cliff7197 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I've managed to steer Conference North Gateshead to the 3rd round of the FA Cup where we've drawn Manchester United at Old Trafford. I've assembled a squad of talented but very old players who have put me top of the league by 2 points but Stafford have a game in hand so I'm in a right battle to try and get promoted, which is my priority. My players really struggle to play 2 games a week, and I need to focus on promotion if at all possible. So.... When I travel to Old Trafford do I: A) Play my best team and hope against all odds to get something from the match, but suffer for it when we play Gainsborough 4 days later. B) Accept that we're going to get thrashed no matter who I put out so field the reserves / youth team and have my star players fit for the next league game. I'm 99% likely to go for B) so I'm not really asking for advice as such, but what would everyone else do? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimoz Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Heading of your thread says it all. "Man U V Gateshead in the FA Cup. I'm Gateshead" Thats a dilemma in itself Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
daylight Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Well if it is only the 3rd round your season has some way to go,If it was me(I always enjoy being the underdog)I would field a team that was near my strongest,maybe 1 or 2 fringe players and use my subs either at half-time or just after,I dont think your season will depend on this game alone and you never know even say a 2-0 defeat could give your players that bit more of a moral boast with a full time talk of "good effort" At the end off the day I really dont think a game in January will signal the end off your season either way so why not go for it,try to be a real lower league manager...can you imagine telling your boys they cant play against Man Utd? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashOverride Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Im afraid to say it has to be B. Your right in saying your going to take spanking either way so you might as well rest your experinced players and blood the kids. You know its what fergie/arsene would do irl! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler_bode Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Play you're best team, and take the fancy dans back to Gateshead. Fill us in on the score. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnold_kidd Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I had a similar situation before in the Copa Italia, my Monopoli side was in serie C1 up against Milan at San Siro, I fielded my youngsters and told them Pressure is off, and they actually won 2-0... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimoz Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I've managed to steer Conference North Gateshead to the 3rd round of the FA Cup where we've drawn Manchester United at Old Trafford. I've assembled a squad of talented but very old players who have put me top of the league by 2 points but Stafford have a game in hand so I'm in a right battle to try and get promoted, which is my priority. My players really struggle to play 2 games a week, and I need to focus on promotion if at all possible. So.... When I travel to Old Trafford do I: A) Play my best team and hope against all odds to get something from the match, but suffer for it when we play Gainsborough 4 days later. B) Accept that we're going to get thrashed no matter who I put out so field the reserves / youth team and have my star players fit for the next league game. I'm 99% likely to go for B) so I'm not really asking for advice as such, but what would everyone else do? I think you should try and limit the damage by playing a very defensive tactic, if you lose 2-0 that may be seen as somewhat of an accomplishment because I too feel you have no chance of beating Man Utd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oranjeman Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 id playing my best 11 and give them hell.... who knows you might pull of an absolute fluke Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkVenom Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 i would go for it what you got to lose, just look at what blyth spartens did they come very close to taking it to a replay against blackburn !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott_90 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Go for ittt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 7, 2009 Author Share Posted January 7, 2009 Well if it is only the 3rd round your season has some way to go,If it was me(I always enjoy being the underdog)I would field a team that was near my strongest,maybe 1 or 2 fringe players and use my subs either at half-time or just after,I dont think your season will depend on this game alone and you never know even say a 2-0 defeat could give your players that bit more of a moral boast with a full time talk of "good effort"At the end off the day I really dont think a game in January will signal the end off your season either way so why not go for it,try to be a real lower league manager...can you imagine telling your boys they cant play against Man Utd? Whilst I said I was 99% made up and wasn't really looking for advice, that post speaks a hell of a lot of sense and has made me wonder if it might be worth just sticking the strongest side out and seeing what happens. Still, there's 3 games to go before the big day but I'll let you all know my decision and the final score. I think it's a head V heart thing: Head says play the reserves and concentrate on the league Heart says play the first team and go for it The problem is, should you ever go by your heart when it's a computer game? It's not like my players will actually feel let down by missing a once in a lifetime chance to play at Old Trafford. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_42@hotmail.co.uk Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 What was the score?! reading this thread's like a fairytale story haha! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aiston Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 You can do it Get my home town into the next round !! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Well, the match has just finished. I'll get some pics up in a moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursty2 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 OOOOh the suspense Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUsualSuspect9 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 ooo the suspence is killing me... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 First off, I relented and played the first teamers. Sentiment won out. However we lasted all of 23 seconds before Carrick crashed a volley in from 25 yards. But we stopped it being a cricket score, and I wasn't too disheartened at 4-0. That said, it could have been a lot more and we never looked like scoring. Never mind, maybe next year. On a positive note, our income from gate receipts for the month of December 08 was £23k. For this match alone I pulled in £907k! Should keep us solvent for a while! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 For some reason it will only let me post one image at a time, otherwise it tells me I'm trying to post 6. :confused: Anyway, there we are. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Aja Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 If it was the other way round, and you were United; you'd have likely been beat by a daft last minute goal, or a 35-yard screamer by their CB who has a long shots rating of 3 Unlicky there, but congrats of the wad on cash now winging it's way to you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUsualSuspect9 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 How did you lose to a team that had Manucho in the starting line-up?!?! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScobieB Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Oh well...if you had of played your reserves you might have been forever thinking how you'd of done if you'd played the first team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Thinking back, I wish I'd tried some mind-games against Fergie. Strangely when I told the press that I didn't think we stood much chance, the response from the game was that the players would not react kindly to that. What was I supposed to say? That we'd thrash them? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wee Aja Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 cliff, post that in the bugs forum, as it's obviously not right Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Oh well...if you had of played your reserves you might have been forever thinking how you'd of done if you'd played the first team. True. That was at least part of the reason why I played the first team. I just wanted to see what we could achieve. Still I'm happy, loads of money in the bank and we've had a good cup run. Man U fielded a strong side and there was 55,000 there to see the match, hopefully including a fair few from Gateshead. The question is now that I have over £1m in the bank, do I ask the board for more money for transfers? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aiston Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Excellent for the finances!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cityull Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 i did the same with blyth, bet you got loads of money for that didn't you, i got around a quarter of a million which is fantastic for a bsn side. unlucky about the result though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 cliff, post that in the bugs forum, as it's obviously not right Really they'd need a save game from before the press conference started so they could repeat the steps to find the bug, and I don't have one sadly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 i did the same with blyth, bet you got loads of money for that didn't you, i got around a quarter of a million which is fantastic for a bsn side.unlucky about the result though £907k gate receipts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 On a positive note, playing my first-choice side in this match hasn't affected me adversely. I've just beaten Gainsborough 2-0 in the next game and can now have a rest for a week until the next league game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAssassin1982UK Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 well done, I think you did the right thing playing the first team, thats what i would have done. I wish I could get a windfall like that, I've just got promoted with Luton and am 734K in the red. Promoted to league 1 and I have to reduce my wage bill by 8k a week. It's gonna be a long season for sure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
digsy11 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 50-50 on possesion stats, that's highly impressive considering Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roseboy64 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 That's my aim this season in the cup. Trying to get the 3rd Rnd of the FA Cup with Boston Utd and drawing an away game with a big club. Just reached the 2nd Rnd of the League Cup though pulling off a shicker. Newly promoted League Two Boston Utd beating Championship side Doncaster 1-0. Hoping for either another League Two team or a Premiership team with a large stadium like Newcastle. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 After getting past the second round, I knew the big boys were coming in. I said to myself before pressing the 'Draw all teams' button "Please let it either be an easy home draw or something silly like Man U away". Was chuffed to bits with the draw, even though it meant I was definitely out. I was also definitely rich while a tie away to Darlington might have meant I was just as likely to get knocked out but with no money to bank as a result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
phnompenhandy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Seems like it all went smoothly. I presume in your team-talks you gave the 'no pressure' number, so that their morale was not affected for the crucial forthcoming league match. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roseboy64 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 After getting past the second round, I knew the big boys were coming in. I said to myself before pressing the 'Draw all teams' button "Please let it either be an easy home draw or something silly like Man U away".Was chuffed to bits with the draw, even though it meant I was definitely out. I was also definitely rich while a tie away to Darlington might have meant I was just as likely to get knocked out but with no money to bank as a result. Got to the 1st Round last season but got knocked out by League One Bury. Other BSP teams managed to beat the higher teams though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff7197 Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 Seems like it all went smoothly. I presume in your team-talks you gave the 'no pressure' number, so that their morale was not affected for the crucial forthcoming league match. Yes, I did. Initially I clicked for the assistant to recommend a team talk and nearly went with it out of habit until I realised it said "I expect a victory"! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAssassin1982UK Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Yes, I did.Initially I clicked for the assistant to recommend a team talk and nearly went with it out of habit until I realised it said "I expect a victory"! lol, high expectations from your assistant Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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