Punch

DEC 2042 A massive month as we faced six League games, and while we only lost one, we also only won one, as we had four straight draws. A League Cup win sends us through to the Semi Final for the 5th straight season. Stats Goalkeepers Defenders Midfielders Forwards It's great to see the goals getting shared around this season. For our first two years in the Premier League, Finnegan scored 50% of them. This season sees plenty of goal scorers, without us relying on just one regular scorer. We had some youngsters recognised as Young Players of the Year for Ireland and Wales. Youth Intake Preview The Youth Intake again provides very little to get excited about. Hopefully, like last season, if we can collect one or two players that are decent prospects, then we should be ok. A good month financially pushes us to the brink of £300 million in the bank. Another busy month coming up, and we will be without our first choice Keeper for a lot of it with International Duty. The Transfer window is also now open, meaning we will be facing plenty of challenges to keep all the squad together.

DEC 2042 - Match Day 19 - At Liverpool We give the Reds a real run for their money at Anfield, but ultimately come up short. The hosts always looked in control, even if we did give them some nervous moments. While not the result we wanted, the performance against a much bigger club was very encouraging. Our first loss in nine games sees us fall to 9th place, although we still have a game in hand over some of the teams around us. Up next The task doesn't get any easier as we host 2nd place West Ham.

DEC 2042 - Match Day 18 - At AFC Bournemouth Our Bournemouth hoodoo is broken as we smash the Cherries. Two goals in each half, and a clean sheet, capped a brilliant day at the office. We stretch our unbeaten run to 8 games in the process. We jump up to 8th place. Up Next A really tough schedule sends us to Liverpool on two days rest.

DEC 2042 - Match Day 17 - Vs Brentford A crazy game on the island as we get drawn into a six goal thriller, where the points ended up shared. The Bees took the lead on the half hour, before we quickly hit back, with the game struggling to find any quality as we both ambled to the break. We had the better of the exchanges early in the second half, but were again punished for failing to take them, and with 10 minutes to go, found ourselves two goals down. The one man advantage, and fresh legs off the bench began to shine though, as young striker Chamberlain, found the back of the net twice in three minutes to bring us level. He very nearly stole the win in the dying seconds with an effort that hit the bar as well. Seven unbeaten, but only two wins, as we have put together four consecutive draws. Make up games galore as teams are negotiating their way around Cup and European commitments. We sit 10th on a log jammed ladder. Two more wins, and we'd be 6th, two more losses, and we'd be 16th... Up Next A rough few days as we relegation zone Bournemouth, and then Liverpool two days later.

The improvement continues, even if slowly.

DEC 2042 - League Cup Quarter Final - Vs Watford We made harder work of it than we should have, but we done enough to get the job done and advance, in front of our first sell out for a Cup game. A fully rotated squad went into the match, with plenty of youngsters getting on the park, showing that we have a very deep rotation available. It took to the second half for us to get on the score sheet, and injury time before we finally put it away, but it was a solid performance, especially defensively to shut the Hornets out of the game. Plenty of youngsters got game time, but we handed a debut to 17 year old Marshall, the top prospect from our most recent youth intake, and he put on a decent showing. Our 5th straight trip to the League Cup Semi Final sees us draw Championship side Bristol. We have a pretty poor record against them from our time on the Championship, including a Play Off Final loss. Up Next Back to League action as we host 16th place Brentford.

DEC 2042 - Match Day 16 - At Brighton & Hove Albion A crazy game against the Seagulls, and while it seems like a missed opportunity, this one could have went either way. We could have scored three or four goals, but, so could have the hosts as we both wasted chance after chance. While we miss out on the three points, we didn't lose, so I guess we take the positive that we are still accumulating points away. Three straight draws, and now 6 unbeaten as we sit in 10th. Up Next League Cup rolls into the island, as we host Watford in the Quarter Final.

DEC 2042 - Match Day 15 - Vs Arsenal A really tight battle against the Gunners, which resulted in a point each. Both teams had chances, and both teams hit the woodwork, so this could have went either way. While we had our chances to win, I am still pretty happy to have taken a point off a top side. We are unbeaten in 5, although we have only won two of those, but we jump to 8th place as plenty of teams around us are beaten. Up Next We travel to the high flying Brighton who currently sit in 7th place.

DEC 2042 - Match Day 14 - Vs Fulham A lesson in not taking chances and finishing the opponent off as we fall asleep at the wheel in this one. Comfortable with a two goal lead, which should have been a lot more, we let them back in with two late goals to give up a share of the points. We stay 10th, as there were a few upsets in the top half of the table. Up Next Another tough one as we host 3rd Place Arsenal.

NOV 2042 A rough start to the month, but we come good with two cracking wins to finish off. Internationals Plenty of players on duty over the International break. We are now producing the most players representing in the Premier League. We are also producing the most number of players in top European competitions. Our FA Cup campaign kicks off in January, and we will host Welling in the 3rd Round. We do have history against them from our time in the National League South. We make a small profit this month. A big month coming up, with some pretty tough games as well.

NOV 2042 - Match Day 13 - At Everton A brilliant result as we come from behind to stun the Toffees. The hosts had the lead at the break, before we leveled near the hour mark. We pushed hard, but just when it looked like the points would be shared, Garai smashed home a late winner for us to collect all three points on the road. With a third of the season now behind us, we sit in 8th place, a long way from any relegation discussions. Up Next We host 11th place Fulham.

NOV 2042 - Match Day 12 - Vs Peterborough United We made a rusty start after the international break, and the Posh caught us out, taking a surprise early lead. From there, it was all one way traffic though as we ran riot, having taken the lead back, and increased it to two goals by half time. We continued on our merry way in the second half, scoring two more goals to complete the four goal thumping. Our first win in five games keeps us in 10th place. Up next A tricky away game as we head to 13th place Everton.

NOV 2042 - Match Day 11 - At Wolverhamtpon Wanderers A really tight battle as we couldn't be separated at Molineux. Both teams had their chances to win, but after we found ourselves behind early, it took a late goal to seal a share of the points. We remain in 10th place, despite not having a win in 5 games. Up next We face relegation zone Peterborough in our only home game for the month.

NOV 2042 - Match Day 10 - At Chelsea We got taught a lesson in not taking our chances today. For the majority of the match we were the much better team, but didn't take our chances, and were punished by the Blues, who created few chances, but took the one that mattered. The result hurt a little more as we lost another player for an extended period. We lose another place to 10th. Up Next Another tough match up as we head to 6th place Wolves.

They are the images I use in game when I get a new stadium, because I hate the ‘coming soon’ graphic. In reality, they are of BMO Stadium, formerly Banc of California Stadium, home of LA FC, from Major League Soccer. It’s one of my favourite stadiums to look at.