Around the World in Eighty Clubs

[RaySunshine]

Pre-Season

As you can tell from the fact that there is a pre-season post, Fogg has not managed to find his job back home just yet! At the turn of the year, the Leicester job came up but they said no so Fogg is holding out for another role, hopefully in one of England's top two tiers.

Fogg has pressing for a senior affiliate since he got the job a year ago and it's taken a year for the board to be interested. Unfortunately, even though they now are, there is apparently no suitable club willing to become involved!

The transfers out section was one of the most significant of Fogg's managerial career - three first team regulars declined to stay at the club so there are openings for new GK, AML, DMC and AMC. This is on top of regular loanees at CB and ST also leaving the club. Fogg certainly had plenty of rebuilding to do make the squad ready for a new season...

With the club having basically no free money at all, Fogg had to use the free transfer and loan market wisely to build a squad capable of competing well in the next season. Let's have a look at who he's chosen to bring in...

30yo Irishman Gerry Burke is the first to come with the aim of taking over the DMC filled by Dabo last season. He spent the first half of his career at Sligo Rovers before moving to Finn Harps for the second. He made 11 league starts last season before his contract expired.

Another Irishman, Keith Murphy joins on a free from Bray Wanderers. He played well and often last season but somehow found himself out of contract despite only being there for a year!

Young Englishman Alan Allen comes in on loan from Nott's County. He has some potential but Fogg is expecting that he will be more of a bench player this season.

Fogg has tapped into his Mexican connections for players this season and Daniel Lopez is the first of them. The young keeper started at Nashville SC - Fogg's old club - and has travelled around the states without really ever securing a spot. Can he rule the roost in the Irish League?

21yo Welsh striker Garyn Pearce comes in on loan from UCD to take over where Liam Doherty was last season. Fogg certainly hopes that he has some goals in him as he's going to be expected to lead the line this season.

Finally, Fogg made an oportunist move for young Mexican Fidel Calvo. The 23yo, like Daniel Lopez, has struggled to make his mark in the USA but has come to join his national coach in Ireland. Fogg hopes that he can really bring some quality to the side - possibly relegating fellow newcomer Burke to bench duties already!

Pre-season went pretty well for the side with Fogg being particularly proud of the 1-1 draw with Hibs. He hopes that this good form bodes well for the season ahead even if he doesn't plan to be there for too much of it!

Once again - the eggs are all in one basket which is staying in the league! The team were threatened with relegation last time around and came second but Fogg is not sure that his motley crew of incommers are as strong as those players who left...

... and the bookies tend to agree as Shelbourne are red-hot favourites to go down. Can Fogg beat the odds again?!

Shelbourne are about to move into a new stadium and the game against Bohemian stands to be the ground's curtain-raiser. Fogg can't help but look and see that Shamrock Rovers finish off the month. Nothing is ever easy!

 

[RaySunshine]

February 2039

And so it begins. Life in Shelbourne's new stadium did not begin with a bang! Despite Lopez's debut penalty save, Shelbourne did not come up with the goods and suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bohemian.

Things did get better in game two. The first 'home' goal in the new stadium turned out to be an OG but then Mark Doherty volleyed home to make it a 2-0 win against Derry City ( Shepherd og 3, Doherty 21).

The win came at almighty cost though! Club star Mark Doherty broke his leg and has even talked about leaving the game for good. Doherty was the leading man in all good that Shelbourne managed last season. Fogg is now on the phone to everyone he knows to get a replacement quicksharp!

A heavily-rotated side featured in the cup against Drogheda United (Allen 22, Harvey 89, Carr 90+3, 90+6). Youngster Nathan Carr caught the headlines when he got his first two professional goals at the game's death.

Allen stepped up to take his chance to replace Doherty and then got injured himself. Will the replacement arrive soon?

Well here we go! 18yo Englishman Ryan Dance arrived on loan from prem league Bournemouth. He's yet to play any first-team football but Fogg is sure hoping that he's up to the mark.

Dreamland came in the next game against Shamrock Rovers (K Burke 25, Harvey 41, G Burke 90+1). K Burke opened the scoring with a neat header and Harvey followed it up with a shot smashed off the near post. G Burke then curled in a long-range beauty to give Fogg's men a famous win! Is anyone in England watching?

4th and it's not a bad place to be. After game one, Fogg worried but it's all looking good now.

A busy March comes up with a key game against UCD tucked in there. Of course, Fogg hopes to be in England asap but who knows in the crazy world of football? It would appear that League One is the bar Fogg is looking at...

[RaySunshine]

March 2039

The month of March began with something of a bump. In the game against Finn Harps (Boylan pen 70), the team fell behind early. It looked like with Boylan's pen going in, that the team would grow into the game. Finn Harps had other ideas though and another goal stole all three points.

Things were put to rights though in the game against Dundalk (Boylan pen 37, Dance pen 90+3). Penalties were the order of the day in this game and both Boylan and Dance used them for their chances to score in this match.

No goals came in the game against Waterford. The teams were tied on xG and that's how the game worked out.

After the Waterford game came the greatest shock. Shelbourne's Mark Doherty decided that his injury was so bad that he was going to retire. Fogg had been on the phone to talk him out of it but it was to of no avail; Shelbourne's talisman is gone!

The cup brought the first of the month's two games against Bray Wanderers (Dance 45, Harvey 55). Either side of half time, the wingers struck and Fogg was pleased to see that Dance was taking up a good role in the team now that Doherty isn't coming back.

There was nothing good to say about the next game though - UCD bossed the game and Fogg and co left the match with their tails firmly between their legs.

Some interesting news came up before the next match though. Would Fogg finally be offered the chance to complete his world journey and go home?

The month's final match was a bonkers one against Bray Wanderers (Dance 40,61, Pearce 70). At 3-1 up going to the final stages of a game that they'd controlled, Fogg thought that it would all be fine. Murphy then slipped defending a cross and sent into the back of his own net before they got another to steal a late point. You could see the steam coming out Fogg's ears!

Despite the month having a couple of blips in it, it's fair to say that the team are doing well. UCD are beginning to strike out a lead but Shelbourne are pleased with where they are.

You'll see that are no games in the schedule for Shelbourne for next month and that's because Fogg will be elsewhere...

[RaySunshine]

Swansea City

And so Fogg returns, for the first time since 2024 to home soil. The last leg of the challenge (with a bloated save file that often doesn't want to load!) will be taken on at Swansea. Fogg remembers well the days of Brendon Rodgers and Michu at the club. What can he do to bring back the glory days?

In term's of an assistant and as perhaps befits the save, his number two at Shelbourne has decided to travel over the Irish sea and join Fogg on the last leg of his worldwide adventure!

It's fair to say that this graph only reads one way from Swansea's top-flight glory days. What can Fogg do to spark things up and lift his new side back into the second tier?

There's quite a lot for Fogg to keep an eye on the club vision. He certainly likes possession football but, as for what counts as entertaining these days, who knows?!

Edited November 21, 2023 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

Starting XI

So Fogg begins his home return to the UK with this XI...

Stuart Robertson: The 33yo Welshman has spent time in Spain and in Plymouth before coming in at Swansea to command that place between the sticks.

Junior Tchamadeu: The 35yo Englishman has been around a bit. He's spent time at Colchester, Wimbledon and Bolton before finding his way to Swansea. Does he have the experience to help lead this team over the line?

Gethin Williams: A 30yo Welshman helps to build a backline with plenty of experience. He started off at Cardiff and moved around the football league before coming into Cardiff this season.

Salum Hassan: The 23yo Salum Hassan brings a bit of youth to the Swansea side. This is really his breakthrough season into the first-team and Fogg hopes that he makes the most of it.

Richard Miller: Fellow 23yo Richard Miller has been in the first-team a little longer. Hopefully, he has the perfect blend of age and experience.

Anthony Pugh: Pugh is has been given the role of midfield anchor in this side. At 22yo, he has played few games for the side. Is he up to the job?

Alan Burns: 24yo and one of the two CMs tasked with making things happen. He's performed well since joining from Huddersfield at the start of the season. Hopefully, Fogg's vision fits him well.

Stewart Goldrick: 29yo and, hopefully at the peak of his powers, Goldrick has three goals and three assists so far. What more can he add?

Brian Pritchard: The young 18yo has broken into the side this season and scored four goals and also got ten assists. Fogg is really looking forward to this wonderkind strutting his stuff!

Omer Dedic: On the other side is much more experience in the shape of Omer Dedic. The 32yo Swede has eleven goals and five assists so far. He's going to be key for Fogg's ambitions.

Mark Reardon: The 29yo Englishman joined in January for £95k. So far, he has four goals in eleven starts - what more does he have in store before the end of the season?

Fogg knows that he only has a year left in his career but the future certainly looks bright for Swansea.

Swansea are very much in the hunt for an automatic promotion place. There are only six games for Fogg to get the points needed and to haul in both Luton and Doncaster. Can it be done?

And here are the six games - Cardiff just before the season ends sounds like it's going to be a massive, massive game for sure. Doncaster at home could also be pivotal in what the end of the season holds. It all begins though, with the hosting of Millwall...

[RaySunshine]

April 2039

Swansea had been on a run of three games without a win before Fogg arrived and it's fair to say that his arrival did not lead to an instant upturn in fortunes!

Game one against Millwall set the theme for much of what followed in the month. Fogg's side dominated the play and created the chances but wayward shooting meant that they came away shocked at a 1-0 defeat.

This was even worse news as Fogg lost the star that he thought would help his team over the line.

A very similar theme to game one followed again in the game against Oxford United and Fogg was seriously concerned at the risk that that automatic spot was fading away...

Even more familiar bad news came after the game!

Fogg hoped for the best in the game against Swindon Town (Carlton pen 50) when Carlton, Dedic's replacement put home a comfortable penalty. The team then slowly faded away though and ended up defeated... again!

A change of formation to 4-2-3-1 in the game against Doncaster was Fogg's next gamble but it produced little and, by the end of the game, the side had gone back to 4-3-3 in the hope of breathing life back into the game. That didn't work either!

Fogg was worried by this stage that the team would fall out of the play-off places even - a total disaster! Thankfully, this was averted by Fogg's first win which came against rivals Cardiff (Pritchard 68, Goldrick 73). Pritchard headed Goldrick's neat cross home before Goldrick made room for himself and smashed home a 20-yard piledriver.

The season finished with a game against AFC Wimbledon. Swansea started the game well but couldn't keep the pressure up and tailed off. Wimbledon had a bit of a go but couldn't score either so a dull 0-0 was the final result.

Swansea stumble and struggle so far under Fogg it's fair to say with the team only getting one win in the month. At least though, they've managed to get a play-off place even if it's not with the most convincing form known to man!

The double-header against Doncaster is Fogg's 'reward' for his work so far. With the form his team's showed, he's worried that another season in League One awaits...

 

[RaySunshine]

Play-off Semi-Finals

Game one, at home, was a real snore-fest! Doncaster (Reardon 82) got the lead from a corner and, in the dying embers, Reardon made the most of a Pritchard cut-back to fire home and leave things level.

Game two was crazy! Doncaster (Carlton 62, Collier pen 116). Doncaster went down to ten men and then took the lead immediately leaving them ahead at half-time. Carlton smashed a fine effort home in the second half to bring things level. LB Miller then got sent off for Swansea making it ten men on each side. Extra time began and Doncaster got another TWO players sent off! Swansea then got a penalty and Collier put it in to give Swansea the lead. The shocks weren't over though as Leigh was then sent off for Swansea to bring Fogg's team down to nine men. They held on though and got that vital trip to Wembly!

As it turned out, even without the sending off, Leigh would not have been able to take a place at Wembley anyway.

Coming as much more of shock was finding out that captain and keeper Robertson wasn't coming either. What can Fogg do with what's left of his squad?!

Well there's only the final to go then...

[RaySunshine]

Play-off Final

There was no Wembley dream for Fogg this time. Woking (Bishop pen 79) took a two goal lead within the first fifteen minutes and it was uphill all the way from there for Swansea. Late in the second half, a penalty was won and Bishop put it away but, overall, it wasn't enough for the side.

Fogg's last season will be in League One...

[RaySunshine]

Season Review

Between injury and transfers, it's hard for Fogg to have too much of a comment. He also only had the team for nine games as well.

Pritchard, the wonderkid, catches the headlines here. Can Fogg make the most of him next season?

The club's vision remain's pretty consistent. The club expect to be at the upper end and competing to get back to the Championship.

Before that though, Mexico have the CONCACAF Gold Cup to play for...

 

[RaySunshine]

Pre-CONCACAF Gold Cup

Fogg's Mexico lined up to take part in what could be his last international tournament as he prepares for his swansong season. The team didn't really produce in the pre-tournament friendly against Argentina (Paz OG 76) though as they were thoroughly outplayed and beaten by their South American counterparts.

Mexico and USA seem to be the favourites for the tournaments so that's the other team that Fogg is looking out for. The group starts out in a much more straight-forward format though with Honduras of Wilson Palacios and Christian Pavon fame being the stand-out team after Fogg's...

[RaySunshine]

CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage

Fogg began what is probably his last bid for international glory with a fairly smooth journey through the Gold Cup's group stage. The tournament began with a game against Haiti (Jaramillo 64, Huerta 79). Fogg had to exercise patience with the team not scoring until the second half when Jaramillo volleyed home a second ball sent back into the box and Ibanez played a beauty of a through-ball for Huerta to finish.

The worry though was the injury to Arsenals 19yo Reyna which would rule him out of most of the group stage.

Game two was against Honduras (Herrera pen 2, Garza 47, Garcia 51, Rivera 69, 90) and it's fair to say that, from Herrera's second minute penalty onwards, the flood gates were opened and the team stormed to victory.

The group stage's final game was against Guyana (Garcia 34, Jaramillo 38, Gallegos 45). Just a draw was needed and the team delivered more than that with Gallegos's super-strike catching all the back-page headlines!

Mexico topped their group with three wins out of three and went on to face Barbados in the Quarter Finals...

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by RaySunshine

[RaySunshine]

Knockout Stages

Mexico's QF opponents were Barbados (Reyna 11, Huerta 13, Martin 75). Reyna marked his return to action with a goal when DM Camacho's ball over the top sent him through. Just two minutes later, Huerta doubled the score - getting his foot up to volley home Gallegos's great cross. In the second half, Martin finished things off by jumping on a rebound to poke it home.

This would bring up tournament heavyweights and Mexico's fierce rivals USA in the semi-finals...

Mexico hadn't beaten the USA (Jaramillo 33, Huerta 55, Herrera pen 90+3) in their last five meetings but this time Fogg's team simply blew them away! Jaramillo fired home the first after a neat one-two with Reyna and Huerta got the second by finishing off another beaut of a through-ball from Ibanez. Herrera tucked away a penalty at the death to complete a famous win.

All that awaited now was the last step and the Final against Jamaica. Could Fogg really do it?

[RaySunshine]

CONCACAF Gold Cup Final

And so the final takes place! Mexico dominated against Jamaica (Huerta 20, Nava 45+2). Jaramillo slipped a through-ball for Huerta to bury with a first-time finish and then Nava headed home powerfully from a corner. And so...

... the trophy was won! Mexico get gold and Fogg finishes his final season of his world tour with an international trophy.

And this brought to an end Fogg's time in international football. With there not being another tournament before he plans on retiring, he turns his full focus to Swansea City...

[RaySunshine]

Pre-season

It had been a pretty busy pre-season for Fogg and Swansea as he looks to finish his career with glory. The most significant outs were free transfers that rocked the squad in losing RB through retirement and AML through refusing to sign a new deal. So, with those gaps in mind, who did Fogg look to bring in?

First in was English striker Pip Willsmer from Championship Sunderland. He never really made the grade there with only one goal in two seasons. Fogg hopes that he has a lot more to show with a drop down to League One.

To fill in the vacant RB slot, Christian Beckwith comes in from Luton Town. He's played consistently well there for the last three seasons but his contract wasn't renewed and Fogg hopes to make hay from their decision!

Youngster Haneef Zekria comes on loan from Watford. Fogg hopes that this will be his break-through moment and he'll have goals galore for the team!

Frenchman Jeremy Baysse comes in on loan from Derby County. Derby are struggling for money and so Fogg hopes to profit from their misfortune and add steel to a position that looked quite weak last season.

As a second bid at bringing strength to the DM position, Fogg brings in Matja Kurez from Bournemouth. They clearly deemed him not be Prem League standard and sold him - at a healthy return on their investment it has to be said!

Pre-season went well for the side - the particular highlight had to be the insane 3-3 draw with River Plate! Goals galore were scored and Fogg hopes that this bodes well for the season ahead...

... where the expectation is to get to the serious end of proceedings. Action in the cup is also expected but it's the league were the board really want to see success.

And the world expects with the team widely expected to finish in the automatic/play-off discussion. Can Fogg go one better than last season and actually get his team up?

And this is what the league throws up in month one. That early game against Sunderland will be interesting as will be the derby game against Cardiff. Come on Swansea!

[RaySunshine]

August 2039

With the team having struggled when he first took over, beginning with a loss against Millwall, Fogg was hoping for revenge and season boost against them this time around. It's fair to say that he got it as his side beat Millwall (Zekria 12, Burns pen 37). Zekria got his first goal for the club profiting from Burns's through-ball before Burns turned scorer and put his penalty home.

Bad news came before the Plymouth game with wonderkid Pritchard being ruled out for a couple of weeks. It didn't stop the team against Plymouth (Dedic 4, Willsmer 22, 39). Willsmer opened his scoring account for the club with a fine brace that sent the team through to the next round of the cup and their Championship opponents tumbled out.

The good form continued in the league with the team putting two goals past fancied Sunderland (Dedic 31, Burns pen 60). Burns stepped up to the spot again and his penalty was enough to secure all three points.

Then came the month's shock in the result against Cardiff. Fogg's men dominated the match but didn't score. Cardiff did take the couple of chances that they had and that was enough to secure the result for them. A serious blot on Fogg's copybook!

A heavily-rotated side took on Colchester (Beckwith 80) in the cup. New RB Beckwith smashed home a fine shot but Colchester levelled in the very dying embers. This took the game to penalties and 16yo keeper Jeynes produced two great saves to keep Swansea in the cup for another round!

The team had a shock against Oxford (Beckwith 63, Williams 77, Willsmer 83). They went in 1-0 despite dominating the first half. They managed to turn it around though - making the most of set pieces to score all three goals and get a vital three points!

The month's final game was in the EFL Trophy and saw the side take on Brentford U23s (Williamson 35). CB Williamson headed home the game's only goal and Swansea took all the points!

Daniel Usman demanded to leave the club to get more playing time so Richard Turner was brought in on loan from Watford to fill the gap. He looks like a bright star for the future. Fogg just hopes that he has enough in the here and now too!

Swansea are at the end of the table that they need to be achieve their goals and only three points off automatic at this early stage. One game and one win puts them top of the EFL Trophy group but it's early days yet!

Big teams come up in the next month: Birmingham are expected to be in the play-off discussion and the game against Wrexham will be an eagerly-awaited tie. Come on you Swans!

[RaySunshine]

September 2039

Fogg was very pleased with the way that August had gone. September was nearly as good in his opinion.

The international break came and the start of the month and it was not good news - Fogg was beginning to seriously wonder just how fragile his club wonderkid is!

The results all began well with a good win against Birmingham (Willsmer 54). The game's only goal was scored when Dedic sent an in-swinging corner to the near post and Willsmer headed it past the keeper and in.

Burton Albion (Dedic 39) were top of the table when Swansea took them on and they stormed into the lead within three minutes. Dedic got the leveller finishing off a superb one-touch move between him, Zekria and Willsmer to outsmart their keeper and slot the ball home.

An all-Wales tie came next against Wrexham (Turner 66, 77). They took the lead but newcommer Turner shone as sub - scoring both goals to turn the tie around and give the Swans all three points!

West Brom (Willsmer 21, Turner 55) were 5th in the Championship and a serious challenge in the League Cup. Fogg's men took two shock leads but he could only stand on the touchline and watch as, in the last few minutes, West Brom scored two late goals to take them on into the next round.

Swansea started slow in the month's final game against Lincoln City but grew into dominating it. No goals came from the possession though and the final points of the month were shared.

No EFL Trophy games were played this month so the sole focus is on the league table. Swansea are still where Fogg wants them to be - challenging for those two automatic places. Can he see it through and sign off with something special...

Everyone knows how hard the Football League is and October shows why. Two games a week every week on a budget not able to support the monster squads of the Champion's League cohort! What can this squad do for Fogg over the next few weeks?

 

[RaySunshine]

October 2039

If Fogg had thought that August and September were promising, it was fair to say that October was simply outstanding! Game one was against opponents Southend (Zekria 25). An absolute thunderbolt opened the scoring and gave Southend the lead but Hassan's big cross was headed home by Zekria at the far post and the points were shared.

In the EFL Trophy, Swansea took on Shrewsbury (Turner 9, Reardon 13, 90+3, Pritchard 88). The side, as you'd expect were rotated but that didn't stop the drama with both teams scoring four goals and then Shrewsbury getting the bonus point courtesy of the penalty shootout.

And then the wins began! Fogg's men took on Chesterfield (Willsmer 32, 59). Willsmer showed his goal-scoring ability with a super volley from Turner's head-down and then he repeated the trick when Zekria headed the ball down in the second half!

The team were in cruise control in the game against Grimsby Town (Beckwith 6, Willsmer 44) and Willsmer kept the goal-scoing going to keep Swansea looking towards those top two automatic places in the league.

From here on in, 1-0 was the order of the day! The first of three came against Preston (Willsmer 23) and Willsmer got the goal with a header home from Dedic's set piece.

Next up, were Forest Green (Williamson 80). The 20yo Scotsman got his first professional goal, tucking home after a set-piece penalty pinball.

Fogg had wondered if his career would finish with getting Swansea into the Championship. But then, some sackings began and Fogg wondered whether actually there was a shortcut to the next league up.

The final 1-0 of the three-game series saw the team take on MK Dons (Turner 52). This time, Willsmer turned provider and his square ball across goal was knocked home by Richard Turner.

In the league, Swansea remain in third place but they're only a win away from getting up to top spot. It could certainly be exciting times here - if Fogg is here to see it! In the EFL Trophy, Swansea are second but still on course to qualify.

A massive league tie against Swindon and a key cup game against Cardiff means this month opens with a bang! Hull City are high-flying too so the month won't be dull. What can Fogg achieve with this crew or will he be in places new?

[RaySunshine]

November 2039

Fogg led his Swansea team out against title rivals Swindon Town (Burns pen 16, Dedic 27, Williams 66). Burns opened the scoring with a penalty before Dedic fired a rocket home to make the score 2-0 before HT. Williams then finished off the scoring - coming up from the back to head home a cross that had been made from a throw in.

This was Fogg's last game in charge of Swansea though as it turned out that he wouldn't be finishing his career in South Wales after all...

[RaySunshine]

Middlesbrough

Phillip Fogg's final job in his career brings him into England and the chance to step up a division and manage Middlesbrough. Fogg couldn't resist the chance to get up into the Championship and see what could he could do for Boro in his last season.

It fits the story that Fogg has finally found his loyal assistant - Daryl Birch is happy to make the move to the North-East with the ever-travelling Phillip Fogg!

Premier League days are a distant memory for Boro now who have been more used to visits to League One in recent years. Can Fogg hold off the risk of relegation and keep the team in England's second tier?

Fogg certainly has a lot to do at Boro! He's not so sure about the defensive, direct football but he thinks he can keep the team up and that will keep him in a second-tier job until the end of the season!

[RaySunshine]

Starting XI

Fogg chooses to stick with his now-trust 4-3-3 in his move to Boro and this is the XI that he's chosen...

Cornell Martin: The 33yo Jamaican is in his second year at Boro. He's spent most of his career warming the bench at West Ham and Juve and Fogg needs him to prove that he's worth first-team status.

Nicky Gardner: 26yo RB Nicky Gardner was the summer's big-money signing - joining the club from Derby County for £2.8 mil. It's fair to say though that his performances have not lived up to expectations so far...

Prince Bello A 25yo Nigerian happy in the backline or in midfield. He's yet to play regularly in his career but Fogg needs him to step up at Boro!

Christy Walton Walton is 25yo and in his fourth season at the club. He's been one of the season's best performers so far and Fogg will want that to continue until the end of the season.

Sean Cameron The club captain has been at the club since 2022 and Fogg needs him to lead the team to better things this season.

Neil White 21yo CM White is on loan at the club from Sheffield United. Fogg wants him to take that vital HB slot by the scruff of the neck and lead the team on to better things.

Nathan Edwards 28yo Welshman Edwards has been at the club since 2034. He's happy in midfield or in defence and Fogg looks forward to him producing great things for the team.

Sean Ball Fogg can't quite work out why 26yo Ball is currently transfer-listed. He's one of the team's best players and Fogg wants him to be doing great things from midfield for sure!

Hernan Mojica is on loan from Brighton. He's managed a single goal so far this season. Can Fogg's tactical approach bring the best out of him for the rest of the season?

Roy Purcell is also on loan from Aston Villa. He's managed three goals and one assist so far. That doesn't seem like a great return as far as Fogg is concerned.

Kyle Riley leads the line at the age of 22. He's managed five goals in nine starts and Fogg hopes that he has more to come!

So Fogg takes on a side that are four points above the relegation places and, looking to the right, it's clear why they're in trouble. Being the fourth-worst scorer in the league is not a good look and Fogg knows that he won't have much money to solve the problem with either in January!

8th-place Watford and 1st-place Blackburn do not make an easy start for Fogg. Luton are lower mid-table and Woking just above relegation so that's where Fogg is looking for in terms of points...

[RaySunshine]

November 2039

When Fogg settled into his new office, he was fully aware that this was not going to be an easy job. Just as the month came to a close, he began to wonder why he'd left Swansea at all!

Game one in the job was away at high-flying Watford (Mojica 23). The team went behind early with a penalty and then Mojica fired Fogg's new side back level with a fierce effort. Tom Wiltshire proved to be the best player on the pitch though and his hattrick gave Watford all three points.

The one thing that Fogg really didn't need was a trip to top-of-the-table Blackburn. Fogg though, ended incredibly proud of his team to went toe-to-toe with the opposition. Late on they scored and Fogg felt frustrated that they couldn't hold on for the point.

In the game against Luton (Purcell 33), Boro took a lead for the first time since Fogg took the reigns. Purcell made a super run and finished it a firece effort. However, as was becoming a pattern, Fogg's team faded and Luton got all three points.

Finally, with the month coming to a close, Boro got a win! The side took a lead against Woking (Ball 14) when Sean Ball made the most of a penalty-box pinball to poke home. The team then managed to hold on and Woking's one-goal lead was enough to get all three points!

Boro finish the month a place up from where they were when Fogg took over and the relegation places are not in sight. Fogg's not fooled though as the side are now a point closer to relegation than they were. Better things are required.

In comes December and some vital games for points - the two games against mangerless Cov and also against Huddersfield are going to be vital for points. Wolves, Palace and Norwich are 2nd, 7th and 9th though so they will not be easy games!

[RaySunshine]

December 2039

Fogg had been left seriously worried by the team's performance overall. He was relieved by the way that form picked up in December though as the month finished by giving him the perfect Christmas present!

Having finished November with a win, Fogg wondered if his team could pick up win two against Coventry (Riley 33). It all began well when Purcell sent a low, hard cross in to the near post and Riley tucked it home. A single goal wasn't enough though and Coventry had reply in the second half leaving the game all-square.

Fogg was dreaming of the second win of his Boro career when the team took on high-flying Wolves (Purcell 30). The dream looked to be coming true when was picked out at the far post to knock the ball into an empty net. The team wilted though late on and two Wolves goals left Fogg wondering what might have been!

Huddersfield (Edwards 34, Purcell 34), Fogg's old club, were bottom of the league and knew that he really, really needed three points here! Thankfully Edwards came up to poke the ball home at a setpiece and then, just 44 seconds later Purcell hit a great lob over the keeper's head to secure a vital three points for Mr Fogg!

This would have been lovely news for Fogg had he not been planning to retire before any of these players will make their debut!

This was less good news and took a good bench option out of proceedings for the foreseeable!

The game against Crystal Palace (Hutchison 90+1) was decided by Hutchison's late header. He had not played much nor scored much really for his entire career but, on this occasion, he found what was needed to give Boro back-to-back wins for the first time since the season began!

Things were to get even better when the side took on Coventry (Bradshaw-Thornton 38, 90+4) Bradshaw-Thornton had struggled for form but was forced on when Mojica came off with a knock. He made the most of it though - smashing home a great volley for his first and for his second ran from the halfway line to the penalty box before firing across the keeper and in!

Four wins in four games were completed when the team played Norwich (Purcell 33, Edwards 61, Bello pen 64). Purcell opened the scoring by running on to a ball headed down by Riley and firing it home. Edwards got the second when a cross from a set piece found his head and he powered home and then a penalty secured the result leaving a stunned Carrow Road largely silent!

With four wins in a row, Boro launch themselves up the table and away from trouble. They're now nine points clear of the drop and closer to the top-half. Perhaps this isn't such a bad move for Mr Fogg after all!

Rochdale are struggling so Fogg knows that there's a good chance of another three points there before the cup games begin. Then Reading and Forest are mid-table with Stoke in the play-offs. The most interesting aspect of this month is going to be the transfer window. Boro have no money and are already over-spending their wage bill so Fogg doesn't see the likelihood of many players coming in. Is the squad he has good enough...

[RaySunshine]

January 2040

The month of January began well with the side seeing off struggling Rochdale (Le-Roy pen 55, Mojica 90+4). Le-Roy scored his penalty early in the second half but it took until the dying embers of the game for Mojica to secure the result with his effort.

Next up came Wrexham (Riley 83) in the FA Cup. Fogg could barely believe his poor fortune when his team conceeded two in five minutes to go in at HT trailing to the League One side. Late on, Riley got one back but it wasn't enough and the team crashed out of the cup.

The news didn't get any better on the injury front either! Purcell had proved to be a vital part of Fogg's Boro team and he was now going to be out for the rest of the month at least!

Fogg was hoping that the team would bounce back with a good win against Reading (Edwards 14, Ball 34) but it wasn't to be. The team led twice but twice Reading were able to level up and the points finished being shared between the two sides.

No goals at all came in the game against Nottm Forest and it's fair to say that it wasn't a game that would live long in the memory!

Draws seemed to be the order of the day now and the next came in the game against Charlton (Riley 58). Boro found themselves a goal down at the break but, just before the half-time whistle went, Charlton had had a player sent off. Boro managed to use the advantage to level the scores and, once again, the points were shared.

The game's final month was against Stoke (Mojica 24). A cross was sent in and RW Hernan Mojica had crept into the far post to head it home. Stoke had a goal of their own though and, for the fourth time in a row, the points were shared.

Boro move two places up the table compared to last month and are seven points better off. It's fair to say that relegation seems pretty unlikley now and that fills Fogg with a strong sense of relief as he really didn't want to finish his career with a relegation sacking!

QPR are struggling and find themselves in 21st place. Wigan are 19th. West Brom though are up in the play-off places so will be a much sterner test. Barnsley and Peterborough and 17th and 16th respectively so there's the potential for points there. Will it be a good month for Mr Fogg?

[Vakama2619]

Hey mate just wanted to come in to say I've really enjoyed your career, its a shame the end is nigh. I'd also like to show my appreciation for all the retro logos in your pack, bit of nostalgia, what year is it from?

Edited December 19, 2023 by Vakama2619

[BML]

I'm happy that you moved on from Swansea, as finishing in England at a Welsh club would feel a bit strange!

I hope for his sake Fogg wasn't going around Swansea town talking about how happy he was to be back in England...

[RaySunshine]

Thanks for following the journey along @Vakama2619. I feel the same about the journey coming to an end but I'm looking forward to having some fun on FM24 pretty soon as well so hopefully you can pick up a new journey with me! Not sure on the badge pack - I haven't updated it for ages as you can tell! I agree @BML and also wanted to finish the save in England as well as being in the Championship - let's hope Mr Fogg had enough sense during his short stay in South Wales!

February 2040

The month began with the bad news that captain and starting LB, Sean Cameron, would miss most of the month! 33yo Ecuadorian Gabriel Cisneros is in his first season at the club and will now need to fill in for his captain.

January had become the month of draws and Fogg hoped that a game against struggling QPR (Riley 31, Bello pen 36, Bradshaw-Thornton 90) would kick the team on to a win. It didn't start well when QPR took the lead through a cross following a throw-in which left their player free in the box to poke home. Ball hit a low cross for Riley to stab home and level things and then Boro took the lead through a Bello pen. It all finished off when Riley cut a ball back to Bradshaw-Thornton who fired it into the postage stamp - he only scores stunners!

There was only one goal in the game against Wigan (Riley 58) when their keeper played a poor pass out and Riley snuck in to put the ball back past him and get all three points for Boro!

Fogg knew that the game against West Brom would be a challenge and it certainly proved to be so! The Albion comfortably dominated the game and Fogg really couldn't complain that his team walked away victims of a 2-0 defeat.

There were no goals at all in the game against Barnsley but considering that Barnsley dominated the game, the outcome could have been far worse than a draw for Fogg and his men!

Another 1-0 win was enough for Mr Fogg to finish the month on a winning note when his side took on and beat Peterborough (Riley 89). Riley waited until the death to get his winner which he scored by pouncing on a poor touch from their CB to nick the ball and claim the winner.

Boro hold on to their 12th-place spot and a position in the top half. There are now only 11 games to go - can Boro hold on to it? Relegation seems to be all but avoided now with only a single win required to get the magic 50 points.

March looks like a tricky month - Watford are 3rd and Blackburn are top while Luton are 8th. Ipswich and Portsmouth are just 20th and 16th though so that's where Fogg might get his points from this month!

[RaySunshine]

March 2040

Even without Fogg having made his plans for the end of the season public, the retirement vibe has certainly caught the air. It didn't affect the team in the game against Watford (Riley 8, Bello 58) though. The team took a two goal lead all the way to the end of the game and Fogg was very pleased with the result against a team much higher in the league than his.

He was almost in dreamland when the team took on Blackburn and held them to a draw. These results against much higher-placed sides were an awful lot better than the team were getting at the start of the season and were a sign of the good progress that Fogg had generated.

No good things can last forever though and it certainly didn't in the game against Luton Town (Bradshaw-Thornton 71). Luton raced into a three-goal lead and Fogg's team were always second-best. Bradshaw-Thornton did get a consolation goal late on but that's all that it was.

There was drama galore in the next game against Ipswich Town (Riley 21, 37, Le-Roy pen 90+3). Twice, Boro took the lead and twice they were pegged back level by Ipswich. It looked like it would finish all square but, at the death, Middlesbrough got a penalty and Le-Roy put it home to snatch all three points!

The youth intake only scored as 'average' this year but, as Fogg knew his career was coming to an end, he wasn't too worried and tasked the director of football with signing whoever they wanted.

The win the last game was backed up by a solid 2-0 against Portsmouth (Walton 29, Riley 48). Portsmouth were just a place below Boro in the table and the team most likely to deny them a top-half finish so this felt like a top-half battle six-pointer and Fogg was very pleased to get the points!

Boro step a place into 11th and they open up a five point gap on the bottom half of the table. Fogg had taken a look at the games coming up in April and new that gap could be vital if he wanted to finish as a top-half side!

Fogg is not quite sure how but he seems to be facing off against the top side every month! Now Plymouth are in top-spot followed by Southampton and Wolves who are 5th and 3rd respectively. Huddersfield and Woking find themselves at the other end of the table being 24th and 22nd so hopefully the season will finish with a liberal sprinkling of green!

 

[RaySunshine]

April 2040

April represents Fogg's last full month in football and it's fair to say that it's not an easy one for sure! Table-toppers Plymouth (Bello pen 60) began the month by racing into a three-goal lead within 25 minutes. Bello did score a penalty later on but it was only a consolation goal.

Southampton (Mahoney pen 16, Riley 68) Mahoney opened the scoring by putting away a penalty before Southampton came back to level things up. In the second half, Riley finished off a fine passing move to give Boro and Fogg a famous, feel-good win!

Not all the news coming in was good though - Cameron reported in with a knock that stood a real risk of ruling him out for the rest of the season. What would Fogg do without his captain?

It certainly didn't help in the game against Wolves. The sides remained all-square until late on in the match when Wolves snatched a winner by smashing home a beautiful long-range volley.

Fogg then took on his old team Huddersfield. It was a poor game and Huddersfield snatched a winner from a set piece to send home Fogg home an unhappy man.

Before the Woking game came even more bad news with starting RW Mojica picking up an injury that might stop him playing again this season. It didn't prevent Fogg from getting a win in his last home game against Woking (Bello 81) when Bello's powerful long-range strike secured all three points.

So Boro finish the season in the top half of the table. With only one game to go, the team can neither move up nor move down.

And only one game - the last of Fogg's career - remains. He travels down to London to take on Crystal Palace. Will he go out on a high?

[RaySunshine]

May 2040

And so, the Friday before Boro's final game of the season, Mr Fogg sits down with the gathered press to announce that the next game will be his last and that, following a journey of his dreams all around the world, he is going to retire!

The game itself proves to be anything but dull! It began with Mojica playing a beaut of a through-ball that Riley finished to give Fogg a dream lead in his last game. Palace had other ideas though and turned the game around either side of half time. Purcell then got a brace of his own to put Boro back into the lead before Palace then tried to level only to have their goal disallowed. In the dying embers though, Palace did equalise and the game finished all-sqaure.

And thus lies the final table of Phillip Fogg's journeyed career!

Instead of getting back on the coach and returning to the North-East with his team, Fogg stayed in London, taking a train into the centre before crossing The Mall and heading along neighbouring Pall Mall. He stopped outside the steps of the famous Reform Club - eighteen seasons after his stroke of inspiration. He knew that, at last, this particular journey was done.