[FM22] Wall of Shame to Hall of Fame

[TheJonsterMonster]

October 2026

 

In a world where Ernesto Valverde's Liverpool side are 19th in the Premier League with 3 points after 6 games, just below Frank Lampard's Sheffield United in 18th, Monster was looking forward to playing in the FA Cup again this month, starting in the 4th Qualifying Round. 

 

03/10/2026 - VNL v Yeovil Town (A)

13th v 1st. Opposition manager Gary McSheffrey had been quoted in the press as saying Monster was overrated. Monster may have had a a little more motivation to win this game as a result. With a lack of rotation starting to play on his mind, Monster gave Steve Flood an opportunity in the shadow striker role with Tydeman still not quite producing consistent performances. Brynn was restored in goal too. Aldershot, once again, made the brighter start. Max Hunt gave them the lead in the 15th minute with his standard near-post header from a corner routine. It was nearly the same outcome in the 28th minute. Hunt met Moses's corner again but Robinson couldn't quite turn it in at the back post. From the rebound he laid it back for Everitt, who made it to the byline, whipped it back across for Hunt who nodded it down for Moses to hook in on his weaker foot. 2-0 at half time, and Yeovil had barely threatened. Monster raised a curious eyebrow at McSheffrey as the whistle blew and they headed for the tunnel. Overrated? Had Yeovil been surprised by the dominant display so far? In the 58th minute, Clayton spread the ball out wide to Moses on the opposite flank. The winger cut inside, as he is asked to do, laid the ball off to Stewart, who made a break for the byline to square it for an unmarked Robinson to tap in from a few yards. Monster released the bench and they added to the scoreline late on. First, Tydeman and Jones combined through the middle for the on-loan forward to break his goalscoring drought with a simple finish from a few yards out, and then Tydeman's raking pass through the middle found Stewart's run, and the pacy forward took advantage of a mix-up between centre back and keeper to be presented with an easy tap in. 5-0 was the final score which didn't flatter Aldershot in the slightest. Hunt was the player of the match, against one of his former clubs, and Aldershot pulled 7 points clear with Notts County drawing at home to Torquay United. 

 

 

04/10/2026 - FA Cup Draw

Having been involved in 10 FA Cup draws last season, Monster was excited to see who they would draw this time round. As ever, he wanted a weaker side at home or a stronger side away. With VNL sides being the highest rank involved, he was thrilled to have a home tie, and lower league opposition in Cirencester Town or Salisbury were drawn out, both sides Monster had faced while at Hillingdon. 

 

06/10/2026 - VNL v Scunthorpe United (H)

1st v 5th. Monster was always wary of former Football League sides and with it being midweek, he had to rotate a few players. Continuing with the balanced mentality at home to see if it resulted in a greater goal return, Aldershot were out of the blocks quickly as usual, although they didn't have a breakthrough until the 22nd minute when Robinson volleyed into the roof of the net from Phillips's flick on from a Wilson corner from the right. Robinson was the creator of the second goal, picking the ball up in his own half after a clearance from a corner, he turned and scooped a ball forward for Stewart. The league's top scorer controlled the ball on his chest and motored into the area to tuck the ball home from 14 yards. Stewart had a moment of good fortune in the 36th minute. O'Connell broke into the box with a mazy forward run and unselfishly looked for the pass rather than having a shot at goal. Deflecting off a couple of Scunthorpe players, the ball fell kindly for Stewart whose shot clipped the far post on its way in. Scunthorpe grabbed a goal before half time, Dodoo played through in the right channel by Rowe and he raced through to beat an onrushing Brynn. Little happened in the second half until Monster asked for more from his side, who had been tentative. They produced some of the best football Monster had seen to make it 4-1. Tydeman intercepted the ball inside his own half and broke forward, playing a neat one-two with Robinson before releasing Everitt down the left. Everitt cut back inside and played the ball to Barrows, who tucked it back to Townsend. Keeping the ball moving at all times, the trio played it between themselves before Townsend played a gorgeous lofted pass across the field to Kilner on the edge of the area. The right-back's volleyed pass went across the area to pick out Everitt who had made the run to the byline. His first-time cross was met at the back post by substitute Cian Hayes for a tap in. Monster was out of his seat, applauding the goal. Scunthorpe had been chasing shadows in that move. The game ended 4-1, with Stewart's brace earning him the player of the match accolade.  

 

 

10/10/2026 - VNL v South Shields (A)

A long trip up to the north-east saw Aldershot take on the side in 11th to take on Kevin Phillips's side (yes, the former Sunderland and England striker). In a game where the rain lashed down throughout the whole match, Aldershot asserted their dominance over proceedings but only took the lead 5 minutes before half time. Monsterball from the halfway line saw Kilner pushed up in the right-hand channel and he played a through ball for Stewart who was muscled out the way but the pass still found Tydeman, who finished first time into the bottom corner. In the 67th minute, Aldershot doubled their lead with a Stewart tap in at the far post. Hunt won the flick-on at the near post from Harris's corner and Stewart was all on his own and wasn't going to miss from there. Manni Norkett picked up a second yellow card in the 70th minute and South Shields played it safe from there. Monster was more than happy with a 2-0 win and a clean sheet to boot. Dropping Brynn for the match against Newport County seemed to have given him the proverbial kick up the backside and he now had two clean sheets for the month. 

 

 

17/10/2026 - FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round v Salisbury (H)

Monster was excited at the prospect of playing in the FA Cup again after the incredible journey of last season. Salisbury were from the SLPDS, two tiers below Aldershot, and hadn't had a great start to the season. Monster rotated the whole side to give some game time to those who needed it. Surely this would be a comfortable win? Monster thought so when Aldershot took the lead from kick off, Jack Wright scoring within 17 seconds. Spencer received the ball in the centre circle, knocked it forward to Jones, who played through Wright. The forward for the day timed his run to perfection to take the ball in his stride and sweep home left-footed. Monster's expression became sour when the referee inexplicably booked Townsend twice within the space of 3 minutes, producing the customary red card in the 14th minute. Monster was up in his technical area demanding an explanation but the referee wasn't going to change his mind. Monster reshuffled the pack, dropping his attacking midfielders back into midfield, hoping the physical size of Spencer would keep midfield ticking over. Salisbury sensed an opportunity and grabbed an equaliser when target forward Arnold climbed above the Aldershot defence to meet Lewis's cross. John got both hands to it but seemed to collide with the crossbar causing him to drop the ball which bounced over the line. Monster was furious with his side. Jones thought he had given Aldershot the lead a couple of minutes later when he volleyed in after the keeper could only parry Phillips's header from a Flood corner but he was adjudged to have been offside. In the 43rd minute, Spencer broke free down the right and played the ball back inside for Hayes to cross. Wright needed two bites of the cherry, his first shot blocked by a defender but with the keeper prone, Wright was able to volley in the rebound to curb Monster's ire. Salisbury had their best spell of the game after half time, equalising again when Pearce nodded home unchallenged from Sagaf's corner from the right. Monster tried his hardest not to react on the bench. He had faith they could still win, particularly with the physical presence of Spencer now playing up front, having swapped him with Wright. On the hour mark, Jones released Flood down the left, the youngster bursting to the byline and whipping in a fantastic cross on to Spencer's head in the 6-yard box, his header kissing the far post on its way in. Monster promptly rang the changes, making a triple substitution to see if Aldershot could see the game out. They did, shutting the game down expertly after that. 3-2 the final score but it didn't tell the story of the game. Monster was relieved to be in the hat for the next round. 

 

 

18/10/2026 - FA Cup draw

Grimsby Town away. 20th in League 2. Monster couldn't complain at that and had confidence they would have a realistic shot of reaching the 2nd Round. 

 

24/10/2026 - VNL v Stockport County (A)

An away game against one of the former Football League sides languishing in the relegation battle in 17th place. Monster named a strong line-up, Tydeman missing out to allow Spencer to play in the shadow striker role. The first half was a non-event, a rare stalemate for Monster. Aldershot created a few chances but the closest they came was a Spencer header ruled out for offside. Monster had nothing to say to the team at half time, glaring at them all in silence before ordering them back out to the pitch. Stockport had the best chance of the second half from kick off, fashioning a chance which saw Shepherd break into the box but his effort from 16 yards came back off the face of the post. From that, Aldershot built a move which ended with Robinson putting the ball in the net at the other end but he was ruled to be offside too. Robinson made amends a few minutes later, finding a yard of space in the box to tap home Kilner's cross from wide on the right. Just after the hour mark, Spencer made it 2-0, smashing home from close range after Stewart's effort was blocked. In the 77th minute, Spencer added his second, sweeping home Robinson's pull-back. In the 82nd minute, Harris added a free kick to the scoreline, curling home from left-of-centre via the post. In stoppage time, substitute Jones added a coat of gloss to the score, tapping home Stewart's low cross from the right. It finished 5-0, which didn't flatter Aldershot at all. With Spencer starting to find his feet in the team, there was plenty for Monster to enjoy in an attacking sense but also a third clean sheet of the month, all away from home bizarrely, meant confidence among the defence was growing too. 

 

 

27/10/2026 - VNL v Woking (H)

A clash against local rivals Woking was up next. Promoted with Aldershot last season, they had made a decent start in the league, sitting in 10th at the start of the game. Aldershot had won the home fixture last season and drew the final game away at Woking. Having not started brilliantly in the last game, Monster demanded a fast start from the side this time and they duly responded. Brynn's long clearance downfield was missed by James Jones allowing Harvey Jones to run through, using his pace to create an angle to slot past the keeper. His initial effort came back off the post but he was on hand to stick away the rebound. A minute later it was 2-0 as the inverted wingbacks led the charge out from the back, Clayton and Kilner were the furthest forward at one point, Kilner played through by Clayton but could only hit his shot straight at the keeper, who also made a mess of the save, palming it out straight to Stewart who swept home. It became worse for Woking as Aldershot were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute when Forrester was shoved to the ground as Moses swung a free kick in from the left. Harris stepped up and smashed it high to the keeper's right to make it 3-0. The Shots went into containment mode after that, not needing to use anything higher than second gear, and even though Woking pulled one back in the second half when an unmarked Nicholls nodded home Bass's cross in the 62nd minute, they saw the game out to pick up yet another 3 points and continue Monster's unbeaten league run. 

 

 

31/10/2026 - VNL v Boreham Wood (A)

A tricky away game on Halloween and Monster hoped he wouldn't be in for any nasty surprises against a side in good form and 4th in the league. Monster had also been advised that Aldershot were on the verge of breaking the winning run in VNL, with one more win required to break it. Jack Taylor, Boreham Wood's star man, rated the best player in the league and being pursued by many Football League clubs, would be a thorn in their side. Max Hunt was the only regular player to miss out, Giles Phillips replacing him. Aldershot started the brighter of the two teams and made their early pressure count when Kilner played a nice one-two with Moses for him to finish first-time into the far corner from the edge of the area. A second goal came 7 minutes later, Harris beginning the move by spreading the ball out wide to Everitt. The winger's cross flicked off Stewart's heel as he attempted a volley and was volleyed in by Spencer behind him via the base of the post for his 5th goal of the season. Boreham Wood had a spell of pressure before half time but couldn't find a breakthrough. After the break, Aldershot continued to press but didn't add to the score. The game finished 2-0, Everitt being chosen as player of the match for an outstanding performance down the left. Monster was thrilled to see Notts County had slipped up away at Solihull Moors, so a win midweek against bottom side Radcliffe would see Aldershot's lead extend to 10 points. 

 

 

October 2026 Review

A perfect month. A new league record for a winning run already. 4 league clean sheets (all in away games, which Monster thought was quirky). A lot to be pleased with going into a crunch November. The Boreham Wood fixture was especially pleasing as it was the first time they had played one of the playoff contenders away and had dealt with them relatively comfortably. The board were pleased with how everything was going too. Stewart was top of the league goalscoring charts with 16. Moses had 6 assists and was joint top of the assists charts, as well as being second in the average rating list. Monster was named manager of the month. 

 

[BadManager]

That's, um, quite a start to the season. The decision to stick with Aldershot looks justified. Liking the returns from Stewart and Spencer.

[TheJonsterMonster]

November 2026

 

In a world where Andrea Pirlo is manager of Championship side Barnsley (Editor Monster: what is going on with managerial appointments in this world?), Monster hoped to continue the lead at the top of the National League as well as maintaining the long unbeaten run. 

 

03/11/2026 - VNL v Radcliffe (H)

1st v 24th. Radcliffe were in rotten form with only 3 points all season. With the FA Cup tie coming up at the weekend, Monster rotated the side. He asked for the usual start to the game, asking them to go out and prove they deserved all the media praise they'd been receiving recently. In the 8th minute, Wright was fouled in the box from a corner and O'Connell stepped up to score his penalty down the middle, even if the keeper may feel that he should have done better. In the 15th minute, Stewart made it 2-0, timing his run to perfection to race on to Tydeman's through ball, and slot home in his usual measured fashion from 12 yards. In the 31st minute, some good work between O'Connell and Hayes on the right allowed the winger to cross to the far post where Wright was on hand to nod it in and make it 3-0. With the game nearing half time, O'Connell was tripped outside the area and Townsend stepped up left-footed to crash his free kick in off the underside of the bar to notch his first goal for the club in wonderful style. 4-0 at half time. Monster asked for more. It took the arrival of the substitutes to add to the scoreline. First Phillips scored from Flood's free kick from the left wing with a back post header, and then substitute Kilner scored a fortuitous goal when the ball rebounded to him off the post, his shot at a comfortable height for the goalkeeper spilled through his hands and dropped into the net at the far post. 6-0 with 6 different scorers. Thoroughly deserved. A clean sheet at home too. 

 

 

07/11/2026 - FA Cup 1st Round v Grimsby Town (A)

In some better form since the draw had been made, Aldershot made the journey up to Grimsby. Remembering the adventure from last season, Monster wanted to create more amazing memories to add to the ones he had captured on his wall at home. It was the first-choice side Monster put out against a defensive, men-behind-the-ball tactic. 0-0 at half time. Monster stretched the team wider in the second half, encouraging them to keep playing their normal game. Finally they made the breakthrough in the 55th minute when Robinson's shot from the middle of the box came back off the post and Stewart reacted quickest to turn it in with a suspicion of offside. Max Hunt was named as player of the match but it was a forgettable game. Monster was pleased to be in the next round with a minimum of fuss, Grimsby hardly troubling them defensively. 

 

 

08/11/2026 - FA Cup draw

Brackley Town (VNLN) or Burton Albion (L1) at home. Monster was relatively happy with that draw. 

 

14/11/2026 - VNL v Exeter City (A)

Having knocked Exeter out in their FA Trophy victory last season with goals from Robinson and Everitt, Monster hoped for more of the same, away at St James Park. Moses had been called up for the Nigeria U23 squad so Wilson, almost fully recovered from his injury, came in to replace him. Aldershot were off to their usual front-foot start and took the lead with a Robinson effort in the 11th minute. Clayton threaded his through ball through an eye of a needle, finding Robinson unmarked and onside in the box, and he clipped his effort into the bottom-right corner first time. They doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when Wilson was released down the right and his drilled cross ran through to Everitt to knock home first-time with his left foot from 14 yards. 2-0 at the break. After half time, Exeter grabbed a goal back with Digby's near post header from a corner which Brynn flapped into his own net. Thankfully, Stewart restored the two-goal advantage with a stroked effort from 8 yards in the 73rd minute. The break came through the middle, Robinson feeding Spencer, who played the perfect ball to the top-scorer. 2 minutes later it was 4-1. Wilson's corner, Hunt's header which came back off the post, and Robinson provided the close-range finish for his second of the game. Griffin grabbed a goal back for Exeter before the end with a header from a Wood cross but the 3 points belonged to Aldershot. Robinson grabbed the player of the match award, Monster pleased to see both him and Everitt on the scoresheet against Exeter again. 

 

 

21/11/2026 - VNL v Ebbsfleet United (H)

1st v 17th. Monster named a strong side again, although the next few weeks would be a test of the squad with regular midweek games coming up. Aldershot started brightly once again, although Ebbsfleet did manage a lot of possession in their opponents' half. Aldershot are known for their hustle, and having poached the ball, they promptly made good use of the ball, Tydeman releasing Everitt down the left. The winger cut inside and made a beeline for the far post, shooting low across the keeper to find the net with his left foot. In the 16th minute, Hayes and Kilner worked a good opening on the right, the right back breaking into the box and chipping the ball across for Robinson to head at goal. The ball came back off the crossbar but hit the goalkeeper in the back, trickling over the line to make it 2-0. 7 minutes later it was another own goal, although in completely different circumstances. Tydeman broke forward and fed Everitt in the left channel. As he prepared to shoot, a slide tackle from Jonsson came in and deflected the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Monster couldn't stop giggling. Ebbsfleet had self-destructed. In the 60th minute, Stewart added to the score with a typical passed finish into the net, Hayes playing him through in the right channel. Ebbsfleet did try to grab a consolation goal, but the closest they came was an effort ruled out for offside. 4-0 was the final score and the Ebbsfleet manager was sacked shortly after the final whistle. Everybody in the Aldershot team had played well. Monster was thrilled. The tweak in mentality had seemingly made them stronger at the back and they were also scoring freely at the other end. 

 

 

24/11/2026 - VNL v Eastleigh (H)

A second home game in a row and Monster wanted a similar result, although without the opposition scoring the goals for his side. Eastleigh were 22nd in the league, battling against relegation. They hadn't won in their last 5 but Monster was bemused to see it described as unbeaten in their last 3. 3 draws. Another loan signing, George Gitau, a Kenyan international, had arrived on loan from Middlesbrough, having played in League 2 last season, and he started at right back in this match. Jack Wright started up front alongside Stewart with Robinson not being fit enough to play and Jones on his way back from injury. Monster wanted more of the same and they started alight again, opening the scoring after 7 minutes with classic Monsterball. Harris picked the ball up on the halfway line, finding Moses with a forward ball as the winger dropped deep into midfield. He was able to turn and knock a glorious diagonal pass over the top for Everitt to run through and square it to Stewart 3 yards out. He couldn't miss. In the 22nd minute, Harris doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Tydeman was tumbled inside the box. He blasted it down the middle, the keeper seemingly diving out the way. The match then became the Wright Show. In the 30th minute, Tydeman played a teasing ball around the corner for the forward to run through and smash in off the far post to make it 3-0. In the 34th minute, Stewart was released over the top and his low cross was turned in by his strike partner for the day, once again smashing in off the far post first time. A few minutes before half time, Wright made it a hattrick by smacking in the rebound after Moses's free kick came back off the crossbar and was missed by a Eastleigh defender. 5-0 at half time. Monster asked for more of the same. The second half was more even, but Eastleigh rarely threatened. Monster made changes to rest some of the bigger-name players, Wright switching out to the left flank to allow Jones to return up front. In the 87th minute, Elmi played a square ball across the area for Tydeman to have a shot. The ball ballooned up in the air off two Eastleigh defenders, landing on Wright's head, and he was able to cushion a header into the net from 8 yards out for his fourth goal of the game. A 6-0 win. Monster was thrilled with another clean sheet and with the performances from the reserve players. Jack Wright had arrived in the summer from the Manchester City academy at the same time as Moses but hadn't settled as well as the right winger. Monster hoped Wright would compete for a slot up front in the coming weeks, having been the first Aldershot player to score 4 in a competitive match. The FA Cup tie had also been decided and they would face Tier 6 Brackley Town after their triumph over League 1 Burton Albion. 

 

 

28/11/2026 - VNL v Chester (A)

The final match in November came away at Chester, 9th in VNL. Before the match, Monster announced the signing of a left back from Tranmere Rovers, Gerwyn Kinsey, who had been tracked by Football League clubs, having been transferred listed. For a small fee of £4.4k, albeit Monster's first ever transfer fee he had paid for a player, Monster was delighted to welcome the player as competition for Regan Clayton's spot in the side. It also gave Monster the option of playing Clayton in the middle if required, which would be useful with Max Hunt picking up an injury in training. Kinsey made his debut in this match with Phillips taking the centre back spot as Hunt's replacement. Something that had been a rare occurrence during Monster's tenure was falling behind, but Aldershot trailed after 7 minutes in this game thanks to a beautiful Sinclair free kick to the left of centre, curled over the wall and into the top corner. Could Aldershot respond? The goal had come out of nothing against the run of play. They were only behind for 10 minutes as it stood, Forrester winning a near-post header from Kinsey's corner to draw Aldershot level with his first goal of the season. 4 minutes later, some excellent work between Kilner and Moses down the right found Tydeman unmarked in the area and his tame effort squeezed in at the near post, with goalkeeper Webb only able to fumble the ball into his net. Robinson and Stewart had both had quiet games and Monster explicitly demanded more from them both in the second half. Chester rarely threatened and it took a triple substitution to inspire some life back into the game. In the 82nd minute, another Kinsey corner from the right was flicked on by Forrester but instead of tucking home Tydeman took the ball away from goal before laying it back to Wright, whose powerful effort deflected in off Stewart's ankle. Possibly the luckiest goal he would score this season but he would claim it. It had looked like a potentially tricky tie but The Shots proved they could be resilient enough to come back from behind and claimed the 3 points here. Forrester was the player of the match after his goal and constant threat from corners and in Kinsey they appeared to have a new set-piece threat. 

 

 

November 2026 Review

Another perfect month with 5 league victories and an FA Cup 1st Round win too. More clean sheets than usual was also notable, thanks to Monster's tactical tweak. The side had been strengthened with two new signings, Gitau on loan and Kinsey for a small fee. Stewart was second in the player of the month award, and Tydeman runner-up in the young player of the month. Monster added to his growing collection of monthly manager of the month awards. 

 

(P.S. Please forgive the lack of screenshots at the end of the month - I was on a roll in game and forgot to capture them.) 

[TheJonsterMonster]

December 2026

 

In a world where Ralf Rangnick is in charge at Tottenham Hotspur as well as Antonio Conte being in charge at Premier League-topping Manchester City, Monster knew a lot was at stake in December. 9 fixtures to play, 7 in the league, and 2 in cup competitions, would prove to stretch the squad to its maximum. It also saw the switch over to playing return fixtures, and having walked over most sides so far, Monster knew several sides would be out for revenge. 

 

01/12/2026 - VNL v Barnet (H)

The first game of the month came against mid-table Barnet, 9th at the start of play. With the FA Cup tie coming up at the weekend, Monster rotated the side to get football into some, give a rest to others. The match seemed to go the same way as most of the others this season, with Aldershot seizing the initiative and taking the game to their opponents. In the 7th minute, Hayes was challenged from behind outside the area and the referee blew for a free kick. Up stepped left back Kinsey, who had been knocking free kicks in for fun in training and despite the angle being against him, he curled a beauty around the wall and into the top corner to give Aldershot the lead. Aldershot continued to dominate the game, Jones wasting a few decent opportunities but they extended their lead on the stroke of half time. Gitau, Wilson, and Jones all combined in the right channel, the striker laying the ball back towards the penalty spot where Kinsey was lurking to lash into the top corner. The job in the second half was to keep their foot on the opposition's neck, which they managed without adding to the score. A comfortable 2-0 win to start the month. Unsurprisingly, two-goal hero Kinsey was the player of the match. Monster was grateful to the scouting team that had spotted his availability. Monster was also pleased with Brynn picking up his 10th clean sheet of the season. 

 

 

05/12/2026 - FA Cup 2nd Round v Brackley Town (H)

After Brackley Town's efforts in the last round to knock out Burton Albion, Monster was wary of their Tier 6 opposition's potential to do it two rounds running. A relatively strong side was named, with John coming in as keeper, and Townsend in at deep-lying playmaker. Spencer also returned in the shadow striker. All Monster wanted was the win to take them to the 3rd Round for the possibility of taking on top-flight opposition; Wembley had given him a taste last season and he wanted more. Brackley had the first shot on goal but it was Aldershot who scored with their first chance of the game. Townsend's ball over the top found the run of Kilner, whose cross hit a defender and looped in the air on to Wright's head two yards out and he couldn't miss. In the 16th minute, Hutchinson's poor clearance ran straight to Spencer in the centre circle. He strode forward with the ball and then played Stewart through, who hit it first time into the bottom corner. Everitt hit the post when played clean through but Kinsey showed him how it was done when Wright played him through and the full back lashed home to make it 3 goals in his last two games. Shortly afterwards, Kilner was caught on his heels allowing Collins to run beyond him and clip a finish in at the far post from Barwick's through ball. Brackley were then reduced to 10 men when Aguiar was dismissed for a reckless two-footed lunge on Everitt. 3-1 at half time. Monster made a few tactical tweaks at half time, reducing the tempo and asking the team to be more expressive so as to make their man advantage count. Within 2 minutes of the restart, Moses curled a corker into the top left corner from the right side of the box, a stunning strike that had Monster out of his seat. Apart from a few Kinsey free kicks, Brackley managed to prevent any more goals until the 89th minute when Forrester nodded in Kinsey's corner. The scoring wasn't over, though. Bradley Rolt, scorer in the FA Trophy fixture between these two sides last season, ran through and dinked John to grab a consolation in stoppage time. It finished 5-2 to give Aldershot their comfiest win so far in the FA Cup this season after narrow victories against Grimsby Town and Salisbury. Will Forrester took the plaudits again but Kinsey and Wright also put in decent performances. 

 

 

06/12/2026 - FA Cup draw

Liverpool! At home... Monster would take a replay now. Liverpool hadn't been in great form, sacking Ernesto Valverde in the last couple of weeks but had recovered to be 8th in the Premier League as the draw was made. All the players let out a cheer at having one of the biggest clubs in the world in their backyard. Monster's task now would be to keep their feet on the ground for the next month. 

 

 

08/12/2026 - VNL v Maidstone United (H)

One of the games they had in hand, Monster's first task would be to prevent any complacency against the side 19th in the table. Monster himself couldn't help but imagine walking out of the tunnel in a few weeks against Liverpool. He could hardly blame the players for imagining it themselves. He was sterner with them before the game than he normally would be as if to enforce the point that there were plenty of games before the Liverpool one. Everitt gave Aldershot the lead in the 20th minute, taking a similar chance to the one that hit the post in the FA Cup. Tydeman played the ball through for the winger, who took a touch and then dispatched into the far corner. The second goal came 3 minutes later and was one of the scrappiest goals of the season. Stewart was released on the right side of the box but his cross was poor, not picking out a teammate. Robson whacked it clear but straight back to Stewart who managed to nod it back into the middle. Rowley came and punched the ball clear under pressure from Everitt. The ball went straight to Tydeman, who gave the ball back to Stewart who could only shoot straight at Rowley, the ball falling for Hayes to tap in from a couple of yards out. Aldershot were in control and added to the lead in the 73rd minute when Tydeman played an excellent one-two with Hayes, running through to score with a finish into the bottom-left corner of the goal. Sheron was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 84th minute after scything Tydeman down as he ran though on goal but Monster had already shut up shop by then. Aldershot were 3-0 winners with Tydeman the star of the show and it stretched their lead to 12 points, now having played each team once. Only the 0-0 draw at Torquay United was the blot on their copybook; they had beaten every other side so far. 

 

 

12/12/2026 - VNL v Accrington Stanley (A)

4th v 1st. A tricky tie against a side in good form. Monster knew he would be playing most of the top 6 sides away from home in the next couple of months, Boreham Wood the only exception. Ticking this one off the list would be a good start and if it would be with 3 points it would be even better. Wright continued his impressive goal-scoring form by grabbing the opener after 3 minutes. Moses played a diagonal through ball, shredding the Accrington defence for Wright to run through and finish confidently with his right foot. In the 11th minute, Moses swung in a free kick from the left and Will Forrester scored again. With Max Hunt out with flu after his recent injury, Forrester had really stepped up in his absence. Aldershot made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute with a goalmouth scramble. Stewart applied the finish which deflected in off the goalkeeper and was marked down as an own goal. Monster was proud of the team at half time but warned them that Accrington surely wouldn't be as poor in the second half. 2 minutes into the second half, Monster was proved right as Accrington Stanley made their pressure count. Lindley's crossfield pass from the right found Vazquez with time and space on the edge of the area, and with Gitau slow to react, drilled a shot into the far corner of the net. In the 53rd minute, Monster was out yelling at his players to wake up as Vazquez was afforded too much time and space again, picking out a perfect cross this time for O'Kane to knock in from 6 yards. Thankfully, Aldershot responded when Spencer played Wright through, and the forward, originally signed to be a shadow striker but has taken his opportunities up front this season, tucked home into the bottom-right corner of the net in the 58th minute. As the clock ticked over into the 91st minute, Kinsey added another with a great shot from the edge of the area past an unsighted keeper. From outside the D he whipped in his shot inside the near post to make it 5-2 to continue his remarkable goalscoring form. O'Kane scored his second before the end, a glorious volley from the edge of the box which Monster couldn't help but applaud. The ball out from the back was won by the Accrington defence, and Robertson's ball over the top was right on to O'Kane's right foot, unleashing an unstoppable volley over Brynn. However, it didn't affect the destiny of the 3 points. Monster was pleased. He also had the youth intake preview through from Ross McNeilly who had advised of a good intake, and to look out for a goalkeeper, a winger, and a wingback coming through. 

 

 

15/12/2026 - VNL v Gateshead (H)

The home fixture for the opening game of the season and the repeat of the FA Trophy final from last season. There was the first sign of trouble in the camp with Regan Clayton, vice-captain, asking for a meeting during the week and complaining he hadn't been starting enough games. Internally, Monster was wanting to tell him that Kinsey had come in and performed brilliantly as well as Clayton not being fit enough to start every single game. Clayton claimed he had been treated unprofessionally leaving Monster with a conundrum. Before the start of the game, he offered Clayton out for transfer with Huddersfield Town apparently interested. One to watch. One of the original squad members he had inherited, the Kinsey transfer had proved that the grass was sometimes greener and Clayton wasn't indispensable. Gateshead began the game the stronger, having a couple of early efforts, but it was Aldershot who took the lead; Kinsey with a free kick from the left and Robinson nodded in from the edge of the 6 yard box. Wright, playing on the left wing, scored the second in the 29th minute. Robinson took the ball wide on the right-hand side and whipped over a cross. The keeper flapped at it and fell over, leaving Wright to nod in unimpeded. 2-0 at half time. Gateshead were much improved after the break, managing to keep Aldershot under wraps with the league leaders only managing two shots in the second half. Gateshead were far the better side but found Brynn in outstanding form, the goalkeeper managing 7 saves to take the player of the match award. It was far from comfortable but it was an important 2-0 win. 

 

 

19/12/2026 - FA Trophy 3rd Round v Slough Town (H)

The defence of the FA Trophy began against the side bottom of VNLS. Monster decided to rotate and put out the reserves with the busy Christmas period approaching. Kinsey scored in the 3rd minute with a trademark free kick, curling it around the wall and into the near post. A wonderful team passing move created the second goal, eventually finished by Robinson. Kinsey played the through ball, but it was all about the triangles moving up the pitch between Sonko, Hayes, and Townsend. One- and two-touch passing cut the Slough defence to ribbons, and Robinson was allowed to run through and finish into the right-hand corner of the net. Slough actually got a goal back when a long clearance by Chisholm found a goal-hanging Marshall who somehow wasn't offside, and the striker finished into the top corner from at least 20 yards out. Clayton and Phillips had spurned a few chances from corners earlier in the half but Phillips connected properly with one just before the break to make it 3-1, rising highest at the near post and the header crossing the line at the far post. After half time, Robinson had the chance to score from the spot having been pushed in the back but could only hit his spot kick straight at Chisholm. However, in the 81st minute, substitute Barrows played a great through ball for the striker, and he confidently stroked home with the outside of his right foot. Slough couldn't wait to get off the pitch but were hit on the break again when Barrows's cross from the left sailed all the way over to Townsend, now playing on the right wing, who was unmarked and headed home from close range. 5-1 was the final score, as comfortable a game as Monster could have hoped for. Kinsey was player of the match after a goal and an assist. What a great signing he was looking to be. Aldershot then drew Horsham at home in the 4th Round, the side directly above Slough in the VNLS. 

 

 

22/12/2026 - VNL v Torquay United (H)

So far the only side to not taste defeat to a rampant Aldershot, Monster wanted to prove a point against Torquay, 19th in the table. After the opportunity to rest a few players, Monster named a strong line-up with Spencer up front and Wright in the shadow striker role after the Millwall manager had complained the striker was being used as anything but an advanced forward. Torquay made a good start to the game, and opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Adedokun broke down the left, driving a low cross across the area for Shorrock to slide in, Kilner at fault in not cutting the cross out. Monster was not impressed but remained in his seat to see how it played out. It took 15 minutes, but Aldershot found a breakthrough with Stewart. Forrester brought the ball out from the back, using Kinsey as a wall to bounce the ball to Wright, who flicked a first-time pass through to the leading scorer, who made no mistake from 12 yards, slotting the ball home in his usual fashion. Back in the dressing room, Monster told them all he expected better. Just because they had drawn back in August didn't mean they had to draw tonight in front of the highest crowd at The Recreation Ground this month. In the 59th minute, a move began with a Kilner throw-in on the right, the ball eventually falling to Wright in the area, who was scythed down from behind by Adedokun. Harris took the spot kick, slamming it high into the net to the keeper's left. Moses, Kinsey, and Spencer were substituted to save legs, or because they had been ineffective. Townsend, O'Connell, and Robinson came on, and Townsend and Robinson combined to create a goal in stoppage time as Torquay pressed forward. Townsend snuck in from the right and fed Robinson who produced an outrageous lob from inside the D that looped over the keeper and added a cherry to the result. 3-1 was the final score, with Harris named as player of the match. Monster had now beaten every side in the league. Now for the tricky Christmas period with two games in three days. 

 

 

26/12/2026 - VNL v Boston United (A)

12th v 1st. A return to Lincolnshire for Monster too on Boxing Day. In the 10th minute, Kinsey continued his superb start at the club, running on to a Tydeman through ball to tuck home. Boston had their strongest period of the game before half time but couldn't find a breakthrough. After half time, Aldershot tightened their grip on the game when Moses benefitted from a Tydeman pass to cut in and curl into the far corner. Boston grabbed a goal back when Leahy's first time effort deflected past Brynn to set up a nervy finish, but Aldershot clung on to take the 3 points home and affirm their 15 point lead at the top. Tydeman's two assists saw him named as player of the match. Monster was starting to become concerned at the lack of clinical finishing in the side, having 26 shots, 12 on target, but only scoring twice didn't impress him. 

 

 

28/12/2026 - VNL v Bromley (H)

Two days later and Monster named a similar strength side against a side in decent form, Bromley 5th in the form standings prior to kick off. Always a struggle playing so soon and with 2nd-placed Notts County to face at the weekend, several rotation players had an outing. Luckily, the formation doesn't take it out of the strikers too much, so Stewart and Spencer continued up front. Aldershot had several early chances but couldn't take any of them, much to Monster's frustration. Spencer eventually forced a breakthrough in the 19th minute, breaking his goalscoring drought, with a powerful finish from inside the area which thundered in off the crossbar. However, Bromley levelled with the next attack of the game when Max Hunt missed Vallese's clearance allowing Sodje to run through and finish past Brynn. Before half time, Bromley took the lead when a nice passing move saw them break into the area with Tansley pulling the ball back for Sodje to add his second. Monster's temper was irked with another demonstration of poor finishing, having hit the woodwork on numerous occasions. Thankfully, Everitt scored with the first attack of the second half, sweeping home from inside the area with a gorgeous first-time finish from Tydeman's defence-splitting pass. Monster was after more, frequently demanding it on the touchline. They had the game by the scruff of the neck now and continued to pepper the Bromley goal. He made changes in an attempt to freshen up the side. It was two starters that combined to score the winner in the 77th minute. Tydeman found Stewart about 30 yards out, and the striker played a diagonal ball into the area to find Everitt's run. The left winger scuffed his shot in at the near post and Monster only felt relief. Bromley didn't offer any form of response and it ended 3-2. Monster patted them all on the back but internally he wasn't happy. However, they had made it through the tricky Christmas period. 

 

 

December 2026 Review

Yet another perfect month, and if Aldershot could beat Notts County, they would also break their own winning run of 29 matches. However, that would be easier said than done. Kinsey won young player of the month with Tydeman second, while Monster picked up another manager of the month award. Ivan Hyjek then called Monster into his office and offered him a new 3-year deal on £1,300 p/w. Monster accepted it without a moment's thought. He was enjoying himself at the club and it was a no-brainer to extend his deal. Stewart was still top scorer in the league with 22, although he had struggled for consistent goals in December. Moses and Harris were in the top 3 for average ratings, as well as Moses and Tydeman in the top 3 for assists. It rounded off a memorable year for The Shots, after their FA Cup excursions, as well as being on course for a return to League 2. 

 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

January 2027

 

In a world where Diego Simeone has just been appointed manager of Leeds United, Aldershot faced a key month in their season with a trip to their closest rivals and a huge FA Cup 3rd Round match against Liverpool. 

 

02/01/2027 - VNL v Notts County (A)

2nd v 1st. A grudge match where Notts County could be the first team to beat Aldershot this season or Monster's side could extend their lead over them even further. Notts County have dominated their games with a 4-3-3 control possession tactic, and Monster was wary enough to send his side out with a cautious mentality. One of the only sides to play with attacking wingbacks, Monster set the wingers to mark them to try and nullify the threat. It did the trick in the first half as both sides played out a tepid affair. However, Monster changed it up for the second half, laying into the players at the break and going for the balanced mentality again. Notts County didn't know what had hit them. Forrester nodded in Moses's corner in the 49th minute after a few chances had been wasted. A fine run from Everitt down the left, dancing past his man and then driving into the box to square the ball to Stewart, saw the top scorer add his 23rd league goal of the season. Notts County completed their capitulation with another goal from a corner. Hunt won the flick on and Wright tapped in from a yard out at the back post to make it 3-0. Monster put the brakes on and wanted to see the game out from there. Stewart thought he had a brace in the 83rd minute but he had set off a fraction too soon and the assistant referee raised his flag. Notts County did grab one back before the end. Fellahi, who had been at Woking the previous season, stealing in to bury the ball after some excellent work from Griffiths down the right. However, if Monster had been offered a 3-1 win beforehand, he would have taken it. Lead extended to 18 points. Stewart back among the goals. Decent performance from most of the side. The team coach left Nottingham in excellent spirits. 

 

 

05/01/2027 - VNL v King's Lynn Town (H)

A nice warm-up for the weekend against the side 23rd in the table, on a miserable recent run. Monster rotated almost everybody to try to keep the first choice squad fit for Saturday's match against Liverpool. Forgotten right winger, Ben Wilson, opened the scoring in the 11th minute after some excellent work by Hayes down the left. His booming cross was nodded down by Tydeman, and Wilson stole in to find the far corner. 10 minutes later, Harvey Jones made it 2-0. Hayes once again was involved, pulling wide and creating some space for Clayton, in as left back today, who played the ball through for Jones to find the net with a simple finish. King's Lynn were undone by a corner in the 35th minute. Wilson's cross. O'Connell's knock down. Phillips's swivel and finish inside the 6-yard box. It was no less than they deserved; Aldershot had been immense so far. Jones added his second before half time when Wilson produced an excellent run down the right, whipped in a cross and Wilson's header found the top corner, clipping the underside of the bar on its way in. After Miles picked up a second yellow card in the 57th minute for a cynical foul, Wilson's chipped ball into the area found the late run of Tydeman who tapped in from close range. Jones thought he had his hattrick in stoppage time but the assistant denied him with a late flag. Phillips's header was well saved by the keeper and Jones tucked away the rebound but was standing offside as the original header came in. 5-0 was the final score with Wilson taking the plaudits to remind Monster he could still have an impact at this level. News reached the home dressing room of Notts County drawing. The lead at the top now stood at 20 points. 

 

 

09/01/2027 - FA Cup 3rd Round v Liverpool (H)

Having done his research for the game, Monster couldn't believe who had taken over at Liverpool. Pep Guardiola. The man he would be competing with at the top of the Hall of Fame. Having won the Nations League and the World Cup with Spain, Pep had resigned from the nation on Christmas Day to take charge of the Merseyside giants. Monster would be shaking hands with someone in the Hall of Fame. Sitting in his armchair at home the night before the match, he was suddenly nervous. His dreams and reality were beginning to collide. Could he mastermind his Shots side to a famous cupset? Top of the VNL against 7th in the Premier League. Surely they would have no chance against a side still in the Champions League and a serial winner such as Guardiola in charge? Surely the best he could hope for would be a draw to then take his side on a trip to Anfield? In front of a raucous Recreation Ground, Monster walked his side out for the evening kick off secretly pleased that it wasn't the first choice Liverpool XI his side would be facing. Liverpool settled on the ball quicker and began to dominate possession. Monster asked the team to lower their tempo, stop rushing so much, and enjoy having the ball. It resulted in a half of few chances, the only major talking point was a Liverpool goal being ruled out for offside before half time. Maddison's strike was chalked off because Sudakov was offside, deemed to be interfering with play, despite not being anywhere near the goal. Monster wasn't complaining. However, he did have some players not pulling their weight, promising he would give them 15 minutes to turn things around. Everitt and Tydeman were the first to make way, Jones and Wright coming on to replace them. At the back, Forrester was having a brilliant game, keeping Brazil U20 international Charles quiet. As the clock ticked towards 80 minutes, Stewart thought he had snatched a winner for Aldershot, Spencer playing him through after some excellent work from Jones on the left wing but Spencer was several yards offside. However, sensing an upset, with Liverpool having offered little threat, Monster asked his players to push towards goal a fraction more. In the 88th minute, some exquisite Monsterball saw them work their way through the middle of the pitch, working the ball towards the left and saw Kinsey play Jones through. Only playing on the left wing because he was left-footed, the Aldershot fans stood up as Jones broke into the box, and the ground erupted as Jones stuck it past Irish international goalkeeper Kelleher in the Liverpool goal into the far corner. Monster reacted by drawing the attacking midfielders back, changing the mentality of most of the players to be more defensive, and asked them to time waste. It ground the game to a halt, the Aldershot players passing the ball between themselves as a bewildered Liverpool side couldn't respond. Maddison wasted Liverpool's best chance, shooting wide when it looked easier to score. Substitute Robinson also had another goal ruled out on the break as he mis-timed his run a fraction but it didn't matter in the end. Monster had prevailed over a Hall of Famer. It may be the only time they would face off against each other but Monster went to bed that night knowing it was one trophy Guardiola wouldn't be winning that season. Forrester earned the plaudits for a dominant display at the back. 

 

 

10/01/2027 - FA Cup draw

Hull City. At home. Probably another sold-out home game against a Championship side. Not exactly what Monster was after, but he would take it. 

 

12/01/2027 - VNL v Crawley Town (A)

6th v 1st. Having knocked out Premier League opposition, Monster had no fear of anybody now. It was mostly a rotated side that took the field at The People's Pension Stadium, the ground where Monster had won his first domestic cup trophy. They had been in decent form, and were usually formidable at home. In the 20th minute, Hunt gave Aldershot the lead with a header from Townsend's free kick from wide on the left. It was the only major action of the half, Crawley not testing Brynn until after the goal had gone in. After half time, Gitau made a good break down the right, slipping Hayes in. The Irish winger's run took him too wide to have an effort, instead back-heeling it to an onrushing Tydeman, who finished tidily from close-range. A throw-in on the right found Townsend in the 61st minute, and the playmaker drilled in an excellent cross to the far post where Harvey Jones nodded in to give Aldershot a 3-0 advantage. Crawley pulled a goal back before the end, Cruickshank heading in Moore's cross but they couldn't apply any real pressure and the game meandered to a 3-1 win, Crawley's heaviest defeat of the season so far. Townsend, with two assists, took the player of the match award. Monster also received a notification that they had broken the league goals scored record. In January. It also took them 23 points clear at the top of the league. 

 

 

16/01/2027 - FA Trophy 4th Round v Horsham (H)

Horsham, 23rd in VNLS, were the next opponents in the FA Trophy. Monster rotated. It was a goalless first half despite Horsham being under pressure the whole half. Horsham took the lead in the 54th minute, leaving Monster wondering if it wasn't going to be their day. Just right of centre, Syla curled his free kick around the wall and past John in goal. The lead didn't last long. As in the Crawley game, Townsend crossed for Jones to head in at the back post. It came following the breakdown from a corner where the ball came out to Townsend and his ball was in the perfect spot for Jones to connect with it. In the 62nd minute, Aldershot grabbed the lead thanks to a Spencer header. Wilson grabbed himself the assist thanks to a great weaving run and a perfect cross on to the on-loan forward's head. Aldershot continued to push for more goals, and in the 80th minute, Phillips was pushed in the back at a corner and O'Connell stepped up to find the bottom-left corner from the spot. 3-1 the final score although it really should have been more. 

 

 

23/01/2027 - VNL v Solihull Moors (H)

With two-thirds of the season gone, Monster was almost in ticking-games-off mode. A 23-point lead meant they had a 7 game lead, as it stood. With some tricky away games coming up, to add to the Crawley and Notts County games already this month, Monster wanted to make sure Aldershot won the winnable games. They did that comfortably here, two early goals doing the damage. Harris opened the scoring from the penalty spot, smashing into the top left corner. Moses then doubled the lead in the 18th minute with a free kick, curling around the wall and just inside the post. That was it in terms of goals. Johnson was sent off for Solihull in the second half when he two-footed Everitt near the halfway line. Aldershot were happy to keep the ball and made it a comfortable 2-0 win with Moses named as player of the match. 

 

 

26/01/2027 - VNL v Yeovil Town (H)

Another home game in quick succession, Monster made a few changes to keep things fresh. Spencer, who a lot of hopes had been pinned on at the start of the season, hadn't lived up to the hype so far, but scored within 17 seconds of the kick off. Moses released him through the middle, and Spencer finished from just inside the box into the bottom-left corner of the goal. In the 9th minute, Stewart scored his 24th league goal of the season, running on to a Gitau clearance, his pace took him past the Yeovil defence to finish calmly past Kovacevic. They continued to press but didn't manage another goal until after half time. Jones was played through in the left channel but his shot came back off the far post. Moses was on hand to stick it in and it was 3-0 with more than half an hour to play. Yeovil finished the stronger of the two sides, Rowe scoring a worldie in stoppage time from all of 30 yards which crashed in off the crossbar and then bounced out. It didn't affect the result, though, the game had already been won, and Monster's thoughts were already on to the next match against Newport County. 

 

 

30/01/2027 - VNL v Newport County (A)

The first of the tricky games found Aldershot travelling to Wales to take on Newport County. 3rd in the league, and in a decent run of form, Monster was wary of them. Aaron Lewis, their right back, was always in good form. Monster wanted to do the worrying about them and let his team focus on doing what they do best: winning games of football. It was a stalemate of a first half, nothing troubling either keeper. Monster wasn't unhappy with that, but encouraged the team to do better. In the 54th minute, Everitt was fouled by Lewis on the edge of the area. Kinsey territory. The left back stepped up to curl a free kick around the wall and in at the near post, similar to Moses's free kick against Solihull Moors. Two minutes later, it was 2-0. Kinsey's free kick from near the corner flag on the left was missed by a couple of defenders and Max Hunt, leaving Tydeman lurking near the penalty spot to hook in. In the 65th minute, Aldershot found a third goal. Stewart was released on the right side of the box. Rather than shooting, he took it wide, and then hit a cross over to the far post where Wright was on hand to nod it over the keeper and into the net. Newport tried to respond, having their best spell of the game but never found a way past Brynn. Monster was ecstatic with a 3-0 win, Kinsey with another brilliant performance thanks to his set piece wizardry. The early second half flurry did all the damage. Moses had come off injured before the end and was ruled out for the next 3 weeks. With a week to go until the FA Cup tie against Hull, Monster was disappointed to be without two of his first-choice side. However, the reserves had shown themselves to be more than capable of stepping in when called upon. 

 

 

January 2027 Review

The good times have never ceased so far. Tricky January had turned into Terrific January. How would Monster ever match knocking Liverpool and top of the Hall of Fame Pep Guardiola out of the FA Cup? Possibly only when he topped the Hall of Fame itself. Moses won young player of the month with Jones third, and Monster picked up the manager of the month award. In deadline day shenanigans, Blackpool tried to take Moses. Monster refused anything below the winger's release clause. Max Hunt was also subject to bids, but Monster turned them down too. In the end, the window closed with nobody leaving. 

 

 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

February 2027

 

In a world where Jurgen Klopp's RB Leipzig will be taking on Zinedine Zidane's Inter Milan in the Champions League later this month, Monster was looking forward to a month of fewer games, edging closer towards the title, and the FA Cup tie against Hull City. 

 

02/02/2027 - VNL v Scunthorpe United (A)

Now 3rd in the league, Scunthorpe would prove to be tricky opposition again. However, after this, there would only be two other league games this month against 15th-placed South Shields and bottom-of-the-table Radcliffe. With the FA Cup tie against Hull being the priority, Monster rotated the full side to see how they fared. Even with the back-ups on the field, it was yet another dominant performance from Aldershot, being busy with the ball, and putting the opposition's goal under pressure. Hayes missed an early chance, his effort clipping the outside of the post. Scunthorpe offered little apart from two speculative efforts, but it was level going into the break. Monster tried to rally the troops to see if they could have another early blitz. It didn't happen in this match. In the end, he summoned Spencer and Barrows from the bench. A minute later, from a corner on the right, Flood whipped in a cross, Phillips met it with a header, and Burge could only tip it into the net when he should have done better. Thoroughly deserved on the balance of play. Scunthorpe then had their best spell of the game. Spreading the ball about nicely, Dodoo found a route through the middle but the assistant raised his flag. Greengrass also had an effort from distance which clipped the top of the net but that was the closest they came. 1-0 was the final score. Not one for the neutrals but it was a professional performance from The Shots. 3 points and a clean sheet meant Monster was satisfied on the ride home from Scunthorpe on a Tuesday night. 

 

 

06/02/2027 - FA Cup 4th Round v Hull City (H)

A home tie against a side 9th in the Championship. The Recreation Ground was abuzz with the prospect of more cup giantkillings and Monster reminded his team to go out and cause an upset. Hull started brighter but it was Aldershot who opened the scoring with a fine volley from Paul Spencer. The on-loan Millwall forward took the opportunity presented by Kinsey's delicate chip over the top, after Phillips had won the aerial duel on the halfway line. Aldershot continued to impress, but couldn't find any further breakthroughs. 1-0 at half time. Monster wanted more from them to try to press home the advantage but the Hull side they faced in the second half were fired up and seized control of the match. Brynn pulled off several fine stops to deny them and as the clock ticked over into the final minute of stoppage time, Monster was relieved to have escaped. Kilner played a ball forward looking for Stewart, but it was intercepted and launched downfield by Bowler looking for the run of Regvar who had pulled O'Connell wide. Suddenly it was three-on-one at the back, and Rathbone was able to slot it through for Honeyman to take a touch and curl into the bottom corner from inside the box in front of the rapturous away end, 8 seconds over the added time. Monster wasn't best pleased. The chance had been there and they had let it slip between their fingers. Either way it was a replay at the MKM Stadium in 10 days. It had been a close game, the VNL side had run a Championship side so close, but the extra fitness of the Hull players had shown. At least they had another chance to cause a cupset. They began to anticipate the draw. 

 

 

07/02/2027 - FA Cup 5th Round draw

Manchester United. At home. Hull to beat first, though. Could they grab the opportunity to take on the reigning Champions League winners?  

 

13/02/2027 - FA Trophy 5th Round v Ebbsfleet United (A)

An away tie to whet the appetite for the FA Cup replay and another chance for Monster to rotate the side. He made 11 changes from the Hull game to take on 16th in VNL. Rather than taking their opportunity, they proceeded to play out a 0-0 draw. Aldershot had the better of the opportunities but couldn't find a breakthrough. The match went to penalties. 9 of the first 10 penalties found the net but it was Townsend who missed the final one to send Aldershot crashing out. They would miss out on a trophy. Monster was gutted. Having won the trophy last season and top of the league so far this season, to barely play the Monsterball way was of great disappointment, in a trophy they had had an excellent chance of winning. However, Monster felt it would be somehow worth it, despite it costing him points in his Hall of Fame quest, if Aldershot could knock Hull City out of the FA Cup in midweek. 

 

 

16/02/2027 - FA Cup 4th Round Replay v Hull City (A)

Monster kept faith in the system and most of the players from the original tie. In the original game, he had tried to force a second goal to put the tie beyond doubt and Aldershot conceded on the break in the last minute of the game. This time he vowed not to be too adventurous. It would be their mental strength that would win this match, not their mentality. In the 4th minute, Kinsey broke down the left, his attempted through-ball then blocked. In trying to play it out, Diangana then managed to present the ball straight back to Kinsey, who managed to squeeze his through-ball through to Spencer. His delicate touch poked it past Coleman and in at the far post. There was delirium in the Aldershot corner of the ground. Aldershot managed to keep Hull at bay and were looking good for a lead going in at half time. However, from an O'Nien cross from the right, Forrester pushed Bamford too forcefully for the referee's liking, and pointed to the spot. Hector stepped up and slammed the ball to Brynn's right. Monster told the team to keep working; he hadn't seen anything to say Aldershot couldn't win. In the 56th minute, Jones broke down the right and was tripped by Pedersen. Kinsey whipped in the free kick on to Hunt's head, and he managed to get enough on it to flick into the far corner. 2-1! Monster was thrilled - could they hold out? Hull responded, being much more positive in possession, keeping the ball better. A flowing move brought them their equaliser on the hour mark, Brunner scoring from just inside the area with a terrific strike off the underside of the bar; Aldershot hadn't been able to get near them. Three minutes later, Monster thought they had gone behind, Diangana tapping home from a few yards out but Barrington was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up. Having seen their football be effective, Monster changed nothing tactically, instead deciding to change personnel. Forrester, Jones, and Wright made way as the least effective players on the pitch. It strengthened Aldershot's resolve, and they had the better of the remaining stages of the game. In the 89th minute, Hull put together another flowing move, Barrington breaking through down the left and feeding Bamford in the box. The striker converted left-footed despite the attentions of both centre backs. Monster looked to the sky. The dream was over. Until the referee blew his whistle and signalled a free kick. Another offside decision given. It seemed to spur Aldershot on, and they put together a beautiful move of their own when Kinsey was released forward. He gave the ball to Tydeman who poked it through for Hayes, the substitute on the left. Bearing down on goal, he toe poked it into the bottom corner to send the away end jumping up and down again as Hayes ran off to celebrate by the corner flag. Monster instructed everyone to ease off and they managed to see out the remaining few minutes to earn the right to play Manchester United in the 5th Round. Kinsey was the star of the show with two assists. Another scalp to add to the list. Many of the fans were dreaming about what could be, fresh off the back of last season's journey. 

 

 

20/02/2027 - VNL v South Shields (H)

1st v 21st. Rather than rotating the whole side, Monster decided to play the fittest team. A combination of reserves and first choice took to the field and produced a dominant display of Monsterball in the first half. Spencer continued his decent spell of goalscoring form when in the 18th minute, Wright's cross from the left deflected into his path, and he finished first-time inside the far post. In the 29th minute, he used his height to his advantage, rising highest at the far post with a bullet header from Moses's free kick out wide on the right. His hattrick came in the 43rd minute in classic Monsterball fashion. Harris picked up the ball off the defence, knocking it forward to a tucked-in Kinsey. His pass found Moses on the right, who nodded it in to Stewart. The striker didn't shoot, but had the nouse to play it square to Spencer, 8 yards out, who couldn't miss, and he found the bottom corner with a first-time left-footed finish. Spencer was then fouled at a corner, and Monster decided to let Wright, who had been in a poor run of form, take the penalty. He slammed it in from the spot into the bottom-right corner to make it 4-0 before half time. South Shields tried to make a game of it in the second half but there was little action, the game meandered by despite Monster demanding more a couple of times. Even the substitutes couldn't have an impact and 4-0 was the final score taking Aldershot to within one win of the title. In February.  

 

 

27/02/2027 - VNL v Radcliffe (A)

With the FA Cup tie at home against Manchester United coming up in midweek, Monster was caught in two minds as to the sort of side to name against bottom-of-the-table Radcliffe, having only picked up points in 4 games all season. Monster made 8 changes in the end, keeping the players fresh as well as wanting the best team fit and ready for the FA Cup tie. Aldershot dominated the ball as expected and Monster wanted them to put on a show. Robinson, top scorer last year but not quite up to the same standards this year, took his opportunity to remind Monster of his abilities by scoring two quick goals. The first was good movement on his part in the 31st minute, timing his run perfectly to meet Jones's through ball, stroking the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net. 4 minutes later, the referee pointed to the spot having spotted a hand-ball in a melee and Robinson passed it straight down the middle to make it 2-0. Aldershot always had control of the game and confirmed the title at full time to muted celebrations. They hadn't dazzled but they had got the job done. Robinson was the player of the match after his brace. It was Monster's fourth league title in five seasons and the first time he had wrapped it up with 9 games to go and in the month of February. The board also announced his new budgets, giving him £800k in the transfer budget, and a 50% increase in wages. Monster was secretly hoping to have caught the attention of a higher league club, but was happy to stay with Aldershot if no other jobs were forthcoming. 

 

 

February 2027 Review

A mixed month for the first time at Aldershot where not everything went Monster's way. The defeat on penalties in the FA Trophy hurt but on reflection he had taken Ebbsfleet too lightly in that game with the FA Cup tie next. However, he still had some Hall of Fame points from the league title, and the FA Cup 5th Round tie against Manchester United up next. Spencer picked up the young player of the month award after some excellent recent performances. Monster picked up another manager of the month award after winning all three league games without conceding any goals. 

 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

March 2027

 

In a world where Wayne Rooney and Phil Neville are managing in the Championship (Bristol City and Watford respectively) and Eddie Howe is managing Bournemouth at the Eddie Howe Stadium, Monster had another game against Premier League opposition; his third in less than a year. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. National League sides shouldn't be reaching the latter stages of the FA Cup. However, to add to Monster's surprise, he had emerged as the leading candidate in the press for the managerial vacancy at the Premier League's bottom side, Brentford. 

 

03/03/2027 - FA Cup 5th Round v Manchester United (H)

Having entertained Liverpool already, the town was alive with the visit of another Premier League side. Monster made 11 changes from the previous game, the first choice side coming in. Monster asked them to focus on keeping possession, unable to compete with the Premier League side's pressing intensity. It didn't work to begin with, Manchester United running riot over the VNL side in the first 23 minutes, racking up 4 goals in that time. The first was a tap in at the back post by Golovin from a McKennie cross. The second was a Wirtz finish from a Golovin pull back. The third was another tap in for Golovin, this time from Daka's cross. Daka then scored the fourth, tapping in after Tydeman's pass to nowhere. Monster had tried to stem the tide by asking the players to mark specific players tightly and he moved Tydeman out of the attacking midfield into the central midfield role. Spencer did have the ball in the back of the net but he was correctly adjudged to have been offside. At half time, Monster asked the team to cause a few surprises in the second half. He couldn't yell at them. They'd managed to prevent any more goals going in, against a side 2nd in the Premier League, four tiers above them. 4-0 was by no means a disgrace against a side containing several established internationals. Golovin made it 5-0, his hattrick, with another tap in. Then Brynn saved Goncalves shot but could only palm into the path of the onrushing left winger. However, Monster was delighted to see Aldershot begin to play, Tydeman flicking the ball through for Spencer to finish from near the penalty spot only a minute or so later. After making some changes, Aldershot added another in the 80th minute. Townsend lofted the ball forward for Wright to run on to, and he pulled the ball back for Stewart to finish at the near post. 4 minutes later Aldershot made it 5-3, substitute Hayes picking up a loose header from Diveev and running into the box and smashing the ball past Gorter. Monster couldn't believe it. They couldn't from here, surely? As it turned out, they couldn't - the Premier League side wrestling control back again but even for a few moments, Monster had been allowed to dream and send the supporters home feeling like they'd given the Champions League holders a decent game. Aldershot set a new gate receipts record, raking in £190k from the tie. Monster was now hoping to be offered an interview for the Brentford job. 

 

 

06/03/2027 - VNL v Woking (A)

And back to the grind, although they'd already won the title. The first match of the swansong was against local rivals Woking. It was a mostly first-choice side that played. Aldershot took hold of the ball, as they often do, but it was Woking who took the lead in the 15th minute with a well-executed counter attack. Shade played through Bass and he finished confidently past Brynn. Monster was more annoyed at the goalkeeper for giving the ball away with a pointless clearance downfield. Try as they might, Aldershot couldn't find a way through, and went in at the break behind. Monster was beginning to wonder if was one of those days, and was even more frustrated when Porter doubled Woking's lead from a corner. Monster hauled off Spencer after a pathetic showing, and sent on Robinson. In the 78th minute, a free kick just inside the Woking half was played by Clayton to Townsend. The deep-lying playmaker played a great ball forward to Robinson, who played a one-two with Jones, and was able to run through and dink the ball over the keeper. 2-1. Hope for The Shots. In the 83rd minute, Robinson was scythed down in the penalty area following the breakdown from a corner. He picked himself up and smashed the penalty into the bottom corner to find a deserved equaliser. Monster encouraged the side to go for the winner but they couldn't find a way through, and Woking came closest to snatching it when Porter's header came back off the crossbar from another corner. The game finished 2-2. Monster wasn't too disappointed, they had pulled it back from 2 goals down. He'd have been more annoyed if they'd capitulated like Woking had. However, his mind was already elsewhere. Would Brentford come looking for him? Could he be managing in the Premier League before the end of the season?

 

 

09/03/2027 - VNL v Stockport County (H)

The next game up saw Monster wanting to get back to winning ways, at home to a side struggling to meet their pre-season predictions, wallowing in 17th having been predicted to be 4th. Monster told the side to go out and win. They took that message to heart, doing what Manchester United had done to them by smashing 4 goals in within the first 20-odd minutes. In the second minute, Kinsey's inswinging corner from the right was met by Hunt and Wright tapped in at the far post from a yard out. Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Stewart was played through by his strike partner and found the far corner with a right-footed finish. In the 13th minute, Hunt scored with a looping header from a Kinsey free kick from near the corner flag, scoring from an impossible angle, meeting the ball at the near post and the ball dropping in at the far post. Stewart added a second in the 25th minute with a composed finish from Kilner's perfect through ball from his tucked-in position on the right. Monster wanted his side to keep pushing for goals but none were forthcoming. Stockport made it 4-1 in the 67th minute, Hughes heading in at the back post from a Bailie cross. In the end, Monster took the 3 points and congratulated the team on their performance. They had destroyed Stockport at the start of the game. Now he was sat waiting for Brentford to get in touch. 

 

 

13/03/2027 - VNL v Boreham Wood (H)

Another home match and the trickiest game left this season against the side in 4th. Nothing from Brentford, who were on a slight renaissance after sacking their manager, picking up two 1-0 wins to give them some hope of staying in the league. Monster named his fittest side, once again, and Spencer continued his excellent recent form with a great finish in the 14th minute, receiving the ball in the box, swerving one way and then the other, before smashing home from 15 yards. In the 30th minute, Tydeman's run was halted inside the box by a poorly timed tackle, and Kinsey stepped up to finish in the bottom-left corner from the spot. In the second half, Spencer was brought down in the area by a last-ditch tackle from Conor Sproule, who had been at The Recreation Ground last season on loan, but Kinsey couldn't convert the penalty this time, hitting his penalty straight at Patterson, and then hitting the post from the rebound. The game finished 2-0 and Monster could take some solace from the fact the side were seemingly over their FA Cup exit. There was little to play for in the final 6 games of the season. 

 

 

15/03/2027 - job interview

Brentford were finally in touch, nearly two weeks after Monster had first applied for the role. A few questions surprised him such as why was he developing a reputation for applying for roles while in employment (are you only supposed to apply for jobs when unemployed?) and what would he bring to a side battling relegation. He answered honestly, desperately hoping he would be given a chance to get stuck in and test himself at the highest level with Monsterball to see if they could stay in the top division with 8 games remaining. The vision they posed for him matched his own footballing philosophy. He was also asked when he wanted to take charge. He decided to say he would take charge immediately. The title had been won. He was chomping at the bit to test himself in the Premier League and if unsuccessful at keeping them up, bringing them straight back up from the Championship next season. If he got the job, of course. 

 

20/03/2027 - VNL v Maidstone United (A) New job

Brentford came in and offered Monster a 2-year deal on £13.5k a week with a 30% relegation wage decrease. Luckily, it was right at the start of the international window so Monster would have some time to try and embed Monsterball into the players for the final 7 games of the season. 10 points from safety meant he would need to win at least 4 of those to stand a chance of surviving. His first test would be against table-topping Manchester City. As part of his move, the board agreed to send him on his next coaching course too. Monster said his goodbyes to the club where dreams had been fulfilled. An FA Cup semi final. Beating Liverpool. A league and cup double. He'd never lost a league game as Aldershot manager. It had been a whirlwind not-quite-two years. And now he was going to have at least 7 games in the Premier League. He couldn't say with any certainty that he could keep Brentford up but he would damn well give it a go. On researching the club's history, Monster was surprised to find they had never reached the semi final of the FA Cup, something he could use in the dressing room to try to convince the players he knew what he was talking about, having reached it with a Tier 6 side. Monster immediately set about shaping things from the club at top to bottom, sorting out who was doing what, and making sure he had full control of all of the aspects he wanted to handle. One of the strangest things was not having a youth academy. Monster knew it was how Brentford had worked but it was still strange not having any youth players at the club to blood into the first team squad. 

 

 

 

 

March 2027 Review

Not the review he was expecting. His tenure at Aldershot had come to a close and he had begun a new one during an international break. The game against Manchester United would live long in the memory, probably for the wrong reasons, but he had made the jump from non-league to Premier League in a move he certainly hadn't expected. Assistant Manager Tom Tapp had taken the reigns at Aldershot on a caretaker basis and Monster would keep an eye out for them moving forwards. Hillingdon Borough, meanwhile, were on their second consecutive relegation, meaning they would be back in Tier 8 next season. 

[TheJonsterMonster]

April 2027

 

In a world where a manager who had never managed at a higher tier than Tier 5 was now at the helm of a Tier 1 club, and his first game at that level would be against a side containing both Haaland and Mbappe (I mean, come on... one's bad enough, but both of them?), Monster had a brand new suit to walk out at the Brentford Community Stadium. He was on £13.5k per week. He could have a new wardrobe of suits every week if he wanted. He had never earned that much a month, let alone a week. He now earned more in a week and a half than his annual salary at the brush factory. 

 

03/04/2027 - Premier League (PL) v Manchester City (H)

20th v 1st. Monster wasn't used to being the side lower than the opposition. He hadn't been involved in a relegation battle since his first season in charge, nearly 5 years ago now. In the Saturday evening kick off in the Premier League, Monster was filled with a sense of pride as he sat in the dugout for the first time. He would take a draw in this game. He would love to win to instil some hope, but realistically a draw would be the best he could hope for. When their teamsheet was named, Monster recognised most of the names. Phil Foden. Bernardo Silva. Lautauro Martinez. Kevin De Bruyne. And that was on top of Haaland and Mbappe. Picking his first team sheet was tricky. He hadn't seen the point in playing a friendly during the international break as 10 of the squad had been away on international duty. His biggest issue was choosing a deep-lying playmaker to fill the Jayden Harris and Lukasz Gostomski role. Both had been outstanding ball players but he didn't have one of those in the squad. In the end, he went with captain and best centre back, Kristoffer Ajer, as the man for the role. Walking out of the tunnel in front of 17,250 fans who were intrigued rather than delirious. How would this non-league manager fare against the side top of the table? Monster's message in the dressing room had been about belief. Hard work. Determination. All things he wanted to see. It didn't matter who was on the opposition's team. Play Monsterball. In the 11th minute, Kamara took a throw-in in front of the dugouts. He threw the ball to Semenyo, who gave it back to the throw-in taker. Kamara knocked it forward to Mbeumo, who took a touch and played a ball through to Fabio Silva near the penalty spot who lashed it into the top corner! Ederson got a hand on it but couldn't keep it out, and the young Portuguese striker wheeled away with his hands aloft. Two minutes later, Stevens had the ball on the right hand side near the halfway line. He threw it to Galeno who knocked it off to Silva. He played it inside to Lo Celso, who nearly lost out but recovered and gave it back to the goalscorer. Silva knocked it to Ajer, and he laid it off to Stevens in the tucked in role. The tucked in midfield four of Ajer, Lo Celso, Stevens, and Kamara all exchanged passes, giving it to Semenyo's feet, and his ball through to Fabio Silva was perfect for the striker to take it round Ederson and tuck the ball in. The players ran off celebrating but Monster experienced something he had never seen before. A VAR check. They were looking for an offside. He knew it had been close. Had the left back played Silva on? After an agonising wait, the referee pointed to the centre circle. 2-0! Monster instantly told the team to start focusing on possession. Manchester City would need the ball in order to score goals. The team in blue then proceeded to pepper the Brentford goal. Mbappe had several good chances, his pace a constant menace on the left wing. Travers in goal kept repelling everything. Haaland hit the post from close range at one point too. But Brentford held on and went in at half time 2-0 up. Monster wanted to tell them to hold on but had to let them know how well they had played. They had been resilient so far. Through the walls of the dressing room they could hear Antonio Conte telling his superstars what he thought of them. Monster knew there would be a reaction. But the second half started quietly. Brentford patiently kept the ball, not taking any chances, not doing anything risky. Man City had efforts, but most of them were tame and easily dealt with by Travers. Monster decided to make changes, bringing off the disappointing Lo Celso and Galeno, sending on Hughes and Brooks. A couple of minutes later, Hughes was played through by Semenyo. Surely they couldn't make it 3-0? Hughes's effort looked to be curling past Ederson, but it clipped the post and went wide. Monster couldn't believe it. At the other end, a nice move from Manchester City saw Mbappe played through. Haaland had been substituted for Lautauro Martinez, and the Argentine made a nuisance of himself to create the space for the French forward to run through and finish into the corner. The referee signalled for a VAR check. Had Mbappe been offside? Another agonising wait and the referee raised his arm. To the sky. An indirect free kick had been given. Mbappe had moved too soon. Frimpong was then played through and chipped Travers but Monster was relieved to see the ball sail on to the top of the net. He told the team to waste time. Keep the ball. Don't do anything risky. Man City couldn't get near it. Monster kept checking his watch. The time ticked down. Injury time ran out. The tension in the stands was palpable. Surely they weren't going to beat the league leaders? But they had. 2-0. It was only the fourth time that season they had scored more than a goal in a game, and only the third time in the league. It was Man City's 3rd league defeat of the season. Mark Travers was the player of the match after making 10 saves but all of them had played fairly well. Monster returned to the pitch after his tunnel duties and tried to remember everything that had happened. Could this be the start of a miraculous escape? Could he somehow manufacture more wins between now and the end of the season and pull off the unlikeliest of escapes? He was certainly going to try. The players seemed to believe now too. Monsterball was alive in the Premier League. In terms of safety, Monster had to keep an eye on Brighton & Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley. Wolves lost 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace, Brighton lost 3-0 away to Liverpool, and Burnley lost 3-1 to Spurs. It brought the gap to safety down to 7 points. Southampton and Aston Villa could also get dragged in. Up next for Brentford were Everton in 9th and Fulham in 10th, both away games. 

 

 

07/04/2027 - PL v Everton (A)

9th v 20th. A Wednesday night on Merseyside at the recently built Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium. Brentford were actually in better form than their hosts, having won four of their last five. Monster decided to make some tactical tweaks after realising the physical prowess of the team. The defensive line was raised to be higher. Monster wanted the team to counter attack but he wanted the goalkeeper to slow the distribution down to maintain the possession. He also dropped the tempo. Possession was his aim. They were statistically the worst team in the league; having possession of the ball would be key. Monster chose to play one of his centre backs at left back to counter-act the threat of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, third in the PL goalscorer charts. He also went for putting Zhegrova out to to the right and dropping Galeno, who hadn't been great in the first match. Everton started the match on the front foot, carving a couple of early shots. In the 21st minute, Friedrich cleared the ball out to Mbeumo on the left, who flicked it on to Semenyo. The young striker took a touch before knocking the ball through for Lo Celso and he took a couple of touches before launching a shot from all of 25 yards into the bottom corner with Brentford's first shot of the game. In a game of few chances, Brentford held out to half time. However, Everton came out second half with a new purpose and Luka Romero grabbed the equaliser, beating Travers at his near post after receiving the ball in the box from Lazzari's pass. Monster knew he would see the character of his new side now. Could they hold on? Within 5 minutes, Brentford had retaken the lead. A long ball downfield from Travers was knocked on by Fabio Silva to Semenyo who played the ball through for his strike partner to poke past Martin in the Everton goal, the ball dribbling into the corner. Midway through the second half, Semenyo intercepted a loose ball and played in Mbeumo, whose cross was deflected into the path of Zhegrova, who squeezed the ball in off the left-hand post. 3-1! Monster was ecstatic. There was a real flow to Brentford's play now, and Everton seemed rattled. Fabio Silva put the cherry atop the cake with a fourth goal in stoppage time, a loose clearance from Martin going straight to Brentford and Zhegrova played Silva in for him to slot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. 4-1. Monster couldn't believe it. Everton had been by far the better side but Brentford had been clinical. They could actually pull it off. Looking around the dressing room afterwards, Monster could see it in their eyes. Belief. It pulled Brentford to within 4 points of safety with 5 games to go. 

 

 

10/04/2027 - PL v Fulham (A)

A trip to local rivals was up next for the Saturday lunchtime kick off. Monster was forced to rotate to keep players fit. He also asked for his team to play with a high tempo today. It was a key component of Monsterball and he wanted to see some endeavour to get forward and put the opposition's goal under some pressure. Toure, Brooks, and Hughes, were in for Stevens, Ajer, and Lo Celso. In the 20th minute, Brentford kept the ball in the middle of the park, the ball being spread out to Toure who played Galeno through and the right winger was able to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle to give Brentford the lead. 4 minutes later, Kamara picked the ball up in the Fulham half, drove forward, and played a tantalising ball for Fabio Silva who finished first time. Before half time, the high-tempo Monsterball found Semenyo playing through Kamara, and the left back stroked the ball into the bottom-right corner to make it 3-0. Slightly harsh on Fulham but Monster wasn't going to complain. Another clinical display. In the second half, it was a timid start by Brentford but Fulham couldn't find a way through. Brooks had a goal ruled out for offside before Monster made a couple of changes. Lowering the tempo to keep the ball, Monster sent on Lo Celso and Docherty and the latter managed to scramble the ball in following chaos in the box from a Zhegrova corner. Ajer flicked the ball on, Docherty headed against the bar, Ajer flicked the ball back across, Docherty then hit the post with another header, the ball bouncing off the woodwork, hitting him in the face and going in. Fulham were reduced to ten men following an injury and Monster could only watch on in disbelief as his side strolled to the finish. 4-0. Away at one of their local rivals. On their manager's birthday. Kamara picked up the player of the match after a goal and an assist and an accomplished display at left back. Monster was delighted in the tunnel afterwards. 9 points from his first 3 games was far more than he had dreamt of. They were now within 2 points of safety. Brentford had been bottom since 17th October, and now with 4 games to go, they could escape the relegation zone in the most dramatic of circumstances with another win. 

 

 

19/04/2027 - PL v Sheffield United (H)

Last time out at home they had shocked the league leaders. Sheffield United weren't quite the same calibre as Manchester City but were in 12th. Monster wanted to see if they could make it 4 wins on the bounce. He had slowly been adding to his staff, bringing in Andy Crosby as assistant manager and filling up the vacant slots in the staff list. He had sorted scouting out for the summer, now being given reports on players who were so much better than he had ever experienced before. He was now going to have to refine his philosophy on key characteristics he wanted in players. However, he knew he had to stay in the Premier League in order to start building for the future due to the finances on offer. Coming up against Frank Lampard's side in the Monday evening kick off, Monster was determined not to be overawed in meeting someone he had once seen miss a penalty for England at Old Trafford in a 2006 World Cup warm up fixture. After the weekend's results, Monster knew a win could pull them clear. Brentford had the better of the first half, and took the lead in the 25th minute when Stevens's cross from the right was allowed to bounce in the area and left back Kamara was able to turn in from an acute angle. Jebbison then missed Sheffield United's best chance when put clean through but saw his effort come back off the post. Monster switched things up and pushed for a second goal but with time running out, Sheffield United grabbed a deserved equaliser, Jebbison making amends for his earlier miss with a close-range header in the 89th minute. Monster was disappointed, they had defended well, but 1-1 was the final score. The front 5 hadn't clicked at all. Monster knew he was working with somebody else's squad, which hadn't been balanced to his tactics, and players were playing out of their preferred position. It had been a good opportunity to climb the league but with games against Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, and Chelsea remaining, this had been the best opportunity to pick up 3 points. 

 

 

24/04/2027 - PL v Tottenham Hotspur (A)

Coming up against Ralf Rangnick's Tottenham side pushing for European football in 6th, Monster knew a win could pull them out of the relegation zone. He lowered the tempo to try and focus on keeping the ball, something they had struggled with against Sheffield United. Tottenham took the lead in this game, Son playing a wonderful ball through for Del Palacio Langer to convert into the top corner from inside the area. The lead didn't last long. Travers's booming clearance upfield found Kamara, who nodded it on to Fabio Silva, who knocked it down for Lo Celso to play in Mbeumo, who poked it past Szczesny (yep, even with his Arsenal connections) and into the net. In the 20th minute, Stevens had a throw-in on the right which he gave to Galeno. The right winger took the ball past his marker to the byline and blasted a low cross towards the far post where an unmarked Zhegrova was on hand to convert from close-range. In the 34th minute, Del Palacio Langer made it 2-2, played through by Kane, and he finished confidently into the top corner again. Monster could only shake his head. They had fought back to grab the lead - could they do it again? In the 40th minute, Zhegrova took a corner from the left. Ajer flicked it on, Lo Celso headed it back across goal, and Mbeumo was on hand to tap in to give Brentford the lead going into half time. Monster asked for more of the same in the second half. They had been working on set pieces, having not scored many since his arrival, and Friedrich added to the scoreline in the 58th minute, tucking in from Zhegrova's corner. Zhegrova then added his second of the game with another close-range tap-in. Stevens had done brilliantly to spin his man on the edge of the area but Szczesny could only palm the shot into the Kosovan's path. 5-2. Could Brentford hold on? Monster didn't know if they could, and his doubts became louder when Devine nodded in Konrad's free kick in the 66th minute to make it 5-3. Fabio Silva was then stretchered off in the 73rd minute to add to Monster's concerns. He was their talismanic striker. It could have implications for the rest of the season, even more so if they couldn't win here. A few minutes later, Friedrich's long ball forward found Semenyo's run, and the substitute forward had the composure to touch the ball past the onrushing Szczesny and tuck the ball into the far corner of the empty net from the edge of the area. Spurs did try and reduce the deficit but couldn't make their pressure count. It finished 6-3, in a game that would go down as a classic in PL history. For Monster, it was nothing new. Monsterball had seen plenty of high-scoring games over the years. As the 3pm games finished, Brentford were officially out of the relegation zone. However, the other sides around them still had to play. Monster didn't want to celebrate yet. The final game of the season away at Chelsea would be the decider, he was sure. Fabio Silva was ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn thigh muscle, which was a blow. 

 

 

April 2027 Review

An unbeaten first month in charge of the side rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, Monster's side had notched up 17 goals in April, having only scored 19 goals prior to that. They had gained 13 points, having only picked up 18 when he had arrived. There was a real sense of optimism that Brentford could stay up. Hassane Kamara came third in the PL player of the month award, while Lo Celso's thunderbolt against Everton came second in the goal of the month competition. Monster also came as runner up in the PL manager of the month. Not bad for someone who had been managing in non-league in March. It had been a dream start. Could he now make so many dreams come true by avoiding relegation? 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

May 2027

 

In a world where Liverpool will meet Real Madrid at the Stade de France to contest the Champions League Final, (Editor Monster: hang on... No, it's true!) Jonster Monster's Brentford went into the final two games of the season with their destiny in their own hands; unthinkable 5 games ago when he first joined. 

 

 

08/05/2027 - PL v West Ham United (H)

The final home game of the season was marred by 4 first team players being ruled out by injury. Fabio Silva, Friedrich, Galeno, and Lo Celso would all miss the rest of the season after picking up knocks in training. In hindsight, Monster maybe shouldn't have arranged physical training in late April but with a week off, he had wanted to make sure the side were physically ready for the games. That had seemingly backfired. West Ham, led by Roberto de Zerbi, had slipped to 16th in the league, 3 points above Brentford. A 6-goal swing would be needed if Brentford wanted to go above them with a win. Tzolis made his first start under Monster having returned from injury but it was more out of necessity with the players missing. The top scorer. The creative force. A great centre back. And a slightly unconvincing right winger. All missing. In the 5th minute, West Ham took the lead when Seoane played Vlasic through in the left channel, and the attacking midfielder slotted it past Travers at his near post. In the 11th minute, Ajer's poor clearance fell straight to Tsimikas. He played it forward to Bowen who was able to drill it across from the byline for Rafa Mir to stab home. 2-0 down and Monster was slumped in his seat. Those injuries were looking tough now. Brentford finally started to create something and Mbeumo was able to grab a goal before half time when Stevens played the forward through and he couldn't miss from near the penalty spot, stroking the ball into the bottom-left corner. Monster wanted more at half time and he got it. In the 53rd minute, Tzolis was in space on the right and he played the perfect ball through to Brooks who slammed into the net left-footed from just inside the area. Brentford couldn't add a third and West Ham turned up the pressure, Travers pulling off some decent stops to keep the match level. In the end, 2-2 was a fair result. It left Brentford in 17th but with Chelsea away on the last day, they had by far the hardest match among the bottom 4 that they had to win to stay up. 

 

 

16/05/2027 - PL v Chelsea (A)

Away against rivals Chelsea who were battling to finish 3rd would be the game that would decide Brentford's fate. If they won, they would be safe. Anything else and they needed favours from elsewhere. In many ways, it was ridiculous that they still had a chance of staying up, but Monster knew it would be thin. He looked into the eyes of each of his players. He didn't know how the next couple of hours would play out. He could tell them to go out and play without pressure. He could tell them to go out as the underdog and cause some surprises. In the end, he told them to go out there and prove a point. Prove they deserved to stay in the division. He told them to go and play positively, away from his normal balanced approach; he had done the same when battling Championship sides with Aldershot. Try and surprise them. The positive approach nearly backfired in the first minute when Lukaku was played straight through the middle but Ajer recovered well to make the block. In the 22nd minute, Mbeumo played a brilliant ball in behind for Semenyo but Chalobah recovered well to block the ball out for a corner. In the 35th minute, a long clearance downfield by Martinez was flicked on to Havertz by Lukaku, and the German's cross was nearly turned in a the far post by Broja. Kamara cleared the ball to safety. In the 40th minute, Brentford won a corner. Zhegrova stood over it, raised a hand above his head and whipped it to the near post. Ajer met it, Martinez pulled off a fantastic save but Ajer reacted quickest to turn it over the line to give Brentford the lead in front of the away fans! As it stood, they would be safe. Monster told them all to keep going at half time. They'd not really let Chelsea have a sniff. However, it was inevitable Chelsea would respond. They were pursuing 3rd in the PL after all. In the 49th minute, Porro took a throw-in from the right, Lukaku laid it off to Havertz, and his cross was met by Broja at the back post. But the ball bounced off the crossbar and away to safety. A minute later, Semenyo played through Stevens on a rampaging run from full back and he chipped Martinez from the edge of the box. Monster watched the ball sail over the Chelsea keeper. Was this it? No. The ball bounced off the far post and was cleared by Chalobah. In the 67th minute, a corner from the right was flicked on by Ajer but Brooks was denied at the far post by a brilliant block by Kante. The rebound fell to Mbeumo but James was there with a sliding challenge. As the clock ticked on, the tension increased. Brentford had the lead but news had reached them that Brighton were winning. It meant they had to hold on. In the 80th minute, Stevens took a throw-in near his own area. They kept the ball between them but the right back cleared the ball downfield looking to release the pressure. It was taken down by the Chelsea defence and they quickly switched the ball to Mount. He flicked it through for Lukaku and his pace and power took him clear. He clipped a shot from the edge of the box. Travers got a hand on it but the ball still dribbled in. The equaliser. As it stood, Brentford would be down. Monster tried to rally the troops but they had little left to give. Chelsea came closest to the winner when Anguissa's shot came back off the post in stoppage time, but the game finished 1-1. All eyes were on the Brighton score but they had won 3-1 at home to Aston Villa. Brentford were down, finishing 18th. So close, but not close enough. 

 

 

Monster didn't know what the future held. He knew the players he had at the club had bought into Monsterball, but he still hadn't been convinced by some of their attitudes. Losing 4 of their first choice team prior to the penultimate game was a blow and it looked to have ultimately cost them. Could he rebuild the side? He had never suffered relegation before and the history books wouldn't have an asterisk next to it. All he could do would be to develop a side in the Championship in his image, try and earn promotion, and see what he could do with a full pre-season with the players. He realised he still hadn't lost a league game. He had 4 wins and 3 draws in the Premier League so far. But it wasn't the division he would be in next season. 

 

The board gave him the budgets. They were the biggest budgets he had ever had. A transfer budget of £4m. The wage budget was the same as it was now but some players would be on lower wages due to relegation percentage clauses. None of the first-choice players were on short-term contracts. If he wanted to generate any extra funds he would have to sell them. He was tempted to but he knew he would have to bring in new faces to flesh out the squad, particularly with the lack of youth team available. 

 

Monster cancelled the end of season awards. Relegation didn't deserve any awards, as far as he was concerned. It had been a miserable season for Brentford, despite their form in the last three months. He met with the board and they told him the long-term plan. Next season they wanted at least the playoffs in the Championship. Monster felt that was reasonable. It looked to be a summer of turmoil ahead. Relegation release clauses for Fabio Silva, Fin Stevens, Edon Zhegrova, and Christos Tzolis became active. If it generated interest, Monster was fine with cashing in on them. All of them apart from Stevens came to see him and Monster agreed he would let them go if their clauses were met. Kristoffer Ajer also came to see him and Monster agreed he wouldn't stand in his way if a side was interested. A news story flashed up later that evening to say Chelsea were rumoured to be considering an offer. It would be a blow to lose arguably their best player but at the same time, Monster didn't stand for players causing dressing room disruption. He vowed there and then to sell players if they didn't want to buy into the Monsterball project. He knew his scouts would be the staff he would be spending the most time with over the next few weeks to see what options would be available. At the whole club, there were only 29 players to work with including the U23s. He would much rather have a larger pool of players on lower wages. Youth would probably be the best way of developing that. 

 

He then checked on Aldershot. They had remained unbeaten, although had picked up a few draws. Newport County had been promoted through the playoffs meaning Notts County had missed out, despite gaining more than a hundred points. Layton Stewart came third in the end in the goalscoring charts. Monster sent Tom Tapp a message, wishing them all well in League 2. 

 

And that was it. The end of a crazy 2026/2027 season. It had started with Aldershot in the VNL, included a win over Premier League (and Champions League winners) Liverpool in the FA Cup, a win over the manager currently top of the Hall of Fame, but had ended in Premier League relegation despite being unbeaten in his last 7 games which had also included a win over champions Manchester City. A truly bizarre season by all accounts. Now he knew where he would be and what division he would be in next year, Monster set about finding a new home nearer to London, having rented a property in Aldershot. His long-term goal would now be to try and attract the attention of a club that had the best chance of winning the major trophies that would help catapult him up the Hall of Fame. Whether that would be a Premier League club or somewhere else abroad, Monster didn't know. 

 

In terms of the Hall of Fame, Monster was now on 64 points. Pep Guardiola was clear at the top with 5730. However, Monster had won a game against him this season. No points for that, though. Just a moral victory. 

 

Over the course of the next week, Monster had most of the first team knock on his office door and ask if he would consider selling them. Monster promised all of them he would consider any bids that came in for them. The only one to complain was Bakayoko, whom Monster then offered out. It was going to be a long summer. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

Pre-season 2027/2028

 

As predicted, a summer of turmoil. Near enough all of the first choice team came to see Monster asking to leave. He promptly cashed in on them. He had managed them for 7 games and he had inherited all of them; he had no qualms. Ajer and Mbeumo requested surprisingly high asking prices, which as the season was due to start, nobody had matched as yet. If they were to stay, then Monster was fine with that. There had been rumblings of takeovers for most of the summer but nothing had happened yet, which Monster was grateful for, allowing him to bring in players who were interested to be at the club from all over the world (including discovering a Brazilian youngster known as John Lennon). 

 

 

Transfers

Having sold £208m and spent £60m (the board had eventually changed his retained transfer revenue to 100% midway through July), Monster had plenty in the bank to spend on the right players. His transfer policy had been to find young talent, whether on loan, or transfer listed from high-ranking clubs, or using the scouting centre to find Premier League potential youngsters. It was an eclectic mix he had brought in, but he was thrilled to have them all. He was optimistic of making profit on the vast majority of them or them turning into superstars. It involved buying a whole new squad to replace the vast majority of the players who had kicked up a fuss at being relegated. 

 

 

Squad

Monster had built a squad with depth, including some highly talented youngsters in reserve, which he hadn't had the luxury of in the Premier League. The players he had on loan had all come recommended through wonderkid shortlists. He still had options to bring in another if one became available. It would be the first time he had to abide by a transfer window in his career. 

 

 

(And yes, that is Bradley Ihionvien in on trial. He wasn't picked up. But it was good to see him again.) 

 

Staff

The board had trimmed his staffing levels slightly but hardly any of them were on short-term contracts. Monster was over-staffed in some areas but he had to accept he wouldn't recruit new staff until he had vacancies. 

 

 

League Season Preview

Monster's Brentford were 3rd in the predictions. The lowest of the relegated sides. Monster figured it would be because of replacing a ton of experience with untried, untested youngsters from all over the world. His two most experienced centre backs were the best players at the club but Monster didn't know if they would survive the transfer window. He had purchased accordingly and identified other targets if needed. 

 

 

Pre-season fixtures

A perfect round in pre-season, including handing out some thrashings. While he was trying to introduce the players to the club, a few loanees made appearances, but he had given most of his new players a game. Fitness didn't seem to be a horrendous issue going into the season and they had seemed to take Monsterball to heart and use it to good effect. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

August 2027

 

In a world where Steve McClaren is the current manager of the Czech Republic national team, having previously managed Costa Rica, Monster was hoping to get off to a good start in his first season in the Championship after his first ever managerial relegation. He knew his transfers had been slightly hotchpotch, trying to bring in quantity as well as quality, but he hoped he had a base he could build from now to bounce straight back up again. 

 

07/08/2027 - Sky Bet Championship (SBC) v West Bromwich Albion (A)

A tricky start away at a side predicted to be mid-table, Monster picked his team. Five names remained from the match against Chelsea; Mbeumo, Hughes, Ajer, Sorensen, and Brooks. The rest were all new. Serin was the new goalkeeper, a Belgian U21 international, whom had impressed Monster when the scout report came through. Brentford started on the front foot and had the early lead when Talbi curled in from the edge of the area in the 13th minute, a sumptuous finish from the new right back. They continued to dominate, without creating many clear-cut chances, but did find a second goal near the end when Evan Ferguson scored with a first-time finish. Rogers's through ball was intercepted by Kipre, but only ran into the path of the new Irish striker, who slammed into the bottom corner. A comfortable 2-0 victory with the defence playing well, and a clean sheet to show for it. 

 

 

14/08/2027 - SBC v Portsmouth (H)

After an impressive victory last time out, Monster wanted more of the same against a Portsmouth side who had lost their first two games of the season. He made a few changes; Murphy, Cresswell, and Roganovic making their debuts for the club. It was Portsmouth who took the lead in this game, Carreno nodding home at the back post following the breakdown from a corner. The ball went back out wide to the corner taker, Williams, who had the time and space to whip in a cross which the forward couldn't miss. Within 5 minutes, Brentford were level. Masters did well breaking into the box on the right, his shot palmed out by Bass into the path of Roganovic who played a simple square ball to De Marco to turn in for his first goal in 20 hours of football. Brentford continued to take the game to Portsmouth, stung by that early goal, but it was Portsmouth who were on the end of a fortunate refereeing decision when Hughes cleanly won the ball with a thunderous sliding challenge on Greenwood. However, the referee disagreed, and Greenwood miraculously picked himself up after such a heavy challenge on him (apparently) to stroke the ball past Serin. Brentford laid siege to the Portsmouth goal, Monster unimpressed with the wasteful shooting from the side. Chance after chance to equalise was wasted and he made a triple substitution to try and change the fortunes of the side. The equaliser came when Murphy played through Ferguson, and the striker hammered home from inside the area to grab a well-deserved leveller. Could they find a winner? As it turned out, Portsmouth, who had offered little in the second half, grabbed the eventual winner in the 80th minute, Greenwood wriggling free on the edge of the box to squeeze a shot through a crowd of players and in at the far post. De Marco had a chance to level up once again before the end but his shot came back off the post. Monster could only watch on in disbelief. His unbeaten league record had disappeared in smoke in a game that Brentford had dominated. It was a chastening blow and the dressing room was sombre afterwards. Monster knew that slip ups like this must only be a rarity. On another day, the outcome could have been very different. It did mean that his only win at home as Brentford manager had come against Manchester City with two draws and a defeat since then. It was a curse he wanted to lift as soon as possible. 

 

 

21/08/2027 - SBC v Sheffield Wednesday (A)

After a frustrating defeat, Monster wanted to bounce back with a win. The opposition were bottom after losing both league games and Monster wanted to add to their misery. It took a while to get going in a quiet first half and the second half wasn't much better. Monster could see them trying but they couldn't force a breakthrough until the 68th minute. It started with some nice build-up play from the back, Sorensen knocking it out wide to Rogers. A flick inside found Brooks, who knocked it forward to the head of Trevino who flicked it through for Ferguson to smash home his 3rd league goal of the season with his left foot. It seemed to break the shackles and with their next attack, Master produced a fantastic ball through for Brooks's late run, and the shadow striker kept his composure to finish low into the left corner of the net. Monster made a late triple sub, and Ryan Murphy stabbed home from the edge of the area in the 88th minute from Trevino's through ball to grab his first for Brentford. Sheffield Wednesday grabbed a goal before the end, Green producing a tidy finish to beat Serin's dive but it didn't change the destiny of the 3 points. Rogers on the left wing bore Monster's ire afterwards following an ineffective performance. 

 

 

25/08/2027 - EFL Cup v Watford (A)

An opportunity to experiment for Monster in his first appearance in the competition. He wanted to let some of the fringe players have an opportunity to impress. A trip to local rivals Watford with Phil Neville's men not having had a great start to the league, picking up one point so far, meant Monster had no qualms about making 9 changes, Master and Serin the only survivors. In a competitive opening, Brentford grabbed the breakthrough with a lovely move through the middle. Murphy played the through ball for Master's run and the on-loan Liverpool winger found the bottom corner. 5 minutes later, Roganovic opened his account for Brentford too, tucking home from the right side of the box after Master's through ball picked him out perfectly. Monster encouraged the side to keep going at half time. In the 49th minute Thiaguinho and Benitez combined for the Spanish left winger to score on his debut. Thiaguinho boomed over a deep cross from wide on the right and Benitez headed it home at the back post. Two minutes later, Murphy's shot was blocked on the edge of the box, looping up for Benitez to bring it under control and knock it through for Vonasek who hooked in on the volley, a delicate finish that clipped the far post on its way in. They saw the game out with Watford barely creating anything, and Monster was delighted with the youngsters, all of the starting eleven having been purchased in the summer. Now to see if they could win as comprehensively at home. 

 

 

28/08/2027 - SBC v Barnsley (H)

Could Monster finally pick up a second home win since he joined in March? Barnsley were a side predicted to be mid-table in the league but hadn't started particularly well, beginning the day in 19th. Monster restored the first choice side and Sorensen scored from a corner after 3 minutes. Ajer's header from Rogers's corner was saved but fell to Sorensen to loop it over the keeper from close range. Rogers had a hand in the second goal, playing a perfect through ball for Mbeumo to run on to and slot home from inside the area. Barnsley grabbed a goal back when Trevino lost his man and Cornick had a clean run through to tuck home past Serin. It had been a goal out of nothing, and Monster had plenty to ponder. However, Trevino made amends a few minutes later with calm finish presented to him from more excellent work by Rogers. Monster had been critical of the former Manchester City man, but he had shown up so far in this match. De Marco then played Ferguson through for the Irish forward to finish with a typically powerful effort but the referee called him back for offside. Monster wanted more of the same at the break. Ajer nodded in an Mbeumo corner to make it 4-1 after 49 minutes. With a comfortable lead, Monster rotated the pack, making a triple substitution on the hour mark to blood some youngsters. However, a few minutes later, Talbi was taken off injured and Brentford had to finish the game with 10 men. Barnsley seized the initiative, and with Will Hughes deputising at right back, managed to escape down his side allowing Poveda to tap home at the back post. They played the rest of the game in calm fashion, and importantly saw the game out in front of their home fans. Sorensen picked up the player of the match award, but a tactical tweak to see the side crossing less and the wide men playing as inside forwards, seemed to help in this match. 

 

 

31/08/2027 - Transfer Deadline Day

The first deadline day Monster had experienced saw him sweating over a few of the experienced players. Sorensen, Brooks, Mbeumo, Ajer, and Hughes had all expressed dissatisfaction at the point of being relegated but were still here. Ajer and Mbeumo would generate nearly £120m in sale fees if Monster was going to let them go. He was happy with deals he had done but he was still on the look out for any bargains that might crop up, particularly if they had Premier League or top division experience. There was one pathetically low bid from Bayer Leverkusen for Friedrich, on his way back from injury, but Monster was also able to agree an obscenely high asking price for him too. Ali McCann left on loan with a mandatory fee but Monster didn't have him in the squad anyway. There was no other business and the transfer window slammed shut until January. Monster's rigorous scouting for youth players would continue throughout the winter and he would see what January would bring. 

 

August 2027 Review

A league defeat for the first time since August 2024 hadn't fazed Monster at all. His side had bounced back and it wasn't as if Portsmouth had dominated them on the day. Poor finishing and a lack of team cohesion were probably the reasons. Monster's side had recovered and were 4th in the league as it stood, one point off the top. If they were still in the hunt by the end of September, Monster was confident they could challenge for promotion. Trevino picked up the league's young player of the month award and Monster was named third in the manager of the month award. A promising start to the season - now could they carry on with their young squad? Monster also checked on his previous clubs to see how they had got on. Hillingdon Borough were 16th in Tier 8. Aldershot were 16th in League 2. There had been no further details about the takeover - a Qatar-based investor had been rumoured to be taking over with a huge transfer bounty (bearing in mind Monster still had £77m to spend already) but nothing had happened before the end of the month. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

September 2027

 

In a world where Pepe Mel (one-time West Brom and Real Betis manager) is in charge of Northern Ireland, Monster hoped to carry on his side's good form in September. With an international break, Monster arranged a friendly against Woodstock to kick off the month. There were also upcoming games against Preston North End and Derby County who had started the season in good form, as well as fellow relegated side Burnley. The EFL Cup had drawn them away to League 1 Northampton, so Monster hoped to make it through to the next round and meet the board's expectations. 

 

11/09/2027 - SBC v Middlesbrough (A)

Struggling near the bottom, Middlesbrough hoped to not be on the end of a similar thrashing to that handed out to Woodstock. Monster continued with Ferguson and De Marco as his preferred front line, Rogers continued on the left after a decent performance last time out, and Master continued on the right. In the 20th minute, a break down the left saw Rogers turn and clip a ball to the back post where Master was on hand to convert on the volley. In the 28th minute, Ferguson continued his scoring run with a tidy finish. Monsterball was in action here, Ferguson coming deep to lay the ball off to Murphy, who flicked it through to Trevino, and the left back played the ball through for Ferguson to run on and toe poke home from inside the area. At half time, Monster asked for more. Middlesbrough were still in the game. In the 53rd minute, a long ball out to the right where De Marco flicked the ball down for Murphy who poked it through for Master to pass the ball into the net. 4 minutes later, Ferguson grabbed his brace, De Marco with the through ball and Ferguson running through to the left side of the area and creating the angle to convert past Ward. Middlesbrough couldn't find a way through despite creating numerous chances and the game ended 4-0 to the visitors. Monster had clearly found a formula that worked away from home. Could he find something similar at home? 

 

 

14/09/2027 - SBC v Derby County (H)

An unbeaten start to the season had seen Derby County in the upper echelons of the fledgling table and Monster was keen to show his side were settling into life back at this level. Now playing with inside forwards out wide rather than wingers, David Brooks started on the right with Master too tired to make the squad. Elsewhere, Ajer had to start at right back with Thiaguinho suffering. Cresswell came in alongside Sorensen. Aitchison was in for Trevino too. Monster challenged the side to show what they were all about. After having the best of the early chances, Brooks gave Brentford the lead in the 32nd minute, Ajer splitting the defence and the experienced Welsh international coming off the right to curl home from the edge of the area. He was instrumental in the second goal, which came after a half time team talk with Monster letting them know how unimpressed he had been with their display. Brooks broke down the right and cut back on to his left foot to swing in a cross. De Marco knocked it down and Murphy was on hand to slam home from near the penalty spot. Shortly after the hour mark it was all over when Ferguson stole the ball off Pollock's toe midway inside the Derby half, knocked it to De Marco, who spread it wide to Mbeumo. The winger sprinted to the byline, drilled the ball in low, and Ferguson swept home at the near post for his 6th league goal of the season. Derby did respond and have their best spell of the game towards the end, but couldn't find their way past Serin. Monster was delighted with the performance and the clean sheet. Everyone had played well in that match, and he'd been able to give some youngsters a chance off the bench too. 

 

 

18/09/2027 - SBC v Preston North End (A)

Another side in decent form, Brentford made the trip to the North-West to see if they could keep their winning run going. Now Monster was starting to settle on his first-choice side, and understand the capabilities of his players, he had dropped the tempo and kept the team mentality to balanced. It worked a treat in this game as they made the perfect start. The first attack of the game came down Brentford's left, Rogers breaking into the box and finding Ferguson who played the ball across the face of goal for Murphy to slide in and convert in the 2nd minute. Thiaguinho extended the lead after 20 minutes, rampaging forward as he has licence to do, firing home from inside the area after De Marco played him through. Preston got themselves on the scoresheet in the 26th minute, young starlet Walters escaping Sorensen's attention to run on to White's through ball and finish confidently past Serin. The second half was mostly a stalemate until Fenton Heard went through the back of Patino as he was running away from goal and the referee didn't hesitate to produce a straight red card. Murphy eventually settled the game with a glorious goal and an early goal of the season contender when Roganovic played him a simple pass to find him on the edge of the D, and the shadow striker signed from Charlton in the summer produced an exocet of a shot into the top corner, thundering in off the underside of the crossbar.  Another professional win with some excellent performances, and Monster was excited to see what his new-look Brentford side could go on to achieve from here, now that the team cohesion was starting to click. 

 

 

22/09/2027 - EFL Cup 3rd Round v Northampton Town (A)

Another chance to rotate with a key match against Burnley coming up at the weekend. A few of the reserves made starts; Mainoo and Boucaud-Lina came in as well as Friedrich making his first start since the 6-3 win against Tottenham in April. Northampton were 11th in League 1 and took the lead after 18 minutes when Johnson took advantage of Hackett's inability to cut out a low cross from the right to tap in from a couple of yards out. Brentford grabbed the equaliser in the 33rd minute when Mainoo intercepted the ball in midfield, laid it off to Hackett for the left back to play in a gorgeous pass to Vonasek to take it into the box and finish with the outside of his right foot into the far corner. 5 minutes later, Mainoo swung in a cross from the left channel to find Boucaud-Lina unmarked at the back post, and the towering right back powered a header into the net to give Brentford the lead. Brentford continued to have the better of the game but found themselves level in the 70th minute when Iroegbunam's run into the box couldn't be stopped and his square pass for Boylan was slammed home from close range. With extra time looming, Monster thought the game would be heading for penalties, and the game was decided that way when Cresswell was pushed over in the box contesting a corner in the final minute. Hackett stepped up to smash his penalty into the top of the net to restore Brentford's lead. Benitez added some gloss to the score when he added a fourth in stoppage time. He played a neat one-two with Hackett and then completed his run into the box and finished into the far corner. It took a while but Monster was pleased with the dominance of the back-up players. Hackett was the player of the match with a goal and two assists but everyone had done well. Now to see if they could follow it up with a tricky trip to Turf Moor. The draw for the 4th Round took place after the match and Monster watched in disbelief as Brentford were drawn at home to Manchester City, the holders of the competition. They had beaten them before. Could they do it again? 

 

 

25/09/2027 - SBC v Burnley (A)

A fellow-relegated side up next. Burnley were unbeaten in the league but had only picked up two victories to justify their place in mid-table. Monster went back to his preferred side, although Mbeumo started on the right instead of Master. It was all Brentford at the start of the game but Burnley picked them off on the break, Alvarado breaking down the left to smash in a cross that Serin could only palm out into the middle of the area. Doan was on hand to turn the ball home from a few yards out. Monster wasn't happy at half time and let the players know it. De Marco in particular had wasted several good opportunities. In the 57th minute, De Marco was played through again but rather than head for goal headed towards the corner flag where he was hacked down inside the area. Mbeumo slotted the penalty home low to the keeper's right and Brentford had a foothold in the game. Mbeumo then took the game by the scruff of the neck. Murphy played through a pinpoint ball for the right winger, and he managed to bend it past Pope from an acute angle into the far corner to give Brentford a deserved lead. They managed to see the game out, even with Monster hauling off Rogers and Ferguson who had been poor, inflicting Burnley's first league defeat of the season. Mbeumo was the star of the show - a player Monster hadn't always been convinced by - but he seemed to be forging a spot in the team for himself. 

 

 

September 2027 Review

A perfect month. Brentford were seemingly set to challenge to bounce back up to the Premier League. With so much money in the bank, Monster had requested training facilities to be upgraded so they could make the most of it, which the board agreed to. They also agreed to looking for another affiliate club as well as sending Monster on another coaching course. In terms of awards, Monster picked up the manager of the month, Murphy came second in the player of the month with 3 goals, and 2 assists, while Thiaguinho was third in the young player of the month after some impressive performances and a goal too. 

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2022 by TheJonsterMonster
Uploaded the wrong month!

[TheJonsterMonster]

October 2027

 

In a world where Rafa Benitez is the Wales manager, Monster was hoping to continue his side's good form into October. With Millwall and Cardiff challenging at the top to play this month, it would prove to be another defining set of fixtures. 

 

02/10/2027 - SBC v Peterborough United (H)

First up was the match against 20th-placed Peterborough. Monster made 4 changes and hoped for another dominant performance. It didn't quite work out that way. Peterborough didn't lie down and let Brentford walk all over them and in fact were the better side until Roganovic opened the scoring with his first league goal for the club. In for De Marco, the on-loan Liverpool striker confidently finished from Rogers's through ball. Peterborough continued to press but proceeded to waste a load of opportunities. Monster dropped one of the strikers back in as another shadow striker to see if it would help out the midfield and was rewarded when Master's shot came back off the post and Ferguson was clattered trying to put home the rebound. Ajer took the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way and giving Brentford a 2-0 lead. Peterborough continued to play and pulled one back in the 77th minute when Gallagher smashed home after a patient move from the visitors. Brentford did have a couple of opportunities on the break but hit the woodwork on numerous occasions. Monster warned the side afterwards against being too complacent. They had created lots but lacked a clinical finish. It gave Monster some thoughts about his tactics and he went back to the drawing board to see what tweaks he could make, frustrated with the performance. 

 

 

16/10/2027 - SBC v Cardiff City (H)

After the international break when they took on Greenwich and demolished them 12-1, Brentford returned to league action against 7th-placed Cardiff City. Being odds-on favourites, Monster tried an attacking mentality in this game to see if it broke some of the shackles off at home. He also moved his deep-lying playmaker into central midfield. It seemed to work initially with a goal in the second minute, Ferguson finishing off a perfect ball through by Aitchison, beating Griffiths at his near post. They doubled the lead in the 34th minute when Talbi's cross from the right looped over the defence, caught the keeper by surprise, and allowed Ferguson to tap into an empty net. Cardiff improved after the break with a ball over the top to Colwill, who brought the ball down, and tucked the ball past Serin. They kept pressing and found another goal to draw it level in the 73rd minute. Another ball over the top went to Martinez, who kept his cool and finished from the edge of the area. Monster wasn't impressed, and demanded more from his players. In the 82nd minute, Hughes whipped in a corner from the right, Friedrich flicked it on, and Ferguson sealed his hattrick with an astute header at the back post. The gloss was added with another goal in injury time, Talbi breaking down the right and squaring the ball for De Marco to sweep home for his first goal since the defeat to Portsmouth in August. If an attacking mentality meant the strikers started scoring goals, Monster wasn't going to complain. Ferguson's hattrick saw him named as the player of the match. Brentford also stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games. 

 

 

19/10/2027 - SBC v Millwall (A)

2nd v 1st at The Den. Monster was without Hughes and Ajer due to being tired, Friedrich and Patino coming in to replace them. In the 6th minute, Brentford tore Millwall apart through the middle, De Marco knocking the ball around the corner for Master to tuck home. However, Millwall levelled it up before half time when Wallace nodded home at the back post from Bennett's cross. Brentford had the better of the second half but couldn't find a way through the stubborn Millwall defence. Monster wasn't disappointed with a draw at the team closest to them. He also made a point of saying hello to Paul Spencer on the Millwall bench, now back at the Championship side after his loan at Aldershot. 

 

 

23/10/2027 - SBC v Stoke City (A)

Away to the side in 6th was the next game up for the Saturday evening kick off. Monster named a strong side, even with the 4th Round tie against Manchester City coming up on Tuesday night. In the 10th minute, Mbeumo cut back inside on the right flank, whipping a left-footed cross to the back post where Ferguson nodded past the keeper to give Brentford the lead. In the 26th minute, Mbeumo was tripped as he broke into the box and stepped up to smash home the penalty. Flooding the box before half time, De Marco and Mbeumo combined to let the right-winger have a shot which the keeper could only parry into the path of Ferguson who slammed home. 3-0 up away against a side battling for the playoffs - Monster was pleased with their performance at half time, having threatened this on several occasions in recent matches. In the 69th minute, Ferguson grabbed his second hattrick in three games with a thunderous finish with the outside of his right foot from Rogers's cross. Stoke pulled one back when Meshino tapped home at the back post from a Kesler Hayden cross in the 71st minute and it set up a goal frenzy in the last 20 minutes. In the 81st minute, Ajer nodded home from Vonasek's corner from the left. Talbi then played a great ball over the top for Roganovic to score a beautiful dinked finish over Cooper and make it 6-1. Stoke then scored on the break with Huggins running through to grab a second. Friedrich then added a 7th goal at the death with another header from a corner, Hutchinson with the cross from the right this time. An emphatic performance from the league leaders, and finally the sort of scoreline Monster was after. 

 

 

27/10/2027 - EFL Cup 4th Round v Manchester City (H)

Having beaten Manchester City in April, Monster knew there was a chance of knocking them out here. Would his young side rise to the occasion? It didn't look like it after a few minutes, Kimmich scoring a howitzer from outside the area, having not been closed down at a corner. An opportunity to make the clearance had been missed by Hackett too, so it had to go down as a mistake. There then proceeded to be a series of offside goals at both ends but the assistant had it right on three occasions. Monster tweaked a few things, trying to ensure his side knew what they should be doing defensively. However, Manchester City managed to squeeze in a second before half time, Sorensen missing the chance to make an interception and a slide tackle from Hackett falling kindly for Poku to stab home. However, Brentford did manage to keep the ball, and were on top in the possession stats. Monster told them to keep believing in the second half and they managed to grab a goal back when Roganovic brought down Ferguson's ball over the top and took his chance with a clipped finish over Ederson. The game petered out to a 2-1 defeat in a fairly even game. City had made the better start before Monster had managed to shore them up defensively and that had ultimately cost them, as well as two defensive errors. Monster said in the tunnel afterwards that he hoped to aspire to be at Manchester City's level in the future. They still had a strikeforce that would be the envy of any side in the world. Brentford had run them fairly close. It meant they could concentrate on the league until the FA Cup kicked in. 

 

 

30/10/2027 - SBC v Plymouth Argyle (H)

From playing the Premier League champions to the side bottom of the Championship. With Blackburn Rovers coming up in midweek, Monster saw the opportunity to rest anybody not looking fit enough to play again a few days later. Brentford started well as always but didn't create anything clear cut until the 33rd minute when De Marco missed a typical sitter, shooting straight at the keeper when he should have done better. To the surprise of most of the stadium, Plymouth took the lead in the 39th minute. Slicing the Brentford defence open, Nvomo's cross was converted at close range by McKiernan under little pressure. Mbeumo came close to equalising before half time, curling an effort wide from the edge of the area. After a rollicking at half time, Brentford came out with much more purpose, Thiaguinho going close with an effort just over the bar within the first couple of minutes. However, they eventually broke through when Aitchison unlocked the defence for De Marco to prove he can score one-on-ones in the 51st minute, using his pace to run through and tuck the ball into the bottom-right corner of the net. 5 minutes later, Brentford snatched the lead when De Marco was released down the right flank, he played the ball back to Hughes, who fed Brooks, who squared it to Roganovic to slam home from near the penalty spot. In the 67th minute it was 3-1. Master's low cross from the right was spilled by Ashby-Hammond and Mbeumo had time and space to turn and stroke the ball home left-footed. The game settled down until stoppage time when Galloway sent Master tumbling inside the area and De Marco converted the spot kick into the top left corner. His goal drought seemed well and truly over. Monster was pleased with how it had turned out, Kian Master the player of the match after an assist and making a nuisance of himself all afternoon. 

 

 

October 2027 Review

Another decent month at Brentford. Going well in the league with 4 wins and a draw to leave them 4 points clear with a game in hand over Millwall. The cup exit to Manchester City was entirely expected but had been a close game. De Marco came third in the young player of the month award, while Monster came second in the manager of the month contest. Ferguson was still top scorer in the league while Ajer had the best average rating. 

 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

November 2027

 

In a world where Phil Neville was relieved of his Watford managerial duties during October, Monster wanted to continue Brentford's charge back towards the Premier League. With games coming up against Blackburn Rovers, Watford, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, and Nottingham Forest, there was a mix of sides from all areas of the league to play. 

 

02/11/2027 - SBC v Blackburn Rovers (H)

First up was the game against Blackburn Rovers, 4th in the league. This was Brentford's game in hand but they produced such a disconnected performance against a 3-5-2 formation that they never quite got to grips with. Brentford were the better side looking at the stats but couldn't find the breakthrough. Blackburn scored on the counter, Reine-Adelaide smashing into the top corner from the edge of the area in the 26th minute. Monster couldn't find any serious issues with the performance, it had just been one of those days. It was frustrating that it had happened at home again. 

 

 

06/11/2027 - SBC v Watford (H)

Fortunately, the opportunity to bounce back came quickly, a few days later at home to 20th-placed Watford. Monster had made some tactical tweaks to see if it made any difference to how the side played. It didn't have any impact in the first half when Watford played them off the park.  Monster promptly changed things back at half time but it was Watford who grabbed the lead, Gueye smashing home from inside the box after Mbeumo had given the ball away needlessly in midfield, playing an aimless ball forward that was nowhere near any strikers. Within a few seconds, Serin was picking the ball out of the net. Monster was furious with the side. They had been so poor, not putting any pressure on the goal at all. He demanded they played with more urgency, and something seemed to click, finally creating some chances and looking more threatening. It took a triple change to take off the lacklustre Murphy, Vonasek, and Mbeumo to spark the team into life. De Marco had come on wide on the left, and in the 86th minute flicked a first-time pass forward to Ferguson. A defender intercepted but couldn't get the ball to a teammate, allowing Ferguson to take a touch and smash past Pardo-Roques to the relief of three-quarters of the ground. Monster immediately wanted more. He wanted the winner. As the clock approached the 90th minute, Serin began a move with a short goal kick to Ajer. The ball was worked out to Master who flicked it infield to Roganovic. He laid it off to Master who played a ball looking for the run of Brooks. The Welsh midfielder ran through, kept his cool, and slotted home left-footed to then disappear under a mob of his teammates. Monster was delighted with the change in fortunes, and wondered if playing a higher tempo at home would make the difference in those games that had proved tricky recently. Something to work on over the next few weeks, which included a friendly during the international break against former side Hillingdon Borough. 

 

 

20/11/2027 - SBC v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

One of the toughest fixtures of the season, away at the odds-on favourites to return straight to the Premier League. Wolves hadn't started brilliantly, but had recovered to start the day in 5th. Monster had experimented against Hillingdon Borough by dropping the 3 attacking midfielders into midfield and hadn't seen any adverse effects on their performance going forwards in a comprehensive 8-0 win. Wolves hadn't lost since a home defeat to Burnley in September, so were one of the in-form teams in the division. They also had Brentford's former keeper, Mark Travers, between the sticks for them. Monster would have been more than happy to keep Travers but after he had kicked up a fuss and demanded to leave (to a side in the same division?), Monster couldn't wait to see what his new-look side would do to the former goalkeeper and show him what he was missing. Wolves also had some of the best players in the division at their disposal; Daniel Ballard was second only to Kristoffer Ajer, and they also had players like Luke Shaw and Rodrygo in their ranks. Monster wasn't taking anything for granted. In the 11th minute, Wolves countered from a corner resulting in Anderson nodding narrowly over at the other end. From the resulting goal kick, Brentford built from the back to allow Mbeumo to wriggle through but his shot drifted wide of the far post. Wolves continued to pour forward but were caught on the break when Shaw's cross was cleared by Sorensen, and Murphy and Ferguson broke forward. Ferguson played the ball back to Mbeumo, arriving late, and he curled into the top corner left-footed from just inside the area; a wonderful strike to silence the crowd. In the 19th minute, Barrentxea broke free on the right and played a simple ball across the face of goal which Bretones could only turn against the post from close-range. A huge let-off. In the 32nd minute, Bretones broke through after another breakdown from a corner, but he could only chip the ball straight into the hands of Serin. Brentford were hanging on. Brentford created a decent chance a few moments later, Ajer bringing a Wolves attack to a shuddering stop with an excellent tackle on the halfway line, and springing an attack which saw Ferguson shoot narrowly wide. After an end-to-end half, Brentford's possession-based game kept the game quiet until the hour mark. Ferguson had lost the ball in the left channel but the clearance went straight to Ajer who found Murphy. His through ball found Ferguson, and the striker added to his tally for the season with a delightful dink over Travers which bobbled into the corner. In the 70th minute, a throw in from the right made its way into the box via Master and Sorensen, finding Talbi, who smashed into the top corner from 12 yards. A minute later, Ferguson made it 4-0. Master broke down the right and his low cross to the Irish forward put it on a plate for him and he couldn't miss from 10 yards. In the first minute of stoppage time, Brentford made it 5-0 with Master the creator again, a perfect pass from the right wing played Vonasek through and the Czech youngster kept his composure to finish low into the corner to cap a miserable afternoon for the home side. An outstanding performance from everybody. Monster was delighted. 

 

 

23/11/2027 - SBC v Huddersfield Town (A)

A midweek trip up to Yorkshire saw Brentford take on Huddersfield, down in 22nd place. After the heroics at Molineux, Monster set the team up in the exact same way and sat in the dugout to watch Brentford dominate. No goals in the first half but plenty of chances. De Marco, playing on the right wing in this game, scored the opener shortly after half time when Vonasek tapped the ball to him on the edge of the box, and the Italian smashed into the roof of the net for his 5th league goal of the season. Huddersfield were always in the game, though, at 1-0 down but Vonasek put the game beyond reach with a well-taken second a few minutes before the end. Benitez on the left played him through, and the Czech striker took it round Smith and finished calmly left-footed. A routine 2-0 win for the away side and they extended their lead at the top to 7 points. Will Hughes was the player of the match with a tidy game spraying the ball around in midfield. 

 

 

27/11/2027 - SBC v Nottingham Forest (H)

The final test of Monster's tactical plan came at home to Nottingham Forest, a mid-table side in poor form without a win in their last five games. Monster went out with an attacking mentality and to play at a higher tempo, in contrast to the balanced controlled possession approach now adopted in away games. Brentford took the lead in the 14th minute with a well-worked goal. They probed the Forest backline with various attempts. One clearance then fell for Trevino who played it inside to Murphy who played through Ferguson to slot home with a precise finish. Brentford's lead didn't last long, though. Forest equalised in the 21st minute with a simple goal that began with a throw-in from the left. They worked it across the field and Mowatt found Antonio with a yard of space, the right winger lashing home left-footed from inside the box. The two sides went in level at the break. Forest had kept them quiet so far. Monster gave the team a telling off. They seemed to be playing within themselves. Mbeumo and Master were hooked on the hour mark, Vonasek moving out to the right. Within a couple of minutes, Ajer played the perfect ball through for Vonasek to latch on to it and poke the ball under Trott to give Brentford the lead again. Brentford kept Forest at arms' length, despite the visitors creating a few opportunities. Thankfully, Brentford extended their lead in the 82nd minute with a sensational piece of play between Vonasek and Ferguson. Ajer retrieved the ball from a corner and knocked it out to the left for Ferguson. His ball across the box found an unmarked Vonasek who was running back infield from having taken the corner. Controlling it on his left foot and then curling it back over to Ferguson with his right, the Irish striker scored with a gorgeous cushioned volley, beating Trott's despairing dive at the near post. Forest scored a complete potshot at the death, Gibbs curling home from outside the box, having sneaked on to the pitch after receiving some physio treatment leaving him unattended. Monster was slightly cheesed off, but it was a great strike that Serin couldn't have done any better with. A 3-2 win was satisfactory, but it hadn't been the dominant performance he had originally expected. More work for Monster to do with the players. Ferguson picked up another player of the match award with his brace. 

 

 

November 2027 Review 

A frustrating defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers had started the month but since then, Brentford had continued to impress; the win at Molineux was the most memorable following Monster's tactics review. Ferguson was the player of the month with 5 goals in 5 games, while Vonasek, Master and Talbi were the top 3 in the young player of the month award. Monster was third in the manager of the month. Ferguson was clear at the top of the goalscoring charts with 17 goals while Ajer, Ferguson, and Friedrich were top of the average ratings. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

December 2027

 

In a world where Laurent Blanc is in charge of Finland, Eric ten Hag is in charge of Cyprus, and David Moyes is the Scotland manager, Monster had some confidence going into December. Norwich looked to be the biggest test, now up to second in the league, and there were also two games against Sunderland coming up. Steven Gerrard was still in charge of the Wearsiders, and Monster was looking forward to renewing the rivalry having knocked them out of the FA Cup on the Aldershot run to the FA Cup semi final in 2026. 

 

04/12/2027 - SBC v Hull City (A)

First up was a trip to Hull to take on a side Monster had knocked out of the FA Cup earlier on in the year with his Aldershot side. They had won the replay 3-2 thanks to a last minute goal that day, and Monster was hoping for something not quite as dramatic today. Brentford were quickest out the traps and had the lead inside two minutes when Master was played through by Murphy and tucked the ball home with a delicate chipped finish over Coleman. They were 2-0 to the good when Mbeumo scored in the 15th minute. Murphy swept the ball out to the left where the winger cut inside on his left foot and finished into the far corner. Brentford rarely threatened after that, and Hull City pulled a goal back before half time when Talbi sloppily tripped Diang in the box when there hadn't been much need to commit to the tackle. Manning fired the ball past Serin. The second half was a measured and controlled performance from Brentford but neither side added to their tally, the game finishing 2-1. No late fireworks this time. Murphy provided both assists and was awarded the player of the match award. 

 

 

05/12/2027 - FA Cup draw

The latest stage Monster had ever entered the FA Cup as the 3rd Round was drawn. At home. To Newcastle United. Not the easy draw Monster had hoped for, but a chance to knock out the side that had beaten him at Wembley in 2026. 

 

07/12/2027 - SBC v Sunderland (H)

Another chance to see if they could win comfortably at home against 15th-placed Sunderland. Monster had a few changes to make but it was still a decent side that took to the field. In the 6th minute, Lowe had Thiaguinho on toast down the Sunderland left and whipped in a cross that Barry headed towards goal, with Ekuban nipping in to score a cheeky flick. Brentford appealed for offside but there was nothing going. Ekuban had timed his run perfectly. Brentford weren't behind for long, Friedrich equalising from a Brooks free-kick in the 15th minute. 5 minutes later, Vonasek had the ball in the net from a Benitez through ball but the assistant had his flag raised. With the second half seconds old, Brentford grabbed the lead thanks to Master's finish. Ferguson's ball ran perfectly into the winger's path and he was able to tuck home right-footed to give Brentford the lead. In the 69th minute, the referee ruled out a perfectly legitimate goal. Brooks whipped in a free kick from the right wing and Ferguson applied the headed finish only for the assistant to raise his flag. Brentford eventually grabbed the goal their pressure deserved, De Marco applying a calm finish to bely his normally wasteful finishing, having been played through by Brooks. He took the ball wider than he would have liked but still managed to convert at the near post. It was a convincing performance without the goals to necessarily show for it. Brooks was the star man for the day with his two assists. 

 

 

11/12/2027 - SBC v Reading (A)

Reading began the day in 16th but had a good recent record against Brentford; Monster was hoping to put that right before the crunch Norwich game coming up in a week. Reading made it a combative match and took the lead in the 13th minute through their best player Placheta, wandering through looking suspiciously offside and somehow beating Serin at his near post at an impossible angle. Brentford dominated the ball, created the better chances, but never found a way past Southwood. Monster was livid, Murphy bearing the brunt of Monster's ire with a shocking performance, but in truth, nobody had played particularly well. It didn't affect their lead at the top, Norwich succumbing to a home defeat to Plymouth to keep the gap at 8 points. Monster warned the side he wouldn't stand for any more of this nonsense, though. 

 

 

18/12/2027 - SBC v Norwich City (H)

A chance to put the last week behind them and take an 11 point lead into Christmas. Monster chose the home style and sent the team out to look for early goals. Ferguson partnered Vonasek up front. It was a slow start to the game, with both sides cancelling each other out until a couple of minutes before half time when Ferguson fed Master and the right winger dinked the ball into the net to give Brentford the lead. Master scored after the break as well, Trevino with the cross, Ferguson miskicked, and Master slammed home from close range. Brentford kept up the pressure and scored again before the end to round off a comprehensive victory. Hughes found Master in the box and the winger's cross across the face of goal was tapped in at the back post by Aitchison. 3-0, a dominant performance, and Monster was delighted. 

 

 

21/12/2027 - SBC v Peterborough United (A)

Another game crammed in the Christmas period saw Brentford travel to Peterborough for a midweek game against a side hovering outside of the relegation zone. Peterborough took advantage of some clinical finishing on their part to score two goals in the first half. Poku scored from the edge of the area catching Serin by surprise with an effort he should have done better with, palming it over the line. Azeez then doubled the lead, running through to smash past Serin at his near post. Monster had to change something and he went for the more attacking option that he used at home, and swapping Vonasek with De Marco. Murphy's chipped pass then found Vonasek breaking into the box, and he squared it for Ferguson to tap in. Monster gave the players some sharp words in the interval and they equalised in the 51st minute with a well-worked goal. Serin sprayed the ball out to Hackett on the left and his pass went straight through to De Marco who rounded the keeper and slotted in. Monster went for the jugular, taking off Patino and Aitchison who hadn't played well. Having wasted numerous good chances, with everything seemingly aimed at Vickers in the Peterborough goal, Brentford eventually found a breakthrough towards the end with Hackett involved again. His cross found Ferguson at the near post and his ball across goal was spilled by Vickers for Murphy to slam home and snatch the 3 points with a minute to go. Monster wasn't especially pleased with the performance but they had managed to win from a losing position, having looked dead and buried at 2-0 down. 

 

 

26/12/2027 - SBC v Coventry City (H)

A home game on Boxing Day against the Championship's bottom side. Merry Christmas, right? For large parts of this game, Coventry looked to have frustrated the life out of Brentford. It took a lot of encouragement from Monster to eventually spark the players into life, Morgan Rogers grabbing his first goal of the season and first for Brentford in the 86th minute when De Marco laid the ball off to him in the box and the substitute winger curled a beauty right-footed into the top corner from just inside the area. Aitchison then curled home a beautiful free kick from the right side of the area in the final minute of the game to add some gloss to the scoreline. Brentford had completely dominated but Ferguson had been surprisingly wasteful in front of goal. Ajer was the player of the match after a dominating performance at the back and Monster hoped to be able to keep him in the transfer window. 

 

 

28/12/2027 - SBC v Sunderland (A)

A second game against Sunderland in a few weeks and Monster hoped to return down south with another 3 points. Guardiola had been on the phone with regards to Roganovic not playing enough so Monster decided to give the loanee a start in this one alongside Vonasek. Sunderland drew first blood in this game in the 6th minute, Lowe receiving a brilliant pass from Lemina and the left winger stroked past Serin from 8 yards. Friedrich grabbed an equaliser in the 24th minute from a Brooks corner, rising highest at the near post to head home. Lowe scored again in the 37th minute, cushioning a volley past Serin at the back post from a Sarmiento cross. Vonasek equalised within a minute, running on to a defence splitting pass from Brooks before dinking the keeper to continue his recent upsurge in form. 2-2 at half time. With the first attack of the second half, Lowe grabbed a hattrick. Sarmiento did the damage with a brilliant header that looped over everybody for Lowe to nod in from a yard out. Roganovic grabbed the equaliser 20 minutes later, Hutchison playing a fantastic ball through for him and he had the composure to take it around the keeper and slot in. Could they now find a winner? It came in the 89th minute. Patino's searching ball from his own half found the run of substitute Hutchison, who played in Roganovic who scored from outside the box to break Sunderland hearts and send Brentford home with the 3 points. A welcome reminder that Roganovic was being tracked by Premier League clubs, he showed his potential in this match. Another win, albeit a scrappy one. Monster was puzzling over why the side were giving goals away at the back suddenly. He couldn't complain about the late winners, though. It had extended their lead at the top to 15 points thanks to other sides slipping up. Sheffield Wednesday were now in second. 

 

 

December 2027 Review

What a final game to have at the end of a manic year for Monster. He had started 2027 in charge in the National League, managed 7 games in the Premier League, and then spent the rest of the time in the Championship. For Brentford, they were miles clear at the top of the league after a decent recent run, and Monster wanted to make sure they didn't slip up on their way back to the Premier League. Monster picked up the manager of the month award too. Darryl Eales had completed a takeover in December and had altered a few bits in the club vision but it hadn't affected Monster's role at all. On having a look at his former clubs, Monster was delighted to see Aldershot had bounded up the league and were now at the summit of League 2. However, Hillingdon Borough were rooted to the bottom of their Tier 8 division, looking set to return to Tier 9 where Monster had taken them from originally. 

 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

January 2028

 

In a world where Sean Dyche has taken over at Barnsley and Wolves are on their third manager of the season already (taking Colin Calderwood from bottom of the Premier League Swansea City), Monster had some grudge matches to settle for himself and Brentford in the next few weeks. With 4 home games, Monster wanted to use them to prove Monsterball would work at home in providing dominant performances. 

 

01/01/2028 - SBC v Burnley (H)

Burnley were in 9th and didn't look likely to push for promotion, despite being predicted to finish higher than Brentford. It had been a hard-fought contest in September, settled by two Mbeumo goals, but Monster was hoping his tactical tweaks made since then would make the difference in this match. Brentford took the lead in the 11th minute when some good work on the left by Aitchison produced a brilliant low cross to Ferguson. He had the awareness to lay the ball off to Murphy, whose shot was blocked, but fell kindly for Talbi to sweep in. Lerma equalised six minutes later with a powerful header from a corner. In the 19th minute, Master produced a stunning finish to a glorious move to give Brentford the lead again. Hughes intercept in the Burnley half, played in Ferguson, who gave it first time to Roganovic, who played it square to Master on the edge of the box who hit it first time into the far corner past a flailing Pope. On the stroke of half time, Brentford made it 3-1. Hughes tried an effort from the edge of the area, the ball deflecting up off Murphy into the path of Aitchison who stooped to nod it into the net via the far post. Monster encouraged the side to keep going. Sorensen made it 4-1 in the 78th minute with a well-directed header from a Master corner. De Marco came off the bench to add another in the 89th minute with a well-taken volley. Hughes chipped the ball into the box, Master flicked it on, and De Marco caught it perfectly on the volley to find the net and record Brentford's biggest home win of the season. 5 different scorers. Master the master on the pitch. This was more like the Monsterball effect Monster had seen at his previous clubs. Now could they do the same to a side chasing a European spot? 

 

 

08/01/2028 - FA Cup 3rd Round v Newcastle United (H) 

In his 6th season as a football manager, Monster had now reached the 3rd Round for the third time. However, it was the first time he had entered at this stage. To have drawn the side that had won it two years ago, knocking his Aldershot side out in the semi final, Monster wasn't thrilled at the prospects of making the 4th Round. If they did, it would give them nothing to fear. The memories of meeting Manchester City in the EFL Cup were still fresh enough to make him wary, though. Monster named his strongest line-up. As did Newcastle. They must have played a rotated side in the 2026 semi final because Monster didn't recognise any of the names from that fixture. In the pouring rain in West London, Newcastle grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute, Calvert-Lewin converting N'Dicka's cross from the left. In the 27th minute, Ruben Neves had to be substituted, overstretching to block Master's cross, and going down in a heap. In the 31st minute, Newcastle tore the Brentford defence to shreds with neat one-touch football, Nkunku's cross from the right headed just wide by Evanilson from 8 yards out. On the verge of half time, N'Dicka was substituted with a similar issue - sliding in to challenge Master near the halfway line, he went down asking to be substituted. At half time, Monster encouraged them. Despite being 1-0 down, they had created more in terms of XG and certainly weren't out of the game. In the 49th minute, Nkunku swung in a corner from the left, but Brentford were able to clear. Mbeumo broke and fed Ferguson in the left channel. The striker played a tantalising ball across the box for Roganovic to knock home first-time. 3 minutes later, Evanilson broke down the left wing and played a ball into the unmarked Calvert-Lewin who missed a straightforward chance to give Newcastle the lead, shooting straight at Serin. In the 65th minute, a Trevino ball from the halfway line unlocked Newcastle's defence to find Roganovic in the right channel. His backheel found Master who played a ball into the middle for Ferguson but he could only shoot wide when it looked easier to score. Calvert-Lewin grabbed his second of the game in the 74th minute after a great spell of Newcastle possession where they patiently probed until they found an opening, Sorensen missing his header, allowing the England striker in behind him to slot past Serin. Brentford went on the offensive, hunting for an equaliser. In the 82nd minute, Mbeumo levelled it up with a tap in from a narrow angle. Sorensen whipped a cross in from the left having been out there to take a throw-in, and found Roganovic at the back post. The striker headed it down into the 6-yard box for Trevino to hit at goal. Lafont made a great save but could only palm the ball into the path of the winger to tuck it away. Monster didn't want a replay. He demanded more and watched on through his hands. In the 93rd minute, Sorensen went out to the left to take another throw. Mbeumo laid the ball off to Brooks who whipped a cross out to Master at the back post who somehow got up above Aarons and looped a header at goal that Lafont couldn't get to. The ball hit the back of the net and the Brentford Community Stadium erupted. Monster's love affair with the FA Cup continued. It was Brentford's first victory over Newcastle United since 2021. Master's late winner earned him the player of the match award and looking at the stats, nobody could say Brentford hadn't deserved the win. 

 

 

09/01/2028 - FA Cup 4th Round Draw

Stoke City. At home. Monster was reasonably happy with that. In decent form in the Championship, but winnable. 

 

15/01/2028 - SBC v Millwall (H)

1st v 3rd. The only side Brentford had drawn with so far this season. Surprise promotion candidates having been predicted to struggle, but Monster didn't take them lightly. Ferguson, on a comparative goalscoring drought, started up front with Roganovic. Millwall had an early chance through Wallace but his shot was straight at Serin. Brentford took the lead in the 17th minute. Hughes played the ball into the box for Murphy to have a shot. It was blocked but the rebound fell kindly for Mbeumo to slam home. In the 26th minute, Master doubled the lead. Hughes played like a wall, exchanging passes with both inverted wingbacks before launching the ball over the top for Master to run on to and find the far corner on the volley. That was it in terms of goals. Brentford saw the game out, exchanging shots with Millwall but always keeping them out of reach. Ajer had led from the back, putting in a player of the match performance. He still had his promise of being sold if £65m was bid for him but nobody seemed willing to part with that much money for him. Monster hoped he would stay and lead the club back to the Premier League. 

 

 

22/01/2028 - SBC v Cardiff City (A)

Cardiff were pushing for a play off spot. It had been an entertaining game last time out with Ferguson grabbing a hattrick but he was on a goalscoring drought now, not having scored since the Peterborough game before Christmas. For whatever reason, Brentford didn't get going in this game. Cardiff began better, nullifying Brentford's threat, and took the lead in the 33rd minute with a counter attack after Master gave the ball away, resulting in Longman tapping in at the back post. Monster laid into the team at half time but it didn't have any effect. Wintle scored a 25-yard screamer from the right side of the box before the hour mark to double Cardiff's lead. Ferguson did grab one back with a nice finish to end his drought but Brentford couldn't put any pressure on the Cardiff goal and were always second best. A mystified Monster couldn't figure out what had been different in this match. Any tweaks he had made hadn't worked. The journey back to London was mostly conducted in silence. 

 

 

25/01/2028 - SBC v Plymouth Argyle (A)

In some better form than when they last played each other, Plymouth had recovered under their new manager. Coventry City had appointed their former manager, who had been bottom of the table with Plymouth at the time. Coventry were now bottom, to Monster's bemusement. Plymouth were up to 22nd. After a defeat, Monster's aim was to win. It didn't need to be a comprehensive win. Any old win would do. To see an unmarked McKiernan nod in after 4 minutes, to open the scoring as he had done in October, Monster wanted to kick something. The lead didn't last for too long. In the 19th minute, Brooks drew them level with a low drive from the edge of the box, following some tidy work by Vonasek and Roganovic down the right. Brooks gave Brentford the lead in the 29th minute. Mbeumo broke down the left and sent in a low cross which Ashby-Hammond could only palm into the middle of the area. The shadow striker for the day raced in to smash home. Plymouth had been the better side up to that point but couldn't create much else for the rest of the match. Brentford had plenty of chances but couldn't find the finish. Brooks was the player of the match, as a reminder that if Murphy had a bad game, he was more than capable of filling that role. A win was all that Monster had wanted, and they returned to London with the 3 points in the bag. 

 

 

29/01/2028 - SBC v Stoke City (H)

The first of two home matches against a Stoke City side in decent form and now sitting 4th in the league came to round off January. Monster tried to give the side a lift and send them out so they could dominate the game. He had made his deep-lying playmaker a regista, to try to give him the licence to be effective higher up the field. Patino was the man in that spot today. Stoke turned out to be very compact, not looking to break forward too much but be clinical on the counter, presumably fearing being destroyed as they had been in October in that 7-2 defeat at home. Monster threw everything at them. Barely a notable chance created. It was only when Roganovic was flattened in the area contesting a cross from Mbeumo in the 84th minute did Brentford have the opportunity to break through. Mbeumo took the penalty, driving it low into the bottom-right corner. Relief. It turned to panic when Assal broke through in stoppage time but his shot was straight at Serin. Patino had played well in his new role, and the defence had all played well too. Going forward, Monster fined Murphy, Ferguson, and Vonasek a day's wage for their abysmal showings. He had had enough of Ferguson's pathetic efforts recently, resulting in another poor, and goalless, performance here. 

 

 

January 2028 Review

Through in the FA Cup, with another cupset under his belt, but league performances hadn't been convincing. Monster knew he couldn't win 5-0 every week, no matter how much he wanted to, but he was becoming fed up with goal-shy strikers. Of the 14 goals scored in January, only 3 had come from his strikers. He had just seen Fabio Silva sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers for a deal worth up to £45m. Would someone like him have made a difference having sold him in the summer? Master was second in the young player of the month award with Monster also second in the manager of the month. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

February 2028

 

In a world where Jose Mourinho has announced he will retire at the end of the season, currently unemployed, having been sacked by Atletico Madrid in December, Monster would start the month facing Stoke City again, this time in the FA Cup. With 4 leagues games against sides in the lower half of the table, and then one game against Blackburn in 8th, Monster hoped to stretch their lead at the top of the table. 

 

05/02/2028 - FA Cup 4th Round v Stoke City (H)

Monster hoped it wouldn't be settled by a late penalty this time. In what was his 300th game in management, he named a strong line-up. Having seen his lack of goals from strikers, he decided to tweak the tactics a little. Instead of having a playmaker deep, he changed the attacking midfield position to the advanced playmaker role. He also changed the passing to be mixed, including some directness, and asked the side to pass into space. The hope was to get the ball to the front players quicker. He also asked them to be prepared to dribble more with the ball. It meant surrendering possession more often, but as long as they had more than the opposition, the hope was still to put their goal under pressure. It seemed to pay off immediately. Neat passing in midfield saw the ball out to Master, who knocked it through for the run of Brooks. As he was about to shoot, a Stoke defender got their foot in with a great last-ditch tackle but the ball fell to Ferguson to volley in from 12 yards to break his scoring drought. In the 22nd minute, Sam Field was show a straight red card for a challenge on Mbeumo as the winger broke free down the left. Monster was surprised to see the referee go for his top pocket but it had been for the two-footed nature of the challenge, which Monster thought was harsh. Still, Stoke only had 10 players and he wanted his side to take advantage. Talbi whipped in the free kick, Ferguson flicked it on, and De Marco nodded in to double Brentford's lead. Monster thought they had made it 3-0 in the 28th minute, Ferguson smashing home from De Marco's flick on but the assistant correctly ruled it out. In the 34th minute, De Marco scored the sort of goal Monster had wanted to see from his strikers. Brooks picked up the ball inside the centre circle in his own half and played a fantastic ball over the top for the Italian to run on to. Not even taking a touch, De Marco slotted the ball in first time to make it 3-0. At half time Monster implored them to keep going. Straight after half time, De Marco broke through and was scythed down by Roberts inside the area, despite getting a good chunk of the ball. De Marco grabbed the ball and slammed home from the spot to make it 4-0 and grab a hattrick. Monster was thrilled for him. Monster decided to make the team ease off a bit from there and focus on keeping the ball but play for set pieces. In the 81st minute, substitute Hackett nodded in at the back post from a Brooks free kick on the right. 5-0. Monster was delighted. However, Stoke did squeeze a goal in before the end. Mbeumo lost the ball near the halfway line and the visitors worked the ball through for Assal to score his first Stoke goal, creating an angle to slot it past Serin. Monster couldn't complain too much. Now to see what the 5th Round would bring them. 

 

 

06/02/2028 - FA Cup 5th Round draw

Being one of three Championship sides remaining, Monster wanted to draw one of Nottingham Forest or Blackburn Rovers at home for his ideal draw. Forest went second, away to Chelsea. Blackburn were then drawn out. Thankfully Brentford then followed. All the other ties were Premier League sides against each other. It would be another trip to Ewood Park in a week, and Monster was keen for revenge with Blackburn having beaten them at home earlier in the season. 

 

08/02/2028 - SBC v Barnsley (A)

Before then, Brentford had their league campaign to focus on, the next leg of which was away to 18th-placed Barnsley. With the tactic now installed, Monster hoped it would help achieve promotion as early as possible. He had to make some changes with fitness being an issue, but had faith in the side that walked out. Murphy grabbed the early goal with a tap in after Trevino had left his marker on toast. However, Brentford proceeded to waste chance after chance and it was somewhat inevitable that Barnsley equalised in the second half with a back post header from Lane. The wingers had been terrible in the match and Monster handed out some more day fines for Rogers and Vonasek, who had been terrible. Master and Benitez came on, but couldn't find a breakthrough. Master came closest with a header that hit the crossbar late on but otherwise, Barnsley managed to hold on. Still work for Monster to do. 

 

 

12/02/2028 - SBC v Middlesbrough (H)

The next chance Monster had to test the changes to Monsterball came at home to 19th-placed Middlesbrough. They had made easy work of them earlier in the season in a 4-0 win away and were hoping for similar at home. Mbeumo scored a tidy finish in the 12th minute, having been fed by Ferguson, tucking the ball across the goalkeeper. A couple of minutes later, Friedrich nodded home at the near post from Mbeumo's corner from the right. Two goals out of nothing. In the 22nd minute, Middlesbrough scored with their first attack, Halil looking suspiciously offside when the ball was played through to him and he couldn't miss with only Serin to beat, toe-poking the ball home. Monster encouraged the team at half time. 2-1 up but with far more of the play, he wanted them to express themselves more. In the 62nd minute, a well-constructed move put Monsterball into action through the middle of the pitch, Brooks with the delicate flick, and Ferguson with the powerful first-time finish. It was a similar outcome 7 minutes later, Thiaguinho the provider this time, and De Marco the goalscorer. The game fizzled out after that, which Monster was fine with. A 4-1 win maintained their 14-point lead at the top. It was Ferguson's 20th league goal of the season too. Not bad for a player Monster hadn't expected to be a starter when he signed him. 

 

 

19/02/2028 - SBC v Preston North End (H)

Another home match in quick succession, before two trickyish away fixtures to finish the month. Preston North End hadn't troubled Brentford in the first meeting in September, and Monster hoped that would work out the same way here. Monster told them he expected them to come back in with a win and they seemed to take that to heart. They had the lead within 13 seconds. From kick off, Monsterball came into full effect, the ball working its way out to Mbeumo who played a gorgeous through ball for De Marco's run, and the on-loan Italian did the rest, caressing the ball home from 12 yards out. In the 4th minute, from a corner, Sorensen was deemed to have been pushed over in the area, and Mbeumo stepped up to beat the keeper with a low finish from the spot. Gunn guessed the right way but it had too much on it for him. In the 19th minute, Sorensen scored his 3rd goal of the season, nodding in Mbeumo's corner. Master had picked up a knock, but it didn't stop him from making it 4-0 in the 33rd minute. Some excellent one-touch passing in the middle of the park between Talbi and Brooks found the run of Ferguson, whose cross was on a plate for Master to stroke home on the half-volley. It was 5-0 before half time, Ferguson nodding home at the back post from a Mbeumo free kick near the right-hand corner flag. Monster thought that was it but they were able to squeeze in a sixth goal before the break. Following the breakdown from a free kick, Talbi swung the ball out to Sorensen, who played in Brooks in the left channel. The now-advanced-playmaker drove a low cross across the six-yard box and De Marco was on hand to slot home from a couple of yards out. 6-0! Monster was ecstatic with the side. Of course that meant the second half was a damp squib. They spurned a couple of chances but the game had already been won. Monster made changes, and Aitchison was scythed down by Jim Johnston late on, the frustration clearly having got to the former Aldershot youngster, whom had been at The Shots for a brief spell before Monster cashed in on him. Mbeumo had had one of his super performances which would probably mean he would be useless for a few matches afterwards with a goal and a hattrick of assists. But Monster was delighted to see his strikers scoring goals again. Having the playmaker further up the field had definitely connected play for them and they were starting to dominate home games at least. How would they get on in the next two away games? How would Monster approach them? Take the home tactic? Or go with the possession-focused one which had seemingly done okay earlier in the season? 

 

 

22/02/2028 - SBC v Blackburn Rovers (A)

A pre-cursor to the FA Cup tie the following week. Blackburn were 8th in the league and in decent form. Monster wanted revenge following their victory at the Brentford Community Stadium in November. He decided on the possession style to start the game but as Reine-Adelaide scored from a corner in the 6th minute, he instantly switched to the style that had been more successful at home. Blackburn played a 3-5-2 formation, which Monster anticipated the 4-1-3-2 would find tricky to combat. He asked his wingers to mark the wingbacks and it seemed to do the trick. In the 33rd minute, Brentford had sustained pressure on the edge of the Blackburn box, Ferguson's blocked shot looping up in the air over the backline to fall into the path of Mbeumo, who tucked home from a few yards out, the keeper and defence stood ball-watching. In the 39th minute, Patino scored his first ever Brentford goal with a free kick from the edge of the area, curling it over the wall and into the top corner left-footed. In the 44th minute, it was 3-1, when Mbeumo tapped home at the back post. Ferguson played the ball over the top for De Marco to chase, the striker pulled it back into the danger area to Talbi and he flicked it first-time to Mbeumo who finished with aplomb. After half time, just before the hour mark, Master was tripped in the area to earn his side a penalty. Mbeumo finished to make it a hattrick. Monster made changes to try and rest some legs but the substitutes seemed far too complacent. Blackburn grabbed a goal back through former Brentford man Semenyo, whom Monster had sold in the summer, his low shot beating Serin at his near post. Thankfully, they didn't kick on from there, Brentford managed to see the game out, and Monster was delighted to come away with a 4-2 win. Based on the stats, the game had been incredibly even. Brentford had taken their chances. On returning to the dressing room, the news filtered through that Nottingham Forest had despatched Sheffield Wednesday 4-1, so it meant the lead had now extended to 17 points. As it stood, Brentford could win the league in the game against Sheffield Wednesday on Good Friday. 

 

 

26/02/2028 - SBC v Watford (A)

A match against local rivals Watford to finish the month. Erol Bulut had replaced Phil Neville earlier in the season and had improved their league position from 21st to 17th. After their recent form, Monster was hoping Brentford would still be able to impose themselves on the game. It didn't happen. They created some decent chances, Talbi coming closest with an effort early on. It was a stalemate first half, Watford only looking threatening from set pieces. Monster changed tactic to get a different song from his team but they seemed helpless on the pitch, the defence unable to push up. With an air of inevitability, Watford scored from a corner in the second half. Monster's substitutes looked so ineffective too, despite being motivated. Ferguson missed a great chance late on, heading so far wide it threatened the corner flag more than the goal. Monster told the side exactly what he thought of them afterwards, not holding back at all. Their inconsistency was so frustrating, looking like world beaters one week to being played off the park the next. He vowed there and then to keep the tactic the same but only tweak the mentality. 

 

 

February 2028 Review

A frustrating end to the month after having made such a lot of progress. They now couldn't seem to play well away from home, which hadn't been a factor earlier in the season. De Marco was second and Trevino third in the young player of the month award, while Monster was third in the manager of the month competition. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

March 2028

 

In a world where Diego Simeone, Leeds manager, was offered the job at Aston Villa, and replaced by Gareth Southgate, Roberto Martinez is back at Everton after Slaven Bilic was sacked, and Frank Lampard has just been dismissed as Sheffield United manager, Monster knew it would be a difficult trip back to Ewood Park against Blackburn and their possession-dominant 3-5-2 formation. 

 

01/03/2028 - FA Cup 5th Round v Blackburn Rovers (A)

He had learned last week that their wingbacks had to be marked. He had a theory about dropping the passing directness slightly to counteract Blackburn's methods, but to keep the high tempo. He also pushed the back line up further, having been pushed so low at the weekend. He hoped it would move the team forward and make them dominate possession more. It blew Blackburn away in the first half. In the 2nd minute, Mbeumo knocked in Rogers's free kick from inside the 6-yard box to give Brentford the lead. In the 25th minute, Rogers escaped the attentions of his marker on a mazy run inside from the right wing where he was playing, and tucked it past the keeper into the far corner. In the 34th minute, a hurried clearance from Carter went straight to Brooks and Ferguson was played through to square it across goal where Rogers was lurking for number 3 and his second of the game. There was a goal for Mbeumo also ruled out for offside. 3-0 at half time and Monster couldn't believe how well they had played. He did drop the tempo slightly for the second half so as not to wear the players out. Vonasek created the fourth goal, producing a great cross from the right for Rogers, whom had swapped wings, to tap in on the volley for his hattrick, his best ever performance in a Brentford shirt, and to round off a comprehensive 4-0 win. If this formula worked for the rest of the season, Monster was going to be thrilled. Of the 8 5th Round ties played, this game was the only one won by the away side outright. Tottenham Hotspur needed penalties to beat Bournemouth but the rest were all home wins. 

 

 

02/03/2028 - FA Cup Quarter Final Draw

Monster's second time in the Quarter Final. Who could forget the Swansea win two seasons ago? Having knocked out Newcastle already, Monster didn't have much fear of any of the other sides. Avoiding Manchester City and Arsenal would be useful but apart from that, he hoped he would be testing Brentford against these sides next season. Brentford were drawn at home... to Tottenham Hotspur. 5th in the Premier League but Monster had already beaten them once as Brentford manager. 

 

04/03/2028 - SBC v Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)

A game which on paper was 1st v 9th. Under new manager Colin Calderwood, Wolves had spent money in the January transfer window, including the signing of former Brentford striker Fabio Silva for a deal worth up to £45.5m. Could £100m-worth of signings give them that boost towards the playoffs? Monster hoped it wouldn't be today. With them playing a possession-based tactic, Monster set the passing to be slightly shorter and sent the team out to put in a good performance. With Ferguson not fit enough to start, Roganovic played up front alongside De Marco, and he opened the scoring after 10 minutes. Luke Shaw's free kick went straight to Ajer, whom nodded the ball to De Marco, being played onside by Shaw. He played through his strike partner and Roganovic managed to create an angle to tuck the ball past Travers, another former Brentford player. Wolves hit back in the 19th minute with a goal on the counter. Lazcano knocked the ball out wide to Silva, who took on Cresswell beating him for pace, and then played it square to Suddick in the box. He applied an awkward finish off-balance but the ball sailed into the top corner, clipping the post on the way in. 4 minutes later it was 2-1 to Wolves when Suddick scored again. It was their next attack, Lazcano's persistence paying dividends despite the close attention of several Brentford players and Serin should have done better at his near post with Suddick's shot. Monster was up on his feet and berated the players. They'd fallen asleep and let Wolves score twice. Wolves then proceeded to see out the rest of the half, leaving Monster wondering if it was going to be one of those days. He questioned them at half time whether they wanted to win, trying to provoke them into some sort of reaction. Apart from ensuring the opposition instructions were fully in place, he didn't change anything else; they had been the better side so far, apart from conceding two goals. In the 58th minute, Aitchison whipped in a free kick from out wide on the left and Cresswell was unmarked at the back post to nod home the equaliser. Brentford continued to build pressure but couldn't find a way past Travers, the former Brentford keeper pulling off numerous stops to keep the home side at bay. Monster sent on Mbeumo for Benitez, and Hackett for Sorensen, both players coming off having put in a below par performance. In the 88th minute, Mbeumo whipped in a corner from the right which bounced in the six-yard box. Anderson tried to clear it but it went straight to Master who poked it towards goal and Roganovic was on hand to tap in and send three quarters of the stadium bouncing. Wolves tried to respond but were then caught on the counter themselves, Aitchison feeding Mbeumo in the area, and the left winger made it to the byline to then square it for Roganovic to grab his hattrick. Monster was delighted. A 4-2 victory having been 2-1 down was huge against the biggest spenders in the league and the favourites for promotion at the start of the season. 

 

 

11/03/2028 - SBC v Huddersfield Town (H)

Top v bottom. A must-win game. No slip-ups allowed. Murphy grabbed the opener in the 10th minute, shooting past an unsighted keeper from the edge of the box, catching almost everyone by surprise. Master had nipped the ball off the toes of a defender as he broke forward, swivelled, and played it to Murphy who took a touch and hit it into the net. It was Master's last meaningful contribution as he was taken off in the 15th minute, limping off to be replaced by Vonasek. In the 24th minute, Trevino broke forward unchallenged in the left channel, playing in De Marco in the box, and the Italian did the rest, finding the back of the net with a low finish to make it 2-0. In the 42nd minute, Brentford were awarded a penalty when De Marco was pushed over in the area waiting for a cross. Mbeumo stepped up and found the net to the keeper's left. 3-0 at the break. Monster said he was happy with the amount of shots. It seemed that made the Brentford players believe they no longer needed to apply any pressure. It wasn't helped when Trevino was stretchered off in the 50th minute with a serious-looking injury after an innocuous challenge. In the 56th minute, Koroma broke down the right and squared for an unmarked Obafemi to tap in. Monster was in the technical area demanding more. They seemed to have completely switched off. In the 71st minute, Koroma made it 3-2 as Sorensen missed his header, and Koroma was able to take it round Serin to slot home. Brentford managed to cling on but Monster made it clear in the dressing room how disappointed he was with their second half efforts. The news on Trevino's injury wasn't good either. A broken ankle. His season was over. Master would also be missing for a few weeks having twisted his ankle. On a brighter note, Sheffield Wednesday had capitulated 2-0 at Peterborough, meaning the lead at the top was now 20 points. It meant two more wins were required for promotion. Three more wins required for the title. 

 

 

14/03/2028 - SBC v Nottingham Forest (A)

13th v 1st. A mid-table Forest side with little to play for. Monster knew he would have to rotate with the FA Cup Quarter Final coming up at the weekend and also with the injuries picked up against Huddersfield. Only Serin kept his place. The changes seemed to pay off early in the game, Vonasek grabbing the lead in the 7th minute thanks to Thiaguinho's excellent 25-yard pass over the defence, and the Czech striker took it round Trott to slot in. Brentford were the better team, creating the better chances but Nottingham Forest equalised in the 32nd minute when Radonjic found the top corner from inside the area. Monster told the players he wasn't happy, they continued to create chances in the second half, but no second goal came and the match ended in a draw. Having rested everybody apart from Serin, Monster was satisfied with a draw, and it turned out that Sheffield Wednesday had lost at home to Barnsley so the gap had widened to 21 points. All attention was now on the fixture against Tottenham at the weekend. 

 

 

19/03/2028 - FA Cup Quarter Final v Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Buoyed by the news that due to results on the Saturday, they had gained promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking, there was a real buzz around the stadium prior to kick off. Could they prove their Premier League credentials with a win against the side in 5th? Monster approached the game as if it was any other home game. De Marco started on the right with Master out injured, meaning Ferguson and Roganovic started up front. Brentford had the first effort, but Zaniolo was the main threat and went close with a curling effort from the edge of the box. Following a corner in the 26th minute, Hughes was given the ball back by Friedrich and sent in an awkward floated cross towards the back post which Portilla made a complete mess of giving De Marco a free header to nod into an empty net. Monster couldn't believe it. They'd gifted his side a goal. Tottenham cranked up the pressure but found Serin in fine form. Monster knew he was an excellent shot stopper but he had had little opportunity to prove it in the Championship. As the game headed for half time, Nianzou sent Ferguson tumbling in the area and Mbeumo grabbed the ball. Could they go in at half time 2-0 up? Of course they could. Mbeumo despatched the ball into the left corner and ran off to celebrate in front of the home crowd. Monster feared the backlash, and was more cautious after half time, adjusting the mentality of a few players to be less attacking. It seemed to do the trick, although Zaniolo hit the post twice with speculative efforts. However, as the time ran on, Monster encouraged his side to keep the ball, not be so risky, and they saw the game out professionally. Serin was the player of the match having kept Brentford in it at several points, but it had been a clinical performance to give hope for next season. Another semi final for Monster and a first ever semi final in the FA Cup for Brentford. However, De Marco would be missing for a few weeks after picking up a knock in the match. 

 

 

20/03/2028 - FA Cup Semi Final draw

With Arsenal, Chelsea, and Everton in the hat, Monster was hoping for Everton, with them being the lowest in the Premier League, in 16th place as the draw took place. Arsenal and Chelsea were pulled out first which meant Monster could plan for a game against Everton at Wembley in mid-April. 

 

28/03/2028 - SBC v Portsmouth (A)

Another Monster revenge mission. They had inflicted Monster's first league defeat in several seasons back in August and Monster wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. They were 20th in the Championship but 10 points clear of the relegation zone. With their gegenpressing style, Monster knew it would be a tricky tie. Ferguson was inexplicably still on international duty so had to miss out meaning Monster went with Vonasek and Roganovic as his strike partnership. Serin had also been capped by Belgium in the recent internationals. Monster was hoping for a decent away performance too with recent away form having been unpredictable. With the squad stretched, fringe players were likely to be needed to fill the bench over the next few weeks and 3 points would nearly guarantee the title. Portsmouth made the better start and scored a well-crafted opener in the 3rd minute. Greenwood won the ball on the right, fed Castro who launched a ball over the top for Micovschi to clip the ball over Serin, having caught Talbi on his heels. Not the start Monster had in mind. Portsmouth continued to dominate the early stages and Monster told his side to stop focusing down the flanks and play through the middle instead. It seemed to pay off and Brentford finished the half stronger. In the 37th minute, a clearance by Sorensen ended up looking too long for Mbeumo to reach but as the keeper dallied, Mbeumo nipped in to flick the ball square with the outside of his foot to allow Vonasek to tap into an empty net. In the 42nd minute, Hughes scored his first ever Brentford goal with a thunderbolt from outside the area. Talbi played the ball into him, and Hughes took a touch, and with his left foot walloped into the far corner. 2-1 at half time. Monster wanted more. In the 50th minute, Murphy grabbed one of the most bizarre goals of the season. Roganovic broke into the box on the right, playing the ball across looking for Murphy. The ball was intercepted and played to Poole, but his clearance was intercepted by a sliding Murphy and the ball dribbled over the goal line to make it 3-1. Brentford continued to pour forward and made it 4-1 just after the hour mark with another tap in. Mbeumo made it to the byline, whipped it in, Bass couldn't hold it, and Vonasek was on hand to tap in for his second. Sonny Perkins grabbed a goal back a few minutes later, escaping the attentions of two markers to nod in from a right-wing cross. In stoppage time, they grabbed another. A neat passing move, once again coming from the right, they worked the ball across for Perkins to fire in for his second from 10 yards out. It had been a spectacular game, a great game for the neutrals, as Monster admitted in the press conference afterwards, and it was also the 3 points he was after. A single point against West Bromwich Albion at the weekend would confirm the title. It also confirmed a total of 96 points, breaking their highest points tally in a season. 

 

 

March 2028 Review

Another good month with the only slip coming away in the draw at Nottingham Forest. Reaching the first FA Cup Semi Final at the club felt like a big step and they only need 1 point to seal the title. Monster had now been in charge for a year and had developed a style of football that had brought Premier League football back to the Brentford Community Stadium at the first time of asking. In the NxGn Top 50, Vonasek (30th) and Gubler (45th) featured, as well as the on-loan Roganovic, which pleased Monster. His scouting for youngsters was working, and there couldn't be too many second tier sides that had players featured in there that had been picked up at a young age. The expansion to the club's training facilities had also been announced, giving the club 4-star training facilities now. In terms of awards, Roganovic won young player of the month, as well as Monster winning manager of the month. There was also transfer activity going on in the background with Monster trying to negotiate for youngsters to come in and beat the big clubs to their signature. Having won promotion, the board had somehow removed some transfer budget, giving him only £48m to play with and keeping the wage budget the same. As a result, Monster was looking for bargains. 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

April 2028

 

In a world where Arsenal's 30 year-old defender Benjamin White is proposed to be subject to an offer of £45.5m from Real Madrid, Monster was focused on winning the title, with promotion already secured. 

 

01/04/2028 - SBC v West Bromwich Albion (H)

A point against a team in 11th would guarantee the title. Monster wanted there to be no slip ups and sent the team out with an attacking mentality to try and ensure the win. What Monster hadn't countered on was West Brom wanting to spoil the party. In a tame first half hour, Ferrari scored the opener for West Bromwich Albion after 38 minutes. A ball forward was flicked on by Corbeanu and buried by the striker with the Brentford defence static. Just before half time, Murphy had an effort come back off the bar and with the goal gaping, Rogers proceeded to smack his effort off the post. Monster didn't hold back at half time and sent the side out with their ears ringing. Corbeanu then doubled the lead with a back post header from a corner to irk Monster even further. Did the players not want to win the title as soon as possible? Mbeumo pulled one back in the 59th minute, playing a neat one-two with Vonasek on the edge of the box and then clipping his effort in off the far post. Cruz hit the outside of the post late on and Mbeumo also had an effort come back off the post. Monster hurled water bottles once the team were back in the dressing room until one of the backroom staff pointed out that Sheffield Wednesday had lost. Brentford had won the title! It wasn't the way Monster had wanted to win, but he sent the players back out again to celebrate with the fans. He eventually appeared to celebrate with them but he was already planning some tactical tweaks, tearing up his beloved 4-1-3-2 to see if he could find a formation that would prevent situations like this arising again. He hated being the best side on the stats but keep giving away silly goals. 

 

 

04/04/2028 - SBC v Reading (H)

1st v 12th. Monster wanted to test a new 4-3-3 formation in order to put 3 central midfielders in the middle of the park and see if that changed anything. Patino, Hughes, and Murphy were the middle 3 for this game. The first half was full of event but no goals. Lots of chances were created for both sides, but it was goalless. Monster was getting fed up with yelling at the players at half time but told them to get their act together. Within a minute of the second half starting, Hackett launched an effort from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. Another stunning effort from outside the box to add to the recent run. Substitute Cresswell then nodded on Vonasek's corner and De Marco converted at the far post. Reading threatened from a series of corners but the defence held strong and the game finished 2-0. Food for thought for Monster moving forwards. 

 

 

08/04/2028 - SBC v Derby County (A)

How would tactical Monster fare in this game? He went with dropping the attacking midfielders into midfield but using the same roles. However, Derby made a fast start to the game, scoring from yet another throw in despite everyone being picked up. The ball was fed into Mbala and he found the top corner after 4 minutes with a good turn and finish inside the area. A minute later and it was 2-0. A free kick from Amaechi near the right byline was met by Tyrese Campbell in the six-yard box, and his header found the corner of the net. Monster was livid, immediately up on his feet and barking at the team. Thankfully that stemmed the flow of goals but they couldn't find a way back in, continuing their trick of hitting the woodwork on multiple occasions. Monster had faith, though. The system did seem to be working in terms of creating chances. At half time, still sick of yelling at the players the whole time, he strode into the dressing room, looked at them all in the eyes, and stormed out without saying a word. In the 55th minute, Aitchison scored a similar goal to the one Hackett had scored in the previous game, a left-footed belter from outside the area. A couple of minutes later, Bielik brought down De Marco as he ran through on goal and was shown a second yellow card. In the 68th minute, a nice passing move on the edge of the area was worked into Thiaguinho's path, and not for the first time this season, he curled home from the edge of the area. A deserved equaliser. Now to hunt for a winner. In the 84th minute, Will Hughes received the ball in space from Thiaguinho on the edge of the area and launched a left-footed stunner into the top corner to silence the Derby crowd. Turn-around complete. Monster was elated with the team. Jack Aitchison was the player of the match but Hughes was a close second. Having not scored for Brentford before the Portsmouth game, he now had two in a few weeks. Attention was now turning to the next week where Brentford could have a say in the promotion race with their game against Sheffield Wednesday, who had been out of form recently, and then the FA Cup Semi Final against Everton. 

 

 

13/04/2028 - SBC v Sheffield Wednesday (H)

What had been pencilled in a while back as the title decider, now appeared to be more about Brentford affecting the promotion race. Sheffield Wednesday's form had slipped in recent weeks and there was still a chance that a resurgent Wolves in 6th could gain automatic promotion, being 5 points behind. Norwich City were now the holders of the second promotion spot with Millwall and Cardiff making up the rest of the top 6. With the Everton game in three days, Monster went with a fully rotated side. Even Serin had a rest for the first time this season. Monster kept the formation that he had used against Derby, with the midfield trio rather than an attacking midfield trio. In the 5th minute, Brooks was tripped on the edge of the D, and Patino curled it over the wall and into the top-right corner to give Brentford an early lead. Brooks scored a wonderful goal in the 17th minute, cutting inside from the right flank on to his left foot and finding the left corner with a thunderbolt from inside the box. Before half time it was 3-0 when Roganovic scored a header from a Patino cross from the left channel. The sort of goal Monster hadn't seen enough of throughout the season. Maybe dropping the midfield was giving the strikers more space to work in. He was thrilled with the first half performance from the back-up players. The second half was a bit of a non-event but Monster didn't mind. It set a new record in the Championship for the number of wins in a season (34). Patino was the player of the match with a goal and two assists. It dropped Sheffield Wednesday to 5th in the league. 

 

 

16/04/2028 - FA Cup Semi Final v Everton (N)

A first ever FA Cup semi final for Brentford against Roberto Martinez's Everton side, 14th in the Premier League. An Easter weekend trip to Wembley as well. In the other semi final, Chelsea had beaten Arsenal 1-0. Monster had been here before. Two years ago he had lead National League South side Aldershot Town to a semi final against Newcastle United. It had been a 4-1 defeat that day but Monster had a better team now. He knew he could beat them, having won 4-1 away in his second Premier League game in charge last season. Mbeumo, Ajer, and Sorensen had started that game for Brentford whereas Everton had a few players in their ranks who had been beaten that day. Monster told the team to go out and make the most of it. It was Everton who made the strong start, though. Rogers lost the ball on the right hand side and Luka Romero sent a perfect ball over the top to find the run of Moffi who kept his cool to bury the ball in the net with Serin helpless. It brought back echoes of the Newcastle United game when Aldershot had conceded after 3 minutes. Monster remained in his seat in the dugout. He believed he had set the side up correctly. One shot shouldn't affect their approach to the game. In the 11th minute, some gorgeous Monsterball brought an equaliser. One-touch football, forward movement, and they scythed through the Everton defence. Aitchison played De Marco through in the middle but rather than taking the shot under pressure he played it to Mbeumo who clipped it across for Ferguson to head in from 7 yards. It was his first goal since February. Monster had said in the tunnel interview before the game that he had faith in the striker and so it had proved. A minute later, Brentford broke through again, beautiful triangles being formed, Ferguson feeding Talbi who found Mbeumo with a first-time pass. The winger hit it first time on his left foot with little power but Pickford was slow to react and the ball squirmed under him, kissing the base of the post and deflecting into the net. There was little action to speak of for the rest of the half. The two sides effectively cancelled each other out. After half time it was much the same, the game flew by in a blur. However, in the 83rd minute, just as Monster had remembered to make some changes, Okocha broke free down the Everton right and found Moffi. His shot was blocked but the ball bounced back to Okocha who squared it for a now unmarked Moffi to tap in from a couple of yards out. Monster had his head in his hands. His main focus was to get them to full time intact. They were relatively okay in the dressing room. He told them all again that he wanted them to show him what they could do. Extra time began and the Brentford players looked out on their feet. Could they dig deep enough to find a breakthrough or would the tie be settled by penalties? In the 98th minute, Rogers broke down the right, cutting the ball back for Murphy on the corner of the box. Travis sent him tumbling with a tired flailing leg and the referee pointed to the spot. It took VAR to confirm it was definitely a penalty but it was eventually given. Was this the chance? A tired Mbeumo stepped up... and found the bottom corner! A composed finish into the bottom-left corner meant Brentford had the lead. Monster set everyone on to a more defensive mentality within their individual roles. Hold on. That's all they had to do now. The time ticked away. Everton couldn't muster up another decent opportunity despite having numerous corners. Brentford fans had their faces covered; hands, scarves, and anything else they could find. Would it be a first FA Cup final for Brentford? John Semakula blew the final whistle and Monster was on the pitch to celebrate with his players. A spectacular and historic victory. Mbeumo was named as player of the match after two goals and an assist. He had certainly proved his worth to Monster in recent weeks. And now a chance to avenge their relegation last season against the side who they had played on the final day of last season. A first FA Cup final for Monster, in what he hoped would be the first of many. He was also intrigued to see that Brentford only had three league games left before the final whereas Chelsea had at least seven - five in the league, and a Champions League semi final to negotiate against Bayern Munich. 

 

Spoiler

 

22/04/2028 - SBC v Norwich City (A)

On a great run, Norwich had worked themselves into an automatic promotion spot. This was a game where Monster wanted to test his theory against a 4-2-3-1 formation, one that Brentford had struggled against this season. On a balanced mentality, and slightly shorter passing, Monster was looking forward to putting another dent in one of their promotion rivals' hopes. The first half shot by. Brentford created the better chances but didn't find a breakthrough until stoppage time. Murphy played Brooks in behind the Norwich defence, and on his left foot he curled a beauty from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Chances came and went in the second half. Norwich went close with a couple of efforts but Monster was confident that they would see it out, which they did. A controlled 1-0 win, although the strikers looked out of sorts. With two games to go, Monster had the opportunity to test some more of his tactical theories before the cup final. 

 

 

29/04/2028 - SBC v Hull City (H)

The final home game of the season. Monster wanted to put on a show for the fans against a side battling against relegation, although they seemed to have enough points in the bag already. The first half's main talking point was when Evan Ferguson inexplicably went in two-footed on his marker on the halfway line in the 26th minute. A moment of madness. The referee had no option but to produce the red card. It scuppered any chance Ferguson had of confirming his status as top scorer in the league, having not scored a league goal since February. At half time he asked for more from the players. They needed to produce something special. In the 55th minute, Aitchison was played into the box by Mbeumo and was sent tumbling by O'Nien. The referee pointed to the spot, although there was some scepticism whether it was inside the area. However, Mbeumo stepped up and scored into the bottom-left corner to give Brentford the lead. Could they now hold on with 10 men? It was a scenario Monster hadn't had to deal with often as a manager. In the 63rd minute, Sanders scored from all of 30 yards with an effort Serin should really have kept out. 1-1. In the 81st minute, Honeyman scored from 25 yards. Hughes should have put his body on the line, Serin should have stopped another long-range effort, and instead, Monster was facing a defeat which could so easily have been avoided. It was also a scorer he remembered from the FA Cup tie against Hull last season when he had been in charge at Aldershot. Brentford couldn't muster any response and Hull saw the game to ensure they would be playing Championship football again next season. Monster was livid with the team afterwards. Brooks had played terribly after being the match-winner the week before, and Ferguson had to take the wrath of the manager for his stupid moment of madness. He would most likely miss the FA Cup Final with it being a straight red. Monster had no sympathy for him. 

 

 

06/05/2028 - SBC v Coventry City (A)

(Yes, I'm aware this game was in May but the Championship finish was a bit mad - 5 teams were vying for the final automatic promotion spot.) 23rd v 1st to finish the season. If Brentford won, they would set the record for points won in a season. If they scored 4 goals, they would set a new record for goals scored in a Championship season too. In the promotion race, the key game was Sheffield Wednesday (4th) v Millwall (3rd). Norwich were at home to Watford and Wolves were at home to bottom side Huddersfield Town. Monster didn't hold back on the players in this game. He wanted them to finish the season in style. Win the game. Handsomely. They would never have a better chance to enjoy themselves. In the 12th minute, Roganovic scored from 8 yards to give Brentford the lead. The ball was worked across the pitch and Mbeumo played him in with a hint of offside. Even so, Roganovic blasted the ball home for only his 10th league goal of the season. In the 37th minute, Friedrich doubled the lead. He won the header from a Rogers corner which Dieng managed to keep out but Friedrich was on hand to bury the rebound from a narrow angle. Murphy added a contender for goal of the season 3 minutes later. Sorensen played the ball into his feet about 30 yards from goal, and the playmaker took a touch, swivelled, and hit the ball as hard as he could towards goal. Dieng could probably have done better but the ball flew past him and it was 3-0. They were relentless and added a 4th before half time. A Talbi free kick from the left wing was missed by the keeper and landed on De Marco's head to nod home from close range. 4-0 at the break. And the Championship goals scored record. From kick off in the second half, Murphy played Mbeumo through on the left and the winger was tripped in the area. He picked himself up to tuck the ball into the bottom right corner of the net and extend the lead even further. Roganovic grabbed his brace in the 69th minute, De Marco feeding him in the box and he had time and space to steer the ball into the bottom corner. The game petered out from there, Monster keen to ensure there weren't any injuries for the cup final. A wonderful way to end the season by matching their biggest win and to confirm the two records they had been close to at the start. On returning to the dressing room they discovered Sheffield Wednesday had grabbed the second promotion spot. They beat Millwall 2-0 while Norwich lost 2-0 at home. Wolves won 1-0 so finished 3rd. 

 

 

April (and a bit of May) 2028 Review

Two frustrating games sandwiched some spectacular ones in April before being finished off in style in May. 4-2-3-1 seemed to be the biggest problem formation for Monster's side to deal with. Thankfully Chelsea played a 4-3-3. It had been a fantastic season, all in all, returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, breaking records in the process. Ferguson missed out on top scorer in the league, but having not scored in the league since February it wasn't a total surprise. Brentford had 11 players inside the top 20 in terms of average rating. There had been some great performances across the season from players young and old. The older players that had stayed had played a key part, taking the top 4 places. 

 

 

[TheJonsterMonster]

May 2028 (the rest of it)

 

In a world where Championship side Brentford would have a chance of winning a spot in the Europa League if they won the FA Cup, Monster was looking forward to leading the side out at Wembley to contest his first premium cup final since winning the FA Trophy in 2026.

 

FA Cup Final build up

With the Championship season having finished, the final was bizarrely due to take place on a Tuesday. Monster arranged a couple of friendlies in the interim, taking on Dundee (6-0 win) and Winkel Sport from Belgium (4-0 win) to test his tactic for the cup final. He was fairly certain on his starting eleven, providing nobody picked up any injuries. Having won the title, the board had given Monster the budgets and he had been trying to strengthen the side where possible with the young players in on loan unlikely to return. He did have a bid in for Roganovic but the others looked like being too expensive to pursue with the limited amount he had to spend. He had also been shopping for youngsters and had a few due to come in, some without work permits unfortunately. The big name signing looked to be the signing of Chris Tipple from Sheffield United. Chelsea had relegated them on the last day (Editor Monster: sounds like a familiar story...) and his relegation minimum fee clause had become active. With some big sides sniffing around, Monster stumped up £34m to secure his signature. 

 

23/05/2028 - FA Cup Final v Chelsea (N)

A season finale of incredible significance. Could Monster lead a Championship side to FA Cup glory? He was intrigued to see if his side could overcome the side that had relegated them last season and re-enter the Premier League with European football in the mix too, which would send Chelsea into the Conference League. Roberto Mancini was still in charge of a Chelsea side starting to show some age with players like Jorginho, Lukaku, and Kovacic all 34+. Brentford had had a good run to the final, knocking out Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton from the Premier League as well as Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City. Chelsea had taken care of Arsenal and Manchester City, the two sides who had been fighting it out for the title, which had been won at the death by Manchester City, only topping the table for the first time on the final day, thanks to Arsenal drawing at home to Manchester United. Yes, Manchester United had handed Manchester City the title. Monster wanted to ensure other quirks of history would have Brentford written in. However, whatever way it was looked at, Chelsea were the heavy favourites. Monster asked the team to go out and prove a point and took his place at the front of the queue to lead the side out. Chelsea kicked off, and within seconds released Cerqueira down the left but without a right foot could only blast wide having cut into the box. After 5 minutes, after a good spell of pressure from the Championship side, Chelsea won the ball in their own box and sprung the counter with a ball to Havertz over the top. He pulled the ball back for Kovacic to have an effort but it was too close to Serin and he held it comfortably. Chelsea kept up the pressure, having a couple of free kicks near the right-hand corner flag in quick succession. The first caused a mad scramble in the box that was eventually cleared but the second resulted in Kovacic heading over when he perhaps should have done better. In the 23rd minute, Brentford had their first real chance of the game when Mbeumo broke into the box, but Pedro Porro managed to snaffle it away from him. Brentford won the ball back and sent Master through but his shot came back off the post. Monster wasn't quite sure how he had missed. Two minutes later, Anguissa played the ball through for Havertz but his shot was too close to Serin and the Brentford keeper could palm it around the post. From the resulting corner Kilman rose highest but his header was too close to Serin and the Belgian international pouched it comfortably. In the 27th minute, Brentford tried to spring a break, but the ball never reached De Marco, the ball finding its way through to Cerqueira who could only blaze over. Brentford had the next chance in an end-to-end final, Master blasting into the side netting from Talbi's knockdown. It seemed to calm down after that, both sides having speculative efforts that were easily blocked. 0-0 at the break. Chelsea had had more chances but Brentford had spurned the best one of the match. Within a minute of the restart, Talbi had to slide in with a last-ditch block to prevent a Cerqueira tap in. In the 52nd minute, Cerqueira had another opportunity, played in through the left channel, and produced another good save from Serin who managed to palm it clear. Brentford tried to respond, but De Marco was pounced on by two Chelsea players. James played the ball back to Martinez who played the ball out to Kilman, only for De Marco to intercept. The on-loan Italian took a touch before smashing the ball into the corner and running off to celebrate in front of the Brentford end. 1-0! De Marco had caught everyone by surprise by continuing his run and had nipped in to intercept the pass and find the net. In the 73rd minute, Roganovic went close with a looping header and 9 minutes later had another opportunity from six yards that he could only hit at Martinez who palmed it clear. In the 86th minute, De Marco was played clean through by a pass from substitute Murphy, but with only Martinez to beat, clipped his shot wide of the mark. Bardghji probably had Chelsea's best chance since the goal in the 90th minute, played through by Havertz but his attempted chip was charged down by Friedrich. The corner came to nothing, and Brentford saw the game out. They had won the FA Cup!

 

Spoiler

 

THE FA CUP! In his 6th season as a football manager. Monster looked around Wembley Stadium trying to drink it all in. Having been relegated in the most unfortunate of circumstances last season, Monster was delighted to repay the faith Brentford had in him with a trophy win as well as a return to the Premier League. And his first taste of European football next season. 

 

(Editor Monster: Another apology - I completely forgot to screenshot the trophy celebration - my hands were on my head while it played out. It wasn't exactly expected.) 

[TheJonsterMonster]

The end of season party had a different vibe to the ones he had experienced at Aldershot Town and Hillingdon Borough. It wasn't at the clubhouse any more. Brentford hired a swanky London hotel. Having not had one last year following relegation, Monster had to reflect on how the season had been. The fact the FA Cup was there on the table at the front alongside the Championship trophy was a miracle in itself. The actual FA Cup. The trophy he had seen handed out on the TV while he was at the brush factory. A mere 7 seasons later, he had been lifting it in the air while walking around Wembley Stadium with his victorious Brentford side. It was what dreams were made of. 

 

And on that note this blog will end. Winning the FA Cup had never been on the cards this quickly but it came as part of an absolute fairytale and it fell at a time of my life where this blog was one of the only things keeping me going. You may have noticed I stopped uploading on a daily basis, and that was due to experiencing a mental breakdown of sorts. The writing was the crutch I was using to prop myself up and I needed to learn to live without one. This was starting to eat into things that I really wanted to do, despite me having had a lot of fun doing it. It's why I uploaded the final few months as a huge finale this morning; they've been written for a while, I'd never got round to uploading them all. 

 

What I will say is that the save has continued... I'm determined to reach the top of the Hall of Fame ahead of all the other managers. Pep Guardiola keeps winning stuff, now in charge at Paris St. Germain, which is making it harder. 

 

I had to prepare Brentford for Premier League football again, so I did what any rational manager would do and spent a fortune on bringing in wonderkids. I'll highlight two of them: Sladan Spasojevic from Red Star Belgrade for £5.75m and Damian Perez for £10m from Rosario Central. I managed to keep hold of the aging stars who had been relegated with us, and we had a good crack at the Premier League. Chris Tipple was the star striker tasked with scoring the goals. 

 

We lost the Community Shield to a dominant Man City side (still with Mbappe and Haaland up front) but started the season with a comprehensive 6-2 win over Crystal Palace. It was tricky to assess what success would look like this season, as the board wanted relegation to be avoided. Smashing Crystal Palace gave hope that it could be so much more. This was then followed up with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge to prove that the FA Cup final hadn't been a fluke (and to avenge some of the demons from the day we were relegated). The Europa League draw was kind with Cukaricki, Lille, and Astana drawn in the group. A home defeat to Man City followed but after that, the side remained unbeaten in all competitions until an away defeat at Leicester City on 10th December. 

 

The Europa League campaign was stunning. 6 wins out of 6, including an 8-1 thrashing of Lille at home where Tipple scored 6. 

 

On 5th November, Brentford went to Old Trafford and bagged all 3 points, thanks to goals from Tipple and Mbeumo. It was the final nail in the coffin for Gabriele Milano (aka Massimiliano Allegri) who was dismissed. I applied for the role but was unsuccessful. They went for Jurgen Klopp from RB Leipzig. So I applied for the Leipzig job. If it was good enough for Klopp, then why wouldn't it be good enough for an FA Cup winner with a thirst for bringing in and developing young talent. 

 

Fresh from beating top of the table Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away, RB Leipzig appointed me on 18th December 2028 with them languishing in mid-table in the Bundesliga (I'm counting 7th as mid-table). They were also in the Europa League, so were in a good position. However, they had a youth team, a far bigger stadium, and Klopp had guided them to their first German Cup in the season just gone. Still no Bundesliga, though. Bayern Munich were still the team to beat. It was a blow to leave Brentford 3rd in the Premier League table, but RB Leipzig felt like a step up to the next level. 

 

 

David De Gea was appointed as my replacement at Brentford. 

 

With the January transfer window in play, I decided to buy all the wonderkids I'd been tracking for Brentford without taking anyone away from them, in the hope they wouldn't completely collapse. RB Leipzig had loads in the bank, having sold some stars in the summer so I purchased 14 players in January, including Mo Salah for £4m to provide some experience up front. Several players kicked up a fuss at my apparent lack of experience, so I showed them the door. Owen Wijndal was the first - £55m to Juventus. I strengthened the defence as a priority and stumped up the cash to bring in Argentine wonderkid Edgardo Talavera in from San Lorenzo for £5.75m as well as Raffaello De Marco from Lazio for an eye-watering £64m. Yes, he had been inconsistent in the Championship, but there was something about him that made me want to see if my hunch was right and he would become a superstar. He had scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final after all. He understood my 4-1-3-2 tactic and could be an option for either wing too. 

 

That season ended in a cup double. We only lost once, 3-2 away at Old Trafford in the Europa League semi final. Oh yes. We faced Klopp. And showed Manchester United what they could have had, having demolished his side 4-0 at the Red Bull Arena. In fact, it was almost a reunion tour throughout the whole campaign. We took on Lille in the Quarter Finals, beating them 11-2 on aggregate. The final saw RB Leipzig take on Tottenham Hotspur. And win. 2-1 after extra time. They had managed to hold on and win the Premier League in the end too. European silverware having taken over in December. Perfect. 

 

The league campaign had been successful too, finishing 2nd behind Bayern Munich by 3 points. 

 

The next season was intended to be a charge for a first top flight league title. And it was. Comfortably. Bayern Munich couldn't cope with the competition, falling 17 points behind a resurgent RB Leipzig. Sladan Spasojevic from Brentford was the big signing for £41m and he was crucial in the title-winning campaign scoring 16 goals. Another German Cup followed, but the Champions League campaign was halted by PSG at the semi final stage by Pep Guardiola with a 3-2 defeat on aggregate. 

 

Mo Salah left and was replaced by Harry Kane. Still playing for England (which he did until the age of 38!), he came in and gave a different dimension to the 4-1-3-2 formation, playing as a deep-lying forward alongside De Marco, who was starting to show signs of being clinical. 

 

Anyway, rather than drag you through it season by season, it's been a successful stint at RB Leipzig. It's now October 2032. We've won 2 Champions League titles (both finals against Barcelona, bizarrely). We've romped the league and cup 3 seasons in a row. 

 

Harry Kane was a surprising star for the club even in the twilight of his career, managing 33 goals in 49 appearances. 

 

Sladan Spasojevic set all sorts of records, eventually moving to Man City in June 2032 for £155m. Here he is. I'd spotted him in the Serbia U21s at the age of 18 and thought I saw something special. 

 

 

He's currently the largest transfer in this universe: 

 

 

I did try and apply for some other roles. I went for the Manchester United job again in the hope of rebuilding them as they haven't won a Premier League title in this universe. They went for Diego Simeone. Then Zidane took the France job late in the summer so I applied for the Man City job. They went for Pochettino from Real Madrid. It would have been fun to have Spasojevic behind Haaland and Mbappe but it wasn't to be. I've no doubt our paths will cross again at some point.  

 

I might not find my way back to the heights of the Premier League. I might consider another role if a truly massive club comes knocking, or if someone fancies a rebuild. But I've built something special at RB Leipzig. There's a long line of future wonderkids coming off the conveyor belt and I've now spent more time at Leipzig than I have any other club in the save, now in my 4th full season in charge. The youth setup is one of the best in the world. I could top the Hall of Fame here with everything they have in place. 

 

Brentford have held steady in the Premier League. They finished 8th in the season I left and are firmly mid-table. De Gea is still in charge. 

 

Aldershot managed to be promoted in their first season in League Two but went straight back down and are now in the upper reaches of League Two. 

 

Hillingdon Borough are back where I found them; near the bottom of Tier 9. They suffered three successive relegations after I left and even went back to Tier 10 for a season. I have a plan to return there one day. How much fun would it be to win a Premier League title with them? 

 

Final Thoughts

 

Thank you to everyone who has read even a snippet of this in the past couple of months. WoStHoF has been a lot of fun to produce. I've typed out more matches than I ever thought I would and when my ebb was at its lowest, it gave me something to focus on. I hope this isn't the end of blogging. I'd love to do a WoStHoF in FM23, possibly with a player from this save. Sladan Spasojevic is an early contender for player of the series, although I have a sneaky feeling Raffaello De Marco may have something to say about that. 

[TheJonsterMonster]

It's the 11th August 2038. Manchester United have just won the UEFA Super Cup thanks to a stoppage time winner from right back Luciano Fontana. 

Jonster Monster looks around the Eden stadium in Prague knowing that he is now the most successful active manager in footballing history. The person he has now surpassed, Pep Guardiola, Manchester United's chief scout (no, seriously - wait until you see who the Director of Football is) is in the stand with Director of Football Jurgen Klopp (see? It's a bit mad. Ralph Hassenhutl is a scout too), applauding another trophy victory for a resurgent Manchester United side. 

What started only sixteen years ago in the English non-league saw a previously unheard of manager win a fantastic number of trophies, using his impressive sweeping style known throughout Europe as Monsterball:

Hillingdon Borough: 

Isthmian League Cup (2024)

Isthmian League South Central Division (2024) 

Southern League Premier Division South (2025)

Aldershot Town:

Vanarama National League South (2026)

FA Trophy (2026)

Vanarama National League (2027)

Brentford: 

Sky Bet Championship (2028)

FA Cup (2028)

RB Leipzig:

Bundesliga (2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035)

Europa League (2029)

Champions League (2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035)

DFB Pokal (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035)

UEFA Super Cup (2029, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035)

German Supercup (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035)

Club World Cup (2033)

Manchester United:

Premier League (2036, 2037, 2038)

Europa League (2036)

Champions League (2037, 2038)

FA Cup (2037)

EFL Cup (2036)

Community Shield (2036, 2037, 2038)

UEFA Super Cup (2037, 2038)

 

The Manchester United job became available just before Christmas 2035 following the sacking of Diego Simeone with them at a low ebb having not won the league since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and having been refused the job several times, Monster took the reigns and led them to that first title in 23 years. Indeed, in Monster's career, the club had only won the EFL Cup (x2), the Champions League, and the Club World Cup. Monster leaves with 13 trophies in the cabinet in his 2 and a half year reign. 

But it's not over for Monster. He has become the most decorated manager in the world. But at the age of 52 he still has one more challenge. 

He wants to win the Premier League with Hillingdon Borough. Going back to his roots, he wants to catapult the club that gave him a chance into professional football and make them successful. Now living in his mansion, he will wait for the job to become available. 

In other news: 

That RB Leipzig side are quite simply ridiculous. With there being no restrictions on foreign imports in Germany, Monster set about hoovering up South American and European wonderkids, all of whom peaked around the same time. They're still the richest club in the world with a bank balance of over £1bn and they purchased Manchester United's star striker, Jean-Claude Casutt for £145m in the summer of 2038. The two United Champions League wins needed to beat Leipzig at the semi final stage both seasons. The Manchester United side are young but clearly capable. The new manager will have a team full of wonderkids and a transfer budget of £238m to play with and over £1m p/w left in the wage budget. 

Monster may well need to overcome that side to win a Premier League title. 

Oh, and hilariously, Mario Balotelli's Chelsea side have just been relegated. Predicted 7th. Finished 19th. 

[Earnie is God!]

Excellent read.

Glad to see you return to it too, or at least post an update. If you do go back to Hillingdon, it'd be fun to see how you do.

Btw, what tactic is that you used for most of it? Aldershot were unbelievably good with it!  I have plenty of wingers, inside forwards and strikers at Melgar (Peru) and I just don't know what to do with them. That formation just might be the one I've been looking for

[TheJonsterMonster]

On 02/10/2022 at 03:10, Earnie is God! said:

Excellent read.

Glad to see you return to it too, or at least post an update. If you do go back to Hillingdon, it'd be fun to see how you do.

Btw, what tactic is that you used for most of it? Aldershot were unbelievably good with it!  I have plenty of wingers, inside forwards and strikers at Melgar (Peru) and I just don't know what to do with them. That formation just might be the one I've been looking for

I chopped and changed quite a bit. Aldershot used Wingers on attack, whereas RB Leipzig used Inside Forwards on attack. I like symmetrical formations, so I reflected the same on both sides. It depended on what sort of players I had available at the sides I joined. If crossing was higher than finishing, I went with wingers, and if vice versa I went with inside forwards.