mind so the bench-riders are all quality and will come on if my chutzpah bites me in the tuchus. Marshall is in the U18s and way into the future I think he'll be our right striker, playing in a Deep Lying Forward role. (Mickey Morris will be our left striker, playing in a Advanced Forward role. Hopefully.)
vs. Weymouth, 15 August 2020
Formation: Diamond (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC, MR, ML, AMC, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: Legg, Ferreira, Collopy, Murphy, Rice, Ferguson, Robinson, Pugh, Davies, Hibbert, Rae
Subs: O'Keeffe, Johnstone, Nightingale, O'Shea, Jefcoate, Coates, Watkins, Leary, Lemon, Macey, Marshall, Harding
It takes a bit longer for us to get things going today but Robinson finally pounds in a long range one just after the 26' mark. But five minutes later our weakness from last year appears again; a long ball down our left side followed by a cross followed by a clueless Legg getting caught flat-footed. Our right side atones for the sins of our left side not 104 seconds later with Rae nudging on a pinpoint-accurate cross from Ferreira. A lot of players are mailing it in today so after some switcheroos I'm still worried. As we near the last ten minutes I'm contemplating the right time to go defesnive when newbie Marshall receives a long pass from Legg, who came a good five yards out of his box to launch it forward. Marshall receives it in open space and slots it in under the keeper as three defenders collapsed upon him. He showed great Composure there.
I thought things were gonna go easy from there, especially when they have a player sent off. But with one minute in injury time, Padraig Murphy fouls a guy and Legg is unable to stop the penalty.
POM: Andy Robinson 8.3 (1 goal, 1 key pass, 1 chance created)
Murphy ends the match with a 6.0 and thus gets an official warning. Rice was also less than stellar with a 6.3 but only gets harangued in the locker room.
Let's talk about Ferreira for a second, a kid who couldn't mark an three-toed sloth. His versatility and speed are his saving grace. With several great training performances over the last few months I'm happy to use him constantly.
Now for the mundane: Two cup draws on Sunday. In the Conference League Cup we have to travel to fellow Conference South team Torquay. I'll be fielding a strong squad for that match. I'll run out the weaker squad for our FA Vase match against Mossley who are way down in the County Leagues, low enough to have no U23 or U18 teams.
For the team of the week, all but the left striker are Brixton players. I guess that's what happens when you win Seven-Nil.
Sam Sterling signs with us on the 18th, literally 27 minutes before our match. I freakin' love his Teamwork and Determination.
Speaking of transfer news. I've decided to stop looking for strikers. We've made it this far with no problems and McLeish is almost back from his injury.
Another league match for us. Like our first away game, this one is not too far of a jaunt. Hampton & Richmond are just 11 miles to the west-southwest, not too far from Heathrow International Airport. They are predicted to finish just below mid-table, which is where they are currently.
at Hampton & Richmond, 18 August 2020
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: O'Keeffe, Johnstone, Nightingale, O'Shea, Jefcoate, Taylor, Coates, Watkins, Harding, McGregor, Macey
Subs: Ferreira, Smith, Roberts, Leary, Hibbert
Watkins continues his impressive form with a powerful shot just out from the right post. O'Shea too is impressing, receiving a Harding free kick and one-timing it into goal with his left foot. Even Harding gets in on things. On the flipside, Taylor gashes his head late in the match and will probably miss our next match.
POM: Noah Harding 9.1 (1 goal, 1 assist, 8 key passes, 3 chances created)
Sure enough, Taylor will be out for 8 to 12 days. And here I was hoping to sell or loan him.
About that "not looking for a striker" line... When an unemployed one shows up in a scout report and he has 4-star potential you don't dismiss him immediately. Sure, he's short but he's very quick and agile. Sure, he's not a Natural Striker but he's perfect for the Shadow Striker role and is Accomplished up front and on the left wing. Sure, his Work Rate is only 8, but he's Resolute, and his Finishing and Composure are both 13. If Mark Flitcroft signs with us I'll show you his player card then.
That Luxembourgish scout I signed back in February who didn't speak a lick of English? But he had a 19 Adaptability? Well, he's somehow already fluent in English. Good on ya, Esteban Bossi!
Dartford are an upper-half of the table kind of team who back in 2017 handed us our first ever loss. Last year we got our revenge, 5-0. This season I will continue not to fear them. McLeish is a last minute addition as the Head Physio says he's good to go. I'm thinking maybe 20 minutes late in the match.
vs. Dartford, 22 August 2020
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: O'Keeffe, Johnstone, Smith, O'Shea, Rice, Roberts, Noulas, Robinson, Lemon, Pugh, Macey
Subs: Ferreira, Nightingale, Harding, Leary, McLeish
Even more fans today. This bodes well. As the season grows longer, so does the time it takes for us to draw first blood. This time Macey feeds Pugh right at the six-yard line and our Welsh Wonder batters the ball home in the 28th minute. But that's all that happens in the first 45 so I tell them there's room for improvement. Only Smith responds and I really want to scold Macey but take a different tack; I tell the midfield that there's a lot more to come from them and that gets a reaction! Ninety-seconds on Liam Roberts sends a free kick into the box and a defender plows Pugh down to the earth. And Macey is denied, of course. He's really fallen off since that 5-goal performance. On comes McLeish.
The team is lackluster and I constantly yell at them but nothing works. I bring on Harding and Leary for Lemonhead and Robinson but that doesn't improve matters. Until 8 seconds into injury time when Harding's pass breaks McLeish free and his return ends on the highest of notes.
POM: Meilir Pugh 7.6 (1 goal)
I have a word with Macey afterwards for his 6.2, the results of his inaccurate early attempts and missed penalty. I was thinking of a fine but he accepts my admonishment.
The match brought in £25,000 for us and the next match is also at home so we just might make a profit this month.
I'm very surprised that Bill Taylor isn't attracting any kind of interest on the transfer or loan market. It's gotta be his £1,600 p/w salary. Well, I'll let it ride.
For the team of the week it's only James Jefcoate, our second-choice leftback. I told you our performance against Dartford was uninspired!
What a weird name for a town! Napoleon didn't even fight there! And I hope Havant don't put up much of a fight either. With McLeish on the mend and our pedestrian attack of late I'm brining back a two-striker formation with an attacking mentality.
vs. Havant & Waterlooville, 25 August 2020
Formation: Diamond (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC, MR, ML, AMC, ST r, ST l)
Starting XI: O'Keeffe, Johnstone, Nightingale, Ferreira, Jefcoate, Coates, Watkins, McGregor, Davies, Macey, Rae
Subs: Smith, Rice, Harding, Leary, McLeish
Oh boy. We're picking up yellows at a prodigious rate and I don't even have "Get stuck in" activated. Ye Olde Defender-Clearance-Bounce-to-Striker rears its ugly head giving us the first goal, which is enough to wake up Macey finally. Rae gets mugged later on and Macey does not miss this opportunity. All is quiet in the second half except for McLeish getting a 20-yard shot in for his second goal in only his second game. Rae even gets in on things to make it all three strikers scoring.
POM: Alex Rae 9.2 (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 1 chance created)
I'm glad Macey seems to have awoken. This is why I like to have four or five strikers in the Seniors. If one goes cold chances are one of the others will pick up the slack.
Early September will see some international matches and some of our players will travel for that. For England U19s we lose Alan Coates, for Wales U19s we lose Meilir Pugh and Mickey Morris, and Ireland U21s claim Gareth O'Keeffe. Do well, youngins!
Flitcroft signs with us on the 26th and I immediately start working on his Poacher ability and Stamina. We'll have to address his Balance and Strength too. His Work Rate could also use some love.
Now that McLeish is back and this cat is with us I'm going to probably stick with two-striker formations from here on. I'm going to keep the Diamond and Cudgel but I'm not sure which formation I'll use for Control. Maybe the 4-2-4.
Margate are way out east of London where the coast bends away from the Thames and heads down to the white cliffs of Dover; just 64 miles to the east, our longest trip yet this season. They are smack dab in the middle of the table, way above where they were expected to be, in the drop zone.
at Margate, 29 August 2020
Formation: Diamond
Starting XI: Legg, Johnstone, Nightingale, O'Shea, Rice, Roberts, Hibbert, Pugh, Harding, Macey, McLeish
Subs: Smith, Ferreira, Taylor, Leary, Flitcroft
We're returning to the early goals again and Dr. Hibbert gets his first goal of the season. And his second. Both coming at the right post when he muscles his way past a defender. I'll be sad to see him go. A Macey goal and one by their leftback makes the day easier. Flitcroft is unimpressive in his debut and I'm not even talking about him bruising his ankle in his brief appearance.
POM: Ashley Hibbert 9.4 (2 goals)
That was a pleasing result. Macey remains in my good graces and Hibbert's brilliance is once again on display. I think Watkins will be better though.
The 31st is the close of the transfer window so I take the extraordinary step of offering Pugh to all clubs for £1,000. I'm hoping Hibbert gets some attention and Taylor, though his £1,600 p/w wage is a hindrance. I really had no desire to let Johnstone go but I've got to be realistic.
Just before Tom Johnstone accepts his transfer to Brentford for £20,000 several teams throw their hats in for Pugh so he'll have a choice of where to go.
I experienced something new when selling a player: A team leader complaining. O'Shea is miffed but I explain that Tom has outgrown the club and we've got to let him spread his wings and fly. O'Shea understands and leaves happier.
Pugh picks Wigan over the other 12 teams and goes to them for £1,000. Like I said, I've got to be real about things. Hibbert gets an offer from Rochdale but refuses them. Two hours later Reading also make an offer and he agrees 90 minutes later; he too went for £1,000.
I can't get rid of Bill Taylor though. Swindon and Charlton offer £1,000, which I accept, but he rejects them. I'll try again in January.
I didn't do The Fourteen in July because I knew there would be a lot of turn-over. On top of that with Kemar's departure there was a lot of readjusting of star ratings. As you can see, we've really taken a loss on high-potential players.
Most of the players marked "New" in the "Progress" column are new to the team with only Marshall being new to The Fourteen. Some of the players are better than the game is telling me I believe.; notably Cockbill, Lemon, Marshall, and Flitcroft.
Earlier in the month I wrote that 4.5 is Championship-level. Well, Coates is 5.0 according to the ratings assigned by consensus of all my staff but my AssMan says just 4.5. Said AssMan does rate him as "...very well suited to Premier League football." Maybe Graham Rutherford is just being a hard-ass.
As Expected™ we win all our matches. I think we're a bit exposed on the right side of the defense now with Johnstone's departure. I wouldn't worry so much if Kevin Parker was healthy but Ferreira's lack of Marking and Positioning are a concern. Hopefully his Pace and Acceleration, each 17, make up for his sure-to-come mistakes. I've added three new players with one destined for some good years and two who might be able to contribute eventually, but briefly.
It's not really a "that was then" moment but let us take a look back at the careers of the recently, dearly departed.
DR Tom Johnstone: Part of the initial 16 it took him a while to surpass Kevin Parker, doing so around January 2020. Over his 3 plus change years with us he had 49 starts, 20 sub appearances, 1 goal and 5 assists. He did really well this past year and I loved that he was Accomplished at DL and WBR. I believed him to be The Future but I have to be realistic that we're holding him back.
AML Meilir Pugh: He was a Youth Intake in 2019 and was instantly our best left winger. Another one who was being held back by our lowly status but for some reason I'm not as bummed to see him leave like I am with Johnstone. He gave us 12 goals and 19 assists from 49 starts and 1 sub appearance.
AMR Ashley Hibbert: Another youth academy grad who was the third brightest candidate after Bill Taylor and of course unforgettable Kemar. Like Pugh, not so busted up about his departure because his Teamwork of 11 and Work Rate of 8 were clearly visible so many times. And Tommy Watkins is going to be better. Still, 20 goals and 22 assists from 43 starts and 8 brief appearances is nothing to sneeze at.