[FM21] Return of the Phoe Nix - Rise of the Raven. FC Isle of Man Youth Save.

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - FA Cup - 2nd Round

In a strange game of football where we crated a bagful of opportunities to win this game three times over, Notts Co came from behind twice, including and injury time equaliser, to force extra time.

We were more than up for the challenge as weight of chances finally paid off, and the two Jordans combined for three goals in 8 minutes to send us through to the 3rd Round.

 

The 120k for our share of the gate makes a nice boost as well.

 

We're off to St James Park to face Newcastle in Round 3, in just under a weeks time.

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - Papa Johns Trophy 2nd Round

A 7th minute penalty was all it took for our kids to triumph over Rochdale.

 

 

We head to Burton Albion for the 3rd Round in a few days.

 

We have met once before in the Pizza Cup, for a close loss.

 

Up next...the Pizza Cup 3rd Round has been added to the schedule. Kids will be sent out again.

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - Papa Johns Trophy 3rd Round

The kids have performed exceptionally well to get us to the third round, but the much more experienced Burton proved to be a step too far.

Happy with the chance these kids have had to develop, and they have handled themselves admirably.

 

Up next...St James Park awaits as we take on Newcastle in the FA Cup 3rd Round.

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - FA Cup 3rd Round

A step too far as Newcastle were too strong for us, running out 0-2 winners.

 

We collected about 300k for our share of the gate as well.

 

Up next...back to League action as we head away to Port Vale.

[Hootieleece]

Newcastle United is the richest team in the World..... I would hope they could beat a League2 side on their home ground!

Better Luck in the future and How will you spend the $300K?

 

[Punch]

12 minutes ago, Hootieleece said:

Newcastle United is the richest team in the World..... I would hope they could beat a League2 side on their home ground!

Still in the Championship, not sure about their ownership in this save, although I just too a look and it says Rich under Finances. So maybe they did get their rich take over.

 

15 minutes ago, Hootieleece said:

Better Luck in the future and How will you spend the $300K?

Thank you!

We are currently losing 100-150k a month, so it will come in handy just to keep the finances above water.

I might look at training facility upgrades soon.

[Blarney]

11 hours ago, Punch said:

JAN 2030 - FA Cup - 2nd Round

In a strange game of football where we crated a bagful of opportunities to win this game three times over, Notts Co came from behind twice, including and injury time equaliser, to force extra time.

We were more than up for the challenge as weight of chances finally paid off, and the two Jordans combined for three goals in 8 minutes to send us through to the 3rd Round.

 

The 120k for our share of the gate makes a nice boost as well.

 

We're off to St James Park to face Newcastle in Round 3, in just under a weeks time.

Well that wasn't very nice of you...

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - Match Day 31

A poor result as we were unable to get anything going against a 10 man Port Vale,

 

Holding in 3rd, but the gap below has been closed up some.

 

Up next...we're off to 22nd place Crawley.

[Punch]

3 minutes ago, Blarney said:

Well that wasn't very nice of you...

I did have a chuckle when I seen that draw come out.

[Punch]

 JAN 2030 - Match Day 32

A solid performance away from home to get the points away from home, with Jordan Williams continuing his good form getting as double.

 

Still 3rd, still a tight table.

 

Up next...home to 21st place Salford.

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - Match Day 33

A solid win at home, dominated them up and down the park, and a clean sheet to boot.

 

We've jumped to 2nd, still a very tight table.

 

Up next...A tough match up at home to Carlisle.

[Punch]

JAN 2030

Another marathon month where we played very well, only conceding in one League match for the month,

 

2nd place, racking up 81 goals in 33 games. We also have a defensive record second only to Hull.

 

Analyst is happy, and his report is showing the same as the table, defence is much improved again on last season, and attack is the best in the League.

 

Jordan Williams wins the Young Player of the Month for the 4th time this season.

 

Nearly 600k in gate receipts made us a profit for the month, for the first time this season.

 

Press linked me with the Fulham job, first time I have been linked to a Premier League position.

 

I was interviewed and offered the Millwall job.

 

37 interview offers now.

[Punch]

JAN 2030 - continued

 

Goal Scoring Goalkeepers

Both keepers have been brilliant this season. Jack doing what he does, and Foggarty being a very good deputy, and performing well in the Pizza Cup.

 

Foggarty scored with his only opportunity in the Pizza Cup, scoring his 2nd career goal.

 

Jordan Jack curled in this shot in the FA Cup, for his 2nd free kick of the year, and 19th of his career.

 

In the same game he score his 7th penalty of the season.

 

Smashed in this rocket for his 8th penalty and 10th goal of the season.

 

Jordan Jack has reached double figures again this season, and now has 82 career goals.

Reece Foggarty has his 1st goal of the season, and 2nd of his career.

 

After the marathon that the last two month have been, we only have three games to play this month.

It will be nice to rest some of the weary legs in the squad to prepare for the run to the end of the season.

[Punch]

FEB 2030 - Match Day 34

Well that's one way to send a message to the competition, rattling up a 6-1 win over the team coming 3rd.

We were brilliant up and down the field, with Jordan Williams rattling up another hat-trick

 

Hull lead the League by as much as 12 points at one stage, and we've now cut that down to 2 points.

 

Up next...we have a two week break to rest some legs, and the we have the top of the table clash, away to Hull. This game could either all but seal the title for them, or continue the momentum we have going at the moment and propel us into the League lead.

[Punch]

FEB 2030 - Match Day 35

What a fortnight we've had. After knocking over 3rd place Carlisile two weeks ago, now we traveled to KCOM Stadium and convincingly beat top of the table Hull in a brilliant team performance. This was just their 3rd loss at home all season.

 

Top of the table!!!

In a scenario that would have seemed impossible a few months ago, we've managed to cut down Hull's 12 point lead and knock them off top spot on the League Two table.

While there is still 11 games to play, so nothing is set in stone, it's a huge achievement for this club, and shows that the players we are developing are sending us in the right direction.

 

Up next...another week and a half gap before we travel to 19th place Morecambe.

[Punch]

FA Youth Cup update

 

A few days after our defeat of Hull, the below popped up:

 

Our U18 squad have been performing brilliantly this season, currently unbeaten in the League, they had also made their way to the 6th Round of the FA Youth Cup, where they have just knocked over Chelsea U18s in a brilliant performance.

They have now won through to the semi final.

[Punch]

FEB 2030 - Match Day 36

Another complete performance as Morecambe are put to the sword, Jordan Williams, still doing Jordan Williams things.

 

We stay in 1st place but Hull are right there with us, winning their match as well.

 

Up next...9th place Scunthorpe travel to The Bowl.

[Punch]

FEB 2030

A short month but we go 3 for 3, scoring 13 and conceding 2. Jordan Williams with 5 of those.

 

1st place with 10 games to go, and we've already scored 94 goals.

 

The analyst is still very happy, we smashed the xG this month, our defence is the 2nd best in the League, while our attack is the best.

 

Jordan Williams won the Young Player of the Month for the 5th time.

 

He also wins the League Two Player of the Month, while our other Jordan, Jordan Jack was named in 3rd place.

 

I picked up the Manager of the Month for our efforts.

 

The Press linked me to the Huddersfield Town Job, and they did end up interviewing and offering me the job.

 

This became my 38th interview over the course of this save.

 

Goal Scoring Goalkeepers

Jordan Jack was named in 3rd place in the Player of the Month this month, and is still putting in brilliant performances.

 

9th penalty of the season is fired into the bottom left, sending the keeper the wrong way.

 

Goes the same way for his 10th penalty of the season. Keeper guesses correctly, but could do nothing to stop it.

 

10 from 10 for the season, and 12 goals.

Now has 84 career goals.

 

A few extra games this month, but nothing like the December/January nightmare. 10 games until the end of the season.

[Punch]

Under 18 Squad win again

Our U18 Squad have gone back to back, winning our second U18 League Title.

Looking good for the future.

[Punch]

MAR 2030 - Match Day 37

Another quality performance as we put Scunthorpe to the sword, racking up another 4-0 win, in front of a near full house at The Bowl.

 

Young Matthews has been getting plenty of time in defence lately, but we will be without him for a couple of weeks now.

 

Still holding 1st place, if nothing else, if any positions come down to goal difference, we should be in front

 

Up next...12th place Wigan visit the Isle.

Edited January 6, 2022 by Punch

[Punch]

Man U have taken out the League Cup. We were knocked out in the 2nd Round.

[Punch]

MAR 2030

Our Wigan match has been washed out, and rescheduled to 23rd March. Thankfully it was an empty weekend, so it just evens out our schedule a bit.

 

Hull won their match to retake top spot and keep the pressure on us to try and take it back.

 

Up next...we travel to 18th place Mansfield.

[Hootieleece]

You got this!

I believe in your penalty scoring GK to win it for you!

 

[Punch]

1 hour ago, Hootieleece said:

You got this!

I believe in your penalty scoring GK to win it for you!

 

At the very least, we seem to be getting a few more penalties than last season.

[Punch]

MAR 2030 - Match Day 38

Not our best performance, but we got the job done to take the three points away from home and keep the pressure on Hull.

 

Hull have not player their 39th game yet, so we take the League lead back for the moment.

 

Up next...we travel to 10th place Blackpool for what will be a tough but important match.

[Punch]

Hull could only manage a draw away to Crawley, leaving us on equal points, with a game in hand.

[Punch]

MAR 2030 - Youth Intake

Our 10th Youth Intake has arrived, and while the stars alone look a little underwhelming, the attribute review tells a different story.

 

Our Academy has produced it's 1st 65 point player, along with another two 60 pointers, and two more above 55.

First time I have looked at CA/PA on the Youth Intake, and these kids show a massive amount of potential.

Now we just need to make sure we can get it out of them.

Nine from the Isle is a decent portion as well.

 

Top 3

Spoiler

Pat Millington is the highest rated player to ever come out of our Academy, and one of the highest at the club. A strong central midfielder, but also potential as a striker.

 

Archie Adams, apart from having an awesome name, looks a very strong central midfielder.

 

Luke Rudd is another strong AM(L), also with potential as a striker.

 

We also picked up a very decent Goalkeeper.

Another 190+ centimeter monster with massive potential.

A few years development and he could give Jack and Foggarty a run for their money.

 

Overall, happy with this intake, one or two of them have potential to be first team straight up, and plenty of room for potential around.

[Punch]

 

With the club losing money each month, I decided to bite the bullet and talked the Board into agreeing to do some upgrades before we run out.

It took some negotiating on both counts, but the Board agreed to invest 1.4 million to upgrade both the Training and Youth Facilities.

[Punch]

MAR 2030 - Match Day 39

A great performance as we keep another clean sheet while putting three past Blackpool.

 

We become the first League Two team to secure a play off spot at worst. But we are aiming much bigger than that.

 

Hull could only manage a draw against Morecambe, so we have taken a lead with a game in hand as well. We need to make that game count.

 

Up next...our game in hand, the rescheduled match against Wigan, with a huge opportunity to put a gap between us and Hull.

[rmcf2017]

League one is on the horizon for you now too. Given your performance this season and on my own experience, I wouldnt be surprised to see you go up the next season as well

[Punch]

11 minutes ago, rmcf2017 said:

League one is on the horizon for you now too. Given your performance this season and on my own experience, I wouldnt be surprised to see you go up the next season as well

One step at a time

[Punch]

MAR 2030 - Match Day 40

We make the most of our game in hand by smashing 6 passed Wigan, in front of our first League sell out of the season.

Young Striker Petrosino scored a Hat-trick.

 

Making the game in hand count, we now open up a 5 point gap at the top of the table.

 

Up next...we take on 9th placed Luton, but the game has been moved back to early April, as we have 9 players on International Duty at the end of March.

[Punch]

FA Youth Cup - Under 18s Update

In a stunning result, our U18s have knocked over Man U U18s over the two legs of the FA Youth Cup semi final.

The class of 30 kids have come in and looks like they're making an immediate impact.

The future looks bright.

 

Looks like they'll take on Tottenham U18's in the final.

[Punch]

MAR 2030 - Match Day 41

With our match postponed due to international players away, Hull scraped home over Scunthorpe to keep the pressure on us.

[Punch]

MAR 2030

 

PROMOTION JOY!!!

Despite not taking the field in the last weekend of March, other results going our way have meant that we can now finish no lower than 3rd.

After the heart breaking loss in the play off final last season, we will not have to run that gauntlet this season, with automatic promotion confirmed.

A massive journey in 10 seasons coming the the 10th level of the English pyramid, to being promoted from the 4th.

 

Promotion is secured, but there is a trophy still on the line.

[shaunvamos]

Congrats on promotion 😀 hope you can bring the title home with it!

[Punch]

6 minutes ago, shaunvamos said:

Congrats on promotion 😀 hope you can bring the title home with it!

Thank you! 
Six games to go, could be a close battle

[Punch]

MAR 2030

A perfect month where we kept 3 clean sheets and conceded only 1 goal.

Our winning run is now at 9 straight games.

 

Six games to play and while promotion is secured, there is still a close title fight on our hands.

We've racked up 109 goals in 40 games, conceding only 31.

 

The analyst is happy as we smash the xG.

Defence 2nd only to Hull, and best attack in the League.

 

Our kids took all three places in the Young Player of the Month, with young striker Petrosino taking it out for the first time.

 

An undefeated month sees me awarded the Manager of the Month.

 

We had up to 9 players out on international duty at the end of this month, resulting in the Luton game being postponed.

Petrosino scored his first international goal, and backed it up by scoring a double.

 

Ross Wolfe becomes our 21st Youth International.

 

A big loss this month as we spend 1.35 million on the Training and Youth Facilities.

 

Goal Scoring Goalkeepers

Jordan Jack still doing what he does, three more clean sheets this month, and two goals.

 

His first was this cracker of a curling free kick, his third free kick of the year.

 

Makes no mistake with his with this bullet, his 11th penalty from as many attempts this year.

 

Jack now has 14 goals for the season, and 86 for his career.

 

Four home games out of five coming up, in a tight battle for the title.

[Punch]

APR 2030 - Match Day 41

A full house at The Bowl to watch us run up our 10th straight win.

 

 

We again make the most of the game in hand putting the lead back out to 5 points.

 

Up next...18th place Cheltenham come to the Isle.

Edited January 7, 2022 by Punch

[Cheez3y]

Grats on the promition.

The steady progress is really good.

[Punch]

2 minutes ago, Cheez3y said:

Grats on the promition.

The steady progress is really good.

Thank you!

We've come a long way in 10 seasons.

[Punch]

Everton U23s took out the Pizza Cup over Leyton Orient.

We were knocked out in the 3rd Round.

 

Young striker Petrosino broke a few records on the way, which has resulted in him making his way regularly into the 1st team.

[Punch]

Match Day 42

Not our best performance, but we got the points with a very late winner to secure our 11th straight win.

 

Hull also won their match, keeping the gap at 5 points, but they have also now guaranteed themselves automatic promotion.

 

Up next...we travel to 8th place Wrexham for a tough match up.

[Punch]

APR 2030 - Match Day 43

Wrexham gave us a tough fight, but one goal proved to be enough to take us to our 12th straight win.

 

Hull got the points in a tough fight as well.

This is proving to be a straight up slug fest.

Five points the difference, three to play.

 

Up next...another tough fight as 7th place Ebbsfleet come to The Bowl.

[corinthiano]

Congrats on the promotion, now just need to ensure you get the title. Your form since the turn of the year has been impressive!

[Jtomsett11]

Excellent work on the promotion! That youth intake looks very tasty,  there's a few of premiership quality there! Even if you can't hold on to them you'll certainly make some money off them!

[Punch]

5 hours ago, corinthiano said:

Congrats on the promotion, now just need to ensure you get the title. Your form since the turn of the year has been impressive!

Thank you! Title race is going to be tight, but there is still tight fights all up and down the table.

What’s improved out of sight is our defence, we are just so hard to score against. We’ve always been capable of scoring a bucketload, but susceptible to conceding a lot as well. Since Christmas the defence has just been a brick wall.

 

2 hours ago, Jtomsett11 said:

Excellent work on the promotion! That youth intake looks very tasty,  there's a few of premiership quality there! Even if you can't hold on to them you'll certainly make some money off them!

Thank you!

A lot of potential in that group, they have been putting up some impressive performances in the 18s, like the FA Youth Cup which we are still in, and some of them are getting bench spots on the first team, but have not yet played. 

Edited January 7, 2022 by Punch

[Punch]

Our current run has us one win away from breaking the League Two record for consecutive wins.

[Punch]

27b Charlie Henry stays on loan for another season

Charlie Henry was sold to Championship side Birmingham at the beginning of the season, with the loan back clause.

I offered them to keep him for another season, with them paying all of his wages, currently 1,500 per week, more than three times our highest player, expecting them to counter, wanting us to pay some or all of his wages, and they accepted the offer almost straight away, with no changes.

I then expected that Charlie would reject the loan move, as he left us wanting to play at a bigger club in a higher division, and he also accepted without delay. Maybe that we are going to be in League One next year has changed his tune somewhat.

So we sold him for 700k, and now get to keep him for two seasons, without paying a cent. Good deal!

[Punch]

APR 2030 - Match Day 44

A monster crowd in at the bowl to see us continue our lethal form in front of goal, while giving them nothing.

A Petrosino hat-trick, starting in the 10th minute got us on the way, and we never looked back.

 

Hull also won, so we are not quite home yet, but we need only to either not lose both of our last two games, or for Hull to not win both of their last two games to secure the title.

We could very well lift the trophy in front of our home crowd in our next match against 14th placed Colchester.

 

We've broken the League Two record for consecutive wins, and what a time to do it.

13 wins on the bounce has taken us to within grasp of lifting the League Two title, which it appeared Hull were strolling away with just a few months ago.