Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 A bit of a wobbly October and that sees us drop to 7th Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 Early November brought another job interview, at League 1 Blackburn Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 Blackburn said no, so the struggle goes on in Cheshire Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 Another offer of interview, and I'm not attending this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 We were winless in November, but weirdly, unbeaten in the league and we remain in a playoff place, but we're clinging on to 7th Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 An enjoyable read, as always. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 1 minute ago, Rikulec said: An enjoyable read, as always. Thanks Rikulec. I think I can probably forget any ambitions of taking Macclesfield into League 1 and keeping them there though. Three seasons, and we're no better than we were at the start, despite significant recruitment. I'm well over wage budget, so January is going to be all about selling players, and hoping I don't have to sell anyone who is an important part of the team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 On 30th November, another interview invite. I'm attending this one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 Before a ball has been kicked in December, Coventry have come back to me. I got the job Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 This is the squad I've inherited and the league table on my arrival. Championship Survival is the only aim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 14, 2020 Author Share Posted May 14, 2020 My first month in charge shows that this is going to be a long, hard slog against relegation but there were encouraging signs too as we led against Derby and Wigan and were not as bad as the scoreline suggests against Sheffield Wednesday but were outdone at Preston so we remain in the bottom three, but still in touch with the rest Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 A tough January, but we ended it with a crucial win and that sees the gap to safety reduced to 1 point, although QPR have a massively better goal difference Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 I made two signings in January, both on loan, with a whole tranche of players being loaned out Right winer Conor Blake is a very promising youngster, already good enough for the first team and James McAtee will play 'in the hole', and is a quality addition Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 There was a massive turnaround in fortunes in February, as we took 15 points from a possible 18 to move out of the relegation places, 12 points clear of the bottom 3. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 That's a great month. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Rikulec said: That's a great month. It's made survival an achievable target. Still not going to be easy as we have tough games over the next couple of months, but we're in there fighting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 15, 2020 Author Share Posted May 15, 2020 We won the next match too, but finished the month with three successive defeats which left us 10 points clear of relegation, with 6 matches left. I think we probably need 1 more win to be sure of survival Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 We saw it through in April, but a last day defeat to already relegated Hull took the shine off the month and that saw us finish 18th, on 51 points, 13 clear of the bottom three. The full season review will be done late this evening after I've finished work Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 The roundup begins with the club awards night winners the stats behind the season and the review of the season, showing our late charge for survival Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 This is how the squad performed this season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 Preseason results were encouraging, despite some challenging games Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 We made three signings, but Liam Cullen was here on loan last season, and his move becomes permanent Jojo Wollacott comes in to challenge for the goalkeeper's position and Wilson-Esbrand will be first choice at left back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 With two more transfers under negotiation, and pressure from the board to sell players, there will likely be plenty of player movement over the next month before the transfer window closes, but with the new season kicking off in July, this is the squad on the eve of our opening match Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 We enjoyed a fantastic start to the season and sit top of the early table, the only team yet to concede a goal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 17, 2020 Author Share Posted May 17, 2020 Three more players in, five players out before the transfer window closed Jacob Ramsey adds depth in centre midfield as does Wiggett at centre back and Cole Palmer comes in as a first choice centre mid Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 A perfect August in the league, the only defeat coming when I played a weakened team in the Carabao Cup, having already met the board's expectations in that competition and we're top of the table, two points clear, with at least one game in hand on all our nearest rivals Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 I've got to be delighted with the way the season has started. It took 24 matches for us to get this many points last season, so hopefully we can use this as a platform to push on and do something really special this season. I'm not about to stick my neck on the line and say we're going to win the title, or even get promotion, but I'll be disappointed if we don't at least make a challenge for a top 6 place from here. There will obviously be difficult times in the season, and we certainly won't win every game. The fact we lost at home to Cardiff with only a couple of changes to the side tells me that our regular team is strong, but there is a significant dropoff as soon as we make changes. If we can keep key players fit and playing 40 plus games this season, we have a chance, but that is a big ask. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 18, 2020 Author Share Posted May 18, 2020 Five wins out of seven was a decent return in September although we were 2-0 up at Watford, so should never have lost that game but we end September 6 points clear, with more points than we had in JANUARY last season. I am slightly concerned about the number of goals we're leaking at the moment, even if we do have the best goals scored record in the Championship. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 A spate of injuries, two of which left us with no fit right backs, bit hard as we were winless in October and we have begun to slide down the table, although we're still in the playoffs, for now at least Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 Only two matches in November as the league prepares to break for the World Cup, and we finally managed a win which proved vital, as without it, we'd have fallen out of the playoffs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 19, 2020 Author Share Posted May 19, 2020 With my contract due to expire at the end of the season, I've signed a new one, extending that by a year Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Back after the World Cup, with 1 league game and the FA Cup. We lost both and we drop to fifth in the table. We need a win very quickly now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Much better in January, apart from a 5 day spell where we faced two away games in Wales and I felt we were good value for a point against Cardiff and were denied a win with a red card in the first half at Swansea Those 5 dropped points mean we stay in the playoffs, whereas winning both games would have lifted us to second Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 One arrival, and three departures in the January window with Barker arriving to provide cover for Dabo at right back Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 February was a real mixed bag, although it could have been even worse, as we fought back from 0-2 down at home to Birmingham and it looks increasingly likely that the playoffs is as good as we can hope for, and we've got a fight on our hands to hold on even to that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Unbeaten, but a long way from perfect in March, as we blew a 2-0 lead against Fulham, and came from behind to lead against West Ham, only to let that slip too but we're up to third, just three points off the top two, going into the last month of the season. I still think we'll end up in the playoffs, but we have at least given ourselves a chance of automatic promotion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Only 1 player is being offered a contract from this year's youth intake, but he does look a big prospect and here is Dave Pardington Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 We went through the final month of the season unbeaten Securing promotion to the Premier League The victory away to already relegated Charlton securing the runners-up spot and a place in the top flight for the first time since 2001. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 Awards night time, and it was a good one for Cole Palmer and he topped a couple of the club stats too Meanwhile, the review of the season shows how we got off to a great start, suffered a mid season slump, but recovered well at the end to secure promotion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 20, 2020 Author Share Posted May 20, 2020 On to the Championship awards, and Cole Palmer is at it again, with the highest average rating for the season and the Player of the Year award Keyendrah Simmonds won the Golden boot Palmer again with Young Player of the Year but he didn't make the Team of the Year, although three of his team-mates did Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Preseason results went very well as we prepared for the top flight Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 This was our summer transfer business Downes is a midfielder Robinson is a left back Tiru is a centre back and Porro is a right back which leaves the squad like this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Welcome to the Premier League but the draw with Leeds keeps us out of the bottom three (for now) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 We picked up a couple of very useful wins in September and we're 12th in the table, which is a good place to be at the moment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 October's fixture list was certainly the kindest so far, and we took full advantage Those three wins take us 7th, a European qualifying spot!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 Late November, I've been offered an interview with a relegation rival (didn't apply). I'm going to attend, but I don't know if I want the job or not Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 Three league games, and one win, in November but victories over the likes of Brighton are what survival is built on, and keep us in the top 7 for now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 Before the end of the month, I've got a decision to make, and it doesn't involve a team from Dorset Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 I've taken the job, but remain boss of Coventry for now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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