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It's gonna be another busy month with seven matches. Because Xmas is on a Sunday this year I'll give the whole team off on the 24th too. We have a game on New Year's Eve though. The first match, against Bradford in the FA Cup is the only hard match. If we can make it past them I foresee another clean sweep.
For a last-minute signing, Raymond Devlin is really panning out. His Finishing is up to 17 now. I can see him hitting 20 in his prime. And his Pace finally went to 11.
Ben O'Reilly is really pressing his luck. There are competitors waiting in the wings, dude! Step to! But not Alex Wainwright. He can't be bothered to give it his all.
Thanks to that match at Manchester we made £233,242 last month. I don't see any windfalls in December but maybe in January we sell some players.
One thing that I've not talked about is that now that we are in league football, we have to abide by Financial Fair Play rules. This is a mechanism that makes sure that clubs don't spend themselves into oblivion. We get an email every 1st of the month. We are currently spending £275,000 less than what we are allowed for League Two. I'll keep rocking that so we don't spend too much.
I really thought we'd have more fans these days. We're in London, for Pete's sake!
Should I lead with the fact that I'm manager of the month again? Sure. And that's probably why I'm up to 86% now, still Untouchable.
Sadly, nothing to report here.
I'm pleased to see that most of these chaps continue to improve.
DC Thamindu Noel had a pretty good month with his Marking, Tackling, and Agility all going up a point.
Pat Lawford is our undisputed right fullback. However, his Positioning hasn't improved in 3 months and it's pretty noticeable in match, as witnessed by the number of crosses he gives up. I called him in and he promised to do better. We'll see. On the other hand, his Leadership is now up to 15. He's only 18 but in May he'll turn 19. Dare I make him the Vice Captain?
Mark Curran hasn't improved in Marking in 4 months so he gets another talking-to and he again says he'll prove me wrong. I doubt it.
I'm really starting to get antsy about David Caffrey not getting to Natural at DMC yet. I'm also concerned that he isn't improving in Marking, which he's been Focusing on for three months. I call him in for conversation and he promises to get his act together.
Another starter with no improvements is Peter Smith. On October 1st he got a talking-to so he gets another talking to on December 1st for not improving. Again he promises and in the back of my mind I wonder how much I can get for him next month.
I don't fret losing Smith because of his cost and Chris Dryden continues to improve. Chris saw several green arrows and a couple of gains. He'll be ready to pick up Smith's slack.
John Burns had a pretty good month, most notably with his Pace going up to 15.
Well, they are doing better but they are not lighting up the world still. Oh well.
The 1st also sees a scouting report for a good DC from Scotland named Callum Breen. He would be a worthy addition were it not for his "Competitive Streak," an absolute killer for a central defender. I bring this up not because I was almost tempted but because of what the scouting card showed for player comparison.
Barnes, Ferreira, and Parker are gone. Why are they being factored into the equation?
The scouting report for our next opponent, Bradford, shows a team with several injuries and plenty of players who need rest. I foresee that they'll field a weakened squad. Maybe that's why we are favored 6 to 4.
Entering into December it's no surprise that rumors start for the January transfer window. The first rumor is Mark Marshall linked to a move to Burton, a mid-table team in League One. I've got alternates if he leaves so I'm not worried. Especially if the offer is £245,000, as the rumors go.
I had to think hard about the line-up today. We are favored. I have almost-tired players. What to do... Legg goes into goal as he need match fitness. Well, we get 12 subs so I'll go with the usual suspects to start.
vs. Bradford, 3 December 2022
Formation: Arrow (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (Regista), MC c (BBM), AMR, AML, ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Legg, Lawford, Evans, Brizan, Curran, Caffrey, Matthews, Smith, McGregor, Devlin, Burns
Subs: Lee, Nickson, Cosgrove, Cockbill, Sterling, Noulas, Flitcroft, Leary, Keegan, Macey, Marshall, Lemon
Huh. They didn't start Robert Webb in goal but their injured regular starter. I hope they regret that. Chances are they do as Devlin is able to head in a Smith cross just 2:19 into the match. Ten minutes later Burns almost has a goal but the ball is punched away toward McGregor. Before he can jump up to head the ball towards the goal he is pulled down and Burns scores the resultant penalty. Not long afterwards Smith gets to a ball that's about to go out the goal line, crossing it right to Burnsie for an even easier score.
I do Ye Olde Outfield Swap at 60’ because I don’t want to tire the Starting XI. I don’t care that it’s a cup match, I think we are safe and I need the kids healthy. We see out the match perfectly. Almost not though, as Luke Matthews was nearly murdered by their right winger, who got a straight red.
POM: Peter Smith 9.1 (2 assists, 7 key passes, 7 chances created)
Ha! Thriller managed a 6.3 rating.
We had a good crowd, over 6,100 fans, which brought in £56,684 on the day. Add in the £52,000 in prize money and we are sitting pretty early in the month.
Good news/bad news: Our next opponent, Notts County, tied in their FA Cup match so they will have to reschedule. This give us 7 days off. I'm very happy with this news. I give the Seniors an extra day off just to be sure they are well-rested.
FA Cup draw time! Please not Manchester City! Please not Manchester City! Please not Manchester City! Ha! Manchester City gets Manchester United. We get to host Championship side Bristol City. Dammit. At least they are only 20th in their league.
Great, more transfer rumors. This time it's John Burns going to Millwall. They are only in League One so I should be able to fend them off. And then a journalist calls about things. I tell the hack that he's not for sell. Then rumors start about Caffrey going to Peterborough, another League One club. We should be able to keep them at bay too. Again I have to fend off a journalist.
Ooohhh! Another cup draw! It Checkatrade Trophy time! And we get to… host either Arsenal or Tottenham's U23s. Supposing we get past Colchester. Oh! Just a few hours later they face off and Tottenham wins on penalties. Good.
Ha! Now Bradford are keen on Peter Smith. Not a chance. And Nottingham Forest want Mark Curran. And Swansea want Burns.
Here we go with another mid-table league opponent. Really, all I want out of this is a win, a clean sheet, and no crappy performances. The usual.
vs. Cambridge, 10 December 2022
Formation: Arrow (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (Regista), MC c (BBM), AMR, AML, ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Lee, Lawford, Evans, Brizan, Curran, Caffrey, Matthews, Smith, McGregor, Devlin, Burns
Subs: Legg, Cosgrove, Cockbill, Lemon, Dryden, Leary, Marshall
Cool! Seems we are going to be consistently over 3,000 fans. They get to see an easy-peasy goal, again starting with a Lawford throw-in. A lot of beautiful passing in or near the 18-yard box eventually gets the ball to Burns near the penalty spot and it's a short, sharp shot into goal. Cambridge is home to one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. But the players from there ain't that bright as they try to enter our 18-yard box but Matthews stops that, sends it to Smith, then Smith puts an early cross up front for Devlin to run on to and he's on target today. Our third is another early pass to a charging Devlin but it's Burns with the assist. We are on fire!
Nobody reacts to my positive pep-talk and Evans is looking Complacent. Sigh. I do take the unusual step of subbing off a player at half but that's because Matthews is getting winded and Lemon needs some Match Sharpness. Just as I'm contemplating yanking Evans we get a gift of a penalty that Devlin sinks for his triple play. I honestly didn't see anything resembling a foul so Cambridge totally got FMed. After that, Evans went from Complacent to Confident but I still sub him out at 60'. Devlin comes off at 65'. I thought we could close out the match quietly but a corner from Caffrey's foot to Cosgrove's head gives us another. URGH! At 80' I decided to get all defensive without going Defensive. And it blew up in my face almost immediately but this was totally on Lee as he misjudged a ball, charging forward to get it but the ball fell short, leaving the goal wide open to a crossed ball. Is it time to bring Gael Barbier or Michael Stewart up?
POM: Raymond Devlin 9.5 (3 goals)
Well that was mostly delicious. And I'm not even counting the £36,258 we made on the day.
I'm really going to have to take a close look at Lee. He shouldn't be letting in so many goals. Dare I sell him in January, make Legg the normal starter and bring Stewart and Barbier in every so often? Looking at Lee's player card, his Concentration is 9, which isn't terrible but not great. His Anticipation is only 5 so I wonder if that is his Achilles' Heal. Oh snap! Looking at all our GKs, the highest Anticipation rating is 10 (Michael Stewart) but everyone else is 7 or lower. Woof. I think we are going to have to realize that clean sheets are gonna be far and few between.
Oh cool! Heavy snow is predicted for our next match. We're at Notts County, up in Nottingham, 111 miles to the north. Burrrrrrrr!
Some more cool news; my scouts and AssMan and Head of Youth Development all think Raymond Devlin is "very well-suited to Championship football."
I know I've been harsh on Lee but he still picks up his ninth Team of the Week award. Joining him are Devlin and Burns as the central midfielders and Smith at left striker. What the hell? So tired of this shoddy programming.
Oooh. Jason Cosgrove is officially deemed a League One potential talent. Still think he's Championship or better.
Things have warmed up in Nottingham so we are getting rain, not snow. Major bummer. They are another mid-table club so we'll give up a goal I'm sure.
at Notts Co, 13 December 2022
Formation: Arrow (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (Regista), MC c (BBM), AMR, AML, ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Lee, Lawford, Evans, Brizan, Curran, Caffrey, Matthews, Smith, McGregor, Devlin, Burns
Subs: Legg, Nickson, Noel, Sterling, Lemon, Macey, Marshall
Dammit. Devlin bruises his knee seven minutes in and we are already off target on all three of our shots. Ugh. At the half there's been only two actions scenes, we are accurate on two of eleven shots, Smith and Brizan are on 6.4, and Devlin is still hurting. I chastise the lot of them and they all get fired up. (Devlin has the highest rating but is hurt. Whuuuuttt?) At 60' we still haven't scored so I have to swap out the underperformers: Brizan (6.4), Matthews (6.4), and Smith (6.3). (Devlin is up to 7.3 now but Noulas is better at 7.4.) Still no scoring at 73' but now McGregor has twisted his knee. Not long after that McGregor makes an amazing looping pass over the defense and Burns has the world at his feet and hits the left post. Just one of those days I suppose. At 80' Burns again is on the loose and this time he lobs his shot over the crossbar. A minute later Noulas gets a 23-yarder past all the traffic only to hit the left post. The rebound goes into traffic and two of our players are slide-tackled allowing the defense to clear. An absolutely pathetic display.
POM: Notts Co's Seamus Hayes 9.0 (8 headers won, 12 tackles won, 6 interceptions)
What the hell was that?! On target with just 9 of 27 shots?! Repeated woodworks action? Burns not giving a shit? URGH!
Brizan and Smith get Official Warnings. And to top things off, McGregor is out for a week and Lee's agent is demanding a new contract. When I slam the door in that vulture's face the player opens the door to talk at me. I throw a stapler at him. He luckily closes the door in time.
Brizan feels his warning was harsh but Smith accepts his.
More rumors are hounding us. Caffrey is linked to Cheltenham (League One) and Evans linked to Millwall (League One). The next day Evans is linked to Peterborough (League One).
We need a rebound in the biggest way. Unfortunately our Starting XI are a mix of tired and on my bad side. Because the U23s have a match tomorrow I'm going to put two U18s on the bench today, a DR and a DM. The DM is who I believe is our future, Lee Beirne. Mediocre MK should feel our wrath.
Oh excellent! An even larger crowd today! In the sleet. At 3° C, better known as 37° F. Gross.
vs. MK Dons, 17 December 2022
Formation: Diamond Attack (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (DLP), MR, ML, AMC (AM), ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Legg, Nickson, Cosgrove, Cockbill, Sterling, Caffrey, Dryden, Keegan, O'Reilly, Marshall, Macey
Subs: Lee, Noel, Bunn, Beirne, Lemon, Leary, Flitcroft
The first 25 minutes are lackluster with just three shots for us and Caffrey repeatedly sending bad passes left and right. Legg standing on his head three times in a row is the only reason we haven't conceded yet. Wow. I had to unload both barrels at the half going so far as to single Captain Macey out. It pays off at exactly 53:59 when Marshall heads in a Macey cross. I do not relax. I stop the match at 60' to bring Beirne on for Caffrey. At 68' I have to take of a "Very Nervous" Jordan Nickson and Flitcroft goes in for Macey at 71', an unusually late sub by my standards. (I was hoping Eddie was gonna bring us a second goal.) There are 5 minutes of injury time but just 40 seconds into it Beirne takes a Sterling throw-in, passes it to Marshall, who passes to Flitcroft, and we have a two-goal cushion. Oh my that was a clencher. Yeesh!
POM: Mark Marshall 8.5 (1 goal, 1 assist, 3 key passes, 2 chances created)
Marshall gets POM after rating 6.4 at the half. Great turnaround! He wasn't inspired by my speech like everyone else but when I prasied his second-half turnabout he got all smiley.
Beirne had a good debut, with that key pass setting up a goal and rating 6.9 in 30 minutes of action. Good on ya, Lee!
Was it the Manchester City loss that threw us off our stride? I mean, we throttled Bradford but we've been really bad these last two matches.
Right after this match I look at the next fixture, set for the 21st. Light snow predicted in London. I want a snow match!
Huh. U23 super-sub Sam Khinda had his Determination go to 15 because of the squad's general character. I love FM.
Now Barnsley (League One) want Smith. Methinks he'll be taking a walk somewhere in late January. I won't let him go to a League One team though. He needs a major upgrade. And then this news drops the next day:
I've never seen such an email before. I think it's time to sell him off. Dryden can replace him, Gary Leary will get time on the right too, and Sam Young will get opportunities. (Wow. I'll have to treat him with kid's gloves until he's gone. I'm surprised I never realized he was a paper dragon.)
Some more rumors. Pat Lawford to Bradford. Hell no. Noulas to Notts Co. Maybe?
Okay, this is a weird one. For the Team of the Week there are only two Brixton players but they are at the appropriate spots. Devlin as the right striker and Marshall as the left striker.
FUUUUUUUUDGE! I totally forgot that in the Checkatrade Trophy you have to use at least 4 outfield players who were in your previous match. Well damn. Obviously I have to have Devlin and Burns in there... Brizan doesn't get the start due to his last match being unpleasing. Oh, and look, no snow, just hail. Hell.
vs. Colchester, 21 December 2022
Formation: Arrow (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (Regista), MC c (BBM), AMR, AML, ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Lee, Lawford, Evans, Cosgrove, Curran, Caffrey, Flitcroft, Leary, Keegan, Devlin, Burns
Subs: Legg, Brizan, Sterling, Lemon, Matthews, McGregor, Macey
How long has it been that we haven't scored in the first 15 minutes? Well, I guess it's acceptable that we score at 17:45 today. It was Devlin's second shot and it was a Caffrey cross off Paul's dome. It was interesting that it looked like we were building up for a cross from the left winger but Keegan fooled us all by sending it back and a little inward to Caffrey. In the 25th Leary proves he can score as a right winger, after drifting into the 18-yard box after a throw-in by Lawford. The restart goes on for over a minute, ending after another right side throw-in but this time the ball gets passed around until Burns finds Keegan free near the left post. I am breathing normally again. Colchester's doom comes again from another right side throw-in with a shot up the gut by Burns courtesy of a Flitcroft assist.
D'oh!!! Adrian Lee damages his shoulder in the 40th minute but only gets the orange injury badge. Damn. Do I sub him at the half? I keep my eye on him and wonder when is the right time to bring him off. I went full Control and just hoped the clock would wind down but we are unstoppable when we are in sync, especially when Leary can score from a Burns cross, USING HIS CHEST! (The game wouldn't stop on the moment it went off his chest but believe me, this frame was right before hitting his chest and the next frame is right before crossing goal.)
Not caring it was 50' in I made some early subs because we face the 2nd-place team in the league in five days and I want my attackers fresh. I keep the third sub in the back of my pocket in case Lee has to come out. Before Devlin can come off though, Leary tries a desperation early cross and this time Burns or Devlin could have got it behind the defense. Paul grabs it and while the goalie kept thinking he would pass it to Burns, he damn nearly dribbled the ball almost all the way in.
Verdammt noch mal! We yet again give up a goal. This time it was an FMing as Lee blocks a shot that goes to Lawford who tries to clear it, only to have it bounce off the original shooter, across goal to a late-arriving striker. Dammit! Oh my. Then they get FMed when Macey passes to McGregor (as the right striker) whose initial shot gets blocked only to then bounce of McG into goal. (Correction! It bounced of their left back, who slide-tackled McG, also getting the ball.) And then in short order McG hurts himself again and their left centreback injures his thigh. And just to keep the theme of Utter Nonsense going, Keegan injures himself, a tight calf. He does get an early shower.
POM: Gary Leary 9.5 (2 goals, 1 assist, 2 key passes, 2 chances created)
How do you even know where to start? It seems like a really bad Hollywood script. Let's see what the butcher's bill reads: Keegan, out 1 to 2 days; McGregor, out 1 to 2 days; Lee out 2 to 3 weeks. Ouch. Damaged shoulder. Poor kid. Who becomes Chicken Legg's backup?
(Sorry for the two images from one match but I was so very happy to have a dominant match again.)
Swansea's manager was at the match. Rumor is he was checking out Lawford and Burns. They are sixth in the Championship so might have courage and deep pockets to try to pilfer them.
So here's the plan: score twice early so I can slow things down to rest players because we face the third place team in five days. Gentlemen, can you do that for me? That Lee injury was my first time ever having a GK injured in match. When we get seven or more subs I suit up an extra goalie. The honor today goes to...Niall Crook, our 20 year-old U23 kid. Hopefully I don't have to use him.
vs. Charlton, 26 December 2022
Formation: Arrow (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (Regista), MC c (BBM), AMR, AML, ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Legg, Lawford, Evans, Brizan, Curran, Caffrey, Matthews, Smith, Leary, Devlin, Burns
Subs: Crook, Cosgrove, Cockbill, Noulas, Lemon, Keegan, Marshall
YEEEESSS!!! Snow! But it's only light so there's no accumulation. In the 12th minute Devlin gets bumped heavily during a corner kick so Burns steps up and coolly sends one in. A goal before 15 minutes!!! In the 24th they get a corner but the kick goes to the far post only to be gathered in by Legg. He reads the room and realizes a counter is in order. He throws the ball out to the right side where it is picked up by Peter "Under Pressure" Smith. He dribbles for a while then crosses perfectly to Devlin for a header to put us two ahead. Just before heading to the locker room Brizan kicks in the ball directly from a Caffrey free kick on the right. Afterwards, Caffrey gets another assist but from a corner that went right to Devlin who had a wide-open goal at his disposal. Caffrey (yellow card) comes off at 60', Devlin at 64', and Burns at 68' as I still want my strikers fresh. Keegan went in for Burns as he needs match fitness.
POM: Raymond Devlin 8.9 (2 goals, 1 key pass)
Well that's just what the doctored order. Funny thing though, of the almost ten thousand in attendance, 6,250 were visitors. They are welcome when it brings in almost £125,000.
Oh great. Burns wants to talk about joining Millwall. I ask him to consider all the talent we have here and soon enough we'll be competing with the likes of Millwall. He agrees and says he'll stick around another year.
Well isn't that interesting. For the Team of the Week only Brizan and Devlin get in. Chesterfield got four players in and they only beat Fleetwood 3-0. I feel the football universe is tiring of us.
Wow! Jordan Nickson's Determination is up to 19. All because he is surrounded by determined teammates.
Richard Phillips, U18 ST, gets to go on a winter holiday. Trinidad & Tobago need his services to take on Cuba and Puerto Rico for the Caribbean Championship Fifth Place Playoff. I guess that's some sort of competition leading up to the World Cup? I went poking about their rosters and found a Cuban GK who places in Spain's second level. His Media Description is "Leader" which makes sense seeing as his Leadership is 20. Cheeky!
The odds are in for the next match and it's "Evens." Probably a very long time since we've had that for a league match. So because it's #1 versus #2, we get a press conference. There were seventeen questions and three of them were obvious traps. I hate this part of FM.
Yep, traps indeed. The Wimbledon manager is irritated at my answer to a question about the financial constrains of their team. Oh well, I guess I won't get a proper handshake at the conclusion of the match.
This coming match will be Legg's tenth of the season. That automatically triggers an extension of his contract so we get another year from him. There's an additional clause for that trigger: We can't get relegated. That's a lock. ;-)
AFC Wimbledon are now second in the league so there will be no resting on laurels. And regular starter who is Match Fit or better is starting. They are not that far from us, just 3 miles to the southwest. Yes folks, that tennis competition is that close to London.
at AFC Wimbledon, 31 December 2022
Formation: Arrow (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, DMC (Regista), MC c (BBM), AMR, AML, ST r (DLF), ST l (AF))
Starting XI: Legg, Lawford, Evans, Brizan, Curran, Caffrey, Matthews, Smith, Leary, Devlin, Burns
Subs: Newton, Cosgrove, Cockbill, Noulas, Lemon, McGregor, Marshall
Well, our first five shots are off target and the first highlight comes at 29:47. It goes on for a bit but ends when Devlin scores at 30:35. Lawford got the assist as it was an early pass that allowed Devlin to dribble the last third of the pitch. Great, on target on 2 of 8 shots at the half and Peter "The Human Folding Table" is at a 6.3 rating. He gets bucked up as does Burns, who continues a mild slump, not at all on target today. Burns does get a cross to Devlin just before 52' but Paul's shot goes off the keeper then off Devlin into goal. No assist for you! By 60' Smith has eeked out a 6.4 so he comes off, Leary slides out right, and McGregor comes into the left wing slot. I wasn't going to put in any more players because I figured it was futile to pull players as none of them will be in the next match in two days; I'll do a full squad rotation then. But McGregor gets a wonderful lob to Devlin and he heads in his hat trick, so I bring him off.
Dammit. They get a throw-in down by our corner and their dude lofts it all the way to the center spot right before our goal and their left ST heads it in. Lawford has a super high score in throwing-in, Long Throws 15, and I have his instructions to long throws but he has never once done that. More shoddy programming by S.I.
POM: Paul Devlin 9.6 (3 goals, 1 key pass, 1 chance created)
Again with the giving up a late goal easily. Again with Burns playing sloppy. (He doesn't get credit for that penalty shot). He's been a right prat since I told him not to concern himself with leaving.
Of the 13,395 fans in Wimbledon, 2,604 were Brixton fans. We need more fans. I knew it would be tough considering all the major teams around us but I thought by now we'd have more. Oh well, I guess we need to continue to win.
And it turns out I only set Lawford to throw long when we are in the Arrow formation. I corrected the Diamond and Cudgel tactics.
Here's our first look at the news ratings of the top 23 players. There's been some improvements and some declines.
So if Barbier is Premier League (100% confirmed) and has 4.0 stars of Potential Ability, what does that make Michael Stewart?! I'll try to keep the both of them until I can get Gareth O'Keeffe back. I'm glad to see Keegan improve as I want to ditch Stephen McGregor. I think Phillips' decline is just a realization he isn't John Burns nor Raymond Devlin. Alex Wainwright's decline is most certainly his poor training performance in November.
Well, our first league falter of the season. No reason to panic. But if Burns continues to have scoring troubles in January we might start to have issues. Maybe I shouldn't let Marshall go.
