Northernpilgrim Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 The table at the end of the first month makes interesting reading Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 A month in which we beat Man Utd (h) 4-2, draw 1-1 at Everton, then beat Newcastle at home 2-0. The League Cup has been exited at the first stage, with a 2-1 defeat at Championship Sheffield United. As I made 6 changes, I'm neither surprised nor bothered. The media tipped us as outsiders to win it, but who wants to do a Birmingham City and play European football in The Championship? I'd rather stay in the division, build for next season, and have a crack at getting in the Europa League for season 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Sadly we lost the next game, 1-0 at home to bottom of the league Bolton. The lack of goals from my strikers is starting to worry me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 We follow that by winning 3-1 at Aston Villa to dump them onto the bottom, and Simon Cox gets his first goal, at the 8th time of asking. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Table at the end of October. The wins aren't as easy to come by, but our league position is comfortable...for now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 We're exactly the same distance away from the Champions League spots as we are the bottom 3. Keep that up and we'll finish mid table. But we need to start putting teams away, especially at home. Our last match was a 2-2 draw at home to Blackburn, who were promoted with us. We were 2-0 down, so for now it's a point gained. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 The end of November table and results have set alarm bells ringing though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 The run shows no sign of ending. I've tried keeping the formation the same, changing it, keeping the team the same, changing it, holding team meetings, not holding team meetings. I'm lost for ideas, and reduced to HOPING that the form will sort itself out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Losing 11-0 to Man Utd represents my worst ever FM result. I can't quite believe it. We're now in the bottom 3, and looking certs for the drop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Have just returned to the game to find that it hadn't saved correctly, and was taken back to before the Man Utd game. Decided to leave that one to my Ass Man, and... we lost, 6-1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Yikes, may be time for a Hail Mary... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Back on track in January, and a cup run to boot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 I don't do Hail Mary's, I'm an Agnostic . However, I'm pleased that we now look capable of staying in the division, rather than falling through it with a whimper Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 The policy of picking games to target has gone out of the window. I need as many results as possible to attract my summer transfer targets, and the policy wasn't exactly having the desired effect anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 League table at the end of February Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 March results:- Blackburn 0-0 Derby Derby 0-2 Man City Liverpool 2-2 Derby (10 men) Derby 1-3 Sunderland (touchline ban being served) And the table Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I don't do Hail Mary's, I'm an Agnostic . However, I'm pleased that we now look capable of staying in the division, rather than falling through it with a whimper I actually meant a Hail Mary as in North American football Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 Squeaky bum time as, with 2 games left, even 10th placed Newcastle aren't mathematically safe. Can we pull it off? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 The final league table. 2-1 defeat to already relegated Burnley confirms relegation, made all the worse by the knowledge that it was in our own hands all afternoon, with Everton never ahead, and eventually beaten. At the same time, we never left the bottom 3, as we were 1-0 down, level, then 2-1 down. Gutted. We probably deserve it, if only because we've had 2 shocking runs of defeats, and if we'd interrupted either of them with even 1 win, we would be safe. The club is now rumoured to be up for sale, so I'll probably have a transfer embargo, just when I don't need it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 Even more disappointing, we were just 4 points behind Bolton, who ended up 12th. We could have stayed up with places to spare. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Tough to be relegated, especially with how close the bottom half of the table was. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 Yeah, but losing at home to Burnley on the last day, when a win would've kept us up, says it all. Squad mentality was listed as 'determined'. What it didn't say was what they were determined to do. FAIL! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 23, 2012 Author Share Posted July 23, 2012 A run in of W1 D3 L7 from the last 11, when just one more result, or a few more draws, would have done, is frankly unforgivable. To add insult to injury, the takeover has collapsed, and there are managers offering to replace me. Thankfully the board have laughed the offers off...so far. But I've had to let a load of players go to trim the wage bill, my squad currently totals 11. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted July 25, 2012 Share Posted July 25, 2012 Oh dear, it started so well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 25, 2012 Author Share Posted July 25, 2012 Yep, and my squad's now a mess. Released all players not good enough. Have a massive wage budget of £300k/wk but couldn't persuade any decent out of contract players to join, so have ended up with several I don't want. I am not signing any players on transfer fees, as my record on paying for players is less than good. My scouts keep screwing up though, so might have to start just doing the work myself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 We seem to have managed to get over relegation quite quickly, and are mounting a good challenge in 2015/16 for an instant Premier League return Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 And my current squad Worthy of special mention is Simon Cox. 21 goals in 13 league games, 25 in 16 overall. The man is a scoring machine! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 Our unbeaten run at this level is now 21 games, having also won the final 7 to clinch the title two seasons ago. We really need to start winning rather than drawing so many away games though. I've seen other saves where people have missed out on promotions and titles because of too many draws, and I don't want to fall victim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Draws are annoying, but that is still a great unbeaten streak! Keep it going Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 Cheers cerud! And I'm starting to get linked to jobs again too. Amazing how when you get promotion, you're the next big thing, but suffer relegation afterwards and nobody wants you. So glad I managed to ward off those asking the Chairman about replacing me! On the subject of the Chairman, he's put the club up for sale again, but as yet no offers, so I don't have a Transfer Embargo. What's the betting he gets an offer in late December? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted July 27, 2012 Share Posted July 27, 2012 Good shot at having another go in the Premier League. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 27, 2012 Author Share Posted July 27, 2012 I was almost right. 9th December a transfer embargo, and it's still in place just before the window opens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 28, 2012 Author Share Posted July 28, 2012 The takeover collapsed in early January, and we have maintained our watching brief in second, displaying an irritating tendancy to drop stupid points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Our recent form has been very encouraging And has taken us to the brink of promotion, if not as Champions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 Huddersfield have been phenomenal all season, although I refuse to give up on the title, as we have reduced their lead from 10 points to 1, and our goal difference would see us crowned Champions if the points finish level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 We play them at Pride Park in 4 games time, the third last game of the season. I would put money on the winner that day taking the title. If we beat them, I just don't see us throwing it away, but lose to them, and we'll put them within touching distance. Should be an exciting time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 I'm also keeping an eye on my previous club, Hartlepool. Far from nosediving back to League 1, they are mounting a challenge for the Championship playoffs, and without the goals of James Brown too, as he's currently on loan with me at Derby. Won't be making him a permanent signing, as he seems to have left his shooting boots in County Durham, but it's nice to have a familiar face around. If I could just convince them they don't need Luke James... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted July 30, 2012 Share Posted July 30, 2012 Looking great for the title! Good job on closing that gap! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Where did THIS performance come from? We're TOP!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Final day results:- Derby 2-2 Millwall Huddersfield 5-1 Sheff Wed Champions, but I can't help but feel we should have finished with a win and 2 additional points Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 And the results that achieved it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 30, 2012 Author Share Posted July 30, 2012 Top scorers were Simon Cox with 49 goals from 37 league games and Leon Best with 38 goals from 43 games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Great season, you needed it with Huddersfield as strong as they were. Will probably managed better in the Premier League this time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Fingers crossed. I'm not going to have a massive cull this time, I'll just add one or two players in key areas to try and ensure we are competitive in the PL. I bet Huddersfield didn't expect to pass 100 points and not win the league. I've never seen that happen before! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted July 31, 2012 Author Share Posted July 31, 2012 Before May is finished, I'm linked as the most likely candidate to replace the sacked managers of Aston Villa, West Brom, and interestingly, Torino. Normally I'd have packed my bags for Italy, but not this time. All rejected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cerud Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 Unbelievable finish and congrats! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRL88 Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Great work bouncing back at the first attempt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted August 2, 2012 Author Share Posted August 2, 2012 I've managed to go where Brian Clough couldn't, and get a job with the FA. I'm now the England U21 Manager, but will obviously continue as Derby manager. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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