neilhoskins77

I hadn't realised that there was a Friday evening game on the opening weekend, so with it being a head to head League, any teams still looking to participate will need to enter by 18:30pm this coming Friday 5th August

One week remaining to register. With only five entries so far, and the League set as a head to head format, we're going to need a minimum of 10-12 entries to make this worthwhile of getting off the ground.

Hi Frank, good to have you here and seeing you make the move from lurking to story writing. I'm sure everyone is looking forward to seeing how your first save goes. Best of luck

I claim my team. Lemington Rovers.

Good day FMS'ers. That Wilson guy is enjoying his retirement in a baking hot North West of England......now there's a sentence I never thought I'd use. One of the tasks I've inherited from him is the annual Fantasy Football League. If you're new to this area of the Boards, then it's a fairly straightforward concept. Register or Sign In to your account at https://fantasy.premierleague.com . Once you've made your selection of 15 players, the code for joining our League is mss5jn . This is a Head To Head style League, meaning that bragging rights are available each week, as well as overall when the season finishes. Once you have entered the League, please claim your team below. Any teams not claimed on the season start date will be deleted from the League. The deadline for entering is the Premier League start date of Saturday 6th August 2022. Please ensure your team name is family friendly, or at least clever enough that it doesn't get flagged as inappropriate. The current Champion and one to beat this season is Chilean Ranger. The Cup is also activated, more information on that closer to the time......... League Roll of Honour: 2010 - Panpardus 2011 - Docklanders 2012 - Balthazars 2013 - PaulHartman71 2014 - mistahc 2015 - Moto Club 2016 - mistahc 2017 - Moto Club 2018 - triforce 2019 - mistahc 2020 - Bagpuss 2021 - Swagat Sinha 2022 - Chilean Ranger 2023 - Dalbeider Cup Roll of Honour : 2013 - Sieben FC (Manxie_Ash) 2014 - Preston Park Celtic (mistahc) 2015 - Hardly Athletic III (mark Wilson27) 2016 - Baddah Bing (FudgeandLove) 2017 - Moto Club Gunners (Moto Club) 2018 - triforce 2019 - Fer Fuchs Ake (neilhoskins77) 2020 - The Full Montemurro (CFuller) 2021 - Finis Coronat Opus (Mandy42) 2022 - Moor Row FC (Bagpuss) 2023 - Not Played this Season

Tuesday 1st February 2011 The Board continue to be impressed by defender James Taylor, and by everything else going on at the club as well right now. Whether that will remain the case if we fail to overhaul current league leaders Mousehole, well, that could be another story. Friday 4th February -------------------- THE BET Belgian Pro League Racing Genk v Cercle Brugge - Home Win - 4/6 German Bundesliga.1 Bayern Münich v FC Köln - Home Win - 4/6 Turkish Premier League Eskisehirspor v Antalyaspor - Home Win - 4/6 Accumulator Odds - 3.63/1 Stake - £50,000 Balance After Bet - £572,196 Total Returns Including Stake - £231,500 -------------------- On paper, this one looks pretty straightforward. Three home clubs playing sides quite some way further down the League than them, and with the home teams in better runs of form. If anything, this trio of clubs are all overpriced. Fingers crossed for a successful weekend as this is all we have going on with no game of our own. BET RESULT Racing Genk 2-1 Cercle Brugge Bayern Münich 3-2 FC Köln Eskisehirspor 3-1 Antalyaspor WIN In the my head, I was looking at a couple of comfortable four nil wins, and maybe a slightly rougher ride in the Turkish game. Nope. That one was the easier one after they raced into a two goal lead and then saw their guests have a man sent off as well. In Germany however, Bayern were two goals down inside half an hour, and had lost Franck Ribéry to injury by then as well. They needed some magic from Thomas Müller and a towering header from Danijel Pranjic to turn things around at the Allianz-Arena and I was able to let out a big sigh of relief. That wasn't the end of the drama though. I thought we were looking good in Belgium when Genk went in front inside a minute. But Irish striker Dominic Foley chose this game to score his first goal of the season and Genk needed to score five minutes from time through Jelle Vossen to get us a winning betslip. Friday 11th February We have a real banana skin fixture this week, as we host third placed Foxhole Stars. We beat them 4-2 at their place back in September, but they have improved considerably since then, though not enough to push themselves into the promotion picture, which is really just a battle between the top two realistically now. Our job this weekend is to make sure they are not running interference on our chances in that promotion hunt. -------------------- THE BET Austrian Premier League SK Sturm Graz v SV Ried - Home Win - 5/4 Single Bet Only Stake - £75,000 Balance After Bet - £529,127 Total Returns Including Stake - £168,750 -------------------- Despite having all these Leagues and Divisions open in all these nations across the globe, I honestly couldn't find anything that was worth the risk for the value I was being offered. So this week, call me Mr Responsible, which I need to start being more often with us looking to step up a level. I didn't want to lose a chunk of money obviously, and this might be something you see a bit more of. I think this is the first time I've been linked with a job elsewhere. It would mean a return to Wales, where I was isolated from competitive football after being found guilty of betting on games before the FA changed the rules. The club rumoured to be interested are one of Wales' bigger clubs, and are situated very close to my home town. Newport County are currently marooned in mid-table in the Blue Square Premier, and have apparently been following my progress with AFC Newquay for a while as current Manager at the club Tim Flowers is rumoured to be contemplating moving on this summer. The former Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City and England goalkeeper is out of contract this summer, and the South Wales club are said to be concerned that they may not be able to keep him at the Newport Stadium. Saturday 12 February South West Peninsula League, Division One West Mount Wise Stadium, Newquay AFC Newquay v Foxhole Stars Just one change for us today in this big game, with new signing and defender Chris Tingay brought into the matchday squad amongst the substitutes, replacing Russell Sampson. The weather has improved, though we are still a long way away from summer temperatures here in Cornwall, but at least we have a full house once again today. Visiting keeper Gwyn Griffiths had to make a big stop inside five minutes to keep the scoresheet clean, Tom Murray picking out Michael Smyth around 10 yards out, the keeper saving that shot with his legs. He had no chance in the 14th minute though, Jimmy Harte and Smyth involved in the build up, and Lee Hales smashing a 25 yarder into the near side top corner, a real goal of the season contender! Ten minutes later, Hales tried his luck from a similar spot, this time it came back off the cross bar, Steve Magee couldn't quite control the ball as it bounced back to him, but it fell to Smyth who made no mistake to double our lead. At this point, any score was possible, and everyone seemingly wanted to get in on the act, full back James Ives driving a shot into the side netting. Magee had just curled a shot inches wide of the upright when the ball was sent over the Stars defence and he raced onto it, Griffiths racing off his line to narrow the angle, but Magee slipped the shot by him and into the bottom corner for his tenth of season, and left the Stars three goals down at the break, and without their skipper Steve Gregory who went off injured. I told my players not to let their performance drop in the second half, but actually Stars would come back out in a very offensive setup, though Smyth did miss an early chance to extend our lead still further, Griffiths making another good stop. At the other end, Aaron Howes beat Elliot Jackson to the ball after our keeper charged off his line to deal with a ball down the middle of the park, but the forward then hooked his shot wide of the open net. I made my changes, replacing the booked James Taylor and Atik Askari with debutant Chris Tingay and Kasper Hansen, and also bringing on Ollie Harrison for Harte. For Taylor, it was partly also because he had just tried to shepherd the ball back to Jackson, got it badly wrong, and Richard Hale nipped in between the pair to pull a goal back for the visitors. This game was now far more open than it needed to be from our point of view, Smyth and Griffiths collided going after the same ball, Hansen unable to punish the keeper as he fired the shot wide with the goalie prone on the grass. Instead, Stars would get the next goal, Paul Ring with a deep cross from the right, and Hale looked miles offside, but the flag stayed down and he fired home his second to bring the score back to 3-2! We now looked an absolute mess, and with just six minutes left to play a cross from the left picked out Howes, his looping header beating Jackson, hitting the underside of the bar and bouncing back into the six yard box, where he reacted fastest and beat Jackson and a defender to the ball to bundle it home and bring the scores level to the dismay of a capacity crowd! The Stars had us right where they wanted us, but they were more than happy with their comeback, and they dropped themselves back into a far more conventional setup. Big mistake! With injury time almost up, we won a corner that Harrison whipped into the near post, and on his Senior debut, Chris Tingay met the ball with a thumping header that found it's way by the mass of bodies on the line, and this crowd would go home happy, and relieved, after all! AFC Newquay (3) 4 - Lee Hales (14), Michael Smyth (24), Steve Magee (36), Chris Tingay (90+2) Foxhole Stars (0) 3 - Richard Hale (59,76), Aaron Howes (84) Attendance :- 3,500 Elliot Jackson; James Ives, Joe Kennedy ©, James Taylor (Chris Tingay 60), Danny Howard; Jimmy Harte (Ollie Harrison 60), Lee Hales, Tom Murray; Michael Smyth, Atik Askari (Kasper Hansen 60), Steve Magee. Unused Substitutes :- Graham Dowling, Sam Farrell, Fred Musah, Martin Prince. Wow! What a game. And what a way to dodge a bullet too. And what makes it all the more remarkable was that Mousehole also won 4-3 today. They were both 2-0 and 3-2 behind at home to Truro City Reserves, and at 3-3 they were reduced to ten men when James Croft was sent off for a second booking. But Glenn James scored his second of the afternoon and 8th of the season from the 17 year old with just eight minutes remaining to keep his club top of the table tonight. That was some contribution from new signing Chris Tingay on the occasion of his first ever Senior football game, and the nineteen year old Londoner must have been wondering what on earth he had let himself in for as the second half played out. But his winner makes it six wins in a row for us now, and we're still very much in the hunt for the Title, and it almost feels like it's destiny that it could all be settled on the game between the top two next month. BET RESULT SK Sturm Graz 3-0 SV Ried WIN And it wasn't just on the park that we were winners today! On a snowy day in Graz, it was a fairly straightforward win for our backed home side as they swept aside bottom of the table SV Ried and restarted their season after the winter break with a win having gone four without a win before the seasonal gap, although they are still eleven points behind leaders Rapid Vienna, and the damage may be done to their season. No damage to our bank account though, a second consecutive win pays out almost £100,000 in profit, and with the home game profits also taken into account, we now have a balance of just over £700,000. We have a tough looking game coming up, as we travel next weekend for a rare Sunday game in Truro, where we will be hosted by their Reserve side that have just been beaten by Mousehole.

Thursday 19th March 2009 I've no idea why the Third Division Team of the Week was so late being named this week, but when it is we are represented by on loan centre back David Armstrong and midfielder Ryan McStay. Friday 20th March So we'll go into the weekend as the League leaders, and we will be hoping to hit next week in just as strong a position, if not better. We're home to seventh placed Berwick Rangers tomorrow, a side we have beaten well twice already, but did only draw with last time out in January. With Montrose and East Stirlingshire both away from home, we are hopeful of extending our lead if we can keep up our end of the bargain. Saturday 21st March Dumbarton v Berwick Rangers Scottish League, Third Division Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton This time I do bring Stephen Murray back into the starting eleven, reinstating him to his left wing position, moving Derek Carcary out to the right and Paul McLeod up front, meaning a return to the bench for Jean-Pierre Papin. The game began with us utterly dominating proceedings, passing through the Berwick defence at will, and totalling double figures for corners in the first quarter of the game alone, Mark Archdeacon heading the best chance wide from a Ryan McStay corner, before Paul McLeod headed a point blank effort right at Ryan McGurk. When we finally broke the deadlock it was McStay picking out Archdeacon, and he fired first time across goal and into the far corner. We should have increased our lead through Derek Carcary, before we got caught sleeping before the break, Michael Reddy picking up the ball in the right channel, and no fewer than three players missed chances to tackle him as he cut inside before he found the net from an acute angle. We'd been dominate enough that I wasn't concerned when we restarted after the break, and we continued to be well on top, Archdeacon's glancing header from a corner headed off the line by Steven Bonar. As the hour approached we would regain our lead, Carcary drilling a low diagonal cross in from the right and McLeod swept it low into the bottom corner from near the penalty spot. I've learnt better than to count my chickens with this team, but with just under 20 minutes to go, Darren Barnard waved everyone into the six yard box, and then picked out Archdeacon who had stayed out near the penalty spot, and he had time to chest the ball down before drilling it through the crowd for his second of the day and 20th of the season, and put this one out of the visitors reach. Dumbarton (1) 3 - Mark Archdeacon (20,71), Paul McLeod (58) Berwick Rangers (1) 1 - Michael Reddy (38) Dave McEwan; Gordon Lennon ©, Darren Barnard, Mick Dunlop (Guy Melamed 76), David Armstrong; Derek Carcary, Ross Clark, Ryan McStay, Stephen Murray (Marc Anthony 76); Paul McLeod (Jean-Pierre Papin 76), Mark Archdeacon. Attendance :- 907. We've had games like that this season where we have failed to secure all three points. We seem to be playing in our sweet spot right now, and it couldn't have come at a better time too. And today almost ended up being the perfect day. East Stirlingshire continued their poor run of form with a defeat away to mid table Stenhousemuir, while Montrose also lost ground to us as they were held to a draw away to Elgin City. We will be visitors to a club near the bottom ourselves next week to end the month, as we make the trip to face Annan Athletic, who are only a point from the bottom of the table. We'll head there with a three point lead at the top, effectively four thanks to our far better goal difference, and a Playoff place at worst confirmed, but the Title still very much in our grasp with only five games remaining on our fixture list currently. On loan striker Mark Archdeacon has now reached 20 goals for the season in all competitions. We are constantly being asked about the possibility of us keeping both him and our other on loan star, centre back David Armstrong. The latter is the more realistic, but that isn't saying much as both are likely out of our reach financially right now, at least on permanent deals. Another loan would be an ideal solution though, and I'd be very open to having both back next season, regardless of which level we will be playing at. Monday 23rd March The performance of Archdeacon and his brace of goals was surprisingly not enough to earn him a place in the Third Division Team of the Week. Our only representative this week was right winger Derek Carcary. Friday 27th March We hold a one hundred percent record over Annan Athletic this season, and we will travel to Galabank this weekend looking to continue that form against the Division's ninth placed side, and hopefully continue a march towards a surprise Title and promotion. No one is expecting this one to be easy however. We beat them soundly 4-1 at home early in the season, but the other two games were both settled by the single goal of the game. I'd cheerfully take that again tomorrow afternoon. I caused a bit of a stir in today's press conference by describing us as 'certainties' for the Title. Saturday 28th March Annan Athletic v Dumbarton Scottish League, Third Division Galabank, Annan There are plenty of milestones for us in this game, with Ross Clark making his 25th Appearance for the club, while full backs Gordon Lennon and Darren Barnard make their 125th and 475th Career League Appearances respectively. It was an unchanged starting selection and squad though as we began our final game of the month. Our attendances are fifty percent larger than anyone else's in this Division, and they look even better when we come to places like this. Might not be such a bad thing today though, as the level of entertainment was low. Darren Barnards's inswinging free kick from the right touchline picked out Mick Dunlop, who was only kept off the scoresheet by a fine piece of goalkeeping from Graeme Loughman. The keeper was powerless to do anything moments later however, Barnard sending over a corner this time, David Armstrong attempted to glance it towards goal, but the ball was blocked and fell right to Mark Archdeacon who bundled it home from close range. Our levels of control were threatened just before the break when Derek Carcary sustained an injury, and Paul McLeod moved out to the wing with Jean-Pierre Papin coming on up front. Loughman had to be at full stretch to tip over a curling shot from Archdeacon early in the second half, and had to repeat the trick moments later when our striker attempted to lob him. As time ticked down, I was sorely tempted to move us into a more defensive setup, especially when sub Alan McDonough worked his way into the penalty box and sent a shot inches wide of the upright. We almost caught them twice on the break, Loughman spreading himself to block Archdeacon's close range shot from Marc Anthony's cross, before Anthony headed at goal himself, just missing the top corner. Fortunately, one would be enough today. Annan Athletic (0) 0 Dumbarton (1) 1 - Mark Archdeacon (34) Dave McEwan; Gordon Lennon ©, Darren Barnard, Mick Dunlop (Guy Melamed 76), David Armstrong; Derek Carcary (inj - Jean-Pierre Papin 45+1), Ross Clark, Ryan McStay, Stephen Murray (Marc Anthony 76); Paul McLeod, Mark Archdeacon. Attendance :- 169. Before the game I told the press that we were a 'certainty' for the Title, which may have been a little tongue in cheek, but not too far from where my confidence levels actually are right now. Those levels have only increased after we have successfully navigated this tricky fixture, and while we were winning Montrose drop points again, held at home to a 1-1 draw by fourth placed Forfar Athletic. They are leapfrogged by East Stirlingshire, who after going winless in four snap the streak with 4-1 home win over Elgin City. Typically, we visit them next in a fortnight's time, a huge game in the Title race. Fortunately for us, we will go into that game with Derek Carcary, the speedster right winger suffered nothing more than an impact stinger today and will be fine to train next week. Monday 30th March Paul McLeod is selected for the Third Division Team of the Week. But that news for him is trumped by Darren Barnard being announced as one of the front runner's for the Division's Player of the Year Award. He is up against the likes of Brian Graham and Jamie Stevenson of East Stirlingshire, as well as Johnny Russell of Forfar Athletic. 2008/09 Scottish League Third Division League Table, Up To & Including Tuesday 31st March 2009 | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 1st | Pl | Dumbarton | | 32 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 66 | 36 | +30 | 61 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 2nd | | East Stirlingshire | | 32 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 64 | 46 | +18 | 57 | | 3rd | | Montrose | | 32 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 39 | 23 | +16 | 56 | | 4th | | Forfar | | 32 | 13 | 12 | 7 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 51 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 5th | | Albion Rovers | | 32 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 45 | | 6th | | Stenhousemuir | | 32 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 49 | 50 | -1 | 42 | | 7th | | Berwick | | 32 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 38 | 49 | -11 | 36 | | 8th | | Elgin | | 32 | 4 | 15 | 13 | 29 | 42 | -13 | 27 | | 9th | | Annan | | 32 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 27 | 56 | -29 | 26 | | 10th | | Cowdenbeath | | 32 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 49 | -23 | 25 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday 1st August 2015 It's the opening day of the Sky Bet Championship, and it's a good day for Cardiff City as they get their campaign underway with a 1-0 home win against Birmingham City, thanks to a goal twenty minutes from time by Icelandic midfielder and skipper Aron Gunnarsson. It's not such a good day for our boy Davide Di Cianni though, as the centre back is left sat down as an unused substitute to start the season, a step backwards from the latter part of last season when he was a regular starter. Down the M4 in London, it's another fortnight before the Barclays Premier League gets underway. Today The Blues are paying tribute to long term goalkeeper Petr Cech in his Testimonial Game at Stamford Bridge against French visitors Stade Rennais. With no importance on the result, it does mean that Danilo gets a start today, playing 45 minutes in a 2-0 Chelsea win through goals in the first half by Ramires, and then right at the start of the second half from Diego Costa in front of 25,000 plus in West London. Tuesday 4th August After opening their League campaign with a win, Cardiff City do the same in their opening game of the Capital One League Cup. They travelled into Kent tonight to face Gillingham of Sky Bet League One, and coming away from Priestfield with another 1-0 win, courtesy of a Federico Macheda free kick with just four minutes left to play. It might turn out to be one of the Italians last goals for The Bluebirds, with offers on the table for his services from several different clubs. His transfer might not do much to help out Davide though, as he is left out of the squad for this game as well. Thursday 6th August Davide is at least included in the Italy Under-21's squad that is named today for the UEFA European Under-21 Championships Qualifier Group Four game in Kilmarnock next Wednesday against Scotland. The defender already has eight caps at this level for the Azurri. Also included in the Wales Under-21 squad for the same competition for their upcoming Group Three game is Danilo, who will be hoping to get some competitive game time under his belt in Amsterdam as Wales open their qualifying campaign up against group favourites, Holland. Friday 7th August Cardiff City have accepted two offers of £800,000 from Reading and Hellas Verona. The Italian forward may yet have more options to consider, with Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Hengda said to be preparing a bid themselves. The big question here is can City afford to lose his goalscoring ability from the team, particularly to a potential rival such as Reading. Saturday 8th August Cardiff City continue their winning start to the 2015/16 campaign with yet another 1-0 win, this time away to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. This time instead of relying on a late goal they went the other way, and scored early and defended their lead right throughout, a second minute goal by Joe Mason proving to be the only strike of the match. The win was all the more impressive considering The Bluebirds had to play the last quarter of the match with ten men. Davide was selected for the bench again, but came on for his first competitive football of the new domestic season in the 26th minute when new signing Nathan Baker picked up an injury. Davide was booked less than five minutes later, and booked again in the 68th minute to see red for the first time in his career, and incur a one match ban. That's bad timing too, as Baker is out for up to a month with a dislocated jaw, and Davide may have jeopardised the chance of trying to claim his place back. Oh, and today is his 19th birthday. I'm sure that's not the kind of card he was hoping for or expecting. There is also mixed news for Danilo today in the blue of Chelsea, but he's a long way from home. In the North African city of Radès, a West Mediterranean port city in Tunisia and only around half a dozen miles from the capital of Tunis, today Chelsea play their final Pre-Season Friendly game before starting their domestic campaign next weekend. The fact that we are this close to the start of the season, and that Danilo is still starting games is very promising. The fact he was substituted in the 38th minute for Diego Costa, slightly less so. The score was 1-1 at that point, André Schürrle having given Chelsea the lead, the equaliser coming a minute before Danilo was substituted, and scored by Sofiene Cheikh. Our boys replacement would get the winning goal in the 55th minute, and The Blues end their Pre-Season campaign with a win. Monday 10th August The Bluebirds might be in need of a new striker, as after a very promising start to the season, Cardiff City have today sold 23 year old former Italy Under-21 striker Federico Macheda. He has rejected the offer from Reading, and will instead return to his homeland, but not with Hellas Verona, as their move was hijacked late on by their Serie A local rivals, Chievo Verona, who have paid £800,000 for his signature. City fans are reported to be fuming that the club have allowed this move to go through without first securing a replacement for Macheda, and have accused the club of lacking ambition. Wednesday 12th August What a night it was at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock this evening. A crowd of over ten thousand gathered to watch Scotland Under-21's open their UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group Four campaign against Davide and his Italy side. It looked like the home fans were going to be present for something special too, when Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Cammy Smith and then Norwich City's on loan at Reading midfielder Lewis MacLeod both netted in the opening five minutes to give the Scots an early two goal lead. Manchester United forward Domenico Beradi pulled a goal back on the half hour mark, and the Italians could not find a way through again until ten minutes from time. Then up stepped their super sub in the form of Parma striker Alberto Cerri. He scored an 80th minute volley in off a post to level the game, and then blasted home a penalty with just two minutes left on the clock, meaning Italy would leave with a win to open their campaign, but they had to work really hard for it. Davide played the full ninety minutes, winning his ninth cap at this level. Across the North Sea in Holland, there was also involvement for Danilo as Group Three got underway in a moderately populated Amsterdam ArenA. The Chelsea youngster started the game, and saw Newcastle United's young forward Andrew James put Wales in front five minutes into the second half. That was against the run of play, and it would take the Dutch almost a quarter of an hour to find an equaliser, which came through Ajax youngster Kenny Tete, the full back scoring on his home ground. But his team mates would fail to find another way through, and Geraint Williams' side will be delighted to return to Wales with a point from a game that should be the hardest of the Group. Thursday 13th August Is this news good for Davide, or are there financial issues at the Cardiff City Stadium? Thirteen times capped Czech International centre back Vaclav Prochazka has been deemed surplus to requirements by Sam Allardyce and the Sky Bet Championship club, and offers are already being received and accepted for the 31 year old. And he may not be the only player originally from that area of Europe who could be packing his bags and leaving the Welsh capital, with 24 year old Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss potentially moving to Championship rivals AFC Bournemouth after their bid was accepted. Saturday 15th August Davide is suspended today as Cardiff City entertain Reading at home this afternoon. It's a game that see's them lose their 100% start to the season, but they do still remain undefeated after a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Richard Smallwood put The Bluebirds ahead just after the midway point of the first half with his maiden goal for the club after his summer arrival at City. But the equaliser would come around the hour mark from Nick Blackman. Sunday 16th August Chelsea had to wait a day longer than most to get their Barclays Premier League campaign underway in the Midlands, and it turned out to be not really worth the wait. Danilo did not feature in The Blues matchday squad at all, but Oscar did, and the Brazilian midfielder put the visitors in front at The Hawthorns from the penalty spot with just six minutes on the clock. The lead would last only just over ten minutes however, a close range Andy Carroll volley bringing The Baggies level and completing the scoring for the afternoon in a one apiece draw. Monday 17th August Another Monday, and another departure from the Cardiff City Stadium. Out of the door today is 31 year old Czech centre back Vaclav Prochazka, who has moved to Denmark and one of the nations leading clubs FC Midtjylland for a very modest fee of £185,000. Once more the fans have had their say, complaining that for such a low return, surely there was more value in keeping the player for squad depth. Tuesday 18th August If the fans were annoyed by that deal, then Bluebirds supporters were simply baffled by today's news, as 24 year old Slovakian midfielder Filip Kiss followed him out of the door. But he doesn't need to catch a flight anywhere, as he is remaining in the Sky Bet Championship after completing a £325,000 transfer to the south coast and to AFC Bournemouth. Cardiff's finances are not the only thing that are being speculated upon. After Chelsea's opening day points drop at West Bromwich, media outlets are speculating already that a poor result against Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow evening could see José Mourinho make a very early season exit out of Stamford Bridge! Wednesday 19th August Fortunately for the 'Special One', the visitors from Brighton never looked like causing an upset at Stamford Bridge this evening. Diego Costa scored twice in the opening quarter of the game to kill off the contest early in front of a full house in West London, where once more Danilo did not feature in the matchday squad, and continues to wait for his Premier League debut. Saturday 22nd August Maybe a little bit of pressure is all Mourinho needs to get the best out of his own players? In front of another full house at the Bridge, it was an impressive 2-0 win for Chelsea today over visitors Liverpool in an early gut check between a pair of teams that will both hope to be in the hunt for the honours this season. Diego Costa continued his superb start to the season with a goal from the penalty spot midway through the first half. André Schürrle got the second right from kick off in the second half, the visiting Reds couldn't find a way through the Blue wall in response. In the Sky Bet Championship, it's a first defeat of the season for Cardiff City on their trip up to the North East as they are defeated 1-0 by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. There was a recall for Davide after his suspension, and he had a very good game too, but he wasn't able to stop Boro's on loan striker Adil Nabi scoring a first minute goal that would prove to be the winner. The game was played under the backdrop of the mornings breaking news, that Cardiff had accepted a £4.2 million bid for French defender Kévin Théophile-Catherine, who played the game knowing it could potentially be his last for the club, and that he could be spending more time in the North East with the offer coming from Barclays Premier League side Hull City. Tuesday 25th August The deal is done, and the French full back is the next one to move out during the Cardiff City Stadium exodus, as Kévin Théophile-Catherine completes his £4.2 million move to Hull City, and will be hoping to impress at his new level of football in the Premier League. And with him gone, Cardiff crashed out of the Capital One League Cup tonight at the Second Round stage, as they are defeated at home by Derby County. The visiting skipper Mark O'Brien had Derby in front before half time, but with eleven minutes left on the clock Joe Mason fired home an equaliser that would send this one into extra time. With seven minutes left on the clock before the clubs were pitted into a penalty shoot out, Mason Bennett thumped home a header that would send Derby into the Third Round, where they will meet Premier League visitors Sunderland. Thursday 27th August The draw has been made for the Group Stage of the UEFA Champions League, and the holders Chelsea will be pretty satisfied with their draw I'd imagine, though they are going to be putting in some miles over the coming weeks. They have been placed into Group D, which will begin in mid September, and see's them paired with FC Porto, CSKA Moscow and BATE Borisov. Friday 28th August There is no place for Danilo in the Wales Senior Squad named today by Chris Coleman. Instead, the Chelsea youngster will need to be content with a continued presence in the Under-21 Squad selected for the double header of games against FYR Macedonia firstly in a UEFA European Under-19 Championship Qualifier in Llanelli, before they then switch to Swansea for a Friendly with a visiting Japan side. It's also Under-21 duty for Davide with Italy, as he is once again selected by Luigi Di Biagio for what is a double header of Qualifiers for the young Azzuri, and one they will hope to take maximum points from as they host Armenia first at home, before then travelling to face Lithuania. Before the next International Window, the first silverware of the season is handed out, and it goes to Chelsea. The Champions League holders have defeated Europa League winners AS Monaco this evening in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to lift the UEFA European Super Cup. They actually fell behind early to a penalty from lethal striker Radamel Falcao, but within ten minutes the game had been turned on it's head after quick fire goals from Oscar and Diego Costa meant that all the goals would come from South American players in this early season European showpiece game. Monaco's hopes of a second half comeback were dashed when Dutch International full back Jetro Willems was shown a second yellow card in the early minutes after the restart. The Blues lift this particular trophy for the second time in their history after previously winning it back in 1998. Will that help take the heat off José? Saturday 29th August The biggest derby that Cardiff City have is their big rivalry with Swansea City. Heading the other way down the M4 though, a game against Bristol City isn't far behind it. At lunchtime today The Bluebirds made the short trip over the River Severn to Ashton Gate, and head home with three more points in the bag. Anthony Pilkington and Joe Mason scored first half goals to get Sam Allardyce's side back to winning ways, and they did so without Davide who was left on the bench as an unused substitute, and remains one League appearance short of that nice big pay rise.

It's back! Yep, by popular demand (literally no one), I'm reprising my role in the series as the International Football dictator that has previously seen me take charge in both Kyrgyzstan and Iceland, plus to a lesser degree, India. Clearly, these stories are the best International stories on the Boards for years! (**Fact checking in progress** - flagged as highly likely fake news) If you missed the previous attempts at this series, it involved me taking control of all age groups of an Nation as well as their Senior team. This time I have decided to use a nation much closer to home. When choosing one of the home nations or Ireland, there was a process of elimination involved. I'm Welsh, so clearly I didn't want to manage England. It might surprise you to learn that I didn't want to manage my home nation either, too much pressure for me there. I didn't want to alienate the English by taking charge of Scotland and them hoping I fail either! So we're down to the two nations on the emerald isle. I am pretty happy with either option here. Who doesn't love the Irish (apart from maybe bar owners at 3am when they were supposed to close two hours ago). The Republic actually have a pretty good squad at the start point of this save (Summer 2008), so I have opted to go with the more challenging option. Not that Northern Ireland are too bad an option now either. With a three tier domestic league, and plenty of players making their living in England and Scotland as well, plus some more a bit further afield too, Then there is the 'added extra' as well. The players with British passports that are eligible for any of the four home nations in theory, and therefore are up for grabs to be added to the National Pool if you're good enough, or fast enough, and can prise them away from any other nations that they may be eligible for. Also, Northern Ireland is a nation I've had some success in before in another active save, though I have to say that it's open to interpretation as to what 'success' would look like here. There is no editor use involved in this save, apart from cosmetics and unfaking the German and Japanese National Teams. Oh, and one other tiny little detail. I can't be sacked! Well, what did you expect? Dictators do not get sacked......fired maybe, in a very different sense! I hope you enjoy folks, this is one of my favourite stories to play and write.

Sunday 1st February 2009 No personal accolades to anyone at the club for January, which was a much better month for us with three wins and three draws from six League matches as we nudge closer to the Playoff spots, and the only defeat being a home loss to West Bromwich Albion of the Premier League in the FA Cup Third Round. I came third in the Manager of the Month stakes which was won by Paul Trollope of Bristol Rovers, while Jonny Howson was runner-up in the Young Player of the Month Award, beaten by Walsall winger Alex Nicholls who scored three times during the month. The improved form hasn't yet turned opinions at Boardroom level however, with the suits at Elland Road still believing we should be doing better. I agree with them, but we can of course only focus on what is in front of us, and there is literally no point in worrying about points we have already left on the table and could do nothing about now. On the plus side, the financial side continues to be good, with a profit of almost £50,000 for the month, and a bank balance of over £3.5m, with the bank loan on course to be settled this summer as well. Monday 2nd February It's Transfer Deadline Day, but I have done all the business I needed to do, and we instead will be focusing on tomorrow night's crunch huge game with one of the sides sat above us and in an automatic promotion spot, Millwall. They'll visit Elland Road with seven points from the last nine available, but sweating on the fitness of 22 year old forward Ashley Grimes, who has been one of their best players this season but only returned to training yesterday following a twisted knee. With the Window now closed, at Leeds United we were the most active club not just in Coca-Cola League One, but in England overall, with six new signings in January. Tuesday 3rd February Coca-Cola League One Elland Road, Leeds Leeds United (0) 0 Millwall (1) 2 - Paul Robinson (36), Zak Whitbread (90+1) Attendance :- 22,561 Casper Ankergren; Frazer Richardson (Damiano Tommasi 73), Rui Marques ©, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; David Templeton (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 73), Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford. Unused Substitutes :- Lubomir Michalik, Andy Robinson, Richmond Bossman. Bookings :- None | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 5th | | Walsall | | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 40 | 26 | +14 | 49 | | 6th | | Leyton Orient | | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 34 | 25 | +9 | 49 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 7th | | Leicester | | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 45 | 28 | +17 | 48 | | 8th | | Brighton | | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 47 | | 9th | | Colchester | | 29 | 14 | 5 | 10 | 47 | 43 | +4 | 47 | | 10th | | Leeds | | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 42 | 32 | +10 | 45 | | 11th | | Carlisle | | 29 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 45 | | 12th | | Peterborough | | 29 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 44 | | 13th | | Bristol Rovers | | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 44 | | 14th | | Oldham | | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 40 | 41 | -1 | 41 | | 15th | | Stockport | | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 29 | 37 | -8 | 40 | After a pretty good January, we start February with more disappointment and frustration. Frazer Richardson replaced Seamus Coleman at right back for this one, while David Templeton would make his full debut for the club on the right wing in place of the injured Franck Matingou. Striker Ashley Grimes is passed to start for the visitors. Have we gone back into the fear of playing big games at home? It's intimidating playing at Elland Road, but it is supposed to be for the away team! Millwall are a good side, the surprise package of this seasons third tier have no stars in their team, and they are very workmanlike in their approach. We actually had the best of the first half by some way, but all our shots at goal fell to the same player, and that player was Fabian Delph. His first effort was blocked by a defender, before he let fly from range and had Lenny Piddgeley beat, but his effort thumped the top of the cross bar on it's way over. He tried again with a volley from a partially cleared corner, but that one although well struck, would fade wide of the goal frame. Instead, we would go in at the break a goal behind, as Millwall 'did a Leeds' to Leeds, with David Martin drifting over a corner, and centre back Paul Robinson guided his header through the melee in the six yard box to find the net. I was a very unhappy manager at the break, and implored my players to do better. Jonny Howson tried to do just that with a burst into the box between defenders and then shooting across goal, Pidgeley pushing it back out and Tony Craig hit the ball down into the ground to try and get it back to his keeper, Pidgeley having to produce a spectacular looking volley to clear the ball away. As we tried to push forward, largely unsuccessfully, the crowd started to get on the players back, and the frustration started to produce it's own errors. Frazer Richardson and David Templeton were replaced by Damiano Tommasi and Kjartan Henry Finnbogason as we switched to three at the back and three up front. Alan Sheehan got the ball back on the right after a free kick was cleared back out to him, but his attempt to catch Pidgeley cheating on his near post didn't work, the keeper making a comfortable catch. When we did create a really good chance, Jermaine Beckford playing in Mike Grella, it was thwarted by Pidgeley coming off his line and blocked the shot. And then we got caught as we threw caution to the wind. Millwall counter attacked and won a corner, and appeared to understandably send next to no one into the box with the clock already beyond 90 minutes. But their players crept slowly up the park as time was wasted, and then a handful of them charged into the box, and Marc Laird picked out Zak Whitbread at the near post, and he finished the matter with a flying diving header! That might be our first defeat in eight in the League, but it's going to raise blood pressure gauge's in the Boardroom, where the questions are started to be asked about whether I am the right man for this job after all. Frankly, I'm asking the question myself as well, and can't help but feeling I'd have been better off staying in Holland and serving a better apprenticeship, my former side Go Ahead Eagles are now comfortably in the top five and the Playoff positions. This might be too big a job too early in my managerial career. But there will be no throwing in the towel here, we need to get ourselves back on another good run. We're away to Walsall next who are in a Playoff spot, before a home game against second place Huddersfield Town who have just been unseated from the top by Millwall. Wednesday 4th February At the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield this evening, our Reserves have beaten Rotherham United by two goals to nil. Both of those goals are scored by striker Lucciano Becchio. Could the wantaway Argentine 'flop', who is yet to score for the club, be the man to help us out in our hours of need in the coming weeks? Friday 6th February Back to it tomorrow afternoon, and we head south into the Midlands for a game with Walsall who currently hold a Playoff position that we would very much like to take from them. While that isn't mathematically a possibility tomorrow, games are starting to tick down now, and we need to get ourselves in the hunt, and fast, starting at the Bescot Stadium tomorrow. Saturday 7th February Coca-Cola League One Bescot Stadium, Walsall Walsall (0) 1 - Tom Brighton (50) Leeds United (1) 1 - Lubomir Michalik (45+1) Attendance :- 6,413 Casper Ankergren ©; Seamus Coleman, Lubomir Michalik, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Fabian Delph, Jonny Howson, Andy Robinson, Robert Snodgrass (Richmond Bossman 71); Mike Grella (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 71), Jermaine Beckford (Lucciano Becchio 71). Unused Substitutes :- Rui Marques, Damiano Tommasi. Bookings :- None | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 7th | | Colchester | | 30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 49 | 44 | +5 | 50 | | 8th | | Leicester | | 31 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 46 | 29 | +17 | 49 | | 9th | | Leyton Orient | | 31 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 34 | 26 | +8 | 49 | | 10th | | Carlisle | | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 48 | | 11th | | Peterborough | | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 47 | | 12th | | Leeds | | 31 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 43 | 33 | +10 | 46 | | 13th | | Bristol Rovers | | 31 | 13 | 6 | 12 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 45 | | 14th | | Stockport | | 31 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 32 | 37 | -5 | 43 | | 15th | | Hartlepool | | 31 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 41 | | 16th | | Oldham | | 31 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 40 | 44 | -4 | 41 | | 17th | | Cheltenham | | 31 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 34 | 44 | -10 | 38 | A game that could have easily gone either way, which I guess means that a draw was probably a fair result. Not that I'm overly happy with it. Seamus Coleman and Lubomir Michalik replaced Frazer Richardson and Rui Marques in the back four, while David Templeton dropped out of the matchday squad, with Andy Robinson coming into the side on the right wing and Lucciano Becchio brought on to the substitutes bench after his pair of goals in midweek for the second string. We could have been ahead early, naturally from a set piece, Alan Sheehan whipped in a free kick from the right that Jermaine Beckford headed over the bar at the far post. At the other end Dwayne Mattis sent a shot beyond Casper Ankergren's dive, but also beyond the post too. Still, a set piece looked the most likely way for us to break through, Jonny Howson's inswinging corner met with a glancing header at the near post by Richard Naylor that flew across goal but wide of the far post. Leave it to the master, as in first half injury time Sheehan whipped in another free kick from the right, and Michalik found a yard of space to meet the ball and power home a header to give us a lead. I was happy that we were leading, but not happy with our lack of threat from anything other than set pieces. And those feelings turned to frustration shortly after the restart, as Tom Brighton curled home a left footed direct free kick around the wall and into the top corner, a really good goal, just a shame it was against us. The only blessing was that around five minutes later when Walsall got a free kick from a similar area, it wasn't Brighton who took it for some reason, Paul Boertien hitting that one and getting it all wrong. It was then a second half of few chances, and I made three changes all in attacking areas in one go, including both strikers. It was one of those who passed up the chance to win the game late on, from a set piece of course, Sheehan's corner finding Kjartan Henry Finnbogason at the far post as he outjumped his marker, but found only the side netting with his effort. It's more dropped points, two more left behind today see's us not only drop back down to 12th in the table, but also leaves a trio of teams just above us with a game in hand as well. My job is now considered as very insecure and the Board are said to be disappointed at how things are going, and it could just be a matter of time before I become the latest managerial statistic under the reign of Ken Bates.

Wednesday 1st September 2021 On loan centre back Louie Annesley plays the full ninety minutes of Gibraltar's 2-0 home defeat against Montenegro in the World Cup Qualifying game this evening. Thursday 2nd September We're home this weekend against Farsley Celtic, who have the exact same record as us, two wins and two defeats from four games. Where there is a difference between the clubs is that Celtic have a far more leaky defence, averaging two goals against in each game so far, and combined with home advantage is predicted to give us the win. Friday 3rd September With some new Scouting reports landing on my desk this week, there is an opportunity to improve our strength at the club, and I'm quick to make my move. 31 year old attacking midfielder Bobby Grant immediately steps into the 'Influential Player Hirearchy' group at the club. A former Liverpool youngster, it's actually Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood Town that have had the best of his career so far. He spent last season on loan with Oldham Athletic from Wrexham. He's signed for this season and next on a £450 per week deal. He is available for tomorrow's League game with Farsley Celtic, as is veteran forward Ross McCormack who returns to training today following his thigh injury. Saturday 4th September Vanarama League North Division York Community Stadium, York York City v Farsley Celtic I continue to tinker a bit with the formation as we try to find the way that suits us best. Today it's a 4-4-2 with a diamond in the centre of the park, with the full backs asked to play as wing backs and supply the width we're looking for further up the park. With Louie Annesley away on International Duty with Gibraltar, there is a start for Sam Fielding at the base of the four, while Jack Steele is rested to allow Bobby Grant to debut at the attacking point of the diamond. Ross McCormack is amongst the substitutes. One full back embraced the role more than the other, and not the one I was expecting. Michael Duckworth is very comfortable in the wing back role, but Scott Barrow strode forward inside ten minutes and whipped over a cross to the far post that Clayton Donaldson headed home to put us in front. I felt that had we not got that goal, the game could have gone very much the other way, as Celtic applied plenty of pressure throughout, especially from corners where they tested our defending in set piece situations. But inside the last five minutes the matter was settled when Fielding found Grant, and the debutant rounded off his day with a deflected shot that found it's way in to secure the points and move us back up into sixth place. York City (1) 2 - Clayton Donaldson (8), Bobby Grant (86) Farsely Celtic (0) 0 Ryan Whitley; Michael Duckworth, Scott Barrow, Sean Newton, Matty Brown ©; Sam Fielding; Tyrese Fornah (Jack Steele 86), Michael Woods; Bobby Grant (Jamie Thomas 86); Clayton Donaldson, Mark Beck (Ross McCormack 45). Attendance :- 1,729 We are at least continuing our perfect home record, though that will be tested next time out when we host Hereford United, one of the pre-season fancied sides, next weekend. Of course our home form will count for little if we can't start picking up points on our travels as well. Chalk up another ninety minutes of International Football for Louie Annesley, though I doubt he enjoyed it. Gibraltar are thumped 5-0 by Turkey, though it won't be the first time our on loan defensive midfielder has been part of such a scoreline playing for his country though unfortunately. Tuesday 7th September It's the final day of the International Window, and a huge pick up for Louie today. Okay, Gibraltar didn't get a result in their World Cup Qualifier against Holland, but to only lose 2-1 against one of the genuine football heavyweights of the World game, never mind Europe, but they must be proud of doing so well tonight. Thursday 9th September Despite Hereford being a side that many fancy to do well this season, their start hasn't been overly encouraging with them currently down in 9th place, and we are once again the favourites to win this weekend at the Community Stadium. Vanarama League North Division York Community Stadium, York York City v Hereford United Louie Annesley returns from a hectic International Window and comes right back into the side replacing Sam Fielding in the defensive midfield role, while Mark Beck is dropped from the matchday squad altogether with Ross McCormack starting and on loan forward Benjamin Kimpioka brought in for bench duties. This was pegged as our stiffest test of the campaign so far, and it shaped up that way throughout the majority of the first half, with us slightly edging it for my money, though unable to find our way through with a series of corners that didn't find the mark. Into the second half and the edgy nature continued, with the added bonus of the visitors getting frustrated and feeling the wrath of the ref, four of them ended up seeing yellow. In amongst that midway through the second, Michael Duckworth found Tyrese Fornah outside the box, and he found the bottom corner to give us a very nice victory that would nudge us up into fourth place. York City (0) 1 - Tyrese Fornah (67) Hereford United (0) 0 Ryan Whitley; Michael Duckworth, Scott Barrow, Sean Newton, Matty Brown ©; Louie Annesley; Tyrese Fornah, Michael Woods; Bobby Grant (Jamie Thomas 83); Clayton Donaldson (Benjamin Kimpioka 83), Ross McCormack (Jack Steele 72). Attendance :- 1,982 Tuesday 21st September We will start our FA Cup journey in a fortnight's time as we enter at the Third Qualifying Round stage. We are drawn at home to play Stourbridge. Thursday 23rd September Before then though we have a gut check, as we make the short trip to 5th placed Darlington who are just one point and one spot behind us in the Vanarama North. We have failed to pick up a single point away from home so far this season, but we are the narrow favourites after a pair of home wins this month. Saturday 25th September Vanarama League North Division Blackwell Meadows, Darlington Darlington v York City I tried to keep the adjustment from a home game setup to an away day approach as minimal as possible, moving Louie Annesley back from the base of the diamond into a third centre back, and pushing Michael Duckworth and Scott Barrow forward into attacking wing backs. Darlington were the team in control for much of the first half, and headed into the break with a single goal advantage after Alex Purvers drove home his fourth goal of the season from 12 yards out after a good passing move cut us open. Now I don't know if opposition manager Alun Armstrong was trying to match up with us, but each time I made adjustments, Darlington always seemed to be playing the same way. That was to firstly put us back into our 4-4-2 diamond, and then go increasingly attacking when we went looking for options in the final quarter. That move saw Ross McCormack curl home an equaliser from a free kick, and the same player nearly won us the game in injury time when a loose ball in the box fell to him and while his shot beat the keeper, it was headed off the line by a defender to deny us all three points. Darlington (1) 1 - Alex Purvers (19) York City (0) 1 - Ross McCormack (72) Ryan Whitley; Sean Newton, Louie Annesley (Benjamin Kimpioka 66), Matty Brown ©; Michael Duckworth, Scott Barrow; Tyrese Fornah, Michael Woods (Jack Steele 66); Bobby Grant (Jamie Thomas 66); Clayton Donaldson, Ross McCormack. Attendance :- 1,003 Despite coming out second best in possession, scoring chances and corners, all by quite some way, we so nearly earned our first win on our travels today. Ross McCormack is certainly taking this season seriously too. The veteran forward was dismayed at failing to convert that late chance. Nonetheless, he did score a lovely free kick to earn us our first point away from home and move us up to third place as we finish September. However, our fans are still not happy with how we setup on the road. I get it, but I'm trying what I can to squeeze some of our home form into our away games, and I'm sure a few wins would change their tune. We'll get there I'm sure, York wasn't built in day after all! Monday 27th September McCormack's spirits are quickly improved when he is named in the Vanarama North Team of the Week. Personal accolades certainly seem important to the Scotsman. That's absolutely fine, as long as he is playing the team game and continuing his good early season form. Tuesday 28th September On loan midfielder Tyrese Fornah is out for around a week after suffering a sprained wrist during a heavy fall in training today. He'll miss this weekends FA Cup game at home to Stourbridge. Wednesday 29th September Clayton Donaldson's superb early season form has earned the veteran striker a call up to the Jamaica squad for the next International Window. The 37 year old currently has ten caps to his name for the Reggae Boyz.

Tuesday 5th April 2016 So tomorrow we have our Under-23's back in action, and this is highly likely to be the toughest test of the Group B schedule in the Olympic Qualifiers. We are in Saudi Arabia's fifth most populated city, Dammam, populated for almost one hundred years now, and currently home to almost 1.25 million people, though only a very tiny fraction of them will be at the game today. Our hosts are going into this one with a 100% record and getting close to earning their spot in the Olympic Games, and they are the red hot favourites to not only beat us tomorrow, but give us a bit of a thumping. I'm obviously hoping that won't be the case, but realistically a positive result for us would be getting close to a football miracle. Wednesday 6th April 2016 Olympic Qualifiers, Asian Zone, Third Round, Group B Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Under-23's v India Under-23's Attendance :- 548. Weather :- Wet, 22c. I don't like being in a position where we have to play defensively, but the odds are stacked against us here, and the last thing I want is to see our young lads on the end of a cricket score that could have been avoided. The plan is to go with a back four, and another defensive line of four right in front of them, with a midfielder and striker further up the park. If things go well, I'm hoping we can then progressively transition and cause them some problems of their own. Ganesh Aerts is selected in goal, and the Belgian based keeper will represent India for the first time ever at any level. Dinesh Fernandes is brought in to join Amit Singh in the middle in front of the defence, with Anthony D'Souza coming in to replace the injured Joseph Lal on the right in a wing back role. Despite in effect double covering the Saudi wingers, we struggled to prevent them getting their crosses into the box in the early stages, Riyadh Al-Harbi putting in the best early one and picking out Miteb Al-Harbi on the far post, but he couldn't keep his header down. Moments later Tariq Al-Harbi and Fawzi Al-Shemmari combined to play in Mansour Fallatah, but his shot curled away from goal and wide. Tariq then swept in a shot on the turn himself that just cleared the cross bar, and we could celebrate surviving the opening quarter of the game. But we wouldn't be able to keep out our hosts much longer, Fayez Al-Salman sending in a diagonal ball in the 26th minute, and as it looked like it would run harmlessly through to Ganesh Aerts, up popped Al-Shemmari to use his head to divert it out of the keepers reach and into the net. To our credit, we almost hit right back, Ashish Morje looked to have reached a dead end down the right channel, but he cut a pass back to Dinesh Fernandes who's dipping effort at goal didn't quite dip enough. However normal service would be resumed a few minutes before the break, Al-Salman again the creator with a deeper cross this time, and Miteb brought it down before beating Aerts with a powerful drive inside the far post to make it 2-0 at the break. With little to lose now, I changed things up at the interval, reverting us back to the wide 4-2-2-2 that we usually utilise, and replacing Fernandes and Anthony D'Souza with Anthony Haque and Felix Basheer. That brought about a surprising change of tone to the game, with us getting into a good spell of possession and creating chances, the best of which went begging before the hour when Amar Thakur's cross from the right skipped off the wet surface and evaded the finishing touch required by both Morje and Sanjay Singh. It was enough of a concern to force the Saudi's into changing tact with their substitutions all made in a ten minute spell, although it was Fallatah that was denied their third goal, his free kick seemingly headed for the top corner until Aerts got fingertips to the ball and touched it over the bar with a spectacular stop. Not as spectacular as the next free kick our opponents would try their luck from a few minutes later though, Aerts able to do nothing at all about Hamed Al-Shareef's 79th minute piledriver set piece from all of 30 yards that found it's way past the edge of the wall and into the net via the underside of the cross bar. We did almost salvage some pride late on, Paramjit Kumar's inswinging corner picking out the head of Jose Paul, but the centre back couldn't keep his header down, and we were denied even a consolation goal today. Saudi Arabia Under-23's (2) 3 - Fawzi Al-Shemmari (26), Miteb Al-Harbi (41), Hamed Al-Shareef (79) India Under-23's (0) 0 Ganesh Aerts; Amar Thakur ©, Jose Paul, Francisco Reja, Paramjit Kumar; Anthony D'Souza (Anthony Haque 45), Amit Singh, Dinesh Fernandes (Felix Basheer 45), Sanjay Singh; Mohammed Nayan (Mohammed Hassan 75); Ashish Morje. Unused Substitutes :- Gumpe Singh, Seby Kumar (GK), Sheikh Singh, Karan Mollah. Bookings :- None Possession :- 44%- 56%. Man of the Match :- Miteb Al-Harbi (Saudi Arabia Under-23's). That victory, and a fairly comfortable one achieved without ever really getting into top gear, leaves Saudi Arabia knowing that a win over Indonesia in a fortnight's time in the penultimate round of games will secure their place at this summers Olympic Games Football Tournament, while a draw would also quite likely be enough with them facing Syria in their final game should they still need a result. Syria remain rooted to the foot of the Group B table after losing 3-0 tonight in Jableh at home to Indonesia. They'll be making the trip to New Delhi next time around, where we'll be looking to secure third place at least, and also potentially looking to bring in some players who are eligible for other nations as well as India, and commit them to our National Pool going forward. There's a few in that position, some good enough to potentially play Senior football, some maybe not so. But giving them a few minutes at least to remove the doubt isn't going to do us any harm. 2016 Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers, Asian Zone, Third Round, Group B. Up To & Including Wednesday 6th April 2016 | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 1st | | Saudi Arabia | | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | +11 | 12 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 2nd | | Indonesia | | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 9 | | 3rd | | India | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | -3 | 3 | | 4th | | Syria | | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 17 | -15 | 0 | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday 3rd April 2016 **SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT** India Under-23 Squad for 2016 Olympic Games Asian Qualifying Third Round Group B v Saudi Arabia (A) | Name | Position | Club |Height|Age |Value| International Status | | Ganesh Aerts | GK | AA Gent (BEL) | 6'0" | 19 | £2K | Uncapped | | Kuldip Basheer | GK | East Bengal | 5'7" | 24 | £1K |4 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | | Seby Kumar | GK | Dempo | 5'8" | 20 | £5K |7 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Gumpe Singh | D RC | East Bengal | 5'7" | 24 | £9K | 4 Senior Caps/1 Goal | | Sheikh Singh | D RL | SC Goa | 5'7" | 23 | £1K |3 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | | Francis Xavier Dias | D L | Mohun Bagan | 5'7" | 21 | £5K | 1 Senior Cap/0 Goals | | Paramjit Kumar | D L | Vasco | 5'7" | 21 | £4K | 12 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Francisco Bhowmick | D C | Fukien (HKG) | 5'10"| 20 | - | 4 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Francisco Reja | D C | vv Heerjansdam (NED) | 5'9" | 20 | £8K | 5 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Mohammad Hossain | D C | Mahindra Utd | 5'9" | 24 | - |5 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | | Jose Paul | D C | WIT-Georgia (GEO) | 5'9" | 24 | £20K| 11 Senior Caps/3 Goals | | Anthony D'Souza | D/WB R,DM, M RC| Viva Kerala | 5'9" | 22 | £1K |2 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | | Amar Thakur | D/WB/AM R | Air India | 5'5" | 23 | £2K | 3 Senior Caps/0 Goals | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Sanjay Singh | D LC, M L | Indian Telephone SC | 5'7" | 17 | - | 6 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Dinesh Fernandes | D C, DM, M C | Dempo | 5'10"| 20 | £3K |7 Under-21 Caps/0 Goals | | Amit Singh | DM, M C | FC Nantes (FRA) | 5'10"| 17 | £50K| 10 Senior Caps/0 Goals | | Karan Mollah | DM, M C | AS Poissy (FRA) | 5'7" | 18 | £1K | 1 Senior Cap/0 Goals | | Mohammed Hassan | M C | SC Goa | 5'8" | 23 | £1K | 1 Senior Cap/0 Goals | | Mohammed Nayan | M C | Dempo | 5'9" | 20 | £3K | 8 Under-21 Caps/1 Goal | | Mohd Jahangir Islam | M C | Dempo | 5'8" | 23 | £14K| Uncapped | | Anthony Haque | AM RL | Viva Kerala | 5'8" | 22 | - | Uncapped | | Naresh Reja | AM L | Bhratri Sangha | 5'10"| 20 | - | 1 Senior Cap/0 Goals | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Ashish Morje | ST | BEC Tero Sasana (THA) | 5'8" | 23 | £55K| 1 Senior Cap/0 Goals | | Felix Basheer | ST | SC Goa | 5'8" | 21 | £10K| 9 Under-21 Caps/1 Goal | | Mohammed Chowdhury | ST | Mohammedan | 5'8" | 21 | £2K |10 Under-21 Caps/5 Goals| | Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury | ST | Vannes Olympique (FRA) | 6'4" | 22 | £6K | 3 Senior Caps/0 Goals | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Surprising, but very welcome news for India ahead of the fourth Group B Qualifier for this summers Olympic Games Football Tournament. 19 year old Belgian born and based goalkeeper Ganesh Aerts has abandoned his dreams of playing International Football for the European Nation, and has accepted an invite to be part of the India Squad at the umpteenth time of asking. He is about to complete his third season with AA Gent, and while still thought to be held in high regard by the staff, he has yet to make his Senior Competitive Debut for the club, and his contract now has a little under three months to run. His addition to our National Pool is an excellent one, and the only real question now is whether to give him a baptism of fire in Damman against the red hot favourites for Group B and next opponents Saudi Arabia, or ease him in with the more favourable fixture at home to Syria in a couple of weeks time. It is United SC's only representative in the squad Mohammed Barua who is dropped to make way for the newcomer. In other changes from the last selection, Dulal Bhattacharya is the new example of playing your football abroad not being a guarantee of being selected, the Jordan based left backs lack of both form and fitness has seen him left out this time, with his place going to Mohun Bagan's twenty one year old Francis Xavier Dias. There is an extra full back selected as well, with one less striker picked for this game. The beneficiary of that decision is Anthony D'Souza, who is enjoying the most productive season of his career so far at Viva Kerala, and brings a positional versatility that would make him an ideal candidate for duty on the bench should we need to make an adjustment if 'Plan's A, B, C or D' need some modifying. There are more changes made in the midfield area of the park, as I bring defensive midfielders in at the sacrifice of some of the playmaking ability that I like to be able to call upon. You have to play the odds sometimes, right? The exception there is Joseph Lal, the right winger is out with injury and isn't directly replaced with Anthony Haque already in the previous selections. Instead Asif Hossain joins him in being left behind, and in come Dempo's hard tackling and hard working twenty year old defensive midfielder Dinesh Fernandes, and the youngster who started a huge controversy early in my tenure in charge of India, the French based defensive midfielder Karan Mollah, who remains at the same club and continues to make slow but steady improvements as he picks up large amounts of First Team experience despite his club being whipping boys in France's fourth tier. Finally up front, where as previously mentioned we drop from five strikers down to just four. East Bengal's forward Naushad Ghosh is the one to miss out. If the Saudi's are paying attention, and notice that we have dropped the selected number of strikers for this game, it may give them some idea of our intention's for Wednesday evening in the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium.

Friday 1st April 2016 April Fools Day. And if it were a competition, we have an early contender in the form of local rivals and tomorrow's opponents boss, Anthony Campbell. The 46 year old has been in charge of Limavady United since Christmas Eve of 2013, and attempted to try and explain how the upcoming Derby Game was a 'must win' for us. In reply, I told the press that Campbell should study the League Table more closely, and possibly with a mathematician's help as well. Another win will see us earn promotion, and while there will be plenty more chances if we can't do it at the first attempt, achieving it in a game against our local and bitter rivals, who also happen to be the closest challengers to us, would be the kind of day that will go down in club history. The bookies have made their minds up, as we go into the game unbeaten in fifteen and since early October in League football, and we're 1/4 favourites to finish the job tomorrow. The Board remain pleased with how things are going at The Showgrounds, and they have more reason than normal to be happy as well, as we didn't actually lose any money in March, making a profit of £88 actually. It doesn't make very much of a dent in our overall debt however, and at this rate we would be debt free in the year 2347! Saturday 2nd April The big day doesn't start off favourably, as our Under-18 side finally fall out of Title contention in Group One in the opening event of a double header day, as Daniel West's fifth minute header is enough to earn the win for leaders Glentoran, who remain three points ahead of Portadown. The third place that our youngsters currently occupy is the best they can achieve realistically now, as they fall to ten points behind their opponents from this afternoon. Let's hope this isn't an omen for the afternoon's main event. Northern Irish First Division The Showgrounds, Coleraine Coleraine v Limavady United Attendance :- 254. Weather :- Dry, 7c. I have to say I was a little deflated at how low the attendance was for such a big game, and a local derby at that, on a dry early April day, which admittedly wasn't particularly warm. Those who have followed us all season will notice the same lineup as the team selected for the win against Police Service of Northern Ireland last time out, with just one change amongst the substitutes, Stewart Devine brought back into the matchday squad after returning from injury only a few days ago, and he replaces Jason Campbell. Our first chance to put our noisy neighbours in their place would come just ten minutes in, Andy Dickinson playing a diagonal pass towards the right corner of the box that Gerry Nixon flicked back inside and into the path of Pat McIlroy, his low driven shot deflected just wide of the far post. Nixon and McIlroy were absolutely causing United issues up front, but they were capable of giving us something to think about too with their top scorer Paul Anderson, his dipping drive not finding the target. McIlroy's next effort was too high as well, a passage of play that saw Dickinson need some treatment for a knock. The theme continued with Mark Bain sending a free kick well wide of the target, before a Gavin Whelan corner to the near post found Declan O'Hara's head, but he couldn't keep his header down. Right before the break, Tony Jones beat Denny Ford for pace down the right wing, then felt he was obstructed as he attempted to reach the ball at the dead ball line, chasing the ref back up the park to continue his penalty appeals, and maybe quite fortunate to avoid being booked for dissent. That knock was bothering Dickinson, and I decided not to risk him going back out for the second half. That decision was a risk in itself, as the only just returned Stewart Devine would come on in his place despite not being completely match fit. The Scotsman would get involved right away though, part of the build up with Michael McCartney and Matty Robson which allowed the latter to fire a low 50th minute cross in towards the penalty spot, McIlroy escaping his marker, letting the ball run across his body on to his right foot, and then sending a powerful low shot back across goal and into the near bottom corner to open the scoring with his fifth goal of the season! We almost surrendered that lead right from kick off, Bain playing a through ball to Sean Mooney between the centre backs, but Gerard Doherty came off his line to narrow the angle and block the shot. Then we needed to survive again as David Cleary thumped a first time shot off the keepers cross bar. I was starting to think about changing things up when Richard Mason had two bites at the cherry to try and get United level, his first effort blocked, his second lumped high and wide of the target. But then midway through the second half McCartney intercepted a loose ball and sent a diagonal pass into the path of McIlroy, and he found his strike partner Nixon who found the net with beautiful curling shot from range to double our lead! United had no plans to go anywhere and let us enjoy the final twenty minutes or so, Bain trying again with a close range header that Doherty had to tip over the top corner. McCartney and McIlroy would come off the park during the latter stages, replaced firstly by John Robertson, and then young striker Martin Friars. Late on, Friars almost put the icing on a very nice cake with a volley that flew just wide of the goal, not that it mattered today. Job done! Coleraine (0) 2 - Pat McIlroy (50), Gerry Nixon (68) Limavady United (0) 0 Gerard Doherty; Tony Jones, Ryan Young, Declan O'Hara, Andy Dickinson (inj - Stewart Devine 45); Keith Steenson ©, Michael McCartney (John Robertson 75); Gavin Whelan, Matty Robson; Pat McIlroy (Martin Friars 87), Gerry Nixon. Unused Substitutes :- Robert Donaghy, Michael Hassan. Bookings :- None Possession :- 50% - 50%. Man of the Match :- Pat McIlroy (Coleraine). Mission Complete! For the first time since the 2009/10 season (the second season of this save), finally I have a trophy to celebrate, the fourth in total of my career to date (two League Titles and two Cups), and every single one of them has come in Northern Ireland! It's a big day for the club, who were starting to believe that this may be their new default level of football. This was not a promotion that was expected this season, with both Ballymena United and Distillery predicted to finish ahead of us and deny us even a Playoff spot. Seeing that 'C' next the clubs name on the League Table tonight is a great feeling. Ballymena and Distillery both have opportunities to reach the Playoff themselves, and they are our next two opponents, Ballymena away in ten days in the League, followed by Distillery in Belfast a fortnight today as we seek to add the Intermediate Cup to the First Division Title and make it a domestic double for the season. The bruised shin that forced Andy Dickinson off at half time should hopefully not cause him a problem for either game with some recovery time before we get back on the park. I'd love to celebrate with the Board, Players and Supporters this evening, but I'll need to limit myself as while the club have a bit of a break, I have work tomorrow with an Indian Under-23 Squad due to be named ahead of the next Olympic Qualifier out in Saudi Arabia. I received plenty of texts and calls of congratulations this evening, not least from Marty Quinn. The 60 year old Glenavon Manager is a Coleraine Showgrounds legend, and he called to offer his congratulations and to say he was looking forward to pitting his skills against a Coleraine side the Premier Division once again next season. 2015/16 Northern Irish First Division League Table, Up To & Including Saturday 2nd April 2016 | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 1st | C | Coleraine | | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 18 | +21 | 53 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 2nd | | Ballymena Utd | | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 39 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 3rd | | Wakehurst | | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 31 | 22 | +9 | 39 | | 4th | | Carrick | | 22 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 11 | +10 | 37 | | 5th | | Distillery | | 22 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 29 | 19 | +10 | 36 | | 6th | | Limavady Utd | | 22 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 36 | | 7th | | Donegal Celtic | | 22 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 20 | +4 | 32 |

Sunday 23rd January 2011 Our win against Porthleven yesterday means we are now six games unbeaten since late November, which is a new club record run. Friday 28th January Our final game of the month is on the schedule for tomorrow afternoon as we travel to face managerless Dobwalls, who had a very good run of results in the mid part of the season after opening the campaign poorly, but have now lost three of their last four and sit in 9th place going into the weekend. With leaders Mousehole travelling to third place Foxhole Stars, can we justify our favourites tag with a win at Lantoom Park and finally jump above the leaders if they slip up? -------------------- THE BET FA Cup Fourth Round Everton v Millwall - Home Win - 2/5 Newcastle United v Barnsley - Home Win - 4/7 Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City - Away Win - 4/6 Blue Square Bet Premier Division Kettering Town v Hayes & Yeading United - Home Win - 4/7 Accumulator Odds - 4.76/1 Stake - £50,000 Balance After Bet - £627,663 Total Returns Including Stake - £288,095 -------------------- On FA Cup Third Round day, I went for a big return, and just missed out. This time I haven't used all the available stake room that I have as I expect the games to be closer on Fourth Round day, and have included an away game which is rare. However, I still like the look of this bet, and a win here would be our single biggest bet return to date, and would give us three straight wins for the first time over the course of the save. Saturday 29th January South West Peninsula League, Division One West Lantoom Park, Dobwalls Dobwalls v AFC Newquay The Cornish winter hasn't improved any over the last week, with the weather only just above the zero mark, and sleet being blown across the park by heavy gusts as kick off time arrives. A good number of fans have followed us on the near 30 mile trek inland to the village of Dobwalls, and they arrive to the news that we have kept our lineup and matchday squad exactly as it was for last weeks home win over Porthleven. The hosts went close to opening the scoring early as Sam Smith sent a free kick just wide of Elliott Jackson's post. Ben Bailey didn't come quite as close a little while later when he rolled his defender and also shot wide of goal. Lee Hales went closer than them both when he marched through midfield and sent a shot skidding off the turf but also just off target. Despite the pitch not being great, we were still trying to play good football, Tom Murray cutting back a cross from the left low into the middle midway through the half, Steve Magee taking a touch before blasting it into the side netting. With the sleet starting to come down a lot harder as half time approached, Colin Knight whipped in a cross shot from the left that Jackson wasn't prepared to take a chance with and touched over the top of the cross bar. All square at half time, and by the time the second half started the weather had started to improve a bit, and we had a great chance early after the restart that saw Magee run in on goal from the left corner of the box, only to blast his shot right at keeper Lee Tooth who pushed it to safety. A better chance yet arrived within two minutes, as we broke up a Dobwalls attack and counter attacked at speed, Michael Smyth breaking through the middle before slipping a through pass into Murray's path. He drew Tooth off his line and lifted a shot over him, getting a little too much on his effort and sending it just agonisingly over the cross bar. Their keeper was really starting to frustrate us by this point with the hour mark approaching, Atik Askari making ground down the right and feeding a pass into Jimmy Harte, who's cut back into the middle picked out Smyth who struck it first time only to see Tooth keep that one out with an outstretched boot. We were now starting to pile the pressure on, and moments later Hales dropped a free kick from the left into the far post, where Askari was preparing to apply the finishing touch only to be shoved in the back from Mel Wright. The ref pointed to the spot despite the Dobwalls pleas that the Dane had dived, and after quite a wait Harte held his nerve and drilled his spot kick low and hard into the bottom corner to finally put us in front. That goal forced our hosts to come out of their shell a bit, and we would make them pay for that with around a quarter of an hour to play. Tooth's clearance from almost his own goal line was a poor one, Hales headed it back over their defence, and the whole unit stopped believing Magee to be offside. The flag stayed down though, and the striker made no mistake in slotting his shot past the keeper to double our advantage to the delight of our travelling support, and the fury of the Dobwalls defence who once again complained bitterly to the officials. We were now comfortable enough to take players out of the firing line, James Ives and Hales had both been booked, and came off along with Askari in a trio of changes that saw Graham Dowling, Sam Farrell and Kasper Hansen come on and help us see out the game. Dobwalls (0) 0 AFC Newquay (0) 2 - Jimmy Harte (64 pen), Steve Magee (77) Attendance :- 584 Elliott Jackson; James Ives (Graham Dowling 82), Joe Kennedy ©, James Taylor, Danny Howard; Jimmy Harte (inj - 90), Lee Hales (Sam Farrell 82), Tom Murray; Michael Smyth, Atik Askari (Kasper Hansen 82), Steve Magee. Unused Substitutes :- Russell Sampson, Fred Musah, Ollie Harrison, Martin Prince. That was a nice win, as we showed great game management to keep our nerve when things looked like they might not go our way, and then didn't allow Dobwalls a foothold back into the match after getting our goals, despite having to play injury time a man light when Jimmy Harte went off with a knock. A man of the match display at centre back from a fast improving James Taylor is also worth a mention, the nineteen year old from the North East is playing the first Senior football of his career, and is taking to it very nicely. But my focus after the game was on young Jimmy Harte. The eighteen year old from Solihull now has five goals and two assists from fourteen games for us, but he is not happy. He is naturally a right winger, but with us playing very narrowly he is being asked to play as part of a centre midfield trio, and is making strides of improvement every week. He has come to me to say he isn't happy in his role, and telling him he should see it as a compliment that even though it isn't his position, I still think he's good enough to keep others out of the side as he continues to learn the position. After a temper tantrum got him a stern word, Harte quickly backed down, but I suspect this isn't the last I have heard of this matter. Lets hope the left footer continues his progress in training and game situations and learns to adapt to the role he's been asked to play in. Mousehole have won again, a 2-1 victory away to third place Foxhole Stars who did their best to chase the game late on, but only ended up with one of their players getting red carded for their troubles. They remain a point ahead of us, and with a far better goal difference, with the Stars now being ten points behind us. With eight each left to play, including a crunch match against each other in mid March, it is looking like a two horse race now for the single promotion spot up into the South West Peninsula Premier Division. BET RESULT Everton 2-0 Millwall Newcastle United 0-0 Barnsley Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Manchester City Kettering Town 3-0 Hayes & Yeading United LOST Sunday 30th January We have another new arrival. I'll never stop trying to bring in players who will improve us, no matter what status or level we are playing at. 19 year old six footer Chris Tingay was released at the start of the season by Chesterfield after two seasons with them that failed to yield a Senior competitive appearance. A centre back primarily, but he can also play on the right and in an advanced wing back role too, quick enough to play there comfortably though not yet a good enough crosser. But the best part of signing him has nothing to with his playing attributes, and everything to do with him turning down an offer of a full time contract from nPower League Two promotion chasing club Bury, because he is excited to get into our project near the ground floor.

Sunday 1st March 2009 The Board are satisfied with how things are going at the club currently, and are particularly impressed with the 7-1 victory over East Stirlingshire. The suits upstairs have however also noted some concerns from fans regarding the recent performances of on loan striker Mark Archdeacon! I'm assuming that must be some kind of a joke, as the Motherwell striker has netted seventeen times in 32 appearances in all competitions this season, and has an average rating of just under seven. The club also recorded a loss of just under £5,000 in February, not an issue at all with us being financially secure right now. 29 year old Israeli centre back Guy Melamed has been passed fit to return to training tomorrow following three weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury. He had just been hitting a run of form when the injury occurred, and hopefully he can rediscover that form when he returns to the First Team. Friday 6th March Tomorrow is the opener of four fixtures in March, and we travel to face a Cowdenbeath side that are fighting with two other clubs to make sure they don't end the season bottom of the table. We dropped points when we met them at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium back at the start of the year when we were held to a frustrating goalless draw. Hopefully we won't drop points to them this time around. Saturday 7th March Cowdenbeath v Dumbarton Scottish League, Third Division Central Park, Cowdenbeath Stephen Murray is missing for this one, and that prompts a little bit of a move around for us. Derek Carcary switches across to the left, and Paul McLeod shifts from a striker role out to the right flank, with Jean-Pierre Papin getting a rare start up front. Mick Dunlop switches with Scott Friel to start at centre back, and Michael Moore returns to the matchday squad. We kicked off with the ball, and refused to give it back. We passed our way through the Cowdenbeath defence, and with 65 seconds on the clock Papin played a through ball that McLeod ran onto and beat keeper David Hay on his near post to open the scoring. That had our hosts back on their heels, and Papin played Carcary into space moments later, his shot saved but he was offside anyway. The French veteran had a go himself next time, but his shot on the turn was well wide. With Cowdenbeath barely able to make it over halfway by this point, a second goal was almost inevitable, and arrived when Ryan McStay played the ball to Mark Archdeacon on the edge of the box and with his back to goal, dropping his left shoulder and rolling Sandy Hodge before shooting low across goal and into the far bottom corner. An almost perfect first half was completed just before the break when McLeod sprung Archdeacon into space down the right, and his cross picked out Carcary in the left channel. The winger chested the ball down which took it away from the defender and onto his favoured right foot, from which he proceeded to crash a shot past Hay and in off the underside of the bar! As a rule, I try to avoid giving praise at a half time team talk, but I felt they had earned it today. In the second half my own team would remind me why I had that rule in place. The second half was like night and day from the first, and a Cowdenbeath side that couldn't get over the halfway line a short while ago were now pinning us and causing us problems. A John Gemmell free kick whistled just wide of the goal frame, before a Michael Daly shot on the turn was deflected wide. Midway through the half, Gemmell popped up on the left and assisted Aaron Chalmers in causing problems. The resulting Stuart Preston corner picked out Graeme Brown, and the South African striker chested the ball down, Dave McEwan went down at his feet only to spill the wet ball, and Brown fired it in to pull a goal back. I could sense that panic was starting to creep in, but also was very aware that any change would be a more defensive one, which would potentially see us pinned in deeper and for longer. Our defence were still coping for the most part, but with Cowdenbeath having their tails up and making three attacking changes, I could resist no longer and brought Papin off for Guy Melamed with just over ten minutes to play, asking the Israeli to sit in front of the back four. That almost produced a clinching goal when Archdeacon curled a shot off the cross bar. With just three minutes left to play, and me having relaxed with the situation just a touch, sub Brian Fairbairn whipped in a cross to the near post and Brown got ahead of Mick Dunlop and sent a header into the near top corner to put me on edge all over again! With the clock into injury time, and substitutes waiting on the sideline to try and kill off a bit more time, McEwan fielded a cross and then for some reason tried to launch a quick counter attack. When that failed, Fairbairn was played into the exact same spot that he had already provided a cross from, this time picking out Chalmers at the far post and he found the net with a downward header. It was an absolute relief to see the linesman lift the offside flag, a decision that was borderline at best. There wasn't even time to restart the game, and I never did get those substitutes on. Let's get back on the bus before someone changes their mind! Cowdenbeath (0) 2 - Graeme Brown (67,87) Dumbarton (3) 3 - Paul McLeod (2), Mark Archdeacon (34), Drek Carcary (43) Dave McEwan; Gordon Lennon ©, Darren Barnard, Mick Dunlop, David Armstrong; Paul McLeod, Ross Clark, Ryan McStay, Derek Carcary; Jean-Pierre Papin (Guy Melamed 79), Mark Archdeacon. Attendance :- 206. We came so close to chucking away a couple of points right there, and I'll think long and hard before breaking my rules on half time praise again. It's always a bit of a balancing act, but clearly that wasn't the right choice at the right time. Montrose win at home to Annan Athletic meaning they return to the top of the table on goal difference, as East Stirlingshire are held to a home draw by Berwick Rangers. Our own win leaves us just a pair of points behind them both now, and in striking distance to potentially pinch top spot and do ourselves the massive favour of avoiding the Playoff process. We could do ourselves a huge favour with home games against Montrose and then Berwick next up on the fixture list. Friday 13th March After a pretty quiet week here, we just have Friday the 13th to make through intact and we'll be all set for tomorrow's really big game, a home date with the leaders Montrose as we look to take our opportunity to jump them in the table and improve our shot at the single automatic promotion spot with a Playoff berth already all but guaranteed. We're the favourites for this one, but we have taken only a point from Montrose so far this season, and they already hold a win at our place. Saturday 14th March Dumbarton v Montrose Scottish League, Third Division Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton I resist the urge to bring Stephen Murray straight back into the lineup, instead leaving the team as it is and bringing him onto the bench as a forward option along with Marc Anthony. Just as we had in Cowdenbeath last week, our first half showing was superb, almost rewarded with a goal when Jean-Pierre Papin's curling shot from range didn't quite manage to curl enough, but then finding an opener in the 28th minute when Darren Barnard's inswinging free kick from the right was glanced just enough by David Armstrong to deviate it's path away from a stranded Tony Bullock, the keeper only able to watch on as it hit the net behind him. Montrose had a golden chance to level before the break, Conor Devine's corner to the far post met by Paul Buchan, his header beating Dave McEwan only to be cleared off the line by Mark Archdeacon of all people. Combine that with sub Stevie Horan's shot off the bar early in the second half, and Montrose had missed their best opportunities to come back into the game, and the punishment would be damaging. Paul McLeod and Papin came off, allowing Murray to come on, Derek Carcary to switch to his natural stomping ground down the right, and Anthony to join Archdeacon up front. Murray and Ryan McStay had already sent shots wide of the target, and Barnard and Gordon Lennon's double team tackle on Kevin Bradley in the penalty box had gone by unpunished, when Anthony received the ball from McStay, letting it run across his body onto his left foot, touching it in front to set himself up, and then sending in a shot that Bullock seemed to touch onto the bar, only to see it drop off the underside of the goal frame and behind him over the line to extend our lead and finish off Montrose to break our duck against them this season. Dumbarton (1) 2 - David Armstrong (28), Marc Anthony (79) Montrose (0) 0 Dave McEwan; Gordon Lennon ©, Darren Barnard, Mick Dunlop, David Armstrong (Guy Melamed 80); Paul McLeod (Stephen Murray 54), Ross Clark, Ryan McStay, Derek Carcary; Jean-Pierre Papin (Marc Anthony 54), Mark Archdeacon. Attendance :- 664 That's three very good halves of football we have played over our last two games, and as well as the three points for the win, we have set a marker out by claiming a win against a side we could meet in the Playoffs. Or not. As with East Stirlingshire losing again, this time away to lowly Annan Athletic, for the first time since early November we find ourselves top of the table, one point ahead of the two other teams in the hunt for the automatic promotion spot, and also with a far superior goal difference as well. Another win will be enough to guarantee that we earn at least a top four spot to extend our season.

Saturday 4th July 2015 Cardiff City open their Pre-Season schedule this afternoon with a game at the Cardiff City Stadium against an FSV Mainz team that finished fifth in the German Bundesliga last season, and as a result will be involved in the UEFA Europa League in the upcoming 2015/16 campaign. The Friendly ended in a 1-1 draw, City striker Federico Macheda putting his side ahead early in the second half, before the German side equalised with just two minutes remaining through their free scoring Japanese International forward Shinji Okazaki. This game was played with an interesting back drop. Cardiff have had an offer accepted by Scottish Premiership side Dundee United for their talented 22 year old goalkeeper Marc McCallum. The Tannadice Park club having a working relationship with Mainz allows the Bundesliga club first refusal on any of their players, leaving City in a position where they are now waiting to see if their opponents from today are interested in one of their own transfer targets and intending to hijack the deal. Tuesday 7th July FSV Mainz let the deadline slide by, and didn't make an offer for Marc McCallum. Late interest from Celtic was just that, late. Too late. The 22 year old Scottish stopper joins The Bluebirds for a rather modest fee of £50,000. Wednesday 8th July Cardiff's pre-season continues with a trip north into Yorkshire to play Bradford City of Sky Bet League One. A goal right before the break from Anthony Pilkington had the Welsh side in front, and that lead was doubled midway through the second half through Joe Mason. A consolation from Oliver McBurnie provided some entertainment for the just over 5,000 in attendance at Valley Parade. Monday 13th July Another day, and a double header for Cardiff City today with a new signing and another Friendly. Into the club comes Richard Smallwood, a 24 year old tireless midfielder that The Bluebirds have paid £725k to Rotherham United for. He's had two pretty good seasons with them after joining from Middlesbrough. He contributed seven goals in each of the last two seasons, and he might need to keep up numbers like that to justify the £16k a week that he is going to be paid for the next three seasons. He wasn't signed in time to be involved in the clubs 1-1 draw in the Czech Republic for top tier outfit Teplice. It was a good time for midfielder Tom Adeyemi to remind everyone at the club of his abilities as he opened the scoring in the 21st minute, only to see his goal matched by Bosnian International striker Aidin Mahmutovic with just over twenty minutes to go. There isn't much going on to report in London with Chelsea. Several of their fringe players are making loan moves out to other clubs in the UK and across Europe, but there doesn't appear to be anything happening for Danilo right now, and if it doesn't move him up the pecking order, it could mean another frustrating year of age group football for our attacking cousin. Tuesday 14th July On a warm evening in Athens, the UEFA 2015 European Under-19 Championship Finals gets underway. Italy and Davide are involved, and they get off to a perfect start, defeating Holland 3-0 tonight at the capital's AEL Arena. The opening goal came right before the break and from the penalty spot courtesy of Parma striker Alberto Cerri. By the time a second penalty was awarded with around a quarter of an hour to play, Cerri had been substituted. So AC Milan's seventeen year old winger Hachim Mastour converted that one, and then added a second in the final five minutes to complete a dream start. Davide played the entire ninety minutes at centre back. Wednesday 15th July At Chelsea, the path for Danilo towards the First Team and it's fringes clears a little more, as the club have offloaded 21 year old midfielder Josh McEachran to Hull City for £1 million today. He had spent six years fighting to get into the First Team at Stamford Bridge, but played only eleven Premier League games during that time, and has spent the last three and a half seasons out on long term loan deals. Let's hope this is not the future that plays out for Danilo. It must have crossed the teenagers mind when he signed, and several times since. Thursday 16th July Less than 48 hours after beginning their campaign, the Italian youngsters are back in action in Greece at the age group Euros. They've moved out to the west and the city of Patras, where they face the underdogs of these Finals, the youngsters of Montenegro. Once more Davide would play the full ninety minutes, and once more Italy would dominate proceedings. Hachim Mastour opened the scoring after just three minutes, and Inter Milan winger Gianluca D'Auria added a second before the break. A pair of goals around five minutes apart from AC Milan's forward Michael Fabbro and then Atalanta midfielder Tiziano Tulissi made it a pair of goals in each half for the young Azurri. A 4-0 win combined with Belgium beating Holland meant that Italy are guaranteed to progress into the Semi-Finals before they even face the Belgians this weekend to complete their Group B fixtures. Friday 17th July There is more clearing of the decks at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea, as more players leave the club by a number of different routes. 19 year old midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is amongst those who leave on loan, as he joins Watford of the Sky Bet Championship for the season. Also appearing to be packing his bags is the lesser known of the Hazard brothers, with 22 year old Thorgan seemingly on the verge of a £850k transfer to Olympique Lyonnais. Down the M4 in Cardiff, there is some good news for Davide too. When he arrives back in the Welsh Capital from Greece after the Under-19's Euros, he will find a countryman who will be able to advise him on exactly what is required to become a Full Senior International for the Azurri, as Cardiff have signed 33 year old full back Federico Balzaretti. He has joined on a one year deal in a £200k transfer from Russian club Spartak Moscow, who have had to agree to pay half the wages for the year of the £22.5k a week wages that the 15 times capped International will collect. The left footed veteran counts Torino, Juventus, Palermo, Fiorentina and Roma amongst his former clubs. Saturday 18th July Balzaretti was not involved when City hosted Barclays Premier League club Norwich City at the Cardiff City Stadium this afternoon in front of a very modest attendance of 7,500. Those that were there would see The Bluebirds come from behind to steal a win against The Canaries. There was an early lead for the visitors when centre back Pavel Cmovs swept home a loose ball in the 8th minute, only to see prolific South Korean forward Kim Bo-Kyung level things back up ten minutes later. The Cardiff winner would come from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute from Joe Mason. Chelsea would also get their Pre-Season underway today, for them there was a much more impressive attendance of almost 35,000 at the AWD-Arena in Germany, as they visited Bundesliga side Hannover 96. Included in the matchday squad, but eventually only as an unused substitute, Danilo would watch on from the bench as a pair of Diego Costa goals would turn out to be the filling in between markers from Stefan Thesker and Artur Sobiech in a 2-2 draw. Sunday 19th July Italy ring the changes and bring in some debutants for their final Group B game on their return to Athens as they meet Belgium. The Italians are already through to the Semi-Finals, but Davide remains in the side and once more plays the full duration of this game to remain as an ever present throughout the Tournament so far. And his Italian side retain their one hundred percent record as well with a 2-0 win this evening in some thankfully cooler conditions. Napoli's attacking midfielder Gennaro Tutino opened the scoring in the third minute, and Alberto Cerri padded the lead on the half hour mark as Belgium are beaten fairly easily but still advance to the last four thanks to a penalty two minutes from time that earns Montenegro a draw with Holland. That leaves Belgium to face Group A winners Spain, while Italy will face Croatia in the other last four fixture. Monday 20th July Yet another Chelsea player will potentially move out of Danilo's path to the First Team ahead of the new season, as 23 year old winger Christian Atsu has agreed to move to FC København of Denmark on a season long loan, provided the Danish club are granted a work permit for the Ghana International. Wednesday 22nd July It's a busy night of football, particularly considering it's supposed be the summer off-season. Lets start with the big one, and in Greece. Same city, different stadium, same result though, and another Italian win. The only surprise was that Davide didn't start, our guy coming off the bench for the last fifteen minutes that the Italians were shutting down after once again doing their damage in the first half. For the third successive match they opened the scoring in the third minute, Tiziano Tulissi the scorer this time, a goal that was added to in the 24th minute by Giacomo Sciacca, which would prove to be the final goal in a comfortable 2-0 victory. The Italian youngsters will progress to this weekends Final, where they will face Spain. It's a game that gives Davide an opportunity to be the first of the cousins to win a team title in their career, and it wouldn't be a bad first one to win at all. Back in London, not much has changed with Danilo's luck so far this Pre-Season, as he is once again left on the bench as an unused substitute at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea sweep aside Italian club Lazio 3-0, a quick first half back to back pair from Granit Xhaka and Sofiane Feghouli, before the third is added right from the restart after half time courtesy of Loïc Rémy to complete the scoring. Friday 24th July The draw is made today for the Qualifying Phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with the Groups due to start in a little over a year in September 2016. For Wales, it is Group Two, and of course, they are drawn with Belgium, because Wales always get Belgium. Also in that section are Israel, and a trio of ex-Russian States in the form of Armenia, Latvia and Lithuania. For Italy it's Group Three, and the potential of some banana skins in Poland and Serbia, with Azerbaijan, Iceland and Luxembourg also in that pool as well. The Group Winners in each section will guarantee their place in the Finals that are being held in Russia. For Davide, the competition for a place in the heart of Cardiff City's defence this coming season just increased, as The Bluebirds continue their summer recruitment drive with the signing of Aston Villa's 24 year old centre back Nathan Baker on a three year deal for a fee of £575k. Speaking of Villa, they have made a signing of their own, hijacking Olympique Lyonnais attempt to sign Thorgan Hazard from Chelsea, and clinching the deal themselves, signing the Belgian twenty two year old attacking midfielder for £850k. At the same time, Christian Atsu completes his move to Denmark on loan for the season with FC København after receiving his work permit. Saturday 25th July Danilo today started for Chelsea in a low key Pre-Season Friendly not too far away at Brisbane Road, the home of Leyton Orient. The Sky Bet Championship club, who only just stayed at that level last season on goal difference will be absolutely delighted to get a goalless draw against a Blues side that was very much second string and still couldn't find a way through when several of their star players came off the bench in the second half. Danilo played 76 minutes, and didn't do too badly at all before being replaced by Eden Hazard of all people. The families attention today would have undoubtedly been on the Georgios Kamaras Stadium in Athens, as Greece hosted the Final of the UEFA 2015 European Under-19 Championships. Unfortunately, it would be a disappointing day. Davide was restored to the lineup and started once again in searing 35c heat, as his Italian side were beaten 1-0 today thanks to a 9th minute goal from 17 year old Lazio forward Aitor Antón. Throughout the tournament, Italy have been pretty free scoring, but they never really looked like finding a way past Spain today, and the chance for a cousin to pick up a first honour of their careers has been passed up. The first medal for Davide is a Runner's Up one that I'm sure we all hope won't be in pride of place when the cousins careers are over. ***CLUB/INTERNATIONAL HONOUR*** Davide Di Cianni - 2015 UEFA European Under-19's Championship Runner-Up Medal - Italy Under-19's. Sunday 26th July Chelsea have continued their blue print of signing up some of the best young talent, not just in Europe, but from across the world. Today they have paid Newell's Old Boys of Argentina an initial fee of £3.5m for 17 year old projected 'wonderkid' striker Emilio Zurlo. Already capped fifteen times at Under-20 International level, and he has also played seven times for his Argentine club, he has however only found the net once in those total appearances. He is due to arrive in England this time next year at the end of the 2015/16 season. There is no comparison between the deal he will arrive to and what Danilo is getting, the Argentine will pick up nearly £4k a week plus bonuses when his three year deal begins next year. Monday 27th July Zero rest for Davide, and after returning to South Wales only last night he is pitched right into a Pre-Season game today for Cardiff City. While The Bluebirds are not taking it easy on him, as he plays the full ninety minutes, he was fortunate that the opposition did take it easy, mostly as they were simply not up to the task. Oxford City play in the Vanarama South, and were soundly beaten 5-0 this evening, Adam Le Fondre and Joe Mason helping themselves to a pair of goals each, and there was also one for Magnus Wolff Eikrem in what could prove to be one of his final appearances for Cardiff with the club having apparently accepted a bid of just under £4 million for the 24 year old Norwegian International midfielder. Wednesday 29th July The deal is done, and Cardiff City pocket £3.7 million and Eikrem has moved to VfB Stuttgart, the Bundesliga side who are looking to strengthen ahead of the new season after only staying in the German top tier last season with a final day win that hauled them out of the relegation zone and ahead of a doomed Hertha Berlin. Are Cardiff going to be able to replace him and strengthen their own squad in enough areas to improve their own fortunes in the Sky Bet Championship in the new season? They have identified their target as Eikrem's replacement very quickly, making a £1.3 million offer for Leicester City's tireless Irish International midfielder Stephen Quinn. If I were a Bluebirds fan, I'd probably be underwhelmed. Elsewhere in mainland Europe, well France to be specific, Chelsea continue their preparations for the new campaign. There isn't even a place on the bench for Danilo this evening in Caen where Chelsea had to launch a second half comeback having fallen behind in the first half to an early Sloan Privat goal. André Schürrle scored early in the second half, and Eden Hazard netted what would prove to be the winner just before the hour mark against the French Ligue 1 outfit. Friday 31st July July is over, and we are about to head into August, where we will see the cousins celebrate their 19th birthdays, and begin the third season of their careers. Both will be hoping to see improvements come in 2015/16, and I'm sure we the readers will be looking forward to see if either of the lads can win a first honour and make further strides in their club and international fortunes.

Sunday 25th January 2009 Today I'm linked with the newly vacant job at Spanish Second Division strugglers, Tenerife. With the season now halfway through, their Chairman has pulled the pin and sacked Manager of around 20 months José Luis Oltra, with the club just four points above the relegation zone. I tell the press that I have no interest in the job there. Monday 26th January The Transfer Deadline is a week away, and we have another target in our sights. An offer has been accepted by the players club, and personal terms are being discussed. We will see if this one gets across the line. The process will be speeded up by the players not needing a work permit. Portuguese left back Mário Silva is the only Leeds United player to be included in this week's Coca-Cola League One Team of the Week. There is an expectation on us to return to winning ways tomorrow evening when we host a midweek League One game against Hartlepool United at Elland Road. The North East club are only four points behind us in the League, but that does mean a five place difference as they are down in 16th spot. After an away game last weekend, and another coming up this weekend to finish the month, there is a bit squad rotation expected for this one, though we are still heavy favourites with the bookies to get a win and close the gap to those above us. Late in the day, we're told by the local press that Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson has told the media that he wants to sign our striker Mike Grella before the end of the Transfer Window. It sounds unlikely to me. Tuesday 27th January Coca-Cola League One Elland Road, Leeds Leeds United (0) 1 - Robert Snodgrass (84) Hartlepool United (0) 0 Attendance :- 22,067 Casper Ankergren; Seasmus Coleman, Rui Marques © (Lubomir Michalik 68), Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Franck Matingou (David Templeton 68), Jonny Howson, Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass; Mike Grella (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 68), Jermaine Beckford. Unused Substitutes :- Damiano Tommasi, Richmond Bossman. Bookings :- Rui Marques 27, Seamus Coleman 75 | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 5th | | Leicester | | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 42 | 25 | +17 | 46 | | 6th | | Brighton | | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 40 | 28 | +12 | 46 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 7th | | Colchester | | 27 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 45 | 40 | +5 | 46 | | 8th | | Walsall | | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 45 | | 9th | | Leyton Orient | | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 30 | 23 | +7 | 43 | | 10th | | Leeds | | 28 | 12 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 29 | +10 | 42 | | 11th | | Peterborough | | 27 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 37 | 28 | +9 | 41 | | 12th | | Oldham | | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 39 | 37 | +2 | 41 | | 13th | | Bristol Rovers | | 28 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 40 | 41 | -1 | 40 | | 14th | | Carlisle | | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 39 | | 15th | | Stockport | | 28 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 35 | -8 | 37 | Good lord we know how to make life difficult for ourselves. We should hand out prescriptions for blood pressure tablets with every season ticket purchased! Alan Sheehan and Rui Marques come in for Mário Silva and Tamás Kádár in the defence, while Damiano Tommasi is left out for Franck Matingou in the midfield as we return to a more attacking formation, and pair Mike Grella up front with Jermaine Beckford this time, Kjartan Henry Finnbogason dropping to the substitutes bench. We expected to be the dominant team, though it was Hartlepool who nearly opened the scoring, Ritchie Jones shot from the left corner of the box only just missing the near top corner. At least when we did attack and work our way through their defence we were working their keeper, Arran Lee-Barrett having to push away Mike Grella's shot. But when half time arrived, it was actually the visitors who had marginally had the best of the first half, and the swell of dissent in the stands was growing. Jonny Howson wriggled his way through the Pools defence and into the box early after the restart as the players took my loud words to heart, but the midfielder couldn't hit the target with a curling shot. A little while later the ball fell to him again in the box, but a wild slash at it failed once more to hit the target. The theme continued when a poor backpass let Grella in, but he blazed his shot over the top too. I made a trio of changes, all like for like but requiring Robert Snodgrass to move back over from right to left to accommodate David Templeton's introduction, Lubomir Michalik and Kjartan Henry Finnbogason also brought on. A lung busting run down the right from Seamus Coleman left everyone waiting for a cross, but he pulled it back instead to Fabian Delph who sent his shot well off the target. As chances continued to be missed without us even working Lee-Barrett, the next culprit being Jermaine Beckford, frustrations started to boil over, Coleman getting a booking for a stupid foul. I was starting to run out of ideas when Beckford met Snodgrass' cross at the near post with a header into the side netting. But finally, with just six minutes left on the clock, Finnbogason and Templeton did the hard work down the right and Howson whipped in a cross that picked out Snodgrass' head, and he powered home a header from 10 yards out. What an absolute relief! That win moves us a bit closer to the Playoff spots. Wednesday 28th January It would seem that American 22 year old striker Mike Grella is feeling the heat following the arrival of Icelandic new signing Kjartan Henry Finnbogason. After hearing of the interest from Peterborough, the striker with twelve goals in all competitions this season stated that he didn't want to leave, but the situation may be out of his hands if his current employers decide he is no longer required. That certainly isn't the case as far as I'm concerned. Friday 30th January 33 year old Bosnian left winger Hajrudin Catic has arrived in what is expected to be our final signing of the Winter Transfer Window. He has spent his whole career in Germany so far, and has a German passport as a result. He may have lost a yard or two of pace over the last few years, but he is a dead ball specialist, a superb crosser of a football, and he's a hard working team player who will battle for the cause. He has signed an eighteen month deal to play at Elland Road. I really hope this guy can help produce more goals for our forwards so we can start getting the 60/40 in the games that are currently 50/50. Tranmere Rovers are in relegation trouble, and tomorrow afternoon we make the trip across the Pennines and into Birkenhead to face them at their Prenton Park home. Having 20 year old Ryan Shotton defender on loan from Premier Division side Stoke City hasn't helped Rovers defence much, as they have the third worst defence in the League. Combine that with the joint second worst goals for as well, and you've got problems. We're the red hot favourites despite our own inconsistency of late as we approach the thirty game mark of the League season. Hajrudin Catic is available for his debut, however his current poor fitness levels make that unlikely. Saturday 31st January Coca-Cola League One Prenton Park, Birkenhead Tranmere Rovers (1) 1 - Ben Savage (39) Leeds United (0) 3 - Mike Grella (50), Kjartan Henry Finnbogason (64), Lubomir Michalik (85) Attendance :- 5,785 Casper Ankergren; Seamus Coleman, Rui Marques ©, Richard Naylor, Alan Sheehan; Franck Matingou (inj - Damiano Tommasi 45), Jonny Howson, Fabian Delph, Robert Snodgrass (Kjartan Henry Finnbogason 45); Mike Grella, Jermaine Beckford. Unused Substitutes :- David Templeton, Richmond Bossman. Bookings :- None | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 5th | | Walsall | | 29 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 39 | 25 | +14 | 48 | | 6th | | Leicester | | 29 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 27 | +17 | 47 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 7th | | Brighton | | 29 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 46 | | 8th | | Leyton Orient | | 29 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 46 | | 9th | | Colchester | | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 46 | | 10th | | Leeds | | 29 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 42 | 30 | +12 | 45 | | 11th | | Peterborough | | 28 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 39 | 29 | +10 | 44 | | 12th | | Bristol Rovers | | 29 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 42 | 42 | 0 | 43 | | 13th | | Carlisle | | 28 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 39 | 35 | +4 | 42 | | 14th | | Oldham | | 29 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 41 | | 15th | | Hartlepool | | 29 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 32 | 33 | -1 | 37 | It wasn't straightforward for us, it rarely ever is at this club I'm finding. An unchanged lineup and matchday squad from the home win over Hartlepool United would start this one, and Chris Greenacre nearly gave us an early punch on the nose when he got in the box down the left channel and shot across goal with Casper Ankergren having to push that one away. Bas Savage had an even better chance a short while later, sending a shot back across goal and wide after cutting inside the box on his left foot. A Seamus Coleman cross that picked out the head of Robert Snodgrass at the far post was the best response that we could manage, his header going right at Danny Coyne. Before the break, Franck Matingou played in Snodgrass who at least made Coyne work for his save this time, the ball rebounding loose to Matingou who sent his shot wide of the unguarded target. The punishment for that miss was swift. Greenacre holding the ball up before sending to the right flank, and Luke Chadwick's cross was met by Savage who headed home the opener. Half time, and we had been very much second best. I was planning on making changes, and Matingou getting injured right before the break only made up my mind. Snodgrass joined him in coming off as I took off the wingers and brought on Lubomir Michalik to make it three centre backs, and Kjartan Henry Finnbogason to sit just behind the strikers. Coleman and Alan Sheehan would provide the width as they advanced into wing back roles. Sheehan blasted a free kick wide right from the restart, but corner kicks are a far more profitable set piece for us. Jonny Howson's corner was met by Mike Grella with a near post header to bring us level in front of the travelling Leeds support. Shortly after the hour mark it was a partially cleared free kick that found Richard Naylor of all people out on the right channel of the box, and he sent in a cross to the far post that picked out Finnbogason, the Icelandic forward netting with a diving header to get his first goal in Leeds colours! A Jermaine Beckford cut back failed to find a team mate, and Howson just missed the top corner with a shot from the edge of the box as we sought to stretch our advantage. As we hit the last ten minutes I decided to hold what we have, Beckford coming off and Damiano Tommasi coming on to sit in front of the back four. Ironically, that counter attacking outlook earned us a corner that Sheehan picked out Michalik from and he headed home to secure the points, moving us closer to the Playoff spots again, and Tranmere deeper into relegation trouble! We're unbeaten in seven League games now as we reach the end of January. Despite an improvement in our form, the critics still have it in for us, and with us expected to be Title contenders a move into the top half and within striking distance of the Playoffs is unlikely to stop them from sharpening their pens and writing off our season a bit more. We'll have to get through most of, if not all of February without one of our new signings, as Franck Matingou suffered a twisted ankle right on half time and will be out for around four weeks.

No pressure then haha. Cheers Matt, hope you enjoy the story.

Monday 16th August 2021 The building potential of Ross McCormack's over-confidence has another layer added to it when the veteran forward is the only York City player named in the Vanarama League North's Team of the Week after the opening weekend of the new season. Thursday 19th August We'll be the favourites again this weekend when we go on our travels for the first time in a competitive game for this new campaign. We're heading down the motorway to visit one of the southern most teams in this North Division, as we make our way to play Gloucester City. They were involved in a 3-1 scoreline of their own on the opening day, losing away to Southport. Saturday 21st August Vanarama League North Division Meadow Park, Gloucester Gloucester City v York City Gloucester absolutely dominated the early stages of this match, earning half a dozen corners in the opening quarter of an hour, but seeing them all cleared to safety mainly due to poor deliveries. The game transitioned into a scrappy stage, and referee Gareth Rhodes booked home centre back Ben Nugent, then declined to book him again moments later following a blatant shirt pull, instead booking our right back Michael Duckworth for complaining that Nugent wasn't sent off. We would get sloppy, and were punished twice in just over five minutes by Gloucester's on loan from Sunderland striker Luke Chapman before the break. Centre back Sean Newton was replaced at half time for Matty Brown which seemed to stiffen up our back four, but we would lose Ross McCormack to injury in the early stages of the second half. Mark Beck replaced him, but it was strike partner Clayton Donaldson who pulled us back within one with a deflected 20 yard shot midway through the half. Try as we might, we couldn't force the equaliser though, despite spending much of the last ten minutes camped in the hosts half of the park. Gloucester City (2) 2 - Luke Chapman (32,38) York City (0) 1 - Clayton Donaldson (66) Peter Jameson; Michael Duckworth, Scott Barrow, Sean Newton (Matty Brown 45), Louie Annesley; Jack Steele, Tyrese Fornah, Michael Woods; Jamie Thomas; Clayton Donaldson ©; Ross McCormack (inj - Mark Beck 52). Attendance :- 874 Anyone who had the impression that we were walking to the Title after just that small sample size of one home game will have just been brought back down to earth with a bump. Not as big as the bump that Ross McCormack suffered early in the second half however, and the Scottish forward is out for around ten days, meaning he will miss our final games of August, a home game with Brackley Town, followed by a Bank Holiday Monday trip to Spennymoor Town. Monday 23rd August With Mark Beck considered a fairly big drop down in quality up front, I start looking to bring in some depth in that area. A Russian striker who played in Scotland last season is very keen to sign for us, but will need a work permit that he is very unlikely to be granted. Sky Bet League One side Sheffield Wednesday have made 25 year old Dutch forward Sylla Sow available for loan, however it wasn't until we sat down at the table with them that they also mentioned they would like his £3,500 per week wages covered in full. That'll be a no then. Tuesday 24th August Bridges seem to be being built between myself and centre back Sean Newton after I honoured my word and offered a new contract to the 32 year old former Captain. And why wouldn't I, he is taking a wage cut of £150 per week in return for adding an extra year to his deal, meaning we have a few more quid into the wage budget pot, something always appreciated at Boardroom Level. There isn't any space needed to try and bring in my latest forward target, who would be another loan signing should we be able to get this one across the line. Wednesday 25th August 'If you can't beat them, join them!' That's a legit saying, and we have followed it to the letter. We couldn't beat Gloucester City, so we have joined them in taking a Sunderland forward on loan. 21 year old Swedish prospect Benjamin Kimpioka will be at the York Community Stadium on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 season. He has made eight appearances in the First Team for the Black Cats, scoring once, and spent last season on loan at Vanarama National outfit Torquay United, where he appeared in another seven games. He brings a blend of strength and pace to our front line, and can also play out wide on either wing or behind the strikers. He has been capped nine times by Sweden at Under-21 Level, scoring twice. Thursday 26th August Despite defeat last time out, and the prospect of being without Ross McCormack, the bookies believe home advantage will help us take three points from the opening game of our Bank Holiday Weekend double header against Brackley Town. They sit a point ahead of us after a win and a draw from their opening pair of fixtures. Friday 27th August Two of our loan signings have been called up for International Duty in the forthcoming Window. Gibraltar have selected Louie Annesley while Sweden Under-21's have called up our latest arrival Benjamin Kimpioka. Ross McCormack is back at training today, albeit light work only. Our marquee signing definitely won't be involved tomorrow afternoon against Brackley, and will be a late decision to play at Spennymoor on Monday depending on how he gets on over the weekend. We won't take too many risks with him at this early stage of the season. Predictably, our attempt to bring in 31 year old Russian free agent forward Islam Kadyrov has been thwarted by the Government with the player refused a work permit. Then, around an hour after we were given the news, a particularly shady character turned up at the ground, asking to speak to the Chairman or myself. He got both, as much out of curiosity as anything. He explained that for the sum of £10,000, he could get us through the paperwork that would get Kadyrov into the country with a valid work permit. As you can imagine, instead of leaving with a stack of notes, he was led out by a side door as quickly as he had arrived. Maybe that's how the Scottish team got him into their club last season. Saturday 28th August Vanarama League North Division York Community Stadium, York York City v Brackley Town Some tinkering with the setup see's Jamie Thomas moved up into a closer role behind the front two as a shadow striker today, with one of those front two being Mark Beck, as he is selected to take Ross McCormack's place, new arrival Benjamin Kimpioka brought into the squad to sit on the bench. Full backs Michael Duckworth and Scott Barrow are being asked to press into the wing back role to provide us with more width further up the park and get more balls into the box. In goal, Ryan Whitley replaces Peter Jameson and gets his opportunity to stake his claim. Brackley may have come into the game unbeaten and above us in the League, but they were certainly unambitious coming into our place today. Their counter attack efforts were easily dealt with, and when we stepped it up a gear they couldn't cope with our strength up front, Clayton Donaldson knocking the ball down for Jamie Thomas who rounded the last defender and shot across goal to open the scoring just before the half hour. We were playing to our strengths, and Michael Woods dropped in a free kick in first half injury time and Mark Beck headed home his first goal of the campaign. With no real threat coming back from our visitors in the second half, I made some changes and tried something out for future reference, replacing the attacking midfielder with a third centre back in a live trial for what I plan to use for some away games. York City (2) 2 - Jamie Thomas (29), Mark Beck (45+3) Brackley Town (0) 0 Ryan Whitley; Sean Newton ©, Louie Annesley; Michael Duckworth, Scott Barrow; Jack Steele, Tyrese Fornah, Michael Woods (Harrison Hopper 74); Jamie Thomas; Mark Beck (Matty Brown 74), Clayton Donaldson (Benjamin Kimpioka 74). Attendance :- 1,778 Okay, that was a nice pleasant and straightforward afternoon for us. We're starting to find something that works for us, and if we can play this nicely at home, and start picking up points regularly from our away games, a top seven finish to secure a Playoff place at least is well within our capability's. Onwards to Monday afternoon, where we will take a trip to Spennymoor. Monday 30th August Vanarama League North Division Brewery Field, Spennymoor Spennymoor Town v York City Just 48 hours after our last outing, this is the kind of game where I need to rotate the team. Unfortunately, with very little squad depth, I don't have that luxury right now. Club Captain Matty Brown comes in to make a trio of centre backs with Jamie Thomas rested for this one. I had unintentionally mirrored Spennymoor's tactics today, and that made for a close game with individual mistakes or moments of skill the way to settle it. Unfortunately for us, it would be the former. Sean Newton blew his marking assignment from a free kick and the ball found it's way to striker Frank Mulhern who would bury the chance to give Town the advantage. Slowly during the second half I had my players easing into a more attacking mode, and after Town had scored from the only shot on target they would get, we would need to do the same. Mission failed however, as Michael Woods drove the only shot on target we had at goal from the edge of the box, but it was easily dealt with. That wasn't our best chance though, that would come from a set piece that saw the ball sent to the far post, where Mark Beck ghosted in unmarked, but put his header into the side netting. Once again, no points on the road for us. Spennymoor Town (1) 1 - Frank Mulhern (19) York City (0) 0 Ryan Whitley; Sean Newton (Jamie Thomas 68), Matty Brown ©, Louie Annesley; Michael Duckworth, Scott Barrow; Jack Steele, Tyrese Fornah (Harrison Hopper 72), Michael Woods; Clayton Donaldson (Benjamin Kimpioka 68), Mark Beck. Attendance :- 961 It was noticed by the fans at the game today that we played a different formation, and they weren't happy with what they saw. The lack of attempts on goal was a point I agreed with them on, and something that I tried to address in the second half, but once more we come away from a road trip with no points, and we end August in 9th place. We certainly need to be better, and I think we will be once we get everyone match fit and firing on all cylinders.

Only Manchester City, Liverpool, Leeds United & Scotland stories are acceptable haha. Good luck with the new story mate.

Are you a newbie? Have you read the House Rules?

Saturday 19th March 2016 With no Senior game today, the Under-18's were the highlight at The Showgrounds this weekend, and they kept up their great form in the Under-18's Group One. Today it was their own derby day as they hosted Ballymena United, and they won 3-1. They had control for a large part of the game after Marc Vennard put the ball in his own net, but Paddy Bowden equalised for United with around twenty minutes to play. With a point apiece looking possible, Joseph Nixon fire in a quick brace to secure the win and keep the team in third spot and still in with a shout, albeit a long shot to overhaul the leaders. Thursday 24th March After almost ten days off since the Intermediate Cup Semi-Final, the team has had a good chance to recharge after a busy period, and also to get some great training in. Unfortunately, that good training claimed a victim today, as forward Chris Johnston suffered a damaged heel in a tackle, and will be out for two or three weeks. With Andy McMillan and Stuart Shaw both already on the sidelines, and Gavin Whelan as our only fit Senior player who can play on the right wing, we are now starting to run low on attacking options at a crucial part of the season. Friday 25th March That crucial part of the season begins tomorrow afternoon, as we make the trip into Belfast to face the Police Service of Northern Ireland. They're a club I've had history with since I became a Manager, starting with my time at Lurgan Celtic, and continuing here at Coleraine. They're currently on the kind of form that could see them relegated, though there are a few teams who will need to find a way to leap by PSNI to put them in greater danger. We're heavy favourites as you might expect, but PSNI's loud Manager is Gavin Arthur. The 42 year old has been in charge at Newforge Lane for almost ten years, and during that time the sum total of his efforts is third tier Champions in 2014. He's a guy I've never really seen eye to eye with, and now he has spoken out against us again, stating that he is very much looking forward to denting our Title hopes tomorrow afternoon. I retaliate that hope is something that has been in short supply for PSNI fans with Arthur as their Manager, and relegation may look a bit closer to a reality when we beat them tomorrow afternoon. Saturday 26th March Northern Irish First Division Newforge Lane, Belfast Police Service of Northern Ireland v Coleraine Attendance :- 274. Weather :- Dry, 10c. Keith Steenson returns to the midfield today, allowing Gavin Whelan to push out to the right wing to replace the injured Chris Johnston. Our lack of forward cover for the bench requires a switch with the Under-18 side, Lee Mooney sent back to them, and striker Martin Friars is called up and immediately brought into the matchday squad for this game. With Mooney dropping out, Robert Donaghy is back involved. The opening five minutes or so of the game saw us absolutely dominate possession, and earn the lead in the seventh minute. We passed the ball slowly around our back four, pushing PSNI back into their own half, before Keith Steenson turned away from a tackle and threaded a through ball in that sent Gerry Nixon between the centre backs, and he drew keeper Gordon O'Brien off his line before slotting his shot by him and into the bottom corner to give us a perfect start. And Nixon wasn't done with terrorising the PSNI defence early on either, Tony Jones overlapped down the right in the 13th minute and sent over a cross towards the near post. PSNI's defence en masse gravitated towards Pat McIlroy, leaving Nixon to sneak in at the near post and power his header inside the near post to double our lead in double quick time. My best friend Gavin Arthur in the opposite dugout must have been wondering what on earth was going on, but his team did start to settle down and start passing the ball around themselves, though they were finding our hard press a bit difficult to get around. They did manage to get the ball into our penalty box a few times late in the half, but they couldn't get away any clean shots on goal as we defended as well as we had attacked early on. Neither side made any changes at the interval, with us clearly not needing to at this point. We missed a chance to extend the lead further, McIlroy chesting the ball down in the box and then shooting on the turn, that one flying over the cross bar. As for PSNI, they were failing to break us down at all. They made all their changes before we had even turned to our bench, and when I did make changes it was purely for fresh legs, with no tactical adjustments necessary. I got John Robertson and young Martin Friars on to replace Michael McCartney and McIlroy who I was keen to take the chance to rest. Jason Campbell also got a bit more First Team experience as he came on late for Declan O'Hara. Not only did we prevent them pulling a goal back, or getting any kind of real pressure on us, but we stopped them having a shot on target at all. Surely Gerard Doherty won't get in the Team Of The Week again for this one? Police Service of Northern Ireland (0) 0 Coleraine (2) 2 - Gerry Nixon (7,13) Gerard Doherty; Tony Jones, Ryan Young, Declan O'Hara (Jason Campbell 85), Andy Dickinson; Keith Steenson ©, Michael McCartney (John Robertson 75); Gavin Whelan, Matty Robson; Pat McIlroy (Martin Friars 75), Gerry Nixon. Unused Substitutes :- Robert Donaghy, Michael Hassan. Bookings :- None Possession :- 46% - 54%. Man of the Match :- Gerry Nixon (Coleraine). I'm absolutely delighted with the way we controlled that game. We got our goals in early, and then just smothered our hosts completely, and didn't give them any sniff of getting back into the game. And just when we needed him the most, Gerry Nixon found his form and netted a double to earn us the win. To top our day off, Limavady United are held to a draw again, this time at home to Queens University Belfast. That result leaves us fourteen points clear at the top with just five games remaining. A win in our next game will make us Champions. And that next game? It's home to local rivals and nearest challengers Limavady. An opportunity to win the Title in front of our own fans against one of our biggest rivals? Chances like that don't come around too often. Monday 28th March The quality of goalkeeping in this Division really must be poor, as despite not having a shot to deal with at all on the weekend, Gerard Doherty is still named in the First Division Team of the Week. Maybe his goal kicks were of a very high quality. He is joined in the representative selection this week by a pair of Scottish team mates, right back Tony Jones and striker Gerry Nixon. Thursday 31st March The final day of the month, and another huge boost for the squad just two days before our first match point at the Championship. 31 year old Scottish left back Stewart Devine has returned from injury quicker than expected, and is now racing to try and be fit for Saturday's derby showdown with Limavady United.

Congratulations on lifting EDC’s first ever trophy. Hopefully this is just a springboard for more silverware, and that elusive first ‘C’ League Title

Wednesday 16th March 2016 I'm back in Asia, and less than fresh after an overnight flight from Belfast into Syria courtesy of the Indian FA's own plane, after taking charge of last night's Intermediate Cup Semi-Final victory with Coleraine. I arrive to the news that in the latest FIFA World Rankings, we have crept up another spot and into 106th place, one spot ahead of the nation where I earn my day to day living, Northern Ireland, who we are due to face in a Friendly this summer, and moving ahead of another Asian nation, as Kuwait now sit a couple of spots behind us. The opponents for us in tonight's Olympic Qualifying match have dropped a few spots in that World Ranking, but Syria are still ranked above us and in a Top 100 spot that we covet. They are now ranked 98th, but are starting to fall back into our laps. I have to say that I don't believe for a second that they are better than us, and I'm hoping our Under-23's are up to the task of proving just that this evening in Aleppo, the biggest city in the country by population, with almost two million people residing in the city. Their Under-23 Squad is lacking in both depth and quality it has to be said, and that is after they have taken any eligible fully capped players in their selection. The Senior Squad does feature primarily players that have left the Middle East nation, and are playing their football across Europe, with Sweden the most popular landing spot, while Greece and Belgium are also represented. That isn't the case for the highest age group side, who have just one player who currently plays in Europe, and 18 year old goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Martah is yet to make his debut for Donegal Celtic in almost two seasons with the Ulster club. The remaining domestic based players are primarily from the dominant Al-Wahda and Al-Ittihad clubs, while Al-Jaish and Al-Wajda also have representation. The pick of their players is left footed attacking midfielder Jihad Barnawi, a 22 year old who has already picked up 13 Senior International caps since being debuted as a 17 year old, and has a Senior Goal at the top level to his name too. His 20 year old club mate Maher Amin is probably this age group sides most capable defender, and we'll be hoping to test his abilities to the full today. 2016 Olympic Qualifiers, Asian Zone, Third Round, Group B Hamadaniya Stadium, Aleppo, Syria Syria Under-23's v India Under-23's Attendance :- 385. Weather :- Dry, 17c. There are some changes from last time out and the battling home defeat against Saudi Arabia last week. We are returning to the modified 4-4-2 that has been our regular tactic for a while now. Paramjit Kumar comes into the left back spot ahead of Sheikh Singh in the only change to the starting lineup. There are more changes amongst the substitutes, with Dulal Bhattacharya and Naresh Reja brought into the matchday squad in place of Singh and Mohd Jahangir Islam. Jihad Barnawi has a reputation for having plenty of pace on the Syrian left side, but Amar Thakur eased by him with his own turn of speed which set up the opening chance of the game, the ball played through the midfield and into the box for Ashish Morje, but he took a second or two to bring it under control which allowed keeper Ayham Ali to get off his line and block the shot when it came in. But it would only take us a few more minutes to break the Syrians open, Paramjit Kumar swinging in a left footed corner, and just as it looked like it would beat everyone, Sanjay Singh applied the finish at the far post. Thakur's pace was no good to him in the 13th minute minute when he found himself in an aerial duel with Ali Gordan. The Syria forward got the ball headed on to Barnawi, and he cut inside before finding Ahmad Al-Hosani, who's low curling shot beat Mohammed Barua's dive and levelled the score back up. The chances were flowing in an end to end game, and in the 20th minute we took the lead for a second time, Amit Singh playing a pass into Mohammed Nayan on the right corner of the box, and he held the ball up before squaring it for Morje, who swept home from 15 yards out to give us a second advantage of the evening. We were looking good, and Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury tried to get in on the act when he brought the ball down and let a shot go that didn't quite dip enough to trouble the goalie this time. With ten minutes to go till the break, and Syria trying to find a way back into the game, we caught them once more, this time with a swift and clinical counter attack. Thakur arched a long ball down the right touchline to send Joseph Lal into acres of space, the winger cutting back into the box before pulling the ball back towards Morje, keeper Ali getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out, Morje denied a second as it was deemed after a replay that his shot was heading wide until it took a deflection off Mohammed Amiri, who will instead will be credited with an own goal he'd rather not have. Morje had two more goes at securing his brace before the break, one effort flying over the top, while a second was pushed away by Ali. A two goal lead at the break was a nice position to be in, but this Syrian side saw us as their best chance to get some points on the board in this competition. Half time sub Mohammed Saif's quick throw in found Amiri with his back to goal and he laid the ball back to skipper Jalal Fadhel who caught Barua cheating on the near post and struck a shot by him to cut the lead back down to a single goal. A cross into the box from Sanjay unfortunately landed on the head of the wrong player as far as we were concerned, as it cleared Islam Chowdhury and landed on the head of Nayan who couldn't hit the target. But number four was on the way, Syria learning the hard way that you can't give Kumar all the time in the world on the left wing, as he picked a beautiful diagonal cross that cut out the whole Syrian defence and landed on the boot of Lal, who brought it down before beating Ali on his near post to make it a 4-2 lead. Kumar could've actually got a goal of his own, but when presented with a free kick from the edge of the box, he got over ambitious, and tried to put too much power on his effort, getting it all wrong this time. That actually signalled the start of a much quieter period of the game, the first such period actually. With the clock starting to run down, and Syria finally starting to run out of steam, I made some changes, Jose Paul and Islam Chowdhury both coming off with around twenty minutes remaining. We were still playing some lovely football, and I'd just made my final change down the left replacing Sanjay with Naresh Reja when we opened Syria up one more time. Unfortunately for Reja it wasn't down his side of the park, Lal throwing the ball into the box from the right, Morje holding it up before going down believing he was fouled, but the ref was saved from making a decision when Felix Basheer smashed the loose ball across goal and right into the top corner to finish off an excellent overall performance for us. Syria Under-23's (1) 2 - Ahmad Al-Hosani (13), Jalal Fadhel (49) India Under-23's (3) 5 - Sanjay Singh (7), Ashish Morje (20), Mohammed Amiri (35 og), Jospeh Lal (55), Felix Basheer (85) Mohammed Barua; Amar Thakur ©, Jose Paul (Gumpe Singh 70), Francisco Reja, Paramjit Kumar; Amit Singh, Mohammed Nayan; Joseph Lal, Sanjay Singh (Naresh Reja 84); Ashish Morje, Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury (Felix Basheer 70). Unused Substitutes :- Seby Kumar (GK), Dulal Bhattacharya, Anthony Haque, Mohammed Hassan. Bookings :- None Possession :- 39% - 61%. Man of the Match :- Joseph Lal (India Under-23's). Those other nations in our Group are so borrring with their players at their big clubs etc. Was their game as entertaining as ours was to watch? No, of course it wasn't, a lukewarm 1-0 Saudi win over Indonesia in Riyadh that is hardly likely to have impressed those that showed up in the King Fahd International Stadium. We will of course fancy our chances of beating Syria again when they visit us in New Delhi next month, but before that, we will be the visitors in Saudi when they host us in Damman early next month. Clearly, that is likely to be a completely different level of task for us. 2016 Olympic Football Tournament Qualifiers, Asian Zone, Third Round, Group B. Up To & Including Wednesday 16th March 2016 | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | 1st | | Saudi Arabia | | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 9 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | 2nd | | Indonesia | | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 6 | | 3rd | | India | | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | | 4th | | Syria | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 | -12 | 0 | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday 25th March I'm hoping this is a good news day for India, though we will have to wait a little while longer to find out I guess. Today the draw has been made for the Preliminary Round of the 2019 Asian Nations Cup Qualifiers. Four nations have been paired into two ties, and those nations are The Maldives, Turkmenistan, Thailand and Vietnam. The relevance of this is that those four nations are all ranked below us, and there are several more Asian countries between them and us as well, namely Kuwait, Qatar, North Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. If this means what it looks like it means, and that we will be in the draw for the next round, fingers crossed, then our goal of moving up the World Rankings far enough to be involved after missing out last time has been achieved. What it also means if that is the case, is that the cut off line to be involved would be 139th, the place occupied by Yemen who are it would appear the highest ranked nation not included, along with nations below them including Palestine, Guam, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Brunei Darussalam, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Laos, Bangladesh, The Philippines, Taiwan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan, East Timor, Cambodia, Macau and Nepal. None of this might seem like a big deal. But firstly, it highlights the huge progress we have made in my near three years in charge. But secondly, if we are not involved in this Continental Championship, then there are serious questions to be asked about whether it's worth continuing with my project here in India. I'm not just here to improve their fortunes, but also my own reputation in the global game. Competitive football is the only way to do that, and a lack of that will have me reconsidering my options.