Going Old School. Very old school [Championship Manager 03-04]

Recently, I have dug out my copy of CM03-04, so I have decided to start a new career on it, because why the hell not. I will be Stoke, at that point in what is now the Championship, and I will take it from there. Using the recommended setup, I shall use my very limited skills to try and be some the best in England, Europe and the World!

We have a match straight away, so a good first test for the lads.

Stoke City (1) 2-1 (0) Dundee United

Friendly

Stoke: Cutler *; Wilson, Clarke, Thomas (Wilkinson 74), Hill (Henry 86); Russell, Commons (Neal 86), Eustace (pen 41), Andrews; Noel-Williams (Iwelumo 86), Akinbyi (Hoekstra 74 (76))

A good start from the lads, especially pleased with Cutler in goal, could take over from the aging De Goey in goal soon. Only concern from match is a chest injury picked up by Wayne Thomas. Keeps him out for a week, but shouldn't be to much of a worry

Second Friendly against Semi-Pro Welsh Team AFC Newtown. A few changes are made, one forced by the injury to Thomas, who still isn't at full fitness

AFC Newtown 0 (0) - (0) 0 Stoke City

Friendly

Stoke: Cutler; Wilson, Clarke, Hall (Henry 46), Hill; Russell, Commons, Eustace (Andrews 22), Neal * , Iwelumo (Hoekstra 9), Noel-Williams (Akinbyi 46)

Lewis Neal and Kris Commons the only ones to do well in a poor game. A few chances for either side, with us getting the ball cleared off the line in the first minutes. Both injuries not serious, only 1 day off for both men

Next friendly is my first taste of a derby as my Potters entertain Port Vale. I also sign midfielder Carlos on loan front Atletico Madrid. He is put straight into a new formation, a 4-4-1-1.

Friendly

Port Vale 0 (0) - (0) 0 Stoke City

Stoke: Cutler; Wilson (Thomas 64), Clarke *, Wilkinson, Hill (Hall 87); Russell, Commons, Carlos, Neal; Eustace (Andrews 47 (Henry 64)); Hoekstra

Yet another 0-0. Disappointing all around bar Clarke. Will have to improve with the funds available in some areas. Russell out for 2 weeks with an injury.

We keep the 4-4-1-1, but make a few changes. 4 players have been transfer listed and Chris Iwelumo has gone to Oxford on loan

Chester 1 (1) - (0) 1 Stoke City

Friendly

Stoke: Cutler (De Goey 46); Wilson (Thomas 46), Clarke, Wilkinson (Owen 46), Hill (Hall 46); Carlos, Commons (Hoekstra 74), Baptist, Neal; Eustace (Noel-Williams 46 (61)); Akinbyi (Asaba 74)

Don't know how we drew there. Schoolboy error from Cutler to concede. They practically dominated us. Poor show. Will give a few others a run and will delve into the market pretty soon

Rochdale up next and we revert to 4-4-2. Andrews returns to club, wasn't doing much here.

Rochdale 2 (1) - (0) 1 Stoke City

Friendly

Stoke: De Goey; Thomas, Clarke, Wilkinson, Owen; Eustace, Neal (Hoekstra 46), Baptist, Carlos (Henry 46); Noel-Williams (82), Akinbyi

Garbage. A pointless penalty, carp goalkeeping. Noel-Williams pulls one back late on but that was too little to late as far as the game was concerned. Paul Williams is off the transfer list and onto the pitch.

Oh my, Ade Akinbiyi...

Many changes are in order. Scouts have been distributed to improve the squad, but nothing for our final friendly against Oldham

Oldham 2 (1) - (0) 1 Stoke City

Friendly

Stoke: De Goey (Cutler 18); Thomas (Wilson 78), Clarke, Williams (Hill 78), Owen (Henry 78); Eustace (pen 84), Neal (Commons 78), Baptist, Carlos (Russell 78): Noel-Williams, Asaba (Akinbyi 78)

Crap for the second week in a row. Nothing changes. decent from Clarke and Cutler, but nothing else. Much to improve. Thomas out for 2 months now.

We now have our first league match. Several bids but in.

Stoke City 0 (0) - (0) 0 Wigan Athletic

First Division

Stoke: Cutler; Wilson, Clarke, Williams (Hill 58), Owen; Eustace, Commons, Baptist (Denny 58), Carlos; Noel-Williams, Akinbyi

Not a lot to say. We played well, had the best chances and didn't concede. A good start from the lads. A nice first team debut from American Jay Denny as well

League Cup time. Cygan rejected us on loan, St. Johnstone rejected a bid for Darren Dods but we are on the verge of signing keeper Tardif from Portsmouth. We switch to 4-3-3 for this match

Scunthorpe 0 (0) - (0) 2 Stoke City

League Cup

Stoke: Cutler; Wilson, Clarke, Hill*, Owen; Eustace (Denny 80), Commons, Baptist; Hutchinson (48, 79), Akinbyi, Noel-Williams

Good Win, the change in formation helped, Hutchinson got both, plenty more could have gone in. Well played and now onto the weekend. We are given 20000£, which helps with finances. We then lose Commons for 2 weeks. Great.

Premier League Charlton at the Brit in round 2.

West Ham up next. Cancel the deal for Tardif after Parsons says no.

West Ham 1 (0) - (0) 1 Stoke City

First Division

Stoke: Cutler*; Wilson, Clarke, Hill (Wilkinson 90), Owen; Eustace (76), Denny, Baptist; Hutchinson, Akinbyi, Noel-Williams

Thought we had it won, but we let it go. Good finish by Eustace. Great finish by Cutler. Hill and Owen out for 3 days each.

Next game. A few injuries but nothing to worrying.

Stoke City 2 (0) - (0) 0 Crystal Palace

First Division

Stoke: De Goey; Wilson, Clarke, Hill, Owen; Eustace, Denny (50), Carlos; Hutchinson (Hoekstra 89), Akinbyi (57)*, Noel-Williams

Great game by the lads. Palace had Di Cesare sent off and we capitalised with 2 breaks through the defence. First senior goal for Jay Denny and a MOTM performance by Akinbyi up top.

Norwich away. Everton and West Ham make bids for 16 year old Palmer. Dods and Kienle bids finalised.

Norwich 0 (0) - (1) 2 Stoke City

First Division

Stoke: Cutler*; Wilson, Clarke, Hill, Owen (Wilkinson 46); Eustace (5), Denny (Baptist 70), Carlos; Hutchinson (53), Akinbyi, Noel-Williams

Tiny bit shocked by this. Both goals againt the run of play. Norwich fans left after 79 mins . Good win, our second in the league this year

August Transfer Update

In

Darren Dods - St. Johnstone - 160£k

Marc Kienle - Fortuna Koln - 30£k

Stephane Leoni - Free Transfer

Out

Jermaine Palmer - Everton - 75£K

Reading Away. Leoni joins the club, so Williams and injured Thomas down to reserves.

Reading 1 (1)-(0) 1 Stoke City

First Division

Stoke: Cutler; Wilson, Clarke*, Hill, Wilkinson; Eustace, Denny, Carlos; Hutchinson (), Akinbyi, Noel-Williams

Close one this one. Fel behind when Wilkinson let one through. Hutch scored a quite poor goal, but keeps didn't dive. Point leaves us 6th, so very happy with the start

How about some images for the nostalgia factor

Gillingham now. No real news apart from the fact that Henry is unhappy due to me loan listing him

Gillingham 2 (1)-(0) 0 Stoke City

First Division

Stoke: Cutler; Wilson, Clarke, Hill (Dods 68), Wilkinson; Eustace, Denny, Carlos; Hutchinson (Hoekstra 45), Akinbyi, Noel-Williams

Disappointing, especially from Cutler. Will try to find a new keeper as poss backaup, or retry with De Goey. Overall very disappointing

Not a bad start, keep it up! Funny to have 'First Division' and Stoke City in it I must say!

This was my very first FM back when I was a kid, so will be following

Bobby_Zamora: Some pictures here: http://imgur.com/a/hxXL0

HeyyImRyan: Thanks for the support

We sign young GK Emmanuel Royer for 65k to give us some more young blood in the first team. He moves to no.2 Goalie, and De Goey is dropped from the squad for the trip to Sheffield after the International Break.

Sheffield United 4 (2)-(0) 1 Stoke City

First Division

Stoke: Cutler; Kienle, Clarke, Leoni (Wilson 51), Wilkinson; Eustace, Denny, Russell; Hutchinson (Commons 39), Akinbyi, Noel-Williams (Asaba 77 (88))

Massive disappointment today. This was a horrible game. Definitely some changes for next week

A visit to Crewe next up. Some changes to a 4-1-3-2 formation.

Crewe Alexandria 10 (0)-(0) 0 Stoke City

First Division

Stoke: De Goey; Wilson (Kienle 51), Commons, Owen, Wilkinson; Clarke, Eustace, Russell (Carlos 51), Neal; Akinbyi, Asaba

This was decent performance. another mid needed

We go back to the Brit for a League Cup game vs Premier League Charlton. Not much expected here, so will send out side with a few changes

Stoke City 0 (0)-(1) 1 Charlton Athletic

League Cup

Stoke: Royer; Leoni, Wilkinson, Dods; Wilson, Commons; Denny, Carlos, Russell; Hoekstra, Hutchinson (Noel-Williams 69)

Can't really complain here. Charlton were the better side here. Disappointing, but we have to take it

Walsall up next. We are trying to sign Jon Parkin from York and Jorge from Lexoes, both 20 yrs old with a lot of potential

Stoke City 1 (1)-(0) 1 Walsall

First Division

Stoke: Cutler; Leoni, Clarke, Dods; Wilson*, Commons; Eustace, Carlos, Russell; Noel-Williams, Hoekstra (7)

This was so frustrating. We had all the good chance, but only put 1 away, and they scored in the bloody 80th minute. Disappointing

Walsall up next. We are trying to sign Jon Parkin from York and Jorge from Lexoes, both 20 yrs old with a lot of potential

Stoke City 1 (1)-(0) 1 Walsall

First Division

Stoke: Cutler; Leoni, Clarke, Dods; Wilson, Commons; Eustace, Carlos, Russell; Noel-Williams, Hoekstra (7)

This was so frustrating. We had all the good chance, but only put 1 away, and they scored in the bloody 80th minute. Disappointing