[CM01/02] Forever Blowing Bubbles- Playing the West Ham Way

sjg11 · July 21, 2016

Hello everyone and welcome to my first career to be on a site like this.

Anyway, first a little bit of background about the career. Well a while ago I was feeling nostalgic as I tend to do from time to time so I installed Champ Man 01-02 for my computer . I decided that, instead of picking a team from the start of the game I would let the game run for a couple of seasons before picking an interesting challenge to launch my career.

Having let the game run for three whole seasons I finally found a job I liked in November 2004 at West Ham United who had just sacked their manager.

West Ham started the game under Glenn Roeder but he was sacked in January 2002 and replaced by Millwall manager Mark McGhee with the club in the relegation zone. The team didn't improve under McGhee's stewardship and were relegated to Division One having finished in 19th. They also lost the FA Cup final to Leeds that season.

In 2002-03 the team started the season well and looked a good bet for automatic promotion until a late dip in form which saw them drop down to 7th and out of the play-off places altogether.

A poor run at the start of the 2003-04 season saw McGhee come under a lot of pressure but he turned the club's season around and took them to the play-off final where they lost on penalties to Crewe after a 2-2 draw. A poor start to the next season led to McGhee's sacking and I have come into the club to turn the club around.

This is the current Division One table:


Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Derby                           16   5    2    1    15   8    6    1    1    15   7    36   
2nd     Preston                         17   5    2    2    17   12   5    1    2    13   11   33   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Tranmere                        16   6    2    0    16   5    3    3    2    11   11   32   
4th     Middlesbrough                   16   7    1    0    20   6    1    6    1    11   11   31   
5th     Q.P.R.                          16   6    2    0    19   9    2    3    3    12   17   29   
6th     Aston Villa                     14   4    1    0    12   5    4    3    2    13   11   28   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Crystal Palace                  17   7    1    0    15   6    1    3    5    14   21   28   
8th     Charlton                        16   4    3    1    12   10   4    1    3    10   12   28   
9th     Bradford                        16   3    1    4    11   13   5    2    1    15   11   27   
10th    Bristol C                       17   6    1    2    22   11   2    1    5    9    11   26   
11th    Burnley                         16   4    3    1    15   6    3    1    4    7    8    25   
12th    W.B.A.                          16   2    3    3    10   11   4    0    4    12   10   21   
13th    Grimsby                         17   3    3    2    17   15   2    2    5    9    12   20   
14th    Norwich                         16   2    3    3    8    8    3    2    3    8    9    20   
15th    Nottm Forest                    17   5    1    2    14   9    0    3    6    6    14   19   
16th    Southampton                     16   3    3    3    10   11   1    3    3    9    12   18   
17th    Barnsley                        17   4    3    2    14   10   0    3    5    5    14   18   
18th    Wigan                           16   3    3    3    11   10   1    2    4    7    13   17   
19th    West Ham                        17   3    1    4    11   12   1    4    4    12   17   17   
20th    Millwall                        16   3    2    3    10   11   1    2    5    11   18   16   
21st    Rushden                         17   3    1    5    11   13   2    0    6    11   18   16   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Ipswich                         17   2    2    5    12   16   1    1    6    10   20   12   
23rd    Coventry                        16   1    5    2    9    11   0    2    6    5    12   10   
24th    Walsall                         17   0    4    4    9    14   0    4    5    7    20   8

As you can see the club is currently locked on the fringes of the relegation battle with an 11 point gap to make up to the play-offs making promotion unlikely this season. The board's expectations accept this as my target is merely to achieve a respectable league position this season.

A major positive came when I saw my current transfer budget which is £20.5 Million. Which is a hell of a lot of money for a Division One club in the early/mid 2000s.

More details on the squad coming up along with an overview of West Ham's season so far to be followed by an update surrounding how the football world has progressed to this point. People are welcome to ask for more details if they want them.

sjg11 · July 21, 2016

Squad Currently:

GKs

George Lock

Chris Stringer- 6.79

We need a new keeper. The two we have currently simply aren't good enough. Stringer might serve as a decent reserve goalkeeper for a couple of seasons but this is one of my main priorities.

DEFs

Adam Newton (RB)

Luke Young- 6.60 (RB/CB)

Rigobert Song- 7.32 (RB/CB)

Hasney Aljofree- 6.78 (LB/CB)

Peter Clarke- 7.00 (CB)

Joey Hutchinson- 7.14 (CB)

Izzy Iriekpen- 7.00 (CB)

Chris Morgan- 7.00 (CB)

We have enough decent CBs and RBs for the moment. In the slightly longer term I'll make upgrades in those areas but it's not an urgent priority. We do need a LB though. We currently have one LB and my predecessor was playing Chris Morgan there for most of the season. And, frankly, our one LB (Hasney Aljofree) isn't a great player. This is definitely an area which needs some investment.

MIDs

Richie Wellens- 7.16 (CM)

Gareth Williams- 6.33 (CM)

Leon Britton- 6.67 (AM R/L/C)

Damien Johnson- 7.26 (AM/F R)

Jason Wilcox- 6.67 (AM L)

Paul Murray- 6.68 (AMC)

Geoff Pitcher- 6.78 (AMC)

The midfield is the area which needs the highest quantity and quality improvements. Particularly since the systems I intend to use in the longer term need excellent midfielders and a decent number of them. I have my eye on a very young regen from Manchester United who I may be able to afford with my ridiculously large transfer budget but I'll need other improvements in this area.

STs

Paolo Di Canio- 7.00 (F R/C)

Michael Ricketts- 7.26 (F R/C)

Tommy Smith- 7.63 (F R/C)

Svetoslav Todorov

My strikers are the strongest area of the team. Tommy Smith is excellent on paper and on the pitch, Michael Ricketts has chipped in with plenty of goals and Todorov looks good on paper with Di Canio a decent enough, if ageing deputy. Cherno Samba has been rotting on the bench at Parma for a couple of seasons so, if possible, I'll try tempting him to Upton Park. Wayne Rooney may also be affordable and Ibra could be a possible loan signing but this is an area where I would need to be tempted by a top class player with enough of a budget left from strengthening the areas of the pitch which urgently need strengthening.

And the team's results so far this season:

Date      Opposition                 Ven  Competition                     Res    Attend  Scorers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.7.04   Motherwell            SCO   H   Friendly                        1:2    -----   
21.7.04   Wycombe                     A   Friendly                        0:1    -----   
25.7.04   Caen                  FRA   A   Friendly                        0:1    -----   
27.7.04   Gueugnon              FRA   A   Friendly                        0:0    -----   
30.7.04   Birmingham                  H   Friendly                        2:3    -----   
14.8.04   Southampton                 H   First Division                  3:2    -----   
21.8.04   Coventry                    A   First Division                  1:2    -----   
24.8.04   Hull                        A   League Cup 1st Rnd              3:2    -----   
28.8.04   Bristol C                   H   First Division                  1:0    -----   
30.8.04   Wigan                       A   First Division                  1:1    -----   
11.9.04   Bradford                    A   First Division                  2:2    -----   
15.9.04   Middlesbrough               H   First Division                  1:3    -----   
18.9.04   Crystal Palace              A   First Division                  1:1    -----   
22.9.04   Southend                    A   League Cup 2nd Rnd              1:2    -----   
25.9.04   W.B.A.                      H   First Division                  0:1    -----   
29.9.04   Nottm Forest                H   First Division                  3:1    -----   
2.10.04   Walsall                     A   First Division                  3:1    6811    Smith 2, Ricketts
16.10.04  Q.P.R.                      A   First Division                  1:2    19106   G.Williams
19.10.04  Tranmere                    A   First Division                  0:2    13831   
23.10.04  Derby                       A   First Division                  3:3    23089   P.Murray, D.Johnson, Di Canio
26.10.04  Grimsby                     H   First Division                  2:3    20511   Smith, Ricketts
30.10.04  Aston Villa                 H   First Division                  1:1    21054   T.Smith
3.11.04   Norwich                     H   First Division                  0:1    18029   
6.11.04   Millwall                    A   First Division                  0:3    16644

sjg11 · July 21, 2016

Just a quick update about what's been going on in the rest of the world for the past couple of seasons:

Italy won the 2002 World Cup without conceding a goal in the entire tournament, beating Marcelo Bielsa's Argentina 2-0 in the final. Giovanni Trapattoni resigned to be replaced by Arrigo Sacchi. Spain and France were knocked out in the group stages which led to sackings for Roger Lemerre and Jose Antonio Camacho, to be replaced by Jean Tigana and Fernando Castro Santos respectively. Holland didn't qualify yet Louis van Gaal kept his job. England were beaten by Argentina in the quarter-finals having beaten Portugal after extra time in the last 16. Neither host nation got out of the group stages and Saudi Arabia were the tournament's surprise package, reaching the quarter-finals. Ireland under Mick McCarthy were beaten by Germany in the quarter-finals and none of the other home nations qualified.

Italy also won the 2004 World Cup, beating Germany in the final. Spain didn't qualify yet did not sack Castro Santos. England were knocked out in the group stages, a respectable draw against Germany was followed by a shock defeat to Finland, competing in their first major tournament before a 3-3 draw against Yugoslavia confirmed England's elimination. Sven-Goran Eriksson was swiftly sacked to be replaced by Roy Hodgson because we all know an England team managed by Hodgson would never lose to a Scandinavian nation competing at their first major tournament. As for Finland, they reached the semi-finals, eliminating hosts Portugal in the quarter-finals before being beaten by eventual winners Italy in the semi-finals. Holland were knocked out in the group stages yet van Gaal kept his job. Jean Tigana successfully guided France to the semi-finals where they were beaten on penalties by Germany.

The Champions' League was won by Matthias Sammer's Dortmund in 2002, beating Real Madrid, and Alberto Zaccheroni's Lazio in 2003 and 2004 beating Milan and Celtic in each final. Manchester United, Juventus and Schalke have won the UEFA Cup in that order beating Ajax, Wisla Krakow and PSV respectively.

Arsenal won the Premier League in 2002, Terry Yorath's Leeds in 2003 and David O'Leary's Manchester United in 2004.

PSG have won all three editions of Ligue 1 so far.

Del Bosque's Real Madrid won La Liga in 2002 and 2003 but Valencia managed to win it in 2004 under Carlos Bilardo.

In the Bundesliga, Dortmund have won it in 2002 and 2004 while Bayern won it in 2003.

While in Italy, Capello's Roma won in 2002 followed by successive titles for a Lazio side who are currently dominant at home and abroad.

If you want any more details about the game world just ask and I will provide.

sjg11 · July 24, 2016

November/December 2004

Ok so I started the save having an idea that the club had a good amount of money but a squad with some massive holes in it. Little did I know how right I was to be worried about the current state of the squad.

West Ham vs Rushden (Brian Talbot)

Our first game was an important one at the bottom of the table against Rushden. This was an even game for the most part but Rushden took the lead through a brilliant free kick from Stephen Clemence before Stringer, our goalkeeper, conceded a penalty on the hour mark which Duane Darby slotted in to double the lead for Rushden. A bad start to my West Ham tenure.

West Ham 0-2 Rushden

In between this game and the next one I secured the signing of Alex Neil from Tranmere. Neil can play at CM or RM and has been excellent for a strong Tranmere side so far this season. I also secured the signing of Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi but it would take a while for his work permit to go through so I was stuck with the awful George Lock once my appeal for Stringer's suspension failed. While scouting Kawaguchi, my scouts also found a promising RM called Daisuke Oku who also signed and who also needs a work permit.

Preston (Steve McMahon) vs West Ham

We were slaughtered at Deepdale against a good Preston team. Paul Kitson finished off a good passing move to put Preston ahead before Zat Knight doubled Preston's lead from a corner

Preston 2-0 West Ham

West Ham vs Ipswich (Kevin Gallacher)

Ipswich were another side near the bottom of the table and we produced a significantly better performance than we had before this game. Tommy Smith gave us the lead just after half time from a Richie Wellens cross before Alexander Farnerud equalised for Ipswich. However Michael Ricketts was brought down in the area and Smith put us back in front. Unfortunately we couldn't hold onto three points as Darren Bent scored a late, late equaliser.

West Ham 2-2 Ipswich

Charlton (Alan Curbishley) vs West Ham

George Lock had an absolute shocker here and single-handedly lost us the game. The game itself was actually fairly even but Lock conceded 5 goals from 6 shots on target, which is frankly abysmal. Two goals from Alan Taylor and another from James Harper gave Charlton a comfortable lead inside the first fifteen minutes. Harper then scored from a free kick just before half-time before Jo Tessem made it 5 with ten minutes left. Svetoslav Todorov managed to score a late consolation but this was the low-point. Kawaguchi could not come quickly enough.

Charlton 5-1 West Ham

Thankfully Kawaguchi's work permit came through after this game as did Oku's. We also signed Athur Gnohere from newly promoted Burnley, a player who had been in the League One team of the year two years in a row and can play at LB and at CB. I also signed Austin McCann from Hearts, another LB. Hasney Aljofree was atrocious and shall be shipped out at the end of the season. With that I feel like I've managed to plug the gaping holes in the squad and can now spend the remaining transfer budget (about 8 million) on a really good signing. Failing that, a LM and another CM would also be nice but not strictly necessary.

West Ham vs Barnsley (Shaun Taylor)

Gnohere, Oku and Kawaguchi all made their debuts in this game and the difference was instant. Kawaguchi got a very solid 8 in this game which was a huge step up from Lock's last game. Oku also played well while Gnohere had a slightly underwhelming debut. Michael Ricketts scored the only goal of the game after an Oku knock down from a cross by Richie Wellens.

West Ham 1-0 Barnsley

West Ham vs Coventry (Roland Nilsson)

This was a great performance. I gave McCann his debut but he went off injured after 14 minutes. By that point Colin Cameron had been sent off for Coventry and we were already leading 2-0. Richie Wellens headed in a cross from Alex Neil and Tommy Smith pounced on an error by the Coventry goalkeeper. Svetoslav Todorov then tapped in a third goal before Daisuke Oku completed the rout with a goal from a corner. Very good performance.

West Ham 4-0 Coventry

Bristol City (David Moyes) vs West Ham

We were poor again here. Lee McCulloch gave Bristol City the lead from a corner before doubling the lead with another header. We never looked like getting back into the match.

Bristol City 2-0 West Ham

Burnley (George Burley) vs West Ham

This was a better performance and a fairly even game which was settled by an early goal from Michael Yates giving Burnley the three points.

Burnley 1-0 West Ham

Oku was injured in between this and the game against Southampton.

Southampton (Stuart Gray) vs West Ham

After losing every away game so far I decided to play a little bit more defensively here. It worked, to a point. A Richie Wellens header gave us the lead before James Beattie equalised for Southampton. The game was fairly even after that before the key moment arrived shortly afterwards. Damien Johnson and Svetoslav Todorov both went off injured and Southampton then snatched a winner through Tommy Black. Still, reasons to be optimistic.

Southampton 2-1 West Ham

West Ham vs Wigan (George Graham)

Kawaguchi was excellent in this one after Alex Neil hobbled off to add to our growing injury list. A good strike from Paolo Di Canio gave us the three points.

West Ham 1-0 Wigan

So overall, we were appalling until I managed to find players to fill in some of the gaping gaps in the squad. Since then we've been inconsistent but our injury situation is worrying. McCann, Neil, Oku, Johnson, Todorov and Murray are all currently injured. Fortunately our next game is in the FA Cup against Carlisle so I intend to rest players there giving us two weeks until our next league game at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.

I tried a couple of different formations initially before settling on a simple 4-4-2 with forward arrows on my two wingers. This is currently our best line-up:

GK: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi

LB: Austin McCann

CB: Athur Gnohere

CB: Peter Clarke/Chris Morgan

RB: Rigobert Song

RM: Daisuke Oku

CM: Alex Neil

CM: Richie Wellens

LM: Damien Johnson

ST: Tommy Smith

ST: Svetoslav Todorov

Chris Stringer is capable of deputising for Kawaguchi. George Lock is abysmal and will be sold shortly.

If McCann gets injured I'll move Gnohere to LB and play Clarke and Morgan in the centre. If McCann and Gnohere are injured I'll bring in Aljofree as an emergency option.

Clarke, Morgan, Gnohere, Hutchinson and Iriekpen give me enough CBs. Song can also move into the middle and Luke Young can slot in at RB.

Luke Young is Song's deputy until I can find someone better.

Johnson can move to the right to replace Oku and Jason Wilcox can move to LM. Neil can also slot into RM with Paul Murray coming into CM. Di Canio can also play RM reasonably competently. Johnson isn't actually a LM but since I tried him there he's got an 8, 6, 7 and a 7 which is significantly higher than Wilcox's ratings in the same position. I forgot earlier that Johnson is injured for two months though so I am going to have to spend some of the 8 million on a LM.

I have plenty of numbers in CM but a few players are going to be sold in that position in the summer to make way for more able players to replace them.

My forward four of Ricketts, Todorov, Smith and Di Canio works fine but if I can snag someone excellent I will. I wasn't a million miles away from persuading Cherno Samba to come but he elected to sign a new contract at Parma instead. I'm still hunting for other options.

So that's where the squad is at currently. Here's the table:

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Derby                           27   8    3    2    27   18   9    2    3    25   16   56   
2nd     Preston                         27   10   2    2    31   15   5    4    4    19   20   51   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Aston Villa                     26   7    4    1    21   13   7    4    3    22   16   50   
4th     Burnley                         27   9    4    1    24   8    5    3    5    16   14   49   
5th     Tranmere                        27   10   3    0    26   7    3    7    4    14   18   49   
6th     Middlesbrough                   27   11   1    2    30   10   1    9    3    19   22   46   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Bradford                        27   6    2    6    18   18   8    2    3    26   21   46   
8th     Q.P.R.                          26   8    4    1    29   17   4    5    4    18   23   45   
9th     Bristol C                       27   9    1    4    31   15   4    3    6    18   17   43   
10th    Crystal Palace                  27   10   1    2    23   10   3    3    8    19   25   43   
11th    Charlton                        26   6    5    2    19   13   4    5    4    16   19   40   
12th    Grimsby                         27   7    3    3    27   20   3    3    8    14   22   36   
13th    Nottm Forest                    27   7    5    2    21   12   2    3    8    9    17   35   
14th    Millwall                        27   6    4    3    19   16   2    4    8    17   27   32   
15th    W.B.A.                          27   3    4    6    15   19   5    3    6    16   17   31   
16th    Wigan                           27   5    5    4    17   14   3    2    8    12   21   31   
17th    Norwich                         26   4    5    4    17   18   3    4    6    11   18   30   
18th    Southampton                     27   6    4    4    20   19   1    4    8    14   29   29   
19th    West Ham                        27   6    2    5    19   16   1    4    9    14   29   27   
20th    Barnsley                        27   4    7    3    20   17   1    3    9    8    23   25   
21st    Rushden                         27   4    2    7    15   19   3    1    10   14   29   24   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Walsall                         27   4    5    4    21   20   0    5    9    10   33   22   
23rd    Ipswich                         27   4    4    6    19   20   1    2    10   14   29   21   
24th    Coventry                        27   3    7    4    20   20   0    2    11   9    24   18

Lenzar · July 24, 2016

Nice to see a CM01-02 save in here.

Get Mark Kerr.

Jimbokav1971 · July 24, 2016

Nice to see a CM01-02 save in here.
Get Mark Kerr.

Or that Brazilian Diablo bloke.

sjg11 · July 24, 2016

January/February 2005

Alright so we move into January after a period of improved form in December. I'm still hunting for a couple of new signings and we start the month with the third round of the FA Cup away at Division Two Carlisle. Just before the game I signed Paul Konchesky from Charlton to add depth at LM. I've decided to play a reserve team for this game which lines up like so:

GK: Chris Stringer

LB: Hasney Aljofree

CB: John Walsh

CB: Gareth Burke

RB: Steven Clark

LM: Paul Konchesky

CM: Gareth Williams

CM: Lee Butler

RM: Daisuke Oku

ST: Chris Beardsley

ST: Michael Reddy

These players are largely youth products with the exceptions of Konchesky and Oku. Konchesky had just signed and I wanted to take a look at him while Oku had just come back from an injury and this seemed like a good warm up for bigger league games to come.

Carlisle (Roddy Collins) vs West Ham

This was a very good performance and result for us. Chris Beardsley put us in front from a cross by Michael Reddy before doubling the lead from a Paul Konchesky cross. Konchesky had a good debut while Steven Clark, Michael Reddy and Beardsley played well from the youth products. Steven Clark has probably displaced Luke Young as second choice RB while I'm tempted to give Reddy and especially Beardsley a run out in the league at some point.

Carlisle 0-2 West Ham

We'll travel to either Manchester City or Runcorn in the Fourth Round (unsurprisingly Man City won the replay)

Some bad news before the game against Forest that Richie Wellens wants to leave the club leaving me no real choice but to transfer list him.

Nottingham Forest (Richard Money) vs West Ham

Here's our line-up:

GK: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi

LB: Austin McCann (Back from injury)

CB: Athur Gnohere

CB: Chris Morgan

RB: Steven Clark (Rigobert Song was suspended)

LM: Paul Konchesky

CM: Geoff Pitcher

CM: Richie Wellens

RM: Daisuke Oku

ST: Chris Beardsley

ST: Tommy Smith

The first half was a decent performance as we probably had the better chances in the first half. After half time the game turned though, Marian Pahars giving Forest the lead before Tommy Smith equalised. Unfortunately Stern John headed Forest back into the lead before Kawaguchi was sent off after giving away a penalty which John converted to secure the points for Forest. This was disappointing.

Nottingham Forest 3-1 West Ham

West Ham vs Bradford (Roy Evans)

Alex Neil was back to fitness and replaced Pitcher. Song also replaced Clark. The rest of the team stayed the same.

Alex Neil got injured again 15 minutes into the match. We created plenty of chances in this game but we frankly couldn't score to save our lives. If some of our players could actually stay fit for longer than about 10 minutes it would help.

West Ham 0-0 Bradford

Manchester City (David Mitchell) vs West Ham

I named the same side as I did against Carlisle in the last round with the exception of Geoff Pitcher in for the injured Lee Butler. Good news is that this game counts as one of Kawaguchi's suspended games.

Jason Euell scored a header from a corner to put City in front before scoring a goal from long range to double their lead. Gareth Williams then became out latest injury after 15 minutes. We created some chances but couldn't convert any of them.

Manchester City 2-0 West Ham

Middlesbrough (Bryan Robson) vs West Ham

We had the same side for this game that played at Forest except with Song in for Steven Clark and Stringer in for the suspended Kawaguchi.

Middlesbrough were flying high so I didn't have high hopes for this game. We had a good penalty shout turned down early on which made me livid when Boro got a penalty twenty minutes later which Marino Rahmberg converted. Hamilton Ricard then scored from a corner to double Boro's lead. Konchesky pulled a goal back with 5 minutes left but it was too little too late.

Middlesbrough 2-1 West Ham

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (Danny Wilson)

Todorov was fit again so I decided to bring him in for Chris Beardsley. I also gave Peter Clarke a run out in place of Chris Morgan.

An excellent first half performance followed with Daisuke Oku opening the scoring after a great run before Tommy Smith doubled the lead with a near post header from a Konchesky cross. A nervy second half followed however and Palace probably should have got at least one back but failed to convert some decent chances. A vital win that keeps us a comfortable distance away from the relegation zone.

West Ham 2-0 Crystal Palace

West Brom (Gary Megson) vs West Ham

I named an unchanged line-up from the win against Palace. Or almost unchanged, Kawaguchi returns from his suspension. The first half was dominated by West Brom who continued to dominate until Adam Oliver put the Baggies in front. At that point I brought Chris Beardsley on and he had an immediate impact, heading home the equaliser from Oku's cross. A good point, particularly considering how poor we were for the first hour or so.

West Brom 1-1 West Ham

In between this game and the game at home to Walsall I signed Dutch midfielder Pascal de Vries and Ivorian striker Bonaventure Kalou who replaced Neil and Todorov respectively in the starting line-up.

West Ham vs Walsall (Ray Graydon)

This was a disgrace to football. We absolutely slaughtered Walsall but couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo (and not for the first time this season) only for Walsall to snatch the win with a goal from Barry Lavety. We had 15 shots to 4 along with 56% possession and somehow didn't win the match.

West Ham 0-1 Walsall

Norwich (Brian Horton) vs West Ham

Even first half but Norwich got the goals, two headers from Luke Beckett giving them a 2-0 lead. Konchesky pulled a goal back but it was too little too late.

Norwich 2-1 West Ham

I signed Samir Fazlagic from Peterborough too, a player who has made 43 assists in two seasons in Division Two. Guy should be a step up from Konchesky and goes straight into the side against QPR.

West Ham vs QPR (Nicky Law)

This has been an excellent performance with us racing into a three goal lead after 25 minutes, Oku converting a Fazlagic cross, Tommy Smith firing in a half-volley from Wellens' knock-down before Fazlagic scored a spectacular volley. Austin McCann then scored his first goal for the club through a great strike from 20 yards out. Chris Beardsley then converted a Fazlagic cross to make it 5-0 before Smith completed the rout. Another Fazlagic cross caused havoc, Beardsley's header was saved and Smith tapped in the rebound. Unsurprisingly, Fazlagic got a 10 for his performance in the match.

West Ham 6-0 QPR

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Derby                           35   12   3    2    38   19   11   3    4    30   20   75   
2nd     Aston Villa                     35   11   5    1    34   18   9    4    5    28   21   69   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Burnley                         35   12   5    1    33   11   7    4    6    24   22   66   
4th     Middlesbrough                   35   14   2    2    36   12   3    10   4    23   26   63   
5th     Tranmere                        35   13   3    1    36   12   4    8    6    20   27   62   
6th     Preston                         35   11   4    3    34   18   6    4    7    21   27   59   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Q.P.R.                          35   11   4    2    39   22   5    6    7    24   39   58   
8th     Bradford                        35   7    3    8    22   22   9    5    3    28   22   56   
9th     Crystal Palace                  34   12   2    3    29   16   4    4    9    22   29   54   
10th    Bristol C                       35   11   1    6    39   20   5    4    8    23   24   53   
11th    Nottm Forest                    35   10   6    2    30   15   2    4    11   14   26   46   
12th    Charlton                        34   7    7    3    22   16   4    6    7    18   27   46   
13th    Wigan                           35   8    6    4    24   17   4    3    10   15   26   45   
14th    Grimsby                         35   9    5    3    37   25   3    4    11   20   37   45   
15th    Norwich                         35   8    5    4    28   24   3    5    10   14   30   43   
16th    W.B.A.                          35   6    5    6    28   23   5    4    9    19   24   42   
17th    Southampton                     35   7    5    6    25   24   3    4    10   21   36   39   
18th    Millwall                        35   7    5    5    25   21   2    5    11   18   32   37   
19th    West Ham                        35   8    3    6    27   17   1    5    12   18   37   35   
20th    Ipswich                         35   7    4    7    25   23   1    6    10   20   35   34   
21st    Rushden                         35   6    4    7    23   23   3    2    13   17   37   33   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Coventry                        35   5    8    5    28   25   2    2    13   14   30   31   
23rd    Barnsley                        35   5    8    5    25   24   1    3    13   10   34   29   
24th    Walsall                         35   4    7    6    25   27   1    5    12   13   44   27

Ok, we're still in the relegation picture but I doubt we're going to go down. I'd love to see an improvement in our away form between now and the end of the season. On paper I'm happy with my side now and we have a few months to gel now before next season starts. Assuming I don't manage to get relegated that is.

Current first XI

GK: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi

RB: Rigobert Song

CB: Peter Clarke/Chris Morgan

CB: Athur Gnohere

LB: Austin McCann

RM: Daisuke Oku

CM: Richie Wellens

CM: Paulo de Vries

LM: Samir Fazlagic

ST: Tommy Smith

ST: Bonaventure Kalou

I'm also comfortable with the depth in every position with the possible exception of CM.

Results have been underwhelming so far but this season was always going to be about re-shaping a poor squad into something that can seriously challenge next season while keeping the team's head above water. Thus far I'm delighted with how my options are developing for next season and the results are... just about good enough.

sjg11 · July 24, 2016

Nice to see a CM01-02 save in here.
Get Mark Kerr.

I tried, he's at Everton and couldn't prise him away with my remaining transfer budget. Besides if I wanted to blow a lot of money on a midfielder, United have a regen who's even better than Kerr by the looks of things. As for To Madeira, I actually had a bid accepted but he didn't want to move because he didn't feel like he would fit in with English culture.

sjg11 · July 24, 2016

****, my computer froze and I lost the progress since the 1-0 win against Wigan. I'll have to replay the last few months of the save, the last update is effectively totally useless now.

withnail316 · July 24, 2016

Is Andri Sigþórsson available?

sjg11 · July 25, 2016

January 2005

Alright, after yesterday's mishap let's re-do this segment of the game. And make sure to save it this time.

Alright so we move into January after a period of improved form in December. I'm still hunting for a couple of new signings and we start the month with the third round of the FA Cup away at Division Two Carlisle. Just before the game I signed Paul Konchesky from Charlton to add depth at LM. I've decided to play a reserve team for this game which lines up like so:

GK: Chris Stringer

LB: Hasney Aljofree

CB: John Walsh

CB: Luke Young

RB: Steven Clark

LM: Paul Konchesky

CM: Gareth Williams

CM: Lee Butler

RM: Daisuke Oku

ST: Chris Beardsley

ST: Michael Reddy

These players are largely youth products with the exceptions of Konchesky and Oku. Konchesky had just signed and I wanted to take a look at him while Oku had just come back from an injury and this seemed like a good warm up for bigger league games to come.

Both Clarke and Song were injured before the Carlisle game.

Carlisle (Roddy Collins) vs West Ham

Richie Foran put Carlisle in front after an even opening before substitute Geoff Pitcher, on for the injured Gareth Williams struck an instant equaliser for West Ham. Unfortunately Foran then headed in a 90th minute winner for Carlisle to secure a place in the fourth round.

Carlisle 2-1 West Ham

I signed Fazlagic in between this and the Forest game.

Nottingham Forest (Richard Money) vs West Ham

Song was suspended for this game but is back from injury while Austin McCann was able to make his debut for us. Fazlagic came in for Konchesky while Wellens and Pitcher started in midfield due to Alex Neil's injury.

Marian Pahars headed Forest in front with 20 minutes gone. Steve Lomas blasted in a second for them. We didn't play well here at all.

Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham

In between this and the Bradford game I signed CM Legend Tonton Zola Moukoko from Derby.

West Ham vs Bradford (Roy Evans)

So Tonton Zola Moukoko immediately slots in to replace Geoff Pitcher in the centre of midfield. Let's see how this works. Oh and Song comes back into the side to replace Steven Clark.

Chris Beardsley had a header ruled out for offside before Isaiah Rankin put Bradford in front with a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Eoin Jess then doubled Bradford's lead after a counter-attack.

However the game was about to change, a quick brace from Tonton Zola Moukoko putting us back level at 2-2. Zola Moukoko then hit the post right at the end but still a good point considering that we were two goals down at one point.

Samir Fazlagic picked up an injury and will be out of action for three weeks.

West Ham 2-2 Bradford

I'll do more tonight before posting a table and a squad update. As for Sigthorsson, I tried signing him but he was overpriced as he had just been signed by someone. I'll look at him again next year.

Nobby_McDonald · July 25, 2016

Rushden & Diamonds - The non league team that started with millions in the bank.

withnail316 · July 25, 2016

Rushden & Diamonds - The non league team that started with millions in the bank.

Otherwise known as Rubbish & Dustbins...

sjg11 · July 26, 2016

Rushden & Diamonds - The non league team that started with millions in the bank.

Aye, unsurprisingly they got back to back promotions before nearly getting a third promotion to the Prem. This season has been harder for them.

sjg11 · July 27, 2016

February 2005
Middlesbrough (Bryan Robson) vs West Ham
One change to the starting line-up as Konchesky comes in for the injured Fazlagic.

Darren Eadie gave Boro the lead after 22 minutes before Daisuke Oku equalised from a corner after 40 minutes. Oku then hit a brilliant free kick to put us in front on 62 minutes. I brought Michael Ricketts on for Tommy Smith and he headed in an Oku cross at the near post to complete a very good victory.

Middlesbrough 1-3 West Ham

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (Danny Wilson)
Unchanged starting line-up before a big opportunity for the team to really pull away from the drop zone.

Tonton Zola Moukoko put us in front with a good shot after a strong run after 8 minutes. Another run and shot from Zola Moukoko doubled the lead after 14 minutes. I have a feeling that my midfield woes may have been solved with Moukoko's transfer to the club.

Richie Wellens curled in a third from the edge of the box on 40 minutes.

Slightly foolishly I used all three subs at half time to give some fringe players a run out and Chris Morgan went off injured leaving me with ten men for the last 30 minutes and needed switch to a back three of Song, Gnohere and Steven Clark.

However Palace keeper Jimmy Walker evened the numbers with a foul in the area, giving away a penalty which Svetoslav Todorov converted. An excellent result for the Hammers which puts us 6 points above the relegation zone.

West Ham 4-0 Crystal Palace

Morgan's injured for 3 weeks which is a blow. Fortunately we had a week off due to West Brom's participation in the FA Cup so plenty of time for the players to rest. Paul Konchesky also picked up an injury but, fortunately, Fazlagic is fit to fill his slot. Damien Johnson also comes back from injury.

I signed Norwegian CDM Frode Kippe from Lillestrom. He's a decent player and I want a CDM for the formation I'm going to try out shortly against Walsall.

West Ham vs Walsall (Ray Graydon)
Alright so I switched to a narrow midfield diamond for this one to see whether it works or not.

The normal defence with Peter Clarke deputising for the injured Morgan. New signing Frode Kippe will sit as the CDM behind a midfield duo of Zola Moukoko and Richie Wellens. Samir Fazlagic will then play behind a partnership of Smith and Todorov.

We dominated the first 30 minutes before Fazlagic blasted home from 30 yards to give us the lead. We dominated the rest of the first half before a quiet second half passed without incident.

Three straight wins in the league now. We're now seven points above the relegation zone with a game in hand.

West Ham 1-0 Walsall

I also signed Pascal de Vries again. Guy's a good midfielder and pretty much completes my squad. Next priority is to get rid of some deadwood but that can wait until the summer.

Norwich (Brian Horton) vs West Ham
Luke Beckett headed home a free kick to give Norwich the lead after 25 minutes. Todorov then put a cross in which Fazlagic converted for the equaliser.

Baldur Bett then scored a tap in to put Norwich back in front after we had a penalty appeal turned down. However in injury time substitute Daisuke Oku (on for Wellens) got away down the right and put in a cross which Tommy Smith converted to score a late, late equaliser.

Norwich 2-2 West Ham

Overall an excellent month with three wins and a draw from four league games. 7 points above the drop zone with a game in hand means we can now relax for the rest of the season without worrying about relegation. This month has also left me feeling extremely optimistic about a serious promotion push next season. With the squad I have anything less would be an appalling season.



	Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts

	--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	1st     Derby                           34   10   4    2    34   21   10   2    6    30   27   66   

	2nd     Tranmere                        34   13   3    0    31   8    5    7    6    22   23   64   

	--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	3rd     Aston Villa                     33   8    5    3    28   22   10   4    3    28   17   63   

	4th     Middlesbrough                   34   14   1    3    38   16   3    9    4    24   27   61   

	5th     Bradford                        34   8    3    7    26   23   9    4    3    33   27   58   

	6th     Preston                         34   11   2    4    35   21   6    4    7    25   33   57   

	--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	7th     Burnley                         33   10   4    3    27   12   6    3    7    20   18   55   

	8th     Bristol C                       34   12   1    4    38   15   4    3    10   20   27   52   

	9th     Q.P.R.                          34   9    5    3    36   24   5    5    7    26   33   52   

	10th    Nottm Forest                    34   10   5    3    27   13   3    4    9    14   21   48   

	11th    Grimsby                         34   10   3    4    37   29   4    3    10   17   30   48   

	12th    Charlton                        34   7    6    4    23   18   5    5    7    19   24   47   

	13th    Crystal Palace                  33   11   1    4    26   15   3    3    11   21   34   46   

	14th    Norwich                         33   6    6    4    26   21   5    6    6    20   25   45   

	15th    Southampton                     33   9    4    4    27   22   2    6    8    19   31   43   

	16th    Millwall                        33   8    5    3    27   20   2    4    11   17   31   39   

	17th    West Ham                        33   8    3    5    26   18   2    5    10   19   34   38   

	18th    W.B.A.                          33   5    4    7    22   23   5    4    8    18   24   38   

	19th    Wigan                           34   6    7    5    23   19   3    2    11   13   26   36   

	20th    Coventry                        34   6    7    5    33   24   2    3    11   13   26   34   

	21st    Ipswich                         34   6    5    6    25   21   2    3    12   18   38   32   

	--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

	22nd    Rushden                         34   4    4    8    19   24   4    3    11   19   34   31   

	23rd    Walsall                         34   7    5    5    26   25   0    5    12   12   40   31   

	24th    Barnsley                        34   5    7    5    24   24   1    3    13   11   34   28  [/CODE]

sjg11 · July 28, 2016

March 2005

West Ham vs QPR (Nicky Law)

An injury to Athur Gnohere means I have to replace him with Chris Morgan (Morgan-Clarke now the CB partnership).

We had the better of the first half but couldn't break QPR down. At half time I brought Oku on for Fazlagic, moving Zola Moukoko into CAM as well as bringing Beardsley on for Todorov.

Unfortunately QPR took the lead through a Leroy Griffiths header from a free kick.

Fortunately for us the QPR goalkeeper then brought Moukoko down in the box, got sent off for dissent after an initial yellow card and Frode Kippe converted to score his first goal for the club. We then created numerous good chances in the final 10 minutes but couldn't find a winner.

West Ham 1-1 QPR

West Ham vs Tranmere (Dave Watson)

I decided to bring Paul Konchesky in for McCann at LB for this one. Other than that, I stuck with the same formation.

An excellent counter-attack led to Samir Fazlagic firing us in front after half an hour after a dominant first half.

Tranmere had a dangerous spell at the start of the second half which was ended when Chris Beardsley, on for Todorov headed home from a corner to double our advantage.

Tonton Zola Moukoko then completed a strong performance with a great run and strike. That puts us 10 points clear of danger with a game in hand.

West Ham 3-0 Tranmere

West Ham vs Derby (Chris Kamara)

A suspension for Richie Wellens meant that Pascal de Vries was handed his West Ham debut in the centre of midfield. Other than that this was an unchanged line-up.

We started very strongly cutting Derby apart at will but it was Derby who scored the first goal through a Philip Mulryne free kick. However de Vries equalised after a cross from the left from Fazlagic found him in the box.

Fazlagic then cut the ball back to the edge of the box for de Vries to smash in a second West Ham goal. A great win against the league leaders.

West Ham 2-1 Derby

Grimsby (Lennie Lawrence) vs West Ham

A few players were a little bit tired before this game so I had to put Fazlagic and de Vries on the bench leaving Oku and Wellens as the midfield partnership with Zola Moukoko playing CAM. I also put Beardsley in for Tommy Smith.

A run and shot from Beardsley put us in front after 10 minutes. Daisuke Oku then doubled the lead after a Moukoko lay-off.

Just after half time a shot from Jonathan Rowan flew in to put Grimsby back in the match. Fortunately Richie Wellens scored a volley shortly afterwards to restore the two goal advantage.

Grimsby 1-3 West Ham

Unfortunately Tonton's out for 10 days after an injury in training.

West Brom (Gary Megson) vs West Ham

Athur Gnohere was back fit so replaces Peter Clarke and Fazlagic comes in for Zola Moukoko. Tommy Smith replaces Todorov too.

A terrible start as Scott Dobie heads West Brom in front almost straight from the kick off. Unfortunately we never really looked like breaking West Brom down to get an equaliser.

West Brom 1-0 West Ham

Oku's injured for two weeks as well.

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Derby                           38   13   4    2    38   22   10   2    7    31   29   75   
2nd     Aston Villa                     38   10   5    3    32   22   11   4    5    33   22   72   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Bradford                        38   9    4    7    29   25   11   4    3    39   29   68   
4th     Middlesbrough                   38   14   2    4    40   19   4    9    5    27   31   65   
5th     Tranmere                        38   13   4    1    32   10   5    7    8    22   27   65   
6th     Burnley                         38   11   4    4    31   14   6    5    8    22   21   60   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Bristol C                       38   13   1    5    40   16   5    4    10   22   28   59   
8th     Nottm Forest                    38   11   6    3    29   14   5    4    9    16   21   58   
9th     Preston                         38   11   2    6    38   28   6    4    9    28   40   57   
10th    Q.P.R.                          38   10   5    4    38   28   5    6    8    28   36   56   
11th    Crystal Palace                  38   13   2    4    32   18   4    3    12   24   38   56   
12th    Charlton                        38   9    6    4    27   19   5    6    8    20   29   54   
13th    Norwich                         37   8    7    4    37   26   5    7    6    23   28   53   
14th    Grimsby                         38   11   3    5    42   33   4    3    12   17   32   51   
15th    Southampton                     38   10   4    5    28   23   3    7    9    21   33   50   
16th    West Ham                        38   10   4    5    32   20   3    5    11   22   36   48   
17th    W.B.A.                          38   8    4    7    29   24   5    4    10   20   30   47   
18th    Coventry                        38   6    7    6    34   27   5    3    11   18   28   43   
19th    Millwall                        38   9    6    3    29   21   2    4    14   20   41   43   
20th    Wigan                           38   7    7    6    25   21   4    2    12   16   30   42   
21st    Ipswich                         37   6    5    7    25   22   3    3    13   20   40   35   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Rushden                         38   5    5    8    25   29   4    3    13   21   38   35   
23rd    Walsall                         38   8    5    6    28   27   0    6    13   13   42   35   
24th    Barnsley                        38   5    7    7    26   28   1    4    14   13   37   29

As you can see, we're no longer worrying about relegation. Play-offs are probably beyond us though which is a shame. If our massive improvement had occurred a little bit earlier we may have had a good shot at them this season.

Still, very positive signs for next season. Tonton and Fazlagic have been incredible.

sjg11 · July 28, 2016

April/May 2005

The start of a ridiculously busy month (7 games). We don't have much to play for so I intend to sit back and simply enjoy the games this month.

West Ham vs Millwall (Billy Davies)

Tonton replaces the injured Oku, Austin McCann comes in for Konchesky and Todorov replaces Beardsley.

Chris Morgan gave us the lead from a corner after 10 minutes. Tonton Zola Moukoko doubles the lead after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box. Ben Thatcher picked up a red card for Millwall after 32 minutes after an assault on Todorov.

The Millwall keeper saved a shot from Beardsley (on for Tommy Smith) but Samir Fazlagic was there to poke in the rebound. Another excellent performance.

West Ham 3-0 Millwall

Aston Villa (Joe Kinnear) vs West Ham

de Vries replaces Wellens and Konchesky replaces McCann for this one.

A reasonably uneventful yet entertaining first half followed before, just after half-time, Svetoslav Todorov converted a Fazlagic cross to give us the lead. Unfortunately Finidi equalised for Villa with 10 minutes left. A very good point away at the best side in the league.

Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham

Ipswich (Managerless) vs West Ham

Wellens back in for de Vries, other than that an unchanged line-up.

Tonton Zola Moukoko put us in front with a header from a Richie Wellens free kick. Unfortunately Marcus Stewart headed in another late equaliser.

Ipswich 1-1 West Ham

Unfortunately I had to sell Rigobert Song, who has been very good for me so far, for 1.8 Million. He wanted to leave and it was all I could get for him. Still, nearly two million to be spent on defensive reinforcements for next season.

West Ham vs Charlton (Alan Curbishley)

I put McCann in for Konchesky, Oku in for Wellens and gave Beardsley a start alongside Todorov.

After 15 minutes Beardsley headed us in front. Unfortunately, continuing this month's theme, Alan Taylor equalised for Charlton. At least this time we had 65 minutes to snatch a win anyway.

Just after half time a Moukoko header was saved but Fazlagic was able to bundle in the rebound. Taylor equalised again though, actually in the same minute that Stewart equalised in the last game. Again we dominate and are let down by a late goal.

West Ham 2-2 Charlton

Rushden (Brian Talbot) vs West Ham

We had a game on the Monday so plenty of changes had to be made. Geoff Pitcher got a run out at CAM, Oku and Wellens were the CMs, Steven Clark came in at RB while Smith and Todorov started up front.

A half-volley from Todorov gave us the lead after twenty minutes or so. Unfortunately we decided to let another lead slip through a Leo Roget header. However Simon Bryant then put Rushden in front with 25 minutes left. I brought Tonton and Beardsley on but it was too little too late.

Rushden 2-1 West Ham

Todorov demanded to be placed on the transfer list after this game.

West Ham vs Preston (Steve McMahon)

Song, Tonton, Oku, Fazlagic and Konchesky come in replacing Clark, Wellens, de Vries, Pitcher and McCann respectively.

A bad start as Pedro Miguel Matias puts Preston in front after 12 minutes. Fortunately Tonton Zola Moukoko rifles in a half-volley to equalise. Moukoko then puts in front after a brilliant run and shot.

Beardsley came on for Todorov at half time and scored a header to secure the points on 74 minutes.

West Ham 3-1 Preston

Barnsley (Sam Allardyce) vs West Ham

Next up a trip to already relegated Barnsley who had recently hired Sam Allardyce to rebuild them next season. I decided to bring de Vries in for Oku and to give Beardsley a run out in place of Smith.

What followed was a genuinely shocking game of football. A classic end of season match.

Barnsley 0-0 West Ham

West Ham vs Burnley (George Burley)

To finish the season we hosted Burnley. A win for Burnley would guarantee a play-off place. We have nothing to play for but causing another team to fail after a season of hard work is always fun.

Only one change pre-game, Kawaguchi is on international duty for Japan so I give a start to young keeper Joakim Moberg. Other than that, no changes.

A strike from Moukoko puts us ahead after 12 minutes. However Carl Fletcher heads home an equaliser shortly afterwards. Fortunately Fletcher then diverted a Tommy Smith header into his net to restore our lead. Todorov then gave us a comfortable lead with a shot from a Moukoko lay-off. Unfortunately this result didn't cost Burnley a play-off place.

West Ham 3-1 Burnley

End of Season Table

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Derby                           46   16   5    2    46   26   12   2    9    37   35   91   
2nd  P  Aston Villa                     46   13   7    3    42   25   12   4    7    38   30   86   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd  Pl Middlesbrough                   46   16   3    4    44   20   7    10   6    37   37   82   
4th  Pl Tranmere                        46   15   5    3    36   12   5    9    9    25   32   74   
5th  Pl Bradford                        46   11   4    8    32   27   11   4    8    42   43   74   
6th  Pl Burnley                         46   14   4    5    39   16   7    6    10   27   28   73   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Bristol C                       46   16   2    5    49   21   5    7    11   24   31   72   
8th     Q.P.R.                          46   12   7    4    45   31   7    7    9    34   42   71   
9th     Charlton                        46   12   7    4    36   23   7    7    9    26   34   71   
10th    Nottm Forest                    46   13   7    3    33   14   5    7    11   17   24   68   
11th    Norwich                         46   12   7    4    53   32   5    9    9    32   41   67   
12th    Preston                         46   12   3    8    45   36   7    5    11   34   48   65   
13th    Southampton                     46   13   4    6    35   30   5    7    11   27   39   65   
14th    West Ham                        46   13   5    5    43   24   3    8    12   25   40   61   
15th    Crystal Palace                  46   13   5    5    35   22   4    4    15   27   45   60   
16th    Grimsby                         46   14   3    6    50   38   4    3    16   19   41   60   
17th    Coventry                        46   10   7    6    44   31   5    4    14   20   34   56   
18th    W.B.A.                          46   10   6    7    35   27   5    4    14   25   41   55   
19th    Millwall                        46   10   6    7    34   29   4    4    15   26   47   52   
20th    Wigan                           46   8    9    6    30   24   4    3    16   19   42   48   
21st    Ipswich                         46   8    7    8    36   32   4    4    15   24   47   47   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd R  Rushden                         46   7    6    10   32   35   4    4    15   22   44   43   
23rd R  Walsall                         46   9    7    7    34   33   0    8    15   16   50   42   
24th R  Barnsley                        46   7    9    7    32   31   1    5    17   16   45   38

So, the end of my first half a season at West Ham. I'm very happy overall, I've built a strong squad which can be reflected in the results from February onwards. Next season we need to play well for the whole season though rather than scraping along for most of the season and only waking up for the last 3/4 months of the season.

Next season the target is simple. Get promoted. We have the squad. We have the talent. We have the money to use if necessary. Promotion is a necessity. Frankly I don't care if we swan home with over 100 points or get promoted having qualified for the play-offs with 65 points in a play-off final against Tranmere thanks to a last-minute goal that goes in off of Tommy Smith's backside.

Put I have faith in the team. Well, I have faith in Tonton to guide us to salvation.

Tomorrow will be an end of season post and a preliminary look at where I'm aiming to strengthen for next season.

P.S. Speaking of Rushden, their time in the Championship didn't last long. Walsall and Barnsley join them in League One. Bolton, Crewe and Spurs come to join us for next season from the Prem. Wycombe and Brighton have been promoted from League One while Villa and Derby go up from the Championship.

Nobby_McDonald · July 28, 2016

Bye Rushden.

sjg11 · July 29, 2016

End of Season Round-Up 2004-05

Champions' League

Phase 1 Group A

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Milan                      ITA  6    3    0    0    9    3    1    1    1    1    2    13   
2nd  Q  Porto                      POR  6    2    0    1    3    1    1    0    2    4    4    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Arsenal                    ENG  6    3    0    0    5    0    0    0    3    0    5    9    
4th     Ankaragücü                 TUR  6    1    1    1    1    3    0    0    3    2    7    4    


Phase 1 Group B

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Celtic                     SCO  6    3    0    0    7    0    0    2    1    2    4    11   
2nd  Q  Real Madrid                ESP  6    3    0    0    6    2    0    1    2    1    5    10   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Paris-SG                   FRA  6    1    2    0    5    2    0    1    2    3    7    6    
4th     HJK                        FIN  6    0    3    0    2    2    0    1    2    0    4    4    


Phase 1 Group C

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Barcelona                  ESP  6    2    1    0    6    2    2    1    0    6    1    14   
2nd  Q  Roma                       ITA  6    2    1    0    4    1    1    2    0    2    0    12   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Newcastle                  ENG  6    1    1    1    1    2    1    0    2    2    4    7    
4th     Bordeaux                   FRA  6    0    0    3    0    6    0    0    3    1    6    0    


Phase 1 Group D

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Dortmund                   GER  6    2    1    0    3    1    2    0    1    3    2    13   
2nd  Q  Ajax                       HOL  6    3    0    0    6    0    1    0    2    3    3    12   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     PAOK                       GRE  6    1    1    1    2    3    0    1    2    2    5    5    
4th     Sint-Truiden               BEL  6    1    0    2    2    4    0    1    2    0    3    4    


Phase 1 Group E

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Inter                      ITA  6    3    0    0    9    1    2    1    0    7    3    16   
2nd  Q  Man Utd                    ENG  6    2    0    1    4    4    2    0    1    3    1    12   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Lokomotiv Moscow           RUS  6    1    1    1    6    4    0    0    3    2    8    4    
4th     AEK                        GRE  6    1    0    2    3    3    0    0    3    0    10   3    


Phase 1 Group F

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Lazio                      ITA  6    2    1    0    7    2    3    0    0    6    1    16   
2nd  Q  HSV                        GER  6    2    0    1    12   5    1    0    2    6    9    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     PAO                        GRE  6    0    1    2    3    6    1    1    1    4    7    5    
4th     Sporting                   POR  6    1    0    2    3    5    0    1    2    2    8    4    


Phase 1 Group G

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Schalke 04                 GER  6    3    0    0    7    0    1    1    1    2    2    13   
2nd  Q  Liverpool                  ENG  6    2    1    0    5    0    1    1    1    3    3    11   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Wisla                      POL  6    1    1    1    6    5    1    0    2    1    5    7    
4th     Lens                       FRA  6    1    0    2    1    3    0    0    3    2    9    3    


Phase 1 Group H

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  PSV                        HOL  6    2    1    0    3    0    2    0    1    5    4    13   
2nd  Q  Rangers                    SCO  6    2    0    1    5    4    0    3    0    0    0    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Valencia                   ESP  6    2    1    0    7    0    0    0    3    0    5    7    
4th     Silkeborg IF               DEN  6    1    1    1    2    2    0    0    3    1    8    4    


Phase 2 Group A

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Real Madrid                ESP  6    3    0    0    8    1    0    2    1    0    2    11   
2nd  Q  Lazio                      ITA  6    2    1    0    5    2    1    0    2    1    3    10   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Porto                      POR  6    1    1    1    1    1    1    0    2    4    8    7    
4th     Dortmund                   GER  6    1    0    2    3    4    1    0    2    3    4    6    


Phase 2 Group B

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Barcelona                  ESP  6    3    0    0    6    1    2    0    1    4    3    15   
2nd  Q  Ajax                       HOL  6    1    0    2    2    3    2    0    1    5    3    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Milan                      ITA  6    2    0    1    4    3    0    1    2    1    3    7    
4th     Rangers                    SCO  6    0    1    2    2    4    1    0    2    1    5    4    


Phase 2 Group C

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Liverpool                  ENG  6    1    2    0    4    3    1    2    0    3    2    10   
2nd  Q  PSV                        HOL  6    2    1    0    4    1    1    0    2    2    3    10   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     HSV                        GER  6    2    0    1    3    2    0    1    2    2    6    7    
4th     Inter                      ITA  6    1    1    1    5    3    0    1    2    2    5    5    


Phase 2 Group D

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Schalke 04                 GER  6    2    0    1    2    1    2    0    1    2    1    12   
2nd  Q  Roma                       ITA  6    1    1    1    3    1    2    1    0    3    1    11   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Man Utd                    ENG  6    2    1    0    3    1    0    2    1    1    2    9    
4th     Celtic                     SCO  6    0    1    2    1    3    0    0    3    0    5    1

Quarter-Finals

Schalke 04 a 2-2 PSV

Roma 2-1 Liverpool

Real Madrid 0-1 Ajax

Barcelona 3-2 Lazio

Semi-Finals

Roma 5-3 Barcelona

Schalke 04 1-0 Ajax

Final

Roma 2-1 Schalke 04

Roma maintained Roman domination of the Champions' League after successive victories for city rivals Lazio, eliminated by Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Barca themselves were eliminated after a 4-0 defeat to Roma in the second leg of the semi-final. They beat Schalke, UEFA Cup holders, 2-1 in the final to claim their first Champions' League title. Of the English contingent only Liverpool reached the quarter-finals before succumbing to Roma in the quarter-finals. Arsenal in particular were disappointing, being eliminated from a group they should have progressed from. Newcastle had a tough group so it's difficult to be too harsh about their performance.

Valencia won the UEFA Cup after beating Koln 2-0 in the final.

Premier League

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Man Utd                         38   14   2    3    43   12   12   3    4    26   14   83   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Leeds                           38   13   5    1    31   13   10   5    4    23   13   79   
3rd     Arsenal                         38   14   1    4    36   10   10   4    5    41   26   77   
4th     Liverpool                       38   13   5    1    37   8    9    1    9    26   23   72   
5th     Chelsea                         38   14   2    3    31   13   8    4    7    19   15   72   
6th     Wolves                          38   8    3    8    33   28   9    3    7    25   24   57   
7th     Newcastle                       38   10   7    2    24   11   4    6    9    22   29   55   
8th     Everton                         38   11   3    5    35   22   5    1    13   15   39   52   
9th     Fulham                          38   11   3    5    26   20   3    6    10   13   33   51   
10th    Sheff Wed                       38   9    4    6    35   24   4    4    11   17   36   47   
11th    Man City                        38   8    4    7    31   29   5    4    10   18   35   47   
12th    Blackburn                       38   6    6    7    20   21   4    10   5    14   13   46   
13th    Wimbledon                       38   9    4    6    23   20   3    6    10   18   34   46   
14th    Portsmouth                      38   8    7    4    24   23   4    3    12   16   36   46   
15th    Birmingham                      38   11   2    6    31   19   1    7    11   11   29   45   
16th    Leicester                       38   8    6    5    19   13   4    3    12   19   35   45   
17th    Sunderland                      38   7    6    6    31   21   4    5    10   23   39   44   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th R  Crewe                           38   7    5    7    35   35   2    4    13   14   29   36   
19th R  Tottenham                       38   7    4    8    22   16   1    6    12   18   36   34   
20th R  Bolton                          38   3    8    8    21   33   0    2    17   13   50   19

Manchester United retained the title after a very good season. A win on penalties against Newcastle in the FA Cup Final alongside a win over Arsenal in the League Cup Final allowed them to complete a domestic treble. Their Champions' League run was disappointing but they were eliminated by the two finalists. Definitely the dominant force in English football currently.

Leeds, Arsenal and Liverpool took the other Champions' League spots, Liverpool just pipping Chelsea to the final spot. Chelsea will qualify for next season's UEFA Cup alongside surprise package Wolves and Newcastle.

Crewe, Spurs and Bolton drop down to Division One to be replaced by Villa, Derby and play-off winners Middlesbrough.

Division Two

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Wycombe                         46   15   3    5    43   22   11   7    5    42   24   88   
2nd  P  Brighton                        46   15   4    4    47   18   11   3    9    30   28   85   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Northampton                     46   15   2    6    40   26   10   3    10   39   45   80   
4th     Peterborough                    46   13   5    5    37   18   9    7    7    34   24   78   
5th     Blackpool                       46   13   7    3    40   21   9    4    10   35   47   77   
6th  P  Sheff Utd                       46   11   5    7    43   36   11   3    9    37   36   74   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Watford                         46   14   3    6    36   20   7    5    11   22   29   71   
8th     Doncaster                       46   13   5    5    42   21   7    4    12   40   52   69   
9th     Swansea                         46   12   4    7    33   30   8    5    10   28   36   69   
10th    Port Vale                       46   12   5    6    50   34   5    9    9    25   33   65   
11th    Carlisle                        46   11   8    4    36   23   5    7    11   25   36   63   
12th    Reading                         46   11   4    8    38   34   6    8    9    32   38   63   
13th    Halifax                         46   13   5    5    39   28   6    1    16   27   43   63   
14th    Cardiff                         46   14   4    5    32   18   3    6    14   16   36   61   
15th    Swindon                         46   10   4    9    29   30   5    11   7    24   31   60   
16th    Oldham                          46   11   6    6    45   30   5    5    13   24   36   59   
17th    Darlington                      46   9    7    7    35   33   6    5    12   24   34   57   
18th    Stoke                           46   11   7    5    44   37   4    5    14   28   49   57   
19th    Bury                            46   9    7    7    42   41   6    4    13   26   37   56   
20th    Luton                           46   9    8    6    29   26   5    3    15   23   40   53   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21st R  Lincoln                         46   10   6    7    33   26   3    7    13   22   46   52   
22nd R  Stockport                       46   8    4    11   26   29   5    8    10   25   34   51   
23rd R  Huddersfield                    46   6    9    8    37   38   2    7    14   18   36   40   
24th R  Mansfield                       46   4    7    12   21   34   5    2    16   27   47   36

Wycombe, Brighton and play-off winners Sheffield United join Division One next season. Lincoln, Stockport, Huddersfield and Mansfield drop down to Division Three.

Elsewhere, PSG won a fourth successive Ligue 1 title. Bayern Munich reclaimed the Bundesliga title from reigning champions Dortmund. Lazio won a third straight Serie A title while Real Madrid won La Liga.

forzalazio87 · July 29, 2016

What happened to Di canio? Also pretty happy about Lazio's success. Makes me wonder what could have happened if Cragnotti hadn't gone bankrupt. Could you maybe screenshot what their team looks like now? Laziali and the irons always have to stick together haha

sjg11 · July 31, 2016

On 29/07/2016 at 22:25, forzalazio87 said:

What happened to Di canio? Also pretty happy about Lazio's success. Makes me wonder what could have happened if Cragnotti hadn't gone bankrupt. Could you maybe screenshot what their team looks like now? Laziali and the irons always have to stick together haha

I didn't use Paolo much, put simply he's 36 now and is, unfortunately a little bit past it. His wages are also pretty high so I'm going to release him at the end of the season. Well, more accurately I'm not renewing his contract.

No  Name                       Position(s)  Nat  Born      Age  Caps Gls  Wages     Expires   Value
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40  Bachini, Jonathan          M RL         ITA  5.6.75    29   2    -    £21.5K    14.6.09   £6.5M     
38  Berrettoni, Emanuele       F RLC        ITA  17.5.81   24   -    -    £1.5K     30.6.05   £120K     
-   Bianco, Ferdinando         D L          ITA  30.5.85   20   -    -    £525      12.6.06   £100K     
-   Boccolini, Alessandro      GK           ITA  14.7.84   20   -    -    £450      17.6.05   £3K       
34  Boshnjaku, Denis           AM/F R       ITA  14.7.84   20   -    -    £350      22.6.06   £50K      
30  Calandrelli, Fabio         D/M C        ITA  4.3.82    23   -    -    £1K       19.6.05   £35K      
4   Cannavaro, Fabio           SW/D C       ITA  13.9.73   31   68   1    £100K     20.6.09   £9M       
6   Carbone, Benito            AM/F RC      ITA  14.8.71   33   6    2    £55K      3.6.06    £2.9M     
3   César                      D/DM L       BRA  24.10.74  30   11   -    £47K      5.6.09    £6.75M    
39  Cinelli, Gasperino         S C          ITA  3.1.82    23   -    -    £825      13.6.06   £850K     
7   Claudio López              F LC         ARG  17.7.74   30   43   8    £70K      20.6.08   £13.5M    
10  Crespo, Hernan Jorge       S C          ARG  5.7.76    28   63   42   £85K      19.6.10   £21M      
2   D'Amato, Luca              D RC         ITA  4.3.83    22   -    -    £650      27.6.07   £875K     
-   De Angelis, Marco          M LC         ITA  27.10.83  21   -    -    £350      7.6.06    £50K      
23  De la Peña, Iván López     AM C         ESP  6.5.76    29   -    -    £80K      3.6.09    £5.5M     
29  Evacuo, Felice             S C          ITA  23.8.82   22   -    -    £350      4.6.05    £2K       
19  Favalli, Giuseppe          D L          ITA  8.1.72    33   1    -    £14.5K    15.6.06   £625K     
20  Fiore, Stefano             AM LC        ITA  17.4.75   30   53   6    £70K      27.6.08   £13.25M   
32  Formica, Mauro             DM R         ITA  26.9.87   17   -    -    £475      13.6.06   £95K      
25  Gazzi, Alessandro          M RC         ITA  28.1.83   22   -    -    £650      14.6.06   £600K     
16  Giannichedda, Giuliano     DM C         ITA  21.9.74   30   4    -    £90K      18.6.08   £5.75M    
21  Inzaghi, Simone            S C          ITA  5.4.76    29   1    -    £30K      30.6.05   £250K     
28  Kujovic, Ajsel             AM R         SWE  6.3.85    20   -    -    £875      3.6.07    £1.6M     
-   Le Noci, Giuseppe          DM LC        ITA  22.1.82   23   -    -    £350      9.6.07    £140K     
48  Luciani, Maurizio          DM C         ITA  26.3.87   18   -    -    £625      2.6.06    £325K     
35  Merondi, Daniele           M LC         ITA  9.5.82    23   -    -    £700      16.6.06   £600K     
27  Moratti, Alessio           AM/F L       ITA  26.1.87   18   -    -    £575      6.6.06    £240K     
-   Moretti, Marco             D RC         ITA  28.1.83   22   -    -    £375      16.6.07   £200K     
12  Mouselimis, Michalis       GK           GRE  31.1.81   24   -    -    £1.2K     27.6.06   £825K     
18  Negro, Paolo               D RC         ITA  16.4.72   33   4    -    £20K      25.6.06   £550K     
13  Nesta, Alessandro          SW/D C       ITA  19.3.76   29   69   1    £80K      8.6.09    £19.5M    
24  Ola, Daniel                D C          GHA  26.11.82  22   5    -    £3.6K     12.6.06   £1.2M     
26  Pagano, Matteo             AM L         ITA  10.11.85  19   -    -    £1K       22.6.06   £450K     
41  Pagella, Antonio           GK           ITA  13.7.83   21   -    -    £775      25.6.06   £50K      
8   Palermo, Martín            S C          ARG  7.11.73   31   20   7    £70K      24.6.08   £12.25M   
-   Palumbo, Giovanni          D R          ITA  9.1.87    18   -    -    £450      25.6.06   £75K      
15  Pancaro, Giuseppe          D/DM RL      ITA  26.8.71   33   39   4    £65K      11.6.06   £2.3M     
9   Pecoraro, Lorenzo          F LC         ITA  23.10.84  20   -    -    £500      3.6.05    £2K       
36  Peralta, Horacio Walter    AM/F RLC     URU  3.6.82    22   11   1    £24.5K    8.6.10    £7.75M    
50  Peruzzi, Angelo            GK           ITA  16.2.70   35   26   -    £44.5K    8.6.07    £3.3M     
1   Pratesi, Enrico            GK           ITA  13.2.85   20   -    -    £575      23.6.06   £50K      
-   Saccone, Enrico            D R          ITA  21.11.84  20   -    -    £350      6.6.06    £50K      
22  Salvati, Cristiano         D RC         ITA  15.11.88  16   -    -    £525      18.6.06   £180K     
-   Scienza, Riccardo          M L          ITA  12.7.85   19   -    -    £550      1.6.06    £70K      
14  Simeone, Diego Pablo       DM C         ARG  28.4.70   35   125  14   £60K      7.6.05    £8K       
31  Stam, Jaap                 SW/D C       HOL  17.7.72   32   61   6    £75K      3.6.08    £7M       
17  Stankovic, Dejan           DM RC        YUG  11.9.78   26   54   9    £19.75K   30.6.05   £3.4M     
33  Ticchi, Gabriele           D L          ITA  5.6.82    22   -    -    £1.7K     12.6.06   £725K     
11  Turchetta, Alessandro      F LC         ITA  7.10.82   22   -    -    £3.8K     25.6.06   £1.6M     
37  Vecchi, Andrea             DM C         ITA  17.9.85   19   -    -    £675      12.6.06   £210K

And there's the Lazio squad. Crespo in particular is incredible and, frankly, you have to respect any side where Fabio Cannavaro and Jaap Stam struggle to get into the team (I'm actually a little bit surprised they haven't switched to a 3-5-2 or something like that with those three in their squad).

sjg11 · July 31, 2016

Pre-Season Squad Update

Date      Player In                  From                       Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
12.6.04   Luke Young                 Charlton                   Bos       
8.7.04    Tommy Smith                Watford                    £1.5M     
8.7.04    Michael Ricketts           Bolton                     £1.9M     
28.7.04   Joakim Moberg              Blackpool                  £18K      
18.8.04   Frank De Clerck            Aarschot                   £100K     
2.9.04    Peter Clarke               Everton                    £1.8M     
6.9.04    Joey Hutchinson            Birmingham                 £300K     
5.10.04   Gareth Williams            Walsall                    £700K     
30.10.04  Chris Morgan               Wycombe                    £950K     
14.11.04  Alex Neil                  Tranmere                   £2M       
30.11.04  Athur Gnohéré              Burnley                    £4M       
1.12.04   Austin McCann              Hearts                     £2.5M     
7.12.04   Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi       F Marinos                  £4.5M     
9.12.04   Daisuke Oku                Verdy                      £1.9M     
6.1.05    Paul Konchesky             Charlton                   £1.6M     
12.1.05   Samir Fazlagic             Peterborough               £1.9M     
18.1.05   Tonton Zola Moukoko        Derby                      £3.1M     
17.2.05   Frode Kippe                Lillestrøm                 £275K     
26.2.05   Pascal de Vries            Emmen                      £350K     

Date      Player Out                 To                         Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4.6.04    Laurent Courtois           Beauvais                   £625K     
28.6.04   Trevor Sinclair            Sheff Wed                  £4M       
7.7.04    Brad Friedel               Burnley                    £1.7M     
11.7.04   Jermaine Defoe             Celtic                     £10M      
5.9.04    Christian Dailly           Wimbledon                  £1.9M     
13.9.04   Chris Hope                 Birmingham                 £2M       
18.9.04   Peter Fear                 Clyde                      Loan      
10.10.04  Christopher Todd           Southampton                £275K     
29.10.04  Peter Fear                 Blackpool                  £350K     
4.11.04   Anwar Uddin                Clyde                      Loan      
5.11.04   Abdeslam Ouaddou           Norwich                    £400K     
25.11.04  Leon Britton               Tranmere                   £525K     
26.11.04  Adam Newton                Southampton                £950K     
6.1.05    Mark McGregor              Bournemouth                £600K     
27.1.05   George Lock                Bristol C                  £110K     
31.1.05   Izzy Iriekpen              Aston Villa                £475K     
5.2.05    Paul Murray                Coventry                   £1.2M     
14.2.05   Michael Reddy              Peterborough               £1.4M     
20.3.05   Luke Young                 Ipswich                    £700K     
29.5.05   Rigobert Song              St-Etienne                 £1.8M

Alright, so here are the transfers from last season just to keep you up to date with the ins and outs of last season (there were a lot of them). In the ins column my first signing was Alex Neil while Leon Britton marks the start of my reign in the outs column. The only out which wasn't planned was Song who I couldn't keep for any reason.

A few players will leave the club due to their contract running out and them not being needed at the club but I'll update that at the start of September. Anyway, my senior squad as it currently stands:

GKs:

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi- 7.87- 21 goals conceded in 23 games- 29

Chris Stringer- 6.74- 40 goals conceded in 23 games- 21

Joakim Moberg- 7.00- 1 goal conceded in 1 game- 19

Kawaguchi was one of my best signings last season. He was pretty expensive but I think his performances last season more than justify the transfer fee paid. The guy's an excellent goalkeeper and I'm very happy for him to be my first-choice keeper again next season. Unfortunately, he plays for the Japanese national team. This is really bad news because, in the game, the Asian World Cup qualifiers take place this season meaning he'll be playing for Japan every week from August until 21st October. He may be available for the first couple of games. This is incredibly frustrating.

Chris Stringer is an able deputy but I'm unsure about whether he can last for that amount of time as the main goalkeeper in the squad while Kawaguchi's away on international duty. Stringer's pretty young and is very good for a 21 year old, and my intention is that he will replace Kawaguchi in the starting line-up when Kawaguchi grows older. Moberg's a young keeper whose reasonably promising and can step in in an absolute emergency.

This is a bit of a dilemma, I'm unsure about whether to trust Stringer or whether to get someone in on loan for a couple of months to cover Kawaguchi's absence. My current plan is to trust Stringer as I can always bring someone in if I he's playing poorly. And if he plays well and gets a couple of months in the team it could really help his development. Urrgghh... internationals.

DEFs

Steven Clark- 6.75- 3 starting appearances with 5 off the bench- 23- LB/CB/RB

Hasney Aljofree- 6.74- 23 appearances- 26- LB/CB/LDM/CDM

Athur Gnohere- 6.76- 21 appearances- 26- LB/CB

Paul Konchesky- 7.43- 12 appearances with 2 off the bench- 3 assists- 24- LB/LM

Austin McCann- 6.45- 11 appearances- 25- LB/LM

Peter Clarke- 6.90- 29 appearances with 1 off the bench- 1 assist- 23- CB

Joey Hutchinson- 7.13- 8 appearances- 23- CB

Chris Morgan- 7.07- 29 appearances- 1 goal- 27- CB

Yeesh. My defence. By a comfortable margin the weakest aspect of my squad currently.

LB is fine. Konchesky's a very good starting LB while McCann can deputise there as can Gnohere and Clark.

The rest of the defence... is a big issue.

Song leaving makes RB a priority position. Clark can play there but he's not good enough to replace Song and I have no cover if he gets injured. I need a starting RB next season, it's my main priority. As for Clark, he's versatile and solid so he's useful to have in the squad even if he doesn't start much.

As for CB... well Chris Morgan's good enough to stay for next season. Hutchinson's not good enough to stay at the club, neither is Aljofree and I intend to get rid of them this transfer window. I intend to bring in one very good CB to complete this area of my squad.

Peter Clarke's alright but not great while Gnohere was probably my biggest disappointment, I had high hopes for him which he didn't deliver on.

MIDs

Frode Kippe- 7.27- 15 appearances, 1 goal, 3 assists- 27- CB/CDM

Alex Neil- 6.82- 9 appearances with 2 off the bench, 1 assist- 27- CM/RM

Daisuke Oku- 7.12- 12 appearances with 5 off the bench, 4 goals, 4 assists- 29- CM/RM

Richie Wellens- 7.16- 41 appearances with 3 off the bench, 4 goals, 8 assists- 25- CM

Gareth Williams- 6.00- 3 appearances with 4 off the bench, 1 goal- 23- CM

Pascal de Vries- 6.90- 5 appearances with 5 off the bench, 2 goals- 28- CM

Damien Johnson- 7.15- 26 appearances, 2 goals, 9 assists- 26- AMR/FR

Samir Fazlagic- 7.40- 15 appearances, 5 goals, 2 assists- 22- AML

Jason Wilcox- 6.55- 20 appearances, 1 assist- 33- AML

Tonton Zola Moukoko- 7.88- 16 appearances with 1 off the bench, 10 goals, 6 assists- 21- CAM/FC

Geoff Pitcher- 6.67- 3 appearances with 12 off the bench, 1 goal, 2 assists- 29- CAM

Midfield. Initially the weakest part of the team, now probably the strongest. In the diamond formation I've been using for a while, the CM slots are sorted, Wellens, de Vries, Oku, Neil and Zola Moukoko all play well as CMs. The attacking midfielder is also fine with Fazlagic as first choice and Zola Moukoko able to slot in if Fazlagic is injured.

The biggest issue is at CDM. Frode Kippe has performed well so far but I need someone to come in if Kippe gets injured/suspended. That's my second priority after finding a starting RB.

Wilcox and Williams are crap and will be shipped out swiftly in the summer. Damien Johnson is a good player who doesn't fit into a diamond and who I can get some good money for.

I was tempted to sell Pitcher but he's not completely useless and may be necessary if Faz and TZM are unable to play for any reason. He won't last long though.

Oku, unfortunately, has the same issue as Kawaguchi as they're both Japanese internationals. Richie Wellens is on the transfer list at his own request, if he does get sold I'll get £2 million to find a good replacement so I'm not too concerned with losing Wellens if I have to.

STs

Paolo Di Canio- 7.00- 4 appearances with 13 off the bench- 2 goals, 2 assists- 36- FR/C

Michael Ricketts- 6.93- 22 appearances with 8 off the bench- 11 goals, 2 assists- 26- FR/C

Tommy Smith- 7.21- 44 appearances with 3 off the bench- 14 goals, 3 assists- 25- FR/C

Svetoslav Todorov- 7.11- 23 appearances with 5 off the bench- 6 goals, 5 assists- 26- FR/C

Chris Beardsley- 7.00- 8 appearances with 12 off the bench- 4 goals, 3 assists- 22- ST

Alright the attack. Di Canio's leaving at the end of the season and Todorov wants to leave. That means that I'm probably going to have to keep Ricketts for another season while Smith and Beardsley I actively want to keep. I reckon I'm going to end up signing one more striker in the summer, hopefully a really, really good goalscorer to complement my collection of good but not great strikers.

Lenzar · July 31, 2016

Starting to sign the 'cheat' players, I see.

forzalazio87 · August 1, 2016

Thanks for sending the Lazio team! It looks incredible! It even features my favorite forward of all time Martin Palermo. I bet that defense is unstoppable. Keep on going with this save, its a great read

sjg11 · August 1, 2016

August 2005

The transfer window has been... both disappointing and fruitful. Disappointing in that I've had a lot of bids which didn't fall through for one reason or another. Fruitful because I feel like I've sorted out the main positions which needed strengthening. Anyway, here are the transfers from the summer:

Date      Player In                  From                       Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4.6.05    Isaak Okoronkwo            Shakhtar                   £625K     
5.6.05    Cherno Samba               Parma                      Loan      
10.6.05   Tony Carss                 Burnley                    £825K     
11.8.05   Mike Duff                  Norwich                    £2.8M     
11.8.05   Danny Smith                Northampton                £625K     

Date      Player Out                 To                         Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.6.05    Richard Garcia             Released                   Free      
5.6.05    Neil Jones                 Released                   Free      
5.6.05    Anwar Uddin                St. Mirren                 £300K     
6.6.05    Hasney Aljofree            Hearts                     £925K     
15.6.05   Mick Powell                Released                   Free      
17.6.05   Shaun Byrne                Aldershot                  Bos       
20.6.05   John Harris                Released                   Free      
24.6.05   Damien Johnson             Wycombe                    £1.4M     
25.6.05   Joey Hutchinson            Charlton                   £1M       
25.6.05   Darren Williamson          Released                   Free      
26.6.05   Gareth Evans               Released                   Free      
28.6.05   Lee Butler                 Released                   Free      
29.6.05   Colin Ward                 Released                   Free      
29.6.05   Gareth Williams            Peterborough               £650K     
30.6.05   Joe Sealey                 Released                   Free      
1.7.05    Omer Riza                  Clyde                      £375K     
14.7.05   Paolo Di Canio             Released                   Free      
16.7.05   Richie Wellens             Middlesbrough              £2.1M     
23.7.05   Jason Wilcox               Released                   Free

Yep, the only sale which wasn't planned was Richie Wellens but he wanted to leave and Boro offered a decent sum of money so he left. I'm still in the market for a CM to replace him in the squad but, other than that, I'm happy with my squad.

Samba's on loan until October but I'll try to extend that loan when it expires.

West Ham vs Ipswich (Nigel Winterburn)

First up a home game against an Ipswich side that struggled last season. I expect a win to start our campaign off in the best possible way. Annoyingly Tonton's on international duty for the Ghanaian U21s. Fortunately Oku and Kawaguchi are around for a while before their extended international leave begins.

GK: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi

RB: Mike Duff

CB: Isaac Okoronkwo

CB: Chris Morgan

LB: Paul Konchesky

CDM: Frode Kippe

CM: Daisuke Oku

CM: Pascal de Vries

CAM: Samir Fazlagic

ST: Cherno Samba

ST: Tommy Smith

We dominated the first 25 minutes before a fierce strike from Tommy Smith put us in front. Pascal de Vries then doubled the lead after a shot from Kippe was saved. Unfortunately Joey Gudjonsson pulled one back for Ipswich from a cross to put them back in the match.

Fortunately de Vries then fired in a third goal after 65 minutes to put us 3-1 in front. At that point I brought Todorov and Beardsley on for the front two and Todorov immediately fired in another goal. Marcus Stewart then fired in another goal for Ipswich but that was it. A very strong performance and a very strong result to start the season.

West Ham 4-2 Ipswich

I sold Peter Clarke after this game as I no longer really needed him and I could fetch a decent amount for him (£1.1 million).

Wycombe (Brian Laws) vs West Ham

Next was a trip to newly promoted Wycombe. Tonton was back and replaces Oku for this one.

Nightmare start as David Pounder fires Wycombe in front after 19 minutes. However a great run and strike from Cherno Samba levelled the match after 33 minutes.

Unfortunately a late, late winner from West Ham alumni Damien Johnson snatched the win for Wycombe.

Wycombe 2-1 West Ham

Geoff Pitcher was sold for £600,000 to Southampton after this.

West Ham vs Brentford (John Gregory)

League Cup tie so the reserves play (Stringer: Duff, Gnohere, Clark, McCann, Carss, de Vries, Neil, Ricketts, Todorov, Beardsley). Frankly I couldn't care less about the League Cup.

A great run and shot from de Vries continued his impressive start to the season after 4 minutes. Unfortunately Stringer then spilled a shot and Kevin O'Connor equalised.

Chris Beardsley then converted a Tony Carss cross to put us back in front. Beardsley then converted an Alex Neil centre after a Ricketts knock down to seal the points. A trip to Cardiff is next in the League Cup

West Ham 3-1 Brentford

West Ham vs Brighton (Micky Adams)

Some ridiculous scheduling means we have a trip to Grimsby two days after this match so rotation will be necessary before that game. Kawaguchi and Oku begin their absence here (I hate internationals). Team is (Stringer, Clark, Gnohere, Okoronkwo, McCann, Kippe, de Vries, Neil, TZM, Todorov, Beardsley)

I hate this game sometimes. We dominated the first half, had a penalty appeal turned down hit the post three times yet Brighton went in a goal up at half time through a Dirk Lehmann header.

I brought Fazlagic, Samba and Smith on at half time and Samba blasted in an equaliser just after half time to put us level. Moukoko then unleashed de Vries who continued his incredible run of form with another goal shortly afterwards. Another great strike from Samba then put us 3-1 up. Tommy Smith then flicked in a Moukoko cross to make it 4-1. Elvis Hammond then headed in a late consolation for Brighton.

West Ham 4-2 Brighton

Grimsby (Lennie Lawrence) vs West Ham

I actually got to use Kawaguchi and Oku here (more surprisingly they were both at 100% fitness). Team line-ups as follows (Kawaguchi: Duff, Morgan, Okoronkwo, Konchesky: Carss, Oku, Moukoko, Fazlagic: Smith, Samba)

Alan Pouton put Grimsby in front from their first attack. However I brought Todorov on for Smith (also brought de Vries on for Oku) at half time and he rewarded me with a headed equaliser just after half time. Tony Carss then powered in a goal to put us in front. Unfortunately Bradley Allen then smashed in an equaliser to level the game. Bad news in that Okoronkwo is out for 2 weeks.

Grimsby 2-2 West HamTable:

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Wigan                           4    2    0    0    3    1    1    1    0    4    3    10   
2nd     Norwich                         4    1    0    0    2    1    2    0    1    6    3    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Tottenham                       4    1    0    1    3    2    2    0    0    3    0    9    
4th     Coventry                        4    2    0    0    4    2    1    0    1    4    4    9    
5th     West Ham                        4    2    0    0    8    4    0    1    1    3    4    7    
6th     Wycombe                         4    1    0    1    3    3    1    1    0    3    0    7    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Crystal Palace                  4    1    0    1    6    4    1    0    1    3    3    6    
8th     Burnley                         4    1    0    1    5    3    1    0    1    2    2    6    
9th     Nottm Forest                    4    1    0    1    3    1    1    0    1    2    2    6    
10th    Ipswich                         4    2    0    1    6    3    0    0    1    2    4    6    
11th    Millwall                        3    2    0    0    5    3    0    0    1    0    2    6    
12th    Brighton                        4    1    0    1    3    3    1    0    1    5    6    6    
13th    W.B.A.                          4    2    0    0    4    0    0    0    2    1    6    6    
14th    Tranmere                        3    1    0    0    4    2    0    2    0    2    2    5    
15th    Crewe                           4    1    1    0    4    2    0    1    1    3    4    5    
16th    Charlton                        4    0    1    1    2    5    1    1    0    3    1    5    
17th    Southampton                     4    0    1    1    1    3    1    1    0    2    1    5    
18th    Sheff Utd                       4    1    1    0    5    4    0    0    2    1    3    4    
19th    Bradford                        4    0    1    1    1    3    1    0    1    4    4    4    
20th    Bolton                          4    0    1    1    2    5    1    0    1    3    3    4    
21st    Grimsby                         4    1    1    0    5    4    0    0    2    2    7    4    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Preston                         4    0    0    2    2    4    1    0    1    4    5    3    
23rd    Bristol C                       4    0    1    1    0    2    0    0    2    2    6    1    
24th    Q.P.R.                          4    0    0    2    0    3    0    0    2    3    6    0

Overall, a good but not great start to the season. Plenty of reasons to be optimistic though. Our attack is firing really well. Our defence is conceding two goals a game though which is worrying.

In terms of other news:

Argentina won the Copa America beating Ecuador in the final. Brazil were knocked out by a last minute Crespo winner in the semi-final.

Italy beat France in the Confederations Cup to continue their run of success at international level.

Schalke won the Club World Championship thing.

sjg11 · August 1, 2016

On 31/07/2016 at 16:51, Lenzar said:

Starting to sign the 'cheat' players, I see.

*Looks at loan signing of Samba*

*Looks away again sheepishly*

sjg11 · August 1, 2016

35 minutes ago, forzalazio87 said:

Thanks for sending the Lazio team! It looks incredible! It even features my favorite forward of all time Martin Palermo. I bet that defense is unstoppable. Keep on going with this save, its a great read

Palermo's an incredible striker. Believe it or not, Crespo's even better though, he's been the best striker in the whole save so far, maybe even the best player. The defence is incredible, Italy had a similar defence in 02 (unlike Lazio they played three at the back and they had Maldini in place of Stam) and won the whole tournament without conceding a goal.

forzalazio87 · August 1, 2016

Thats great. Crespo's best year was at Lazio and even though he only stayed for a few years he is considered a legend. Yeah that Italian defense is unbeatable. Its really funny to see this alternative history with an Italy not rocked by calciopoli and bankruptcy. You'll have to see if Italy wins the 06 world cup. And yeah I think lazio likes working with the wing players with Favalli and Pancaro, even with 3 of the best cbs in the world.

sjg11 · August 1, 2016

5 minutes ago, forzalazio87 said:

Thats great. Crespo's best year was at Lazio and even though he only stayed for a few years he is considered a legend. Yeah that Italian defense is unbeatable. Its really funny to see this alternative history with an Italy not rocked by calciopoli and bankruptcy. You'll have to see if Italy wins the 06 world cup. And yeah I think lazio likes working with the wing players with Favalli and Pancaro, even with 3 of the best cbs in the world.

Pancaro tends to play RB instead of RM and they tend to play Carbone at RM. Despite being 34 he managed to get 24 assists last season (Carbone that is) which is one of the stranger stories in the save considering that he started the game at Bradford. Favalli also hasn't played much in the save.

Their one issue is that their squad is starting to get a bit old now. I anticipate a decline from Lazio over the next couple of seasons.

forzalazio87 · August 1, 2016

Thanks for letting me know. Yeah it would be cool to get see how they do as it really does look like an old team.. legendary but old.. Hopefully Loco Palermo can keep them going. thanks for all the updates and keep on going with this awesome thread!

sjg11 · August 1, 2016

September 2005

West Ham vs Sheffield United (Justin Crowe)

We complete our games against the newly promoted sides by hosting Sheffield United. Kawaguchi, Oku, Fazlagic and Todorov were all on international duty and Okoronkwo was injured. Team (Stringer: Duff, Morgan, Gnohere, Konchesky: Kippe, de Vries, Neil, TZM: Samba, Smith

Chris Clarke fired Sheffield United ahead from the penalty spot. Grant Smith doubles their lead after a run and shot.

Beardsley came on for Smith and headed us back into the match with 10 minutes left. We dominated the second half but couldn't find a way through.

I hate internationals (for some reason, despite having more internationals than anyone else we were selected as the side to play this weekend despite it being an international weekend). Oh Chris Morgan also went off injured just to compound my anger.

West Ham 1-2 Sheffield United

Crystal Palace (Martin Keown) vs West Ham

(Kawaguchi: Duff, Smith, Kippe, Konchesky: Carss, Oku, TZM, Fazlagic: Samba, Smith)

For some reason Kawaguchi and Oku were both available but they were at 100% fitness so they start.

A corner is cleared but hits Kippe and deflects in to give us the advantage. A volley from a tight angle from Tonton Zola Moukoko then doubled our advantage. A very important win to get us back on track after the nightmare against Sheffield United

Crystal Palace 0-2 West Ham

West Ham vs QPR (Nicky Law)

QPR hadn't won a game yet this season so I expected a win here. de Vries replaces Oku in the only change.

We started quickly, cutting QPR apart apparently at will before Cherno Samba headed us in front from a corner. Beardsley came on for Smith in the second half and headed in a free kick to double our lead. Beardsley then headed in a third goal from Konchesky's cross. Samir Fazlagic then poked in another cross to further extend our advantage. Richard Pacquette then headed in a consolation for QPR

West Ham 4-1 QPR

Bolton (David Moyes) vs West Ham

Stringer in for Kawaguchi (have I mentioned my dislike for internationals yet?). I also had to replace Samba and TZM with Alex Neil and Beardsley. Once again the fixture monkeys had messed up and had decreed that we had to play on the Friday having played QPR on the Wednesday. For those keeping count, that's now the third time we've been affected by the decrees of the fixture monkeys.

Cherno Samba eventually put us in front during a dull game after 70 minutes. Tommy Smith then got clear and managed to double our lead. Smith then extended the lead after an Alex Neil cross. A win at a recently relegated side having only played two days earlier? I'll take that. Take that fixture monkeys.

Bolton 0-3 West Ham

Cardiff (Steve Bruce) vs West Ham

League Cup game, time for the reserves to come out. Well the reserves, Kawaguchi and Oku just to spite internationals (Kawaguchi: Clark, Gnohere, Smith, McCann: Kippe, Neil, Oku, Fazlagic: Beardsley, Todorov)

Kawaguchi spilled a shot and Michael Appleton gobbled up the rebound to put Cardiff in front. Svetoslav Todorov then converted a McCann cross to equalise. Martin Butler headed in a Cardiff winner. Words cannot express how little I care.

Cardiff 2-1 West Ham

West Ham vs Nottingham Forest (Richard Money)

(Kawaguchi (Japan didn't play this week): Duff, Okoronkwo, Kippe, Konchesky: Carss, de Vries, Tonton, Fazlagic, Smith, Samba)

Cherno Samba put us in front after Tonton stormed through the Forest defence to create the opening. Mike Duff then converted a de Vries cross to double the lead. Riccy Scimeca pulled one back for Forest but it wasn't enough for them.

West Ham 2-1 Forest

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     West Ham                        9    4    0    1    15   8    2    1    1    8    4    19   
2nd     W.B.A.                          8    4    0    0    8    2    2    0    2    4    7    18   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Coventry                        9    4    1    0    11   3    1    1    2    7    8    17   
4th     Wigan                           8    3    1    0    11   7    2    1    1    8    8    17   
5th     Tottenham                       8    2    1    1    6    4    3    0    1    5    2    16   
6th     Crewe                           8    2    2    0    8    5    2    1    1    7    5    15   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Burnley                         8    3    0    1    11   4    1    2    1    5    5    14   
8th     Norwich                         8    2    1    0    6    4    2    1    2    8    7    14   
9th     Ipswich                         8    3    1    1    11   6    1    0    2    4    6    13   
10th    Charlton                        8    1    2    1    4    6    2    1    1    6    3    12   
11th    Wycombe                         8    2    0    3    6    8    1    2    0    5    2    11   
12th    Grimsby                         8    3    1    0    12   7    0    1    3    4    10   11   
13th    Sheff Utd                       9    2    1    1    6    5    1    1    3    6    9    11   
14th    Crystal Palace                  8    2    0    2    8    6    1    1    2    5    6    10   
15th    Millwall                        7    2    1    1    6    5    1    0    2    2    5    10   
16th    Bradford                        7    0    2    1    2    4    2    1    1    8    7    9    
17th    Southampton                     8    1    1    2    3    5    1    2    1    4    4    9    
18th    Preston                         8    1    0    3    6    8    2    0    2    5    7    9    
19th    Tranmere                        7    2    0    1    7    3    0    2    2    2    4    8    
20th    Nottm Forest                    8    1    1    2    4    3    1    1    2    4    5    8    
21st    Bolton                          7    1    1    2    4    8    1    0    2    4    7    7    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Brighton                        9    1    1    2    6    8    1    0    4    8    16   7    
23rd    Bristol C                       8    0    2    1    2    4    0    0    5    5    15   2    
24th    Q.P.R.                          8    0    0    4    3    9    0    1    3    8    14   1

An incredible month which puts us right in promotion contention. Things are going very well so far. If only we'd beaten Sheffield United we'd be in an extremely comfortable position.

Lazio Update: They're currently top in Serie A and third behind Rangers and Betis in their CL group.

sjg11 · August 2, 2016

October 2005

Some really bad news to start the month as the excellent Kawaguchi demands a move away. Nothing I could do other than transfer list him without angering my entire squad. I want 5 million for him though otherwise he's staying.

Southampton (Stuart Gray) vs West Ham

We start the month with a tough trip to Southampton. Stringer replaces Kawaguchi (on international duty currently) in the starting line-up. Tommy Smith found Cherno Samba who followed us in front after 9 minutes. Tonton Zola Moukoko then headed in a Fazlagic cross to double the lead after 18 minutes. Southampton were actually the better side after this but three points are ours.

Southampton 0-2 West Ham

Samba's loan period ends here, I'm hoping to get him back until the end of the season. Yep, not going to be able to persuade Samba to come back for the moment. Maybe when we're in the Prem.

Tranmere (Dave Watson) vs West Ham

Todorov replaces Samba in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

The first half of this game shows how big a miss Samba will be. We dominated but couldn't score and David Thompson put Tranmere in front. We pressed for an equaliser in the second half but couldn't find it.

Tranmere 1-0 West Ham

West Ham vs Bristol City (Nigel Spackman)

Next up a must win home game against a struggling Bristol City side. Kawaguchi comes in for Stringer, Oku slots into midfield alongside de Vries and Tonton pushes up behind the strikers. One thing I hadn't noticed previously is that Fazlagic has decided to re-invent himself as an AML and has forgotten how to play AMC. This, and Samba's departure, may necessitate a change in formation pretty quickly.

Tonton Zola Moukoko puts us in front after 18 minutes, gobbling up a rebound from a Tommy Smith header. Bristol City goalkeeper, a certain George Lock then brought down Moukoko in the box and Svetoslav Todorov slotted in the penalty. Pascal de Vries then blasted in a volley from a Todorov cross to put us further in front.

West Ham 3-0 Bristol City

I'm changing Fazlagic's training schedule to ensure he remembers how to play CAM. Until then I'm hoping a slightly experimental formation will work for me.

Norwich (Brian Horton) vs West Ham

A trip to Norwich seems like as good a time as any to test out the new formation. Stringer in goal behind the usual defence. Carss holding the midfield with Neil (no Oku) and de Vries as CMs. Tommy Smith with TZM in behind and Fazlagic out on the left. This may work well, it may be a terrible idea, I don't know yet.

Alex Neil heads us in front from a corner after 4 minutes. Unfortunately Ronald Gomez then equalised for Norwich. Unfortunately Ronald Gomez then headed in a late winner for Norwich. Unbelievably though Frode Kippe poked in a rebound to rescue a point from another corner. Not a bad point away at a team in the play-off places. Particularly since we dominated. The formation seems pretty successful if not quite an unqualified success.

Norwich 2-2 West Ham

West Ham vs Tottenham (Billy Davies)

Next up a big game against recently relegated Tottenham. Oku in for Neil and Kawaguchi in for Stringer. Other than that, same formation. Despite a dominant start a run and shot from Titi Camara put Spurs in front. Quinton Fortune then doubled their lead. I'm getting sick and ****ing tired of dominating games and not putting our bleeding chances away.

I switched back to the diamond at half time to freshen things up a bit. A run and shot from Tony Carss put us back in contention.

West Ham 1-2 Tottenham

I was also forced to sell Kawaguchi for 5.75 million to bloody Liverpool after this game. Just to continue my present irritation.

Preston (Steve McMahon) vs West Ham

Regular diamond formation, same personnel with Todorov on for Fazlagic playing alongside Smith with TZM in behind. I also put Morgan in for Kippe at CB. As an aside Oku's back permanently now.

Pascal de Vries blasted in a volley to put us in front from a Tony Carss cross. A run and strike from TZM then doubled our lead.

A huge win. Preston 0-2 West Ham


Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     West Ham                        15   5    0    2    19   10   4    2    2    14   7    29   
2nd     W.B.A.                          14   6    1    1    13   4    3    0    3    7    10   28   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Coventry                        15   6    1    0    14   3    2    2    4    12   14   27   
4th     Wigan                           15   5    1    1    16   11   3    1    4    16   19   26   
5th     Norwich                         14   5    3    0    20   11   2    1    3    9    9    25   
6th     Tottenham                       15   4    1    3    12   9    4    0    3    9    7    25   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Charlton                        14   3    2    1    9    8    3    4    1    11   7    24   
8th     Sheff Utd                       15   5    1    1    12   7    2    2    4    10   13   24   
9th     Crewe                           14   4    2    0    11   6    3    1    4    9    12   24   
10th    Bradford                        14   2    3    1    11   7    3    3    2    13   11   21   
11th    Tranmere                        14   5    0    3    13   7    1    3    2    4    5    21   
12th    Burnley                         15   4    1    2    17   12   2    2    4    9    14   21   
13th    Southampton                     14   3    2    3    8    9    2    3    1    5    4    20   
14th    Ipswich                         14   4    1    1    14   7    2    1    5    10   18   20   
15th    Crystal Palace                  14   3    1    3    14   10   2    2    3    11   10   18   
16th    Nottm Forest                    14   2    4    2    9    5    2    1    3    6    8    17   
17th    Millwall                        14   4    2    2    13   9    1    0    5    5    13   17   
18th    Preston                         14   2    1    4    12   15   2    3    2    9    11   16   
19th    Grimsby                         14   4    2    0    17   11   0    2    6    8    21   16   
20th    Bolton                          15   3    1    4    12   17   2    0    5    8    17   16   
21st    Brighton                        16   2    2    4    10   12   2    1    5    12   21   15   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Wycombe                         15   2    1    4    8    11   1    4    3    8    10   14   
23rd    Bristol C                       15   3    4    1    14   11   0    0    7    6    20   13   
24th    Q.P.R.                          15   1    2    5    7    13   0    1    6    14   24   6

Well I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we're top of the league and Stringer is playing well now that Kawaguchi's left. The bad news is that I'm struggling to keep hold of my players and every... single... time... I try to sign someone I get "X rejected the move to West Ham" despite having bids accepted for players. It is slowly driving me insane having this much money and being unable to spend it on anyone. This is isn't even from good clubs either, players from Goteborg and Sogndal are rejecting me at the moment. We really need to get promoted.

A prolific striker would guarantee promotion. If Samba's loan had been for a season I would already be counting the Premier League TV money I feel.

withnail316 · August 2, 2016

Any chance of Andri Sigþórsson yet? He was the finest CM striker of all time, IMO.

Nobby_McDonald · August 4, 2016

Next up you'll sign Tonton Moukoko

sjg11 · August 6, 2016

On 02/08/2016 at 22:30, withnail316 said:

Any chance of Andri Sigþórsson yet? He was the finest CM striker of all time, IMO.

He's the one who rejected me to Sogndal. He seems immune to the charms of East London

sjg11 · August 6, 2016

On 04/08/2016 at 23:07, Nobby_McDonald said:

Next up you'll sign Tonton Moukoko

A little late for that.

sjg11 · August 6, 2016

November 2005

Sorry for the gap between updates, I was out on Wednesday, hungover on Thursday and lazy on Friday.

I've just signed a new striker, Leon Knight from Chelsea for 5 Million. He's a very good young striker and I'm hoping that he'll be the prolific goal scorer I've been missing (excluding Cherno Samba's brief period here).

West Ham vs Millwall (Craig Johnston)

I name an unchanged line-up from the win at Preston.

Nightmare start as Christophe Kinet fires Millwall in front after 21 minutes. Fortunately Chris Morgan then drilled in from a corner to equalise. A run and strike from Tonton Zola Moukoko then put us in front on the stroke of half time.

Unfortunately Kinet then volleyed in another equaliser for Millwall. Incredibly frustrating result in a game we should have won.

West Ham 2-2 Millwall

West Ham vs Burnley (George Burley)

The only change comes with Leon Knight replacing Todorov. We dominated the first half but it took 44 minutes for Tommy Smith to divert home a cross from Daisuke Oku to put us in front.

Continuing this month's apparent theme Paul Paterson scored from Burnley's only real chance to equalise.

Again we dominate. Again we don't take our chances. Again we drop points due to a late equaliser. Again I'm frustrated. Oh please come back Cherno.

West Ham 1-1 Burnley

Coventry (Roland Nilsson) vs West Ham

Unchanged line-up again.

Tommy Smith fired us in front after 7 minutes after a Leon Knight shot was saved. Leon Knight then got clear in the box and fired in to double the advantage. Unfortunately Ysrael Zuniga pulled one back for Coventry from a corner.

Fortunately, this time we held on for the three points. An excellent away win.

Coventry 1-2 West Ham

Tonton now wants to leave as well. We're top of the league and about to be promoted.

Wait no, he's withdrawn his transfer request! I'm ashamed to admit I may have cheered when I saw that.

Crewe (Dario Gradi) vs West Ham

I decided to give Frode Kippe a start in place of Morgan. Other than that it's an unchanged side.

Tommy Smith headed us in front after 4 minutes from a Mike Duff cross. A run and shot from Pascal de Vries then doubled our lead. Chris Beardsley then came on for Leon Knight and headed in a Tonton free kick to complete the rout.

Crewe 0-3 West Ham

West Brom (Gary Megson) vs West Ham

I decided to start Danny Smith in place of Kippe for this one. Other than that, why change a winning formula? This was a top of the table clash by the way with both sides level on points coming into it.

Leon Knight fired us in front after a Tommy Smith shot was saved. Tommy Smith then headed in a Tony Carss cross to double the lead.

Just after half time Wayne Maden scored to pull one back for West Brom. Chris Beardsley (on for Knight again) then fired in a goal from a Tonton pass. However Anthony Boyce immediately pulled another one back for West Brom. Fortunately we held on for three more massive points.

West Brom 2-3 West HamTable

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     West Ham                        20   5    2    2    22   13   7    2    2    22   10   40   
2nd     W.B.A.                          20   7    1    2    18   9    5    0    5    16   20   37   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Wigan                           20   7    2    1    20   13   4    1    5    22   27   36   
4th     Crewe                           20   7    2    1    18   13   3    3    4    12   15   35   
5th     Tottenham                       20   5    1    4    17   14   6    0    4    15   12   34   
6th     Charlton                        20   3    5    2    13   13   5    4    1    17   9    33   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Tranmere                        20   7    0    3    18   9    2    4    4    8    11   31   
8th     Sheff Utd                       20   6    2    2    15   10   3    2    5    13   17   31   
9th     Ipswich                         20   7    1    2    23   13   2    1    7    12   22   29   
10th    Coventry                        20   6    1    3    18   10   2    3    5    15   18   28   
11th    Preston                         20   4    1    5    22   22   4    3    3    18   18   28   
12th    Millwall                        20   6    2    2    17   10   2    2    6    12   19   28   
13th    Norwich                         20   5    3    2    23   16   2    3    5    13   16   27   
14th    Bradford                        20   3    5    2    17   14   3    4    3    16   15   27   
15th    Southampton                     20   4    3    3    12   11   2    6    2    7    7    27   
16th    Grimsby                         20   7    3    0    26   12   0    2    8    8    25   26   
17th    Crystal Palace                  19   5    1    4    20   14   2    3    4    14   14   25   
18th    Burnley                         20   4    3    3    21   17   2    3    5    11   18   24   
19th    Brighton                        20   2    3    5    12   15   4    1    5    17   24   22   
20th    Bristol C                       20   4    4    2    17   14   2    0    8    10   23   22   
21st    Wycombe                         20   3    2    5    14   17   2    4    4    12   15   21   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Nottm Forest                    19   2    5    3    11   10   2    2    5    8    12   19   
23rd    Bolton                          20   3    2    5    15   21   2    0    8    10   24   17   
24th    Q.P.R.                          20   2    2    6    10   17   1    3    6    19   28   14

After the draw against Burnley I was really worrying, our strikers were out of form, we'd dropped a lot of points recently and our next three games were away from home against very tough opposition.

However, at that moment our strikers (Smith, Knight and Beardsley in particular) all seemed to hit form simultaneously and we blew our opponents away with great attacking football culminating in a brilliant performance at a very good Crewe side. We then went and won a genuinely great game against West Brom allowing us to sit pretty at the top of the table as we head into December.

sjg11 · August 7, 2016

December 2005

As we end 2005 I'm hoping we simply pick up where we left off at the end of last month and just keep winning.

West Ham vs Bradford (Roy Evans)

Morgan in for Smith. Otherwise unchanged again.

Leon McKenzie fired Bradford in front after 29 minutes. We looked dangerous but couldn't score. Fortunately both David Wetherall and Kevin Dixon then got sent off for Bradford, reducing them to nine men.

Tonton Zola Moukoko then tapped in a rebound after an Alex Neil (on for Oku) shot was saved. Chris Beardsley (on for Knight) then had a goal disallowed before Isaak Okoronkwo headed us in front from a corner. Chris Morgan then put in a cross which Beardsley headed in to seal the win. Another three points for us.

West Ham 3-1 Bradford

West Ham vs Wigan (George Graham)

Unchanged line-up for this one. Big game against another side near the top of the league.

We took the lead after 24 minutes, a cross from Pascal de Vries being volleyed in by Daisuke Oku to put us in front. Paul McKnight then turned in a cross to put Wigan level before Tonton Zola Moukoko diverted in a Mike Duff cross to help us regain the lead.

Just after half time Oku made a run, beat a few Wigan players and set up Tonton to extend our lead. Another brilliant performance and result against one of our main challengers.

West Ham 3-1 Wigan

In the FA Cup we'll travel to either Wrexham or Doncaster. In between this and the Wycombe I managed to snap up a brilliant young defended called Alan Tate from United fora meagre £825,000. The guy's a brilliant defended and isn't even costing me 1 Million. As he's arriving at the club I can offload a CB so Athur Gnohere gets placed on the transfer list after failing to impress after his move from Burnley.

West Ham vs Wycombe (Brian Laws)

I brought Tate in for Morgan. Other than that, unchanged team. De Vries put in a cross which was fired home by Leon Knight to give us the advantage here. Unfortunately Gavin Gordon headed in a cross to equalise for Wycombe.

Fortunately Chris Beardsley (on for Tommy Smith) then headed in a cross from Leon Knight with about 10 minutes left to put us back in front. Gavin Gordon then had a goal disallowed (thankfully, it's insanely nerve-wracking the way they show you a goal is offside in this game) and that was that. Yet another win for us.

West Ham 2-1 Wycombe

Ipswich (Nigel Winterburn) vs West Ham

Next up for us is a trip to Portman Road. Unchanged line-up from the Wycombe game.

Tommy Smith headed us in front after 13 minutes from a Leon Knight cross. Smith then set up Tonton who volleyed in a second goal for us. Mike Duff then cut the ball back for Beardsley (on for Knight) to make it 3-0. Another great result for us.

Ipswich 0-3 West Ham

Wrexham beat Doncaster by the way so they'll be our opponents in the FA Cup.

I also snapped up Norwegian free agent Ereland Hanstveit. He's a very good player who can play at LB and I don't think that poor old Paul Konchesky is going to be able to perform in the Premier League, decent Division One player that he is. I decided to place Austin McCann on the transfer list as he is no longer needed.

Charlton (Alan Curbishley) vs West Ham

Time for another tricky away game, this time at a Charlton side who always seem to cause us problems. Hanstveit comes in for Konchesky for his first start.

Tonton made a run and set up Daisuke Oku who fired home to give us the lead. Tommy Smith then headed home a de Vries cross to double the lead. Smith then fired home a third goal on 32 minutes. Since we were three goals up I brought Beardsley, Todorov and Neil on for de Vries, Smith and Knight. On 72 minutes Beardsley and Svetoslav Todorov linked up well and the Bulgarian fired in a fourth goal. Beardsley then headed in a fifth from a Todorov cross.

I actually felt a little bit sorry for Charlton after this.

Charlton 0-5 West Ham

Oh dear... I think I may have done something incredibly stupid. Apparently Okoronkwo's contract has a release clause of 425,000 which I hadn't noticed until now. Birmingham have met it and Okoronkwo has decided to jump ship. Note to self, check for release clauses before signing players in the future.

I also sign promising young Swedish forward Mattias Lindberg from Norrkoping for 1.2 million. His first start will come in the Cup against Wrexham next month.

Sheffield United (Justin Crowe) vs West Ham

Ah yes yet another away game this time against a Sheffield United side who beat us at Upton Park earlier in the season. Danny Smith comes in for the now departed Okoronkwo. Other than that no changes.

David Fox drilled them in front after 6 minutes. Fortunately Pascal de Vries then headed in a Tonton cross to equalise on 14 minutes. Michael Brown then fired them back in front after 60 minutes. de Vries then scored a second equaliser from a rebound after a Tonton shot was saved. Daisuke Oku then put us in front for the first time after a Chris Beardsley (on for Tommy Smith) effort was saved. An incredibly entertaining/nerve-wracking which we were a little bit lucky to get a win from.

Sheffield United 2-3 West Ham

I won Manager of the Month for the team's performances this month. Okoronkwo's departure was irritating though. This is kinda how it went:

I see Birmingham make a bid of below 500 K for him. I laugh and their stupidity and reject the offer. A message comes "You cannot reject this bid as Birmingham have met his release clause". Oh ****... Table:

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     West Ham                        26   8    2    2    30   16   10   2    2    33   12   58   
2nd     Tottenham                       26   7    1    4    27   16   9    0    5    24   14   49   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     W.B.A.                          26   10   1    3    25   12   6    0    6    18   22   49   
4th     Crewe                           26   9    2    1    23   13   5    3    6    18   23   47   
5th     Wigan                           26   8    3    2    25   17   5    1    7    25   32   43   
6th     Sheff Utd                       26   8    3    3    25   17   4    2    6    17   20   41   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Bradford                        26   5    5    2    22   16   5    5    4    23   22   40   
8th     Tranmere                        26   8    0    4    21   12   3    5    6    14   18   38   
9th     Millwall                        26   7    3    3    18   11   4    2    7    17   25   38   
10th    Coventry                        26   7    2    3    22   12   3    5    6    21   23   37   
11th    Ipswich                         26   9    1    4    27   18   2    2    8    14   28   36   
12th    Charlton                        26   4    5    4    14   21   5    4    4    18   16   36   
13th    Nottm Forest                    26   6    5    3    23   14   3    2    7    11   16   34   
14th    Grimsby                         26   9    5    0    32   14   0    2    10   8    31   34   
15th    Southampton                     26   6    3    5    16   17   2    6    4    8    10   33   
16th    Crystal Palace                  25   7    1    5    25   18   2    4    6    16   21   32   
17th    Burnley                         25   6    3    3    26   17   2    5    6    13   23   32   
18th    Preston                         26   4    2    6    24   26   5    3    6    21   25   32   
19th    Bristol C                       26   5    4    3    20   16   4    0    10   16   29   31   
20th    Norwich                         26   5    4    3    27   21   2    4    8    14   23   29   
21st    Brighton                        26   3    3    8    20   28   5    1    6    19   29   28   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Wycombe                         26   4    4    6    20   20   2    4    6    13   18   26   
23rd    Bolton                          26   5    2    6    18   23   2    1    10   14   30   24   
24th    Q.P.R.                          26   3    2    9    16   24   2    3    7    24   36   20

We are going up. We are going up.

And I reckon we're going to do pretty well when we go up too. I'm assembling a very talented young team. And this time I won't have to sell my best CB due to not reading the release clause.

Oh and I've placed Michael Ricketts on the transfer list. If anyone cares considering he's done the square root of **** all for me this season.

sjg11 · August 7, 2016

January 2006

So we move onto 2006 hoping to maintain our excellent form and maybe go on a Cup run as well.

Oh wait no, Oku also snuck a release clause into his contract without me noticing and guess which group of blue-shirted wankers from the West Midlands have decided to meet that clause. I'm telling you I really want to give Birmingham a stuffing at some point next season after this.

West Ham vs Grimsby (Lennie Lawrence)

Morgan in for Smith. Other than that no changes.

Tommy Smith headed in a Tony Carss cross to give us the lead after 12 minutes. Tony Carss then thumped in a second after 28 minutes. Leon Knight and Chris Beardsley (who had come on for Knight) then had goals disallowed.

Julian Joachim then pulled one back for Grimsby after 63 minutes. We held on for the three more points.

West Ham 2-1 Grimsby

Unfortunately Beardsley got injured and will be out for about a month. A shame as he's been in really good form this season. Oh and Oku decided to jump ship to ****ing Birmingham. I don't think I've ever detested a side on Football Manager more than I do that Birmingham team. Just wait until next season... just you wait...

In reality Oku wasn't going to play too much beyond this season anyway so it's not the end of the world. Just really, really frustrating. Particularly after the Okoronkwo signing.

Wrexham (Brian Flynn) vs West Ham

Team (Moberg: Clark, D. Smith, Gnohere, Konchesky: Kippe: Neil, de Vries: Fazlagic: Lindberg, Todorov)

We dominated the first half but a strike from Junior Mendes put Wrexham in front after 31 minutes.

Fortunately Samir Fazlagic then put us back in front after a run and shot on 58. Mattias Lindberg then scored his first goal for the club on 68 minutes to put us in front. Unfortunately Gavin Mahon then equalised to force a replay.

Wrexham 2-2 West Ham

If we get through the replay we host Huddersfield or Cardiff in the fourth round.

I've signed a young German CB called Peter Hoffmann from Croatian side Sesvete for £600,000, Gareth Whalley (a CM) for £650,000 from QPR, largely to replace Oku in the squad, an insanely good Dutch regen called Henk Boere joins from Croatian side Sibenik for £2.8 million (really excited about this signing).

I transfer listed Danny Smith after Hoffmann's arrival.

QPR (Chris Banks) vs West Ham

Team: (Stringer: Duff, Hoffmann, Tate, Hanstveit: Carss, de Vries, Tonton: Lindberg: Boere, T. Smith)

Let's see how things go at Loftus Road after my latest splurge. We took the lead on 17 minutes as a de Vries was deflected in off QPR player Stephen Foster. de Vries then doubled the lead after a well timed run into the box. QPR defender Chris Plummer then got sent off for two yellow cards but the game was effectively over by that point. We march on.

QPR 0-2 West Ham

Some bad news came due to the fact that Alan Tate picked up an injury ruling him out for 10 days.

And another excellent regen, Jamie Browne, joins from Grimsby for £1.8 million. Chris Morgan gets transfer listed.

West Ham vs Crystal Palace (Danny Wilson)

Team (Stringer: Duff, Browne, Hoffmann, Hanstveit: Carss, de Vries, Tonton, Fazlagic: Lindberg, Boere)

Pascal de Vries got sent off after 9 minutes immediately ensuring that this game became a major threat to our winning run in the league. Darren Byfield then poked Palace in front after 31 minutes. Unfortunately Mark Kinsella doubled Palace's lead after Stringer spilled a shot giving Palace all three points. de Vries was in such good form that I really didn't think he would be the one to let me down. Fortunately de Vries' suspension will be lessened due to the fact we're playing in the Cup for a little while now.

West Ham 0-2 Crystal Palace

West Ham vs Wrexham (Brian Flynn)

And so we end the match with one, hopefully two Cup games. Firstly a home game against Wrexham. I decided to go for it here as we're comfortable in the league and I want a decent Cup run

(Stringer: Duff, Tate, Hoffmann, Hanstveit: Kippe, Whalley, de Vries, Fazlagic: Boere, Lindberg)

We dominated but seemingly couldn't find a way through until the 89th minute. de Vries crossed it into the box and Henk Boere volleyed in the goal to send us into the fourth round. The first goal of what I hope will be a very profitable career for Boere.

West Ham 1-0 Wrexham

West Ham vs Cardiff (Steve Bruce)

And so we move onto the fourth round against Cardiff. Only changes from the replay were Carss in for Kippe and Lindberg behind a front two of Tommy Smith and Boere.

A good first half saw Tommy Smith smash the ball in to put us in front after 28 minutes. Fazlagic (on for Lindberg) then intercepted a poor clearance from the Cardiff keeper and Smith drilled in another goal.

An excellent performance and we march onto the fifth round.

West Ham 2-0 Cardiff

We travel to Liverpool in the next round. I have a feeling we'll progress no further than this. Still, a good opportunity to test ourselves against a top team. Table:

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     West Ham                        29   9    2    3    32   19   11   2    2    35   12   64   
2nd     Tottenham                       29   9    1    4    32   16   9    0    6    24   15   55   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Crewe                           29   10   3    1    27   14   6    3    6    20   23   54   
4th     W.B.A.                          29   10   1    4    25   13   7    1    6    21   24   53   
5th     Wigan                           29   9    4    2    26   17   6    1    7    29   32   50   
6th     Bradford                        29   7    5    2    28   17   5    5    5    24   25   46   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Tranmere                        29   10   0    4    27   13   3    5    7    14   19   44   
8th     Millwall                        29   8    3    3    22   11   5    2    8    19   28   44   
9th     Sheff Utd                       29   8    3    4    26   19   4    4    6    18   21   43   
10th    Ipswich                         29   9    2    4    29   20   4    2    8    17   29   43   
11th    Southampton                     29   7    3    5    19   18   4    6    4    13   13   42   
12th    Crystal Palace                  29   7    2    6    26   21   4    4    6    20   21   39   
13th    Burnley                         29   8    3    3    29   18   2    6    7    15   27   39   
14th    Coventry                        29   7    2    5    23   16   3    6    6    22   24   38   
15th    Grimsby                         29   10   5    0    35   15   0    2    12   9    34   37   
16th    Charlton                        29   4    6    5    14   22   5    4    5    19   19   37   
17th    Nottm Forest                    29   6    6    3    24   15   3    2    9    12   21   35   
18th    Preston                         29   5    2    7    30   30   5    3    7    21   29   35   
19th    Bristol C                       29   6    4    5    22   19   4    0    10   16   29   34   
20th    Norwich                         29   6    5    3    30   23   2    4    9    14   25   33   
21st    Wycombe                         29   4    4    6    20   20   3    6    6    16   20   31   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Brighton                        29   3    3    9    20   32   5    1    8    20   36   28   
23rd    Bolton                          29   6    2    6    21   24   2    1    12   16   38   27   
24th    Q.P.R.                          29   3    2    10   16   26   2    3    9    24   39   20

10 points clear of third placed Crewe suits me very nicely at this stage of the season. Our squad also just keeps on getting stronger and stronger.

sjg11 · August 7, 2016

February 2006

Brighton (Micky Adams) vs West Ham

And on we go, back to League action with a trip to struggling Brighton.

Fazlagic is also unhappy with his training schedule so I'm going to have to sell him as he doesn't fit into my formation unless he re-learns how to play as CAM. Which he clearly isn't going to do so I may as well recoup a couple of million by selling him. A shame, I had high hopes for Fazlagic. Oh and I managed to ship off Ricketts for £2.1 million. Not bad for my seventh choice ST at this point.

Unfortunately de Vries is actually suspended for this one so Whalley and Tonton play at CM with Lindberg playing behind Tommy Smith and Boere. Stringer in for Moberg and Jamie Browne comes in for Hoffmann.

Richard Jackson tapped in a goal to put Brighton in front after 15 minutes. We dominated the second half but, unfortunately, Tommy Smith had one of those games where he couldn't hit a cow's backside with a banjo. Still we march on.

Brighton 1-0 West Ham

West Ham vs Southampton (Stuart Gray)

Boere was injured so I decided to start Knight alongside Smith. Other than that, unchanged side.

Tommy Smith put us in front after 40 minutes from a Moukoko pass. Gareth Whalley then headed in a Lindberg cross to double the lead. Not a brilliant game but a strong result to get us back on track before the trip to Anfield.

West Ham 2-0 Southampton

Liverpool (Gerard Houllier) vs West Ham

So this is it. Our first game against a genuinely top team in this save and a real test of how far we've progressed as a side. Liverpool may never have won the Premier League and the Champions' League but they're still top quality opposition.

Hoffmann replaces Browne, who's cup-tied and other than that it's the same 11 that played against Southampton. de Vries is suspended from this game for some reason despite not being suspended for the two FA Cup games preceding this.

Liverpool started dangerously but we started growing into the game before, unbelievably Tommy Smith rifled in the opener after 28 minutes. Unfortunately Emile Heskey then headed Liverpool level after 51 minutes. In a major sucker punch Michael Owen then immediately put them in front. However Tony Carss then drilled in a shot which deflected in off Liverpool defender Torben Hoffmann for the equaliser. Unfortunately, and incredibly cruelly Owen then went on a run, beat three defenders and fired in a winner in injury time. Still, we actually had the better of the game (we had more shots and shots on target) and dominated this so a massively encouraging performance.

Liverpool 3-2 West Ham

West Ham vs Norwich (Brian Horton)

Next up we host Norwich at Upton Park. Browne replaces Hoffmann in an otherwise unchanged side. Oh, and de Vries replaces Whalley.

We dominated the first half but it took 25 minutes for us to break through as Tonton tapped in after a Leon Knight shot was saved. Norwich had a seriously dangerous spell just before half time but couldn't find an equaliser.

Lindberg then set up super-sub Chris Beardsley (on for Knight) who doubled our lead. The ball broke to Beardsley again on 88 minutes and he fired in a goal to seal the game. Another very strong performance from us.

West Ham 3-0 Norwich

Millwall (Craig Johnston) vs West Ham

Hoffmann in for Browne. Whalley in for Tonton. Other than that an unchanged side.

Lindberg limped off injured after about a minute to be replaced by Tonton. Tonton then opened the scoring after 15 minutes, catching the Millwall goalkeeper off his line and looping a header over him and into the goal.

A run and strike from Tommy Smith then sealed the three points with 10 minutes left.

Millwall 0-2 West Ham

Lindberg was ruled out for 10 days after the game.

Table:

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     West Ham                        33   11   2    3    37   19   12   2    3    37   13   73   
2nd     Tottenham                       34   10   2    4    34   17   10   1    7    27   18   63   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Wigan                           34   10   4    3    30   20   8    1    8    34   34   59   
4th     W.B.A.                          34   11   3    4    32   18   7    2    7    24   28   59   
5th     Crewe                           34   11   4    1    29   14   6    3    9    22   30   58   
6th     Tranmere                        34   12   1    4    35   18   4    6    7    18   22   55   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Crystal Palace                  33   9    2    6    30   23   6    4    6    25   23   51   
8th     Bradford                        34   7    6    3    29   19   6    5    7    28   30   50   
9th     Southampton                     34   8    4    6    22   20   5    6    5    15   16   49   
10th    Millwall                        34   9    4    4    25   14   5    3    9    20   31   49   
11th    Ipswich                         34   10   2    5    32   22   4    5    8    23   35   49   
12th    Charlton                        33   5    7    5    17   24   7    4    5    23   20   47   
13th    Sheff Utd                       34   8    3    6    27   24   4    6    7    22   27   45   
14th    Grimsby                         34   12   5    1    41   18   0    3    13   10   37   44   
15th    Coventry                        34   7    2    7    27   22   4    7    7    25   28   42   
16th    Norwich                         34   8    5    4    36   28   3    4    10   17   28   42   
17th    Burnley                         34   8    4    4    30   20   2    7    9    18   33   41   
18th    Bristol C                       33   6    4    6    24   22   6    1    10   19   30   41   
19th    Nottm Forest                    33   7    6    4    26   17   3    4    9    15   24   40   
20th    Preston                         33   5    3    8    30   33   6    3    8    23   31   39   
21st    Wycombe                         34   5    5    7    23   24   4    6    7    20   24   38   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Bolton                          34   8    2    7    26   28   3    1    13   20   43   36   
23rd    Brighton                        34   4    5    9    25   36   5    1    10   20   39   33   
24th    Q.P.R.                          34   3    4    11   17   29   2    4    10   24   40   23

If anyone thinks we're not going to get promoted this season speak now or forever hold your peace.

sjg11 · August 7, 2016

March 2006

Nottingham Forest (Tony Coton) vs West Ham

Browne in for Hoffmann. Tonton in for the injured Lindberg. Boere in for Knight. Other than that same team.

Delroy Facey headed Forest in front after 11 minutes. The Forest keeper then saved a Tonton shot but Pascal de Vries snapped up another goal to equalise. Tonton then fired in a shot after a powerful run to put us in front.

Tommy Smith then fired us 3-1 in front.

Nottingham Forest 1-3 West Ham

West Ham vs Bolton (David Moyes)

Unchanged line-up for this one.

Tonton put us in front drilling in after a cut-back from de Vries. Tonton then doubled the lead, tapping in a Mike Duff cross. Tony Carss then tapped in after a Whalley shot was saved.

Another comfortable win.

West Ham 3-0 Bolton

Bristol City (Nigel Spackman) vs West Ham

Knight in for Boere. Other than that an unchanged side.

Alan Tate headed us in front after 9 minutes from a Tonton free kick. I then foolishly used all three subs at half time and, of course, Tonton was almost immediately injured. Fortunately it didn't affect us, Henk Boere (on for Knight) scoring from a de Vries cross to seal the win. Frankly I can see why Bristol City are struggling, they were abysmal even when we had 10 men.

Bristol City 0-2 West Ham

Tonton is out for 3 months! Oh no! Of all of my players couldn't it have been anyone else but Tonton?

West Ham vs Tranmere (Nicky Law)

Both CMs were also unfit so I had to experiment here

(Stringer: Clark, Kippe, Hoffmann, Konchesky: Kippe, Fazlagic, Neil, Lindberg: Smith, Boere)

Henk Boere put us in front, converting a Fazlagic cross. Tommy Smith then blasted in a second. Alex Neil then drilled in a third. Mikael Gustavsson then converts a penalty to get Tranmere back in the match.

Stuart Barlow flicked another goal back for Tranmere but they then conceded a penalty as Kippe was fouled and Kippe himself converted to take the points. In his new CM role Fazlagic got an 8 which is making me re-think transfer listing him.

West Ham 4-2 Tranmere

This result guaranteed at least a play-off place for us.

Burnley (George Burley) vs West Ham

Next up Burnley who always seem to cause us problems.

Team (Stringer: Duff, Tate, Browne, Hanstveit: Carss, de Vries, Fazlagic, Lindberg, Smith, Boere)

Paul Paterson headed Burnley in front after 15 minutes before Tommy Smith blasted in an equaliser on 36 minutes. Chris Beardsley (on for Smith) then blasted us in front after 59 minutes. Super-sub really does describe Beardsley. Pascal de Vries then found some space and fired in a third to guarantee three more points for us. Fazlagic got a 9 in this one, I think playing him on the left of the diamond suits him well.

Burnley 1-3 West Ham

West Ham vs Preston (Steve McMahon)

Hanstveit was injured on international duty so Konchesky replaces him. Knight also comes in for Boere. Other than that, an unchanged team.

Richard Cresswell caught Stringer off his line and lobbed him to put Preston in front. Fortunately Fazlagic almost immediately converted a Browne cross to equalise. We had a spell of real pressure towards the end of the game but couldn't break them down to take the three points.

West Ham 1-1 PrestonTable:

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Pl West Ham                        39   13   3    3    45   22   15   2    3    45   15   89   
2nd     Tottenham                       39   12   3    4    44   18   10   1    9    28   24   70   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Crewe                           38   13   4    1    33   14   8    3    9    25   30   70   
4th     Wigan                           39   12   4    4    36   23   8    2    9    34   38   66   
5th     Bradford                        39   10   6    3    37   21   8    5    7    33   33   65   
6th     W.B.A.                          39   12   4    4    35   19   7    2    10   28   40   63   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Tranmere                        39   13   1    5    39   21   4    7    9    23   32   59   
8th     Southampton                     39   9    5    6    27   24   7    6    6    21   19   59   
9th     Ipswich                         39   12   3    5    39   24   5    5    9    27   39   59   
10th    Charlton                        39   6    9    5    23   29   9    4    6    29   26   58   
11th    Grimsby                         39   14   5    1    46   18   1    5    13   16   42   55   
12th    Millwall                        39   10   5    4    26   14   5    4    11   25   40   54   
13th    Crystal Palace                  39   9    3    8    34   29   6    5    8    28   28   53   
14th    Coventry                        39   9    3    8    33   26   4    8    7    25   28   50   
15th    Sheff Utd                       39   9    3    8    29   27   4    7    8    22   28   49   
16th    Wycombe                         39   7    5    8    30   27   5    7    7    24   27   48   
17th    Burnley                         39   10   4    5    36   26   2    8    10   19   36   48   
18th    Bristol C                       37   7    4    7    27   26   6    1    12   19   32   44   
19th    Nottm Forest                    39   7    6    7    30   25   4    4    11   17   28   43   
20th    Preston                         38   5    5    9    34   38   6    5    8    24   32   43   
21st    Norwich                         39   8    5    6    37   32   3    4    13   20   36   42   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd    Bolton                          39   8    3    8    30   33   4    1    15   22   49   40   
23rd    Brighton                        39   5    5    10   28   41   6    1    12   24   47   39   
24th    Q.P.R.                          39   3    5    11   17   29   3    6    11   28   46   29

7 games to play and we're already nearly on 90 points. My aim now is to break the 100 barrier which would make for a pretty special season from us.

sjg11 · August 7, 2016

April 2006

I won Manager of the Month, Fazlagic won Player of the Month and Boere won Young Player of the Month

Tottenham (Billy Davies) vs West Ham

Next up a trip to a good Spurs team who are our main challengers near the top of the league. Whalley in for Fazlagic, Hoffmann in for Browne, Boere in for Knight and Kippe in for Carss are the four changes.

This game started badly when Harpal Singh put Spurs in front after Stringer spilled a shot from Quinton Fortune. Fortunately, Pascal de Vries equalised after the Spurs keeper spilled a shot from Boere. To be honest though Spurs were all over us in the first half and we were lucky to go in level.

However Chris Beardsley then did what he does best. Namely coming in for Tommy Smith and scoring, this time converting from a Konchesky cross. Somehow we held on for the win despite continued pressure from Spurs. Best of all this win clinched the title. At White Hart Lane against our main challengers. It doesn't get much sweeter than that. It also sealed the title. Oh and apparently we've already broken the record points tally. With 6 games of the season left. Dominant doesn't even begin to describe how our season's gone.

Spurs 1-2 West Ham

Four players were chosen in Team of the Year. Tony Carss and Chris Stringer got in the starting line-up. Pascal de Vries got onto the bench. Amazingly Tonton ended up on the bench and wasn't selected for the first team.

West Ham vs Coventry (Roland Nilsson)

Team (Stringer: Duff, Browne, Tate, Konchesky: Carss, de Vries, Fazlagic, Lindberg: Smith, Boere)

Mattias Lindberg put us in front firing in after a Fazlagic cross picked him out in the area. Unfortunately we allowed Jobi McAnuff to equalise almost immediately for Coventry, Stringer made an error.

Chris Beardsley then came on for Smith and, super-sub that he is, headed in a Fazlagic cross to put us back in front. Frustratingly McAnuff them immediately fired in another Coventry equaliser.

A frustrating afternoon.

West Ham 2-2 Coventry

West Ham vs Crewe (Dario Gradi)

Unchanged team for this one. I want to get to 100 points as quickly as possible.

Frustratingly Dean Ashton put Crewe in front from a penalty before Fazlagic headed in an equaliser just before half time. That was it, yet more frustration for us.

West Ham 1-1 Crewe

West Ham vs West Brom (Gary Megson)

(Stringer: Duff, Kippe, Hoffmann, Hanstveit: Carss, Whalley, Neil, Smith: Knight, Boere)

Yeah I had to make some changes due to this, game on the Monday means players are tired and need resting.

A great run and strike from Leon Knight gave us the lead after 5 minutes. Frode Kippe then decided that, after getting a yellow card, the smartest thing to do was to start yelling at the ref to pick up another one. Matthew Turner then equalised for them before Boere fired in a goal to put us back in front. And we then held on to take 3 points.

West Ham 2-1 West Brom

Bradford (Roy Evans) vs West Ham

(Stringer: Duff, Tate, Browne, Hanstveit: Carss, de Vries, Fazlagic, Lindberg: Knight, Boere)

Samir Fazlagic volleyed home after 13 minutes to put us in front. Leon McKenzie then equalised for them (Stringer was caught out of position again). Unfortunately Toni Kallio then managed to net a winner for them.

Bradford 2-1 West Ham

I'll finish the season tomorrow.

sjg11 · August 31, 2016

End of Season 2005-06

First off an apology to anyone reading this for the long gap in between updates, I've been abroad/preparing to go abroad since my last update but I'm back now and should be providing regular updates from this point.

Wigan (George Graham) vs West Ham

Unchanged line-up

So we start our final two games with a trip to a Wigan side who are still chasing automatic promotion. Should be a fun game.

Unfortunately this game quickly spun away from us, Kristian Bye Andersen drilling Wigan in front before Paul Shaw lobbed Stringer to double Wigan's advantage. Robin Hulbert then tapped in a third for Wigan.

Stringer then got sent off and Pedro Miguel Matias smashed in a fourth for them from the resulting penalty. Samir Fazlagic then drilled in a goal to at least pull one back.

This was a terrible result and an abysmal performance. We were ****.

Wigan 4-1 West Ham

West Ham vs Charlton (Alan Curbishley)

(Stringer: Duff, Hoffmann, Tate, Hanstveit: Carss, Whalley, Fazlagic, Lindberg: Tommy Smith, Boere)

Tommy Smith headed us in front after 12 minutes from a Hanstveit cross. Mattias Lindberg then doubled the lead just before half time.

Samir Fazlagic then completed his impressive end to the season with a drilled shot just after half time. Chris Beardsley then headed in a Tommy Smith cross for a fourth (Beardsley came on for Boere at half-time). A great way to wrap up the season after the shambles at Wigan. West Ham 4-0 Charlton

================================================================================================
 2005/6 Table
================================================================================================

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  West Ham                        46   15   5    3    54   26   16   2    5    49   22   100  
2nd  P  Tottenham                       46   15   3    5    51   21   11   2    10   33   29   83   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd  Pl Wigan                           46   14   5    4    45   24   10   4    9    45   47   81   
4th  Pl Crewe                           46   16   5    2    43   20   8    4    11   27   36   81   
5th  Pl Bradford                        46   13   6    4    45   26   10   5    8    40   38   80   
6th  Pl Tranmere                        46   16   1    6    44   24   6    7    10   28   35   74   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     W.B.A.                          46   14   5    4    39   19   7    2    14   31   48   70   
8th     Charlton                        46   7    9    7    28   36   11   4    8    32   31   67   
9th     Wycombe                         46   9    5    9    34   28   8    8    7    33   31   64   
10th    Ipswich                         46   13   3    7    45   31   5    7    11   33   48   64   
11th    Millwall                        46   10   8    5    32   21   7    4    12   31   44   63   
12th    Southampton                     46   9    7    7    33   31   7    7    9    24   27   62   
13th    Coventry                        46   10   3    10   38   31   6    10   7    31   32   61   
14th    Crystal Palace                  46   11   3    9    39   31   6    7    10   32   35   61   
15th    Sheff Utd                       46   12   3    8    36   27   5    7    11   26   34   61   
16th    Grimsby                         46   15   6    2    51   23   1    7    15   23   52   61   
17th    Norwich                         46   11   6    6    47   38   5    4    14   22   39   58   
18th    Nottm Forest                    46   10   6    7    37   27   5    5    13   23   38   56   
19th    Burnley                         46   10   5    8    42   36   4    8    11   22   38   55   
20th    Bristol C                       46   9    5    9    34   35   7    1    15   20   39   54   
21st    Bolton                          46   10   5    8    40   40   5    1    17   27   57   51   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22nd R  Preston                         46   6    5    12   37   45   6    5    12   27   45   46   
23rd R  Brighton                        46   5    5    13   32   49   7    2    14   27   52   43   
24th R  Q.P.R.                          46   5    6    12   22   31   4    7    12   34   51   40

Well I said my goal this season was promotion. Luckily for my nerves we achieved the "finish with 100 points playing great attacking football" option rather than squeaking over the line.

Our season was largely split into three sections. We started well but didn't look as dominant as we would later become, generally staying top without ever excelling. The win at a decent Coventry side was a turning point as we suddenly became unbeatable. From the game against Coventry to the title winning match against Spurs this was our record:

P 23 W20 D1 L 2

We dropped 8 points out of a possible 69 in that period.

Winning the league at White Hart Lane was particularly sweet as an Arsenal fan, particularly since we robbed them a little bit in that game.

Unfortunately we then dipped alarmingly towards the end of the season, the game at Wigan was a particularly low point before finishing the season by slaughtering Charlton (we had an aggregate score of 9-0 against the poor sods by the end of the season).

The dip means I'm going to change to a narrow 4-1-2-2-1 for my first season in the Premier League as it would appear, on the surface, that opposition teams have finally figured out how to beat my diamond. Plus being a little bit more defensive isn't going to hurt against the higher quality opposition we'll face next season.

Of course, as a newly promoted side, our first goal next season will simply be to survive. Personally though the style with which we achieved promotion means I'm targeting a top-half finish next season. Plus our squad's incredible. Particularly our attacking options.

Next up will be the end of season review before a squad overview to finish today's updates. Tomorrow will signal the start of the 2006-07 season and our first season in the top flight.

sjg11 · August 31, 2016

End of Season Review

Champions League

Phase 1 Group A

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Leeds                      ENG  6    3    0    0    10   1    2    0    1    4    3    15   
2nd  Q  Roma                       ITA  6    2    0    1    7    2    1    1    1    4    3    10   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Valencia                   ESP  6    1    2    0    4    3    1    0    2    4    6    8    
4th     St. Mirren                 SCO  6    0    0    3    1    7    0    1    2    1    10   1    


Phase 1 Group B

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Celtic                     SCO  6    2    1    0    6    0    0    2    1    1    3    9    
2nd  Q  PSV                        HOL  6    1    1    1    3    2    1    1    1    2    3    8    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Porto                      POR  6    1    1    1    2    1    1    1    1    2    5    8    
4th     IFK Göteborg               SWE  6    1    2    0    5    3    0    1    2    1    5    6    


Phase 1 Group C

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Milan                      ITA  6    3    0    0    11   0    3    0    0    7    2    18   
2nd  Q  FC Bayern                  GER  6    2    0    1    8    2    0    0    3    3    9    6    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Rosenborg                  NOR  6    2    0    1    6    7    0    0    3    2    10   6    
4th     Ionikos                    GRE  6    2    0    1    7    6    0    0    3    3    11   6    


Phase 1 Group D

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Arsenal                    ENG  6    3    0    0    4    0    1    1    1    3    3    13   
2nd  Q  Real Madrid                ESP  6    3    0    0    8    0    1    1    1    5    5    13   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Club Brugge                BEL  6    1    1    1    7    6    0    0    3    1    7    4    
4th     Wisla                      POL  6    1    1    1    4    5    0    0    3    2    8    4    


Phase 1 Group E

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Lazio                      ITA  6    2    0    1    7    2    1    2    0    1    0    11   
2nd  Q  Rangers                    SCO  6    2    1    0    6    0    0    2    1    0    1    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Betis                      ESP  6    1    2    0    1    0    1    1    1    3    7    9    
4th     PAOK                       GRE  6    0    2    1    1    2    0    0    3    0    7    2    


Phase 1 Group F

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Paris-SG                   FRA  6    3    0    0    10   2    2    0    1    6    4    15   
2nd  Q  HSV                        GER  6    2    0    1    9    3    2    0    1    5    3    12   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Red Star                   YUG  6    2    0    1    9    6    1    0    2    6    9    9    
4th     Sparta Prague              CZE  6    0    0    3    2    6    0    0    3    0    14   0    


Phase 1 Group G

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Man Utd                    ENG  6    3    0    0    8    2    1    0    2    2    3    12   
2nd  Q  Ajax                       HOL  6    3    0    0    6    0    0    0    3    1    5    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Atalanta                   ITA  6    2    0    1    6    2    0    1    2    0    4    7    
4th     Sint-Truiden               BEL  6    2    1    0    3    1    0    0    3    2    11   7    


Phase 1 Group H

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Barcelona                  ESP  6    3    0    0    7    0    2    1    0    5    1    16   
2nd  Q  Fenerbahçe                 TUR  6    2    0    1    2    2    0    1    2    1    4    7    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Feyenoord                  HOL  6    1    2    0    3    2    0    1    2    1    4    6    
4th     Académica                  POR  6    0    2    1    2    4    0    1    2    1    5    3    


Phase 2 Group A

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Milan                      ITA  6    3    0    0    8    0    1    0    2    1    9    12   
2nd  Q  Man Utd                    ENG  6    2    0    1    7    1    1    0    2    2    5    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Real Madrid                ESP  6    2    0    1    8    3    1    0    2    2    5    9    
4th     PSV                        HOL  6    0    0    3    1    4    2    0    1    3    5    6    


Phase 2 Group B

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Leeds                      ENG  6    2    1    0    6    2    2    0    1    3    2    13   
2nd  Q  Paris-SG                   FRA  6    1    1    1    1    1    2    0    1    4    3    10   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Fenerbahçe                 TUR  6    1    1    1    4    5    0    2    1    2    5    6    
4th     Rangers                    SCO  6    1    0    2    3    2    0    1    2    1    4    4    


Phase 2 Group C

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Lazio                      ITA  6    3    0    0    10   1    1    1    1    3    3    13   
2nd  Q  Ajax                       HOL  6    2    1    0    4    0    1    0    2    6    6    10   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Arsenal                    ENG  6    2    1    0    7    4    1    0    2    4    7    10   
4th     HSV                        GER  6    0    0    3    2    10   0    1    2    2    7    1    


Phase 2 Group D

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Roma                       ITA  6    3    0    0    7    2    1    2    0    2    1    14   
2nd  Q  Barcelona                  ESP  6    1    2    0    5    4    1    0    2    4    7    8    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Celtic                     SCO  6    1    2    0    3    2    0    1    2    2    5    6    
4th     FC Bayern                  GER  6    1    0    2    4    4    0    1    2    4    6    4

Quarter-Finals
Roma 3-0 Ajax
Barcelona 1-6 Lazio
Leeds 5-0 Manchester United
PSG 0-1 e Milan

Semi-Finals
Leeds 1-4 Milan
Roma 2-0 Lazio

Final
Roma 0-1 Milan

Rome's dominance in the Champions' League ended but Italian dominance continued as AC Milan won the title. This was also the second all Italian final since the save started. Lazio had an impressive dismantling of Barca to their name before succumbing to their rivals in the semi-final. Of the English sides, Arsenal beat Liverpool in the third qualifying round (*cough* glitch *cough*) before doing the normal Arsenal thing and getting knocked out in the last 16 of the Champions' League. Leeds beat United in the quarters before a 4-0 defeat at Elland Road to AC Milan ended Leeds' run.

Liverpool did go on to win the UEFA Cup, beating Schalke in the final. This was now the third season in a row where Schalke reached the final of a European competition.

Premiership

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Man Utd                         38   14   4    1    46   12   10   4    5    33   21   80   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Liverpool                       38   12   2    5    37   20   12   3    4    29   21   77   
3rd     Arsenal                         38   13   3    3    37   16   9    2    8    35   25   71   
4th     Chelsea                         38   15   3    1    34   10   5    5    9    19   25   68   
5th     Wolves                          38   11   1    7    35   23   7    7    5    21   22   62   
6th     Leeds                           38   11   4    4    25   10   5    9    5    30   34   61   
7th     Middlesbrough                   38   9    4    6    35   27   8    5    6    28   27   60   
8th     Newcastle                       38   7    8    4    26   19   8    7    4    31   30   60   
9th     Blackburn                       38   12   5    2    35   16   4    5    10   15   24   58   
10th    Sunderland                      38   11   3    5    39   27   5    3    11   18   27   54   
11th    Leicester                       38   10   5    4    31   17   6    1    12   17   35   54   
12th    Fulham                          38   9    2    8    23   26   5    8    6    26   32   52   
13th    Sheff Wed                       38   9    5    5    28   19   5    3    11   23   37   50   
14th    Birmingham                      38   6    9    4    22   17   4    4    11   17   29   43   
15th    Everton                         38   4    7    8    28   26   5    6    8    26   34   40   
16th    Portsmouth                      38   5    3    11   18   26   5    5    9    17   35   38   
17th    Man City                        38   5    8    6    30   34   4    2    13   19   39   37   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th R  Wimbledon                       38   4    9    6    31   36   3    6    10   19   34   36   
19th R  Aston Villa                     38   4    3    12   29   35   3    6    10   19   30   30   
20th R  Derby                           38   1    6    12   16   35   1    3    15   9    44   15

So in the Prem, United won their third successive title but Liverpool in particular ran them close. Arsenal and Chelsea join the top two in the CL. Sunderland beat Chelsea 1-0 to win the FA Cup while Arsenal won the League Cup with a win against Everton. Wolves, Leeds and Sunderland enter the UEFA Cup next season while Wimbledon, Villa and Derby go down. Derby were abysmal only winning twice all season. Which is amazingly better than they actually did in their last spell in the Prem in real life.

Wigan won the play-offs beating Bradford on penalties in the final.

Second Division

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Swansea                         46   16   4    3    52   29   8    10   5    35   29   86   
2nd  P  Wrexham                         46   15   4    4    51   33   9    6    8    47   41   82   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Carlisle                        46   15   3    5    56   39   10   2    11   38   44   80   
4th     Barnsley                        46   13   7    3    43   28   8    7    8    50   44   77   
5th     Port Vale                       46   13   6    4    52   36   9    4    10   40   43   76   
6th  P  Watford                         46   11   9    3    43   29   8    6    9    41   43   72   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7th     Bournemouth                     46   12   5    6    49   32   8    5    10   30   37   70   
8th     Blackpool                       46   10   6    7    38   32   9    6    8    37   36   69   
9th     Luton                           46   10   8    5    35   26   8    5    10   43   50   67   
10th    Rushden                         46   15   4    4    37   20   3    8    12   22   40   66   
11th    Peterborough                    46   9    8    6    41   34   8    6    9    44   41   65   
12th    Darlington                      46   12   3    8    40   35   6    7    10   34   45   64   
13th    Cardiff                         46   10   8    5    41   29   6    7    10   34   41   63   
14th    Oldham                          46   10   7    6    52   38   8    1    14   41   50   62   
15th    Northampton                     46   13   3    7    48   35   3    11   9    40   49   62   
16th    Reading                         46   10   7    6    44   36   7    4    12   40   50   62   
17th    Swindon                         46   11   5    7    40   38   6    6    11   31   43   62   
18th    Doncaster                       46   9    7    7    36   30   7    5    11   30   36   60   
19th    Torquay                         46   13   3    7    43   30   3    6    14   27   48   57   
20th    Stoke                           46   10   6    7    45   36   6    2    15   29   39   56   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21st R  Bury                            46   7    7    9    48   51   7    4    12   36   51   53   
22nd R  Walsall                         46   10   4    9    49   48   5    3    15   39   56   52   
23rd R  Plymouth                        46   6    5    12   26   40   2    7    14   13   33   36   
24th R  Halifax                         46   3    3    17   26   54   3    4    16   17   46   25

A good season for Welsh clubs in the third tier, Swansea and Wrexham both going up. Wrexham actually achieved back to back promotions. Watford beat Barnsley to go up via the play-offs. Walsall achieve successive relegations to go down to the fourth tier. Plymouth, Halifax and Bury also drop down a level. Rushden weren't too bad after relegation.

Third Division


Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Notts Co                        46   15   3    5    47   27   10   5    8    39   32   83   
2nd  P  Farnborough                     46   16   2    5    53   32   7    7    9    32   36   78   
3rd  P  Gillingham                      46   10   9    4    36   24   12   2    9    44   41   77   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4th  P  Southend                        46   14   6    3    34   18   5    11   7    18   20   74   
5th     Oxford                          46   12   8    3    39   20   8    5    10   27   30   73   
6th     Mansfield                       46   13   6    4    35   20   8    4    11   31   42   73   
7th     Cambridge Utd                   46   9    6    8    35   31   11   4    8    44   37   70   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8th     Huddersfield                    46   11   7    5    40   32   7    7    9    31   35   68   
9th     Leyton Orient                   46   11   6    6    31   22   7    8    8    35   41   68   
10th    Lincoln                         46   9    7    7    29   26   8    7    8    27   30   65   
11th    Brentford                       46   9    6    8    33   28   8    6    9    34   33   63   
12th    Hartlepool                      46   13   4    6    37   23   4    8    11   22   33   63   
13th    Shrewsbury                      46   7    8    8    32   38   9    6    8    32   31   62   
14th    Morecambe                       46   11   3    9    33   31   7    4    12   33   38   61   
15th    Exeter                          46   11   4    8    44   35   5    7    11   32   45   59   
16th    Scunthorpe                      46   10   5    8    33   30   6    6    11   31   40   59   
17th    Macclesfield                    46   12   3    8    41   39   4    7    12   27   34   58   
18th    Hull                            46   11   7    5    36   25   4    4    15   18   32   56   
19th    Rotherham                       46   7    8    8    30   38   8    2    13   34   41   55   
20th    Chesterfield                    46   12   5    6    31   19   1    9    13   19   37   53   
21st    Stockport                       46   7    8    8    21   28   6    4    13   21   30   51   
22nd    Bristol Rovers                  46   8    9    6    39   36   3    8    12   25   44   50   
23rd    Colchester                      46   7    7    9    33   38   5    5    13   20   39   48   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24th R  Rochdale                        46   7    5    11   33   40   5    6    12   24   34   47

Notts County and Gillingham go up with no real surprises. Farnborough are a little bit more of a surprise this being just their third season of league football. Southend beat Mansfield in the play-off final with the two teams from the university cities losing in the semis. Rochdale drop out of league football to be replaced by Scarborough.

Serie A

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Roma                            34   14   1    2    33   9    13   2    2    29   8    84   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Lazio                           34   14   3    0    36   3    9    5    3    21   6    77   
3rd     Inter                           34   11   6    0    31   8    8    5    4    27   17   68   
4th  Pl Milan                           34   11   6    0    30   7    8    4    5    23   19   67   
5th  Pl Juventus                        34   12   3    2    25   8    9    1    7    27   27   67   
6th     Torino                          34   11   2    4    31   18   4    6    7    16   26   53   
7th     Atalanta                        34   8    3    6    31   19   4    5    8    19   27   44   
8th     Bologna                         34   8    5    4    15   9    3    5    9    8    24   43   
9th     Fiorentina                      34   7    6    4    29   25   3    6    8    19   30   42   
10th    Lecce                           34   7    2    8    18   16   4    6    7    18   23   41   
11th    Genoa                           34   4    10   3    14   10   4    5    8    15   23   39   
12th    Bari                            34   7    5    5    22   18   2    6    9    16   32   38   
13th    Verona                          34   6    4    7    21   22   4    4    9    15   28   38   
14th    Parma                           34   4    7    6    19   24   5    2    10   12   30   36   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15th R  Ancona                          34   6    3    8    18   24   3    3    11   10   28   33   
16th R  Udinese                         34   4    4    9    14   25   2    6    9    12   25   28   
17th R  Perugia                         34   5    4    8    20   20   2    2    13   8    28   27   
18th R  Salernitana                     34   1    4    12   12   32   1    5    11   2    18   15

Roman dominance of Serie A continued here, Roma ending Lazio's run of three successive titles here. Age finally catching up with the Lazio players? Milan weren't actually that impressive in the league.

La Liga

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Barcelona                       38   19   0    0    60   9    10   5    4    33   21   92   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Real Madrid                     38   15   3    1    42   12   8    5    6    25   27   77   
3rd     Sevilla                         38   13   5    1    37   18   8    3    8    27   27   71   
4th     Betis                           38   14   2    3    38   15   8    2    9    25   22   70   
5th     Atlético Madrid                 38   12   4    3    41   15   8    6    5    28   20   70   
6th     Celta                           38   13   5    1    27   7    6    7    6    25   26   69   
7th     Valencia                        38   14   3    2    35   12   6    4    9    24   32   67   
8th     Deportivo                       38   12   3    4    31   13   4    8    7    14   19   59   
9th     Rayo                            38   9    5    5    29   19   4    7    8    21   29   51   
10th    Villarreal                      38   9    7    3    25   12   3    4    12   23   42   47   
11th    Alavés                          38   12   5    2    31   15   0    4    15   9    41   45   
12th    Espanyol                        38   7    8    4    20   13   3    6    10   16   30   44   
13th    Zaragoza                        38   8    6    5    33   33   3    4    12   22   37   43   
14th    Mallorca                        38   8    5    6    25   21   2    7    10   17   33   42   
15th    Elche                           38   7    3    9    24   28   5    1    13   15   28   40   
16th    Real Sociedad                   38   7    4    8    33   34   3    5    11   22   40   39   
17th    Osasuna                         38   6    10   3    36   29   1    3    15   8    42   34   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th R  Oviedo                          38   7    1    11   32   32   2    3    14   10   39   31   
19th R  Athletic Bilbao                 38   3    10   6    9    10   2    3    14   9    42   28   
20th R  Racing Santander                38   3    5    11   20   39   2    7    10   13   31   27

Barca snatch their first title of the save from Madrid. Bilbao, slightly surprisingly, go down.

Bundesliga

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Dortmund                        34   13   4    0    48   17   8    4    5    29   22   71   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     HSV                             34   14   1    2    39   19   6    3    8    28   35   64   
3rd     Schalke 04                      34   13   4    0    33   6    5    4    8    29   29   62   
4th     Werder Bremen                   34   12   2    3    28   13   5    5    7    24   30   58   
5th     Frankfurt                       34   11   4    2    30   14   5    4    8    17   21   56   
6th     FC Bayern                       34   9    5    3    33   16   6    3    8    21   22   53   
7th     SC Freiburg                     34   10   6    1    35   19   4    4    9    20   34   52   
8th     Kaiserslautern                  34   11   1    5    36   25   4    4    9    15   27   50   
9th     1.FC Köln                       34   12   3    2    32   17   2    5    10   12   31   50   
10th    Leverkusen                      34   11   2    4    29   14   3    3    11   18   33   47   
11th    Hertha BSC                      34   11   1    5    31   15   1    7    9    15   29   44   
12th    VfB Stuttgart                   34   6    3    8    21   28   6    5    6    23   28   44   
13th    Nürnberg                        34   7    5    5    22   19   4    3    10   13   27   41   
14th    Wolfsburg                       34   10   4    3    30   17   1    2    14   9    32   39   
15th    Rostock                         34   7    5    5    21   20   3    2    12   18   39   37   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16th R  Hannover 96                     34   8    5    4    34   24   1    2    14   14   35   34   
17th R  1860 München                    34   4    8    5    26   24   2    2    13   12   32   28   
18th R  M'gladbach                      34   4    3    10   17   27   1    4    12   17   39   22

Dortmund re-take the Bundesliga title. So far the title-winners have gone Dortmund, Bayern, Dortmund, Bayern, Dortmund. Despite their recent European success, Schalke haven't challenged for the title while Bayern had an abysmal season in the league. Ligue 1

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  C  Paris-SG                        38   17   0    2    52   17   9    7    3    35   19   85   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Lyon                            38   13   4    2    32   11   11   3    5    39   25   79   
3rd     Lorient                         38   13   2    4    39   19   10   3    6    21   16   74   
4th     Bordeaux                        38   14   4    1    34   12   8    4    7    24   23   74   
5th     Nantes                          38   12   2    5    35   20   9    5    5    34   21   70   
6th     Guingamp                        38   16   2    1    41   16   4    7    8    15   19   69   
7th     Lens                            38   12   4    3    45   24   5    5    9    33   39   60   
8th     Lille                           38   14   2    3    40   19   5    1    13   23   36   60   
9th     Auxerre                         38   14   2    3    39   23   4    3    12   31   48   59   
10th    Troyes                          38   7    7    5    31   25   6    4    9    18   25   50   
11th    Monaco                          38   8    6    5    25   19   4    5    10   15   30   47   
12th    Sedan                           38   9    5    5    25   13   3    4    12   14   32   45   
13th    Toulouse                        38   8    4    7    29   26   5    1    13   25   37   44   
14th    Marseille                       38   7    4    8    26   27   5    4    10   27   39   44   
15th    St-Etienne                      38   8    2    9    23   22   5    3    11   19   36   44   
16th    Nîmes                           38   6    5    8    32   36   3    8    8    20   27   40   
17th    Le Havre                        38   5    8    6    22   28   3    3    13   20   42   35   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th R  Rennes                          38   5    5    9    25   40   4    1    14   16   41   33   
19th R  Nancy                           38   4    6    9    22   30   4    2    13   21   37   32   
20th R  Laval                           38   5    2    12   17   29   0    3    16   6    42   20

PSG secured a fifth successive title but Lyon ran them pretty close, Lorient, surprisingly claimed a Champions' League spot.

And that's all for today. Tomorrow will start with a squad overview.

sjg11 · September 1, 2016

Pre-Season Squad Update

================================================================================================
 2005/6 Transfers
================================================================================================

Date      Player In                  From                       Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
4.6.05    Isaak Okoronkwo            Shakhtar                   £625K     
5.6.05    Cherno Samba               Parma                      Loan      
10.6.05   Tony Carss                 Burnley                    £825K     
11.8.05   Mike Duff                  Norwich                    £2.8M     
11.8.05   Danny Smith                Northampton                £625K     
2.9.05    Darren Robinson            Free Transfer              Free      
2.11.05   Leon Knight                Chelsea                    £5M       
16.12.05  Alan Tate                  Man Utd                    £825K     
22.12.05  Erlend Hanstveit           Free Transfer              Free      
28.12.05  Mattias Lindberg           Norrköping                 £850K     
12.1.06   Peter Hoffmann             Sesvete                    £600K     
12.1.06   Gareth Whalley             Q.P.R.                     £625K     
13.1.06   Henk Boere                 Sibenik                    £2.6M     
17.1.06   Jamie Browne               Grimsby                    £1.8M     

Date      Player Out                 To                         Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
5.6.05    Anwar Uddin                St. Mirren                 £300K     
5.6.05    Richard Garcia             Released                   Free      
5.6.05    Neil Jones                 Released                   Free      
6.6.05    Hasney Aljofree            Hearts                     £925K     
15.6.05   Mick Powell                Released                   Free      
17.6.05   Shaun Byrne                Aldershot                  Bos       
20.6.05   John Harris                Released                   Free      
24.6.05   Damien Johnson             Wycombe                    £1.4M     
25.6.05   Darren Williamson          Released                   Free      
25.6.05   Joey Hutchinson            Charlton                   £1M       
26.6.05   Gareth Evans               Released                   Free      
28.6.05   Lee Butler                 Released                   Free      
29.6.05   Colin Ward                 Released                   Free      
29.6.05   Gareth Williams            Peterborough               £650K     
30.6.05   Joe Sealey                 Released                   Free      
1.7.05    Omer Riza                  Clyde                      £375K     
14.7.05   Paolo Di Canio             Released                   Free      
16.7.05   Richie Wellens             Middlesbrough              £2.1M     
23.7.05   Jason Wilcox               Released                   Free      
19.8.05   Peter Clarke               Everton                    £1.1M     
20.8.05   Geoff Pitcher              Southampton                £600K     
31.8.05   Frank De Clerck            Westerlo                   £450K     
26.10.05  Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi       Liverpool                  £5.75M    
26.12.05  Isaak Okoronkwo            Birmingham                 £425K     
7.1.06    Daisuke Oku                Birmingham                 £500K     
22.1.06   Chris Morgan               Barnsley                   £800K     
2.2.06    Michael Ricketts           Southampton                £2.1M

Ok so that's a reminder of the number of transfers that have been made in the past season. As with last season there was quite a high player turnover, I'm hoping I may actually be able to maintain a more settled squad for next season.

Goalkeepers

Chris Stringer- 7.72- 41 goals conceded in 40 games- 22

Joakim Moberg- 8.00- 3 goals conceded in 3 games- 20

After Kawaguchi's acrimonious departure to Liverpool, Stringer moved up to become my first-choice goalkeeper and performed well. I'd be happy to keep him as my first choice next season but he wants to leave. I'm hoping he'll stay at the club but it may prove necessary to sell him and replace him. He's also going to miss the first three games of next season due to a silly red card against Wigan towards the end of last season. Moberg's an able deputy but I don't really want him to be first choice for an extended period. I'm probably going to have to sign a new goalkeeper in the summer.

Defenders

Steven Clark (D R/L/C)- 7.17- 5 appearances with 1 off the bench- 24

Mike Duff (D/DM R)- 7.19- 48 appearances with 1 goal and 6 assists- 28

Alan Tate (D R/C)- 6.88- 24 appearances with 1 off the bench, 1 goal- 23

Athur Gnohere (D L/C)- 6.67- 5 appearances with 1 off the bench- 27

Erlend Hanstveit (D/M L/C)- 7.40- 20 appearances with 1 assist- 25

Paul Konchesky (D/M L)- 6.72- 29 appearances with 2 assists- 25

Austin McCann (D/DM L)- 7.33- 3 appearances with 1 assist- 26

Jamie Browne (D C)- 6.79- 13 appearances with 1 off the bench, 2 assists- 18

Peter Hoffmann (D C)- 6.38- 10 appearances with 3 off the bench- 22

Frode Kippe (D/DM C)- 7.00- 20 appearances with 1 off the bench, 3 goals and 1 assist- 28

Danny Smith (D C)- 7.11- 7 appearances with 2 off the bench- 23

So now moving onto the defence. Erlend Hanstveit is an excellent left back and Paul Konchesky provides cover with Steven Clark staying for emergencies. For this reason Austin McCann will be leaving the club this summer. Right-Back is a slightly different matter. Mike Duff is solid but I don't really have anyone beyond him other than Clark so I'm probably going to sign a new RB in the summer. I'm perfectly fine for CBs, I'm probably going to start Tate and Kippe as my first choice CBs next season with Browne providing cover and Danny Smith there for emergencies. I'm still trying to offload Athur Gnohere and Peter Hoffmann was probably a mistake and will also be leaving in the summer. I will only buy a CB if they are genuinely top quality.

Midfielders

Tony Carss (DM C)- 7.60- 44 appearances with 4 off the bench, 4 goals and 7 assists- 30

Alex Neil (M R/C)- 7.00- 9 appearances with 12 off the bench, 2 goals and 1 assist- 28

Gareth Whalley (M C)- 7.25- 12 appearances with 1 goal and 2 assists- 32

Pascal de Vries (M C)- 7.58- 43 appearances with 2 off the bench, 13 goals and 14 assists- 29

Mattias Lindberg (AM/F R/L/C)- 7.16- 19 appearances with 3 goals and 6 assists- 19

Samir Fazlagic (AM L)- 7.26- 23 appearances with 4 off the bench, 7 goals and 5 assists- 23

Tonton Zola Moukoko (AM/F C)- 7.84- 34 appearances with 4 off the bench, 14 goals and 15 assists- 22

So moving onto the midfielders. Tony Carss will start as CDM after a strong season with Kippe providing back-up if necessary. Pascal de Vries (who had a phenomenal season) and Fazlagic will play in front of him with TZM and Lindberg playing as the two CAMs. Fazlagic can move into the CAM position if necessary but I am aiming to bring in another attacking midfielder to provide depth. Overall I'm very happy with all of my midfielders (even Alex Neil) and have no desire to sell any of them. Tonton's incredible but then again I knew that before I signed him.

Forwards

Tommy Smith (F R/C)- 7.50- 44 appearances with 4 off the bench, 21 goals and 5 assists- 26

Svetoslav Todorov (F R/C)- 7.12- 8 appearances with 9 off the bench, 5 goals and 1 assist- 27

Chris Beardsley (ST C)- 7.23- 4 appearances with 40 off the bench, 17 goals and 5 assists- 23

Henk Boere (ST C)- 7.17- 16 appearances with 2 off the bench, 4 goals and 3 assists- 18

Leon Knight (ST C)- 7.26- 20 appearances with 3 off the bench, 4 goals and 4 assists- 23

Tommy Smith will probably be my main striker for next season as I think he's the best of a pretty strong forward line. Chris Beardsley will continue his role as super-sub, unfortunately he does tend to either score or do nothing. Leon Knight will probably replace Smith in the starting line-up if Smith gets injured and Henk Boere is a very talented young striker who will play in the Cups/ any game that doesn't actually mean anything to allow me to continue his development. Unfortunately I feel like it is time for Todorov to leave the club as I don't really have space in my squad for 5 strikers and his wages are pretty high. He's decent but my other forwards are better.

I have a transfer budget of over £15 million so plenty of money to bring in new players. A GK, RB and CAM are the main positions that need strengthening, beyond that it's just trying to find any top talents to add to my squad. Overall I feel like this squad has the ability to be very competitive in the top flight.

sjg11 · September 1, 2016

World Cup 2006 Germany

================================================================================================
 2006 Tables
================================================================================================

Group A

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Italy                           3    2    0    0    8    0    1    0    0    2    0    9    
2nd  Q  Sweden                          3    2    0    0    4    0    0    0    1    0    1    6    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Kazakhstan                      3    0    0    1    0    2    1    0    1    3    3    3    
4th     Liberia                         3    0    0    1    2    3    0    0    2    0    10   0    


Group B

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Brazil                          3    1    0    0    1    0    1    1    0    2    0    7    
2nd  Q  Poland                          3    0    0    1    0    2    2    0    0    2    0    6    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Colombia                        3    1    0    1    2    2    0    0    1    0    1    3    
4th     Mexico                          3    0    1    1    0    1    0    0    1    1    2    1    


Group C

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Ireland                         3    2    0    0    5    0    0    1    0    1    1    7    
2nd  Q  Germany                         3    1    1    0    4    1    1    0    0    2    0    7    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Uruguay                         3    0    0    1    0    2    0    1    1    0    2    1    
4th     Angola                          3    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    2    0    6    1    


Group D

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Portugal                        3    1    0    0    3    1    2    0    0    5    2    9    
2nd  Q  Spain                           3    1    0    0    3    0    0    1    1    1    3    4    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Nigeria                         3    0    1    1    2    4    1    0    0    2    1    4    
4th     Japan                           3    0    0    2    1    3    0    0    1    0    3    0    


Group E

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  England                         3    2    0    0    2    0    1    0    0    3    0    9    
2nd  Q  U.S.A.                          3    1    0    0    1    0    1    0    1    1    1    6    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Belgium                         3    1    0    1    2    1    0    0    1    0    1    3    
4th     U.A.E.                          3    0    0    1    0    3    0    0    2    0    3    0    


Group F

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  France                          3    1    0    0    6    0    2    0    0    5    0    9    
2nd  Q  Bulgaria                        3    2    0    0    5    1    0    0    1    0    6    6    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Czech Republic                  3    0    0    1    0    1    0    1    1    1    3    1    
4th     Panama                          3    0    1    1    0    4    0    0    1    0    2    1    


Group G

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Argentina                       3    2    0    0    4    1    1    0    0    1    0    9    
2nd  Q  Cameroon                        3    0    1    0    1    1    0    1    1    3    4    2    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     Greece                          3    0    2    0    3    3    0    0    1    0    2    2    
4th     Paraguay                        3    0    0    1    0    1    0    2    0    2    2    2    


Group H

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st  Q  Holland                         3    1    0    0    2    0    1    1    0    3    1    7    
2nd  Q  Denmark                         3    0    1    0    1    1    1    1    0    4    3    5    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd     South Korea                     3    0    2    0    3    3    0    0    1    0    2    2    
4th     Ghana                           3    0    0    2    1    4    0    1    0    1    1    1

Second Round

Italy 3-0 Poland
Portugal 0-2 Germany
England 3-1 Bulgaria
Holland 3-2 Cameroon
Brazil 2-0 Sweden
Ireland 3-0 Spain
France 1-0 USA
Argentina 2-0 Denmark

Quarter-Finals
Italy e 1-0 Germany
England 0-1 Holland
Brazil 0-1 Ireland
France 2-0 Argentina

Semi-Finals
Italy 1-1 p Holland
Ireland 0-1 France

Third Place Match
Italy 0-1 Ireland

Final
Holland p 1-1 France

Oh yeah the World Cup happened this summer.

The Dutch won it with a win on penalties over France. Vindication for their manager Louis van Gaal who somehow managed to stay in his job despite not qualifying in 2002 and being dumped out at the group stage in Euro 2004.

For the French frustration, they finished runners-up in 2004 and runners-up again here. Jean Tigana, their manager, appears destined to be a nearly man.

Italy's run of 12 World Cup clean sheets in a row came to an end against the Dutch. The reigning champions did well to dump out the hosts in the quarter-finals though.

Mick McCarthy's Ireland were the big story though, managing to thrash a poor Spain team and beat Brazil before narrowly losing to France in the semis.

As for England... well they were England.

I would also like to announce two additions to my squad, Greek RB Manolis Dermitzakis joins from Borussia Monchengladbach and Greek GK Dionisis Chiotis joins from Southampton. Chris Stringer has left the club for Hearts and Austin McCann has left to go to Torquay. Overall, and adding in the prize money and stuff, my remaining transfer budget is £16.25 million. I still need a CAM but, even after that, I should have plenty of money to splurge on one great signing later in the window.

The Board have also announced that my target this season is to battle bravely against relegation. There is little sweeter than knowing that you almost cannot get sacked this season no matter what.

sjg11 · September 1, 2016

August 2006

================================================================================================
 2006/7 Transfers
================================================================================================

Date      Player In                  From                       Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
17.6.06   Manolis Dermitzakis        M'gladbach                 £1.4M     
3.7.06    Dionisis Chiotis           Southampton                £6M       
22.7.06   Ryan Amoo                  Crewe                      £4.2M     

Date      Player Out                 To                         Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
12.6.06   Svetoslav Todorov          Released                   Free      
12.6.06   Michael Ferrante           Blackpool                  Bos       
16.6.06   Steve Laurie               Leyton Orient              Bos       
24.6.06   Austin McCann              Torquay                    £650K     
5.7.06    Chris Stringer             Hearts                     £2.5M

Ok so the first piece of news from pre-season is negative. Hanstveit picked up an injury and is now out for three months. This means we're relying on *shudders* Paul Konchesky to fill in until mid-October. This could go badly.

No more major departures happened although I signed CAM Ryan Amoo from Crewe for 4.2 million to add depth to that position. I'm not looking for a really top player to splurge a little bit of money on to help us in our quest to be competitive in the top flight. Full transfer dealings attached above.

Oh, and one small error I made in my league reviews last season. England's co-efficient has dropped and they lost their fourth CL place to Germany. So Chelsea move into the UEFA Cup and Leeds are pushed to the Intertoto Cup which they failed to qualify from.

We start with a trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth.

Portsmouth (Dave Thompson) vs West Ham

(Chiotis: Dermitzakis, Kippe, Browne, Konchesky: Carss: de Vries, Fazlagic: Tonton, Amoo: Tommy Smith)

Let's see how the team and the new formation work with a testing trip to start the season.

In reality this was a pretty dull game which we probably just shaded with Tonton and Tommy Smith both hitting the post in the first half. Still a point away from home suits me perfectly well on my Premier League debut.

Portsmouth 0-0 West Ham

West Ham vs Leeds (Terry Yorath)

This is a tough game. Leeds who reached the CL semi-finals last year. Leeds who won the league not that long ago. This is a serious test of our Premier League credentials, make no mistake about it. I decide to name an unchanged line-up for this one.

Leeds battered us in the first half. Let's not lie about it, they were all over us. However Tommy Smith managed to head home to give us a completely undeserved lead going into half time.

After half time things got even better for us. Frode Kippe put in a cross and Pascal de Vries drilled in a second goal. Pascal de Vries who I plucked from obscurity against Emmen. Who cost me only £350,000 in my first season at the club. Now scoring against a side who reached the last four of the Champions' League last season.

Then things get even better for us with Manolis Dermitzakis drilling home his first goal for the club with just 10 minutes left.

3-0. We won 3-0. I can't ****ing believe it. What a start to life back in the top flight.

West Ham 3-0 Leeds

Wolves (Dave Jones) vs West Ham

Unfortunately our fixtures don't get any easier with a trip to a Wolves side who finished fifth last season. This will be another serious test of our Premier League credentials.

Just one change, Fazlagic was looking a little bit tired so I bring Gareth Whalley into the starting line-up to replace him.

Unfortunately Juris Laizans puts Wolves in front after 10 minutes. The rest of the half was fairly even. We didn't play that badly in this one but Wolves are a very good team in this save and a narrow defeat at Molineux is hardly a terrible result for a newly promoted side.

Wolves 1-0 West Ham

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Man Utd                         3    1    0    0    2    1    2    0    0    6    1    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Wolves                          3    2    0    0    4    0    1    0    0    2    1    9    
3rd     Man City                        3    1    1    0    5    3    1    0    0    3    1    7    
4th     Arsenal                         2    2    0    0    5    1    0    0    0    0    0    6    
5th     Sunderland                      3    2    0    0    5    1    0    0    1    1    2    6    
6th     Portsmouth                      3    1    1    0    4    0    0    1    0    0    0    5    
7th     Chelsea                         3    1    1    0    4    1    0    1    0    2    2    5    
8th     Tottenham                       3    0    1    0    0    0    1    1    0    3    2    5    
9th     Sheff Wed                       3    1    1    0    4    1    0    0    1    0    1    4    
10th    West Ham                        3    1    0    0    3    0    0    1    1    0    1    4    
11th    Fulham                          3    0    1    0    1    1    1    0    1    3    2    4    
12th    Leeds                           3    1    0    1    5    4    0    0    1    0    3    3    
13th    Leicester                       2    1    0    0    2    1    0    0    1    0    3    3    
14th    Liverpool                       2    0    0    1    0    4    1    0    0    1    0    3    
15th    Newcastle                       3    1    0    0    1    0    0    0    2    1    7    3    
16th    Wigan                           3    0    0    2    1    4    0    1    0    1    1    1    
17th    Birmingham                      3    0    0    1    0    1    0    1    1    1    4    1    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th    Middlesbrough                   3    0    0    1    1    2    0    0    2    2    5    0    
19th    Blackburn                       2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    1    5    0    
20th    Everton                         3    0    0    1    1    3    0    0    2    1    7    0

Overall a pretty good start to the season. I'm happy. Not delighted. But content. The win against Leeds was incredible. The point at Fratton Park was important. And I never really expected to get anything at Molineux in the first place. So onwards we march. We look like a Premier League team. And like a pretty solid one at that. I'm most happy with my defence currently, just one goal conceded in three games having played two top 6 teams will do nicely. The Kippe-Browne partnership is working well, Dermitzakis looks like a really good player and Paul Konchesky doesn't look like a complete liability.

sjg11 · September 2, 2016

September 2006

Jamie Browne won Young Player of the Month for his performances last month.

Henk Boere also scored a couple of goals for the Dutch U21s.

Everton (Walter Smith) vs West Ham

Unchanged line-up again for a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton.

Harpal Singh put Everton in front after 7 minutes. A run and shot from Ryan Amoo then levelled the match. Unfortunately Mark Kerr headed Everton back in front from a corner just before half-time.

We created a couple of chances in the second half but just couldn't find a way back into the match.

Everton 2-1 West Ham

West Ham vs Chelsea (Steve McClaren)

And so we march onto another game against a side in the top 6. Fazlagic in for Whalley, other than that an unchanged side.

After an even opening 40 minutes Tommy Smith headed us in front from a Fazlagic corner. Unfortunately Pascal de Vries then got sent off after a second yellow card on 62 minutes.

Unbelievably we actually went on to double our lead with Tony Carss smashing in a second goal. Another excellent home win.

West Ham 2-0 Chelsea

Next up for us a league cup tie at Bristol Rovers. de Vries has picked up an injury that rules him out for 10 days but he'll be suspended for most of that anyway. Hanstveit has, forunately, come back earlier than expected.

Bristol Rovers (Brian Little) vs West Ham

Time for the reserves to get their first game of the season:

(Moberg: Duff, Danny Smith, Tate, Clark: Carss: Whalley, Neil: Tonton, Lindberg: Boere)

We take the lead after four minutes with Mattias Lindberg turning in a cross from Tonton to put us in front. Unfortunately Justin Richards quickly levels for them.

Fortunately for us Tonton Zola Moukoko scores his first goal of the season, turning in a cross from Gareth Whalley. Whalley himself then drills in a third goal.

Henk Boere then heads in a cross from Lindberg to increase our advantage. Michael Dunwell pulled another goal back for them but it was too little too late.

Bristol Rovers 2-4 West Ham

Manchester City (David Mitchell) vs West Ham

(Chiotis: Dermitzakis, Browne, Kippe, Hanstveit: Carss: Fazlagic, Whalley: Tonton, Amoo: Tommy Smith)

So we travel to a Manchester City side who have started very strongly this season hoping to get something from a tricky game.

Tonton scored a spectacular volley to fire us in front after 23 minutes. He'd started slowly but this, following the Bristol Rovers game, makes me hopeful that he's found his feet at this level.

Tonton then doubled our lead after half time, blasting in from a Dermitzakis lay-off. Man City had a flurry of chances as the game drew to a close but they couldn't find a way past Chiotis.

In reality City actually slaughtered us in this game but brilliant performances from Chiotis at one end and Tonton at the other gave us the points. Our defence was generally pretty solid too.

Manchester City 0-2 West Ham

The only negative is that Ryan Amoo suffered an injury which will keep him out of action for 10 days. We also draw Derby away in the next round of the League Cup.

West Ham vs Newcastle (Graham Rix)

And so onto a home game against a decent Newcastle side. Lindberg replaces Amoo in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Gareth Whalley fired us in front after 11 minutes in the first real opening of the match. Mattias Lindberg then scored a second with a shot that went in off the post. Unfortunately Kieron Dyer almost immediately pulled one back heading in a Luis Boa Morte cross.

My heart was in my mouth just after half time when Clarence Seedorf volleyed in for Newcastle. Thankfully it was ruled out for offside. Tony Carss then volleyed in a third goal for us, surely putting the game beyond Newcastle. Chris Beardsley, on for Tommy Smith then scored a fourth after his initial effort was saved. This was our best performance yet this season, we dominated a game against a good Newcastle side from start to finish. This makes it three league wins in a row for us.

West Ham 4-1 Newcastle

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Wolves                          7    4    0    0    7    0    3    0    0    6    2    21   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Arsenal                         6    2    2    0    7    3    2    0    0    5    2    14   
3rd     West Ham                        7    3    0    0    9    1    1    1    2    3    3    13   
4th     Sunderland                      7    3    0    1    10   5    1    1    1    2    2    13   
5th     Man Utd                         7    2    0    1    3    3    2    1    1    7    3    13   
6th     Leeds                           7    2    1    1    8    6    2    0    1    8    8    13   
7th     Sheff Wed                       7    2    2    0    7    1    1    0    2    1    2    11   
8th     Man City                        7    2    1    1    6    5    1    1    1    7    6    11   
9th     Tottenham                       7    2    1    0    5    2    1    1    2    3    6    11   
10th    Everton                         7    2    0    1    5    5    1    0    3    4    10   9    
11th    Newcastle                       7    3    0    0    4    0    0    0    4    3    13   9    
12th    Portsmouth                      7    1    3    0    6    2    0    2    1    0    1    8    
13th    Chelsea                         7    2    1    1    7    3    0    1    2    2    5    8    
14th    Liverpool                       6    0    1    2    1    6    2    1    0    4    2    8    
15th    Leicester                       6    2    1    0    4    2    0    1    2    2    8    8    
16th    Blackburn                       6    2    0    0    2    0    0    1    3    2    7    7    
17th    Middlesbrough                   7    0    1    2    5    7    1    1    2    4    6    5    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th    Fulham                          7    0    1    2    3    6    1    0    3    4    8    4    
19th    Birmingham                      7    0    0    3    4    7    0    2    2    2    6    2    
20th    Wigan                           7    0    0    4    2    7    0    1    2    2    5    1

Err... we're third. We're currently in the Champions' League places. We're ahead of Manchester United who have won the league three times in a row. We're ahead of Leeds, Chelsea and Liverpool. We've only lost twice and one of those defeats was a narrow defeat at a Wolves side who have started like a train. We've got a 100% record at home so far. We've only conceded 4 goals in 7 games. And we're through to the third round of the League Cup.

It's been a brilliant start to the season. And long may it continue.

sjg11 · September 3, 2016

October 2006

West Ham vs Sheffield Wednesday (Sven-Goran Eriksson)

Next up a home game against Sven's Sheffield Wednesday side. I name an unchanged line-up.

Manolis Dermitzakis put us in front after a Tonton strike was saved by their keeper. Erlend Hanstveit then had a goal disallowed before half-time which was slightly frustrating.

Trevor Sinclair then equalised for Sheffield Wednesday. Fortunately I'd brought Chris Beardsley on for Tommy Smith at half-time and Beardsley showed his quality, heading in crosses from Tony Carss and Samir Fazlagic. Tonton Zola Moukoko then volleyed in a fourth and we had three more points.

West Ham 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Unfortunately Manolis Dermitzakis got an injury on international duty ruling him out for three weeks. Samir Fazlagic also picked up an injury which rules him out for 10 days. Have I mentioned yet how much I detest internationals?

Tottenham (Billy Davies) vs West Ham

Next up a trip to White Hart Lane, which is where we won the League last year. I'm hoping that we can get a repeat result here.

(Chiotis: Duff, Browne, Kippe, Hanstveit: Carss: de Vries, Whalley: Tonton, Amoo: Tommy Smith)

It was a pretty even first half but Simon Davies fired Spurs in front after 15 minutes and we couldn't get an equaliser before half-time.

This was our worst performance of the season, we collapsed after half-time and goals from Titi Camara and Sergei Rebrov completely finished us off.

Tottenham 3-0 West Ham

West Ham vs Wigan (George Graham)

Unchanged line-up for this one against a Wigan side who have caused us problems in the past. I still have nightmares of our trip there at the end of last season.

The first half was full but Tonton did have a goal ruled out for offside.

The second half was equally dull but then came the turning point. Wigan defender Lenny Webster chopped down Tonton and got a straight red card. Only a few minutes were left though so Wigan just had to hold on. Fortunately Jason Euell, another Wigan player then conceded a free kick on the edge of the box and Tonton fired in the free kick. It deflected off Jervis Drummond (another Latic) and flew in to put us in front in the 89th minute. Jamie Browne then headed in a corner in injury time to double our lead. Three more points for the Hammers.

West Ham 2-0 Wigan

Derby (Brian Laws) vs West Ham

Next we have a League Cup game at Derby. Time for the Reserves to show me what they can do.

(Moberg: Clark, Danny Smith, Tate, Konchesky: Carss: Whalley, Neil: Lindberg, Amoo: Boere)

Derby started on top but we slowly took control of the game. Alex Neil headed us in front from a corner on the stroke of half-time and Henk Boere doubled the lead from a Ryan Amoo cross.

Tonton (on for the injured Gareth Whalley) then headed in a corner to seal the game. Unfortunately Leon Knight, another substitute on for Lindberg then decided to get himself sent off. We have plenty of good strikers so it's not the end of the world but it was still needless and silly. Anyway, we march onto the next round of the League Cup.

Derby 0-3 West Ham

Gareth Whalley is out for 3 weeks but Fazlagic is back so that's not much of a problem. We'll travel to Sunderland in the next round of the League Cup. Frode Kippe also joins our injured legion, he's out for a week now.

West Ham vs Leicester (Chris Kamara)

(Chiotis: Duff, Browne, Tate, Hanstveit: Carss: Fazlagic, de Vries: Tonton, Amoo: Tommy Smith)

Vasilis Lakis headed Leicester in front and Trevor Benjamin swiftly doubled the advantage.

Fortunately Samir Fazlagic managed to prod home to pull one back. Unfortunately we couldn't find an equaliser and it was the end of our perfect home record. West Ham 1-2 Leicester

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Wolves                          11   4    1    0    9    2    4    1    1    8    4    26   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Man Utd                         11   4    0    1    7    5    4    1    1    10   3    25   
3rd     Arsenal                         10   2    3    0    7    3    5    0    0    10   2    24   
4th     Sunderland                      11   4    0    1    13   6    2    2    2    9    6    20   
5th     Leeds                           11   2    2    1    9    7    4    0    2    14   12   20   
6th     West Ham                        11   5    0    1    16   4    1    1    3    3    6    19   
7th     Newcastle                       11   5    0    1    9    2    1    0    4    4    13   18   
8th     Chelsea                         11   4    1    1    11   3    1    1    3    4    8    17   
9th     Tottenham                       11   4    1    1    10   3    1    1    3    5    9    17   
10th    Man City                        11   3    1    2    9    11   2    1    2    9    8    17   
11th    Leicester                       10   4    1    0    8    4    1    1    3    4    10   17   
12th    Sheff Wed                       11   2    2    2    7    4    2    0    3    5    6    14   
13th    Middlesbrough                   11   2    2    2    10   9    1    1    3    4    9    12   
14th    Everton                         11   3    0    3    7    7    1    0    4    5    12   12   
15th    Liverpool                       10   1    1    2    2    6    2    2    2    5    9    12   
16th    Blackburn                       10   2    0    2    3    3    1    2    3    3    7    11   
17th    Portsmouth                      11   1    4    1    6    3    0    2    3    0    4    9    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th    Fulham                          11   1    1    3    6    9    1    1    4    4    10   8    
19th    Wigan                           11   0    0    6    2    11   1    1    3    3    7    4    
20th    Birmingham                      11   0    0    5    5    11   0    2    4    4    11   2

The Leicester result has irritated me. Other than that though this has been an excellent start to the season. Far better than I expected as a newly promoted side. We're already 11 points above the relegation zone so we're already well on the way to achieving my main target this season. I'm aiming for a place in the top half still but my hope is to try and sneak a place in Europe for next season. That would make attracting players so much easier over the summer.

sjg11 · September 4, 2016

November 2006

Blackburn (Graeme Souness) vs West Ham

And so we move onto a trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn, experienced Premier League campaigners. Pre-game I switched to a 4-2-3-1 with 2 CDMs and 3 CAMs.

(Chiotis: Dermitzakis, Browne, Tate, Hanstveit: Carss, Kippe: Tonton, Lindberg, Amoo: Tommy Smith)

It was an even first half but a Tobias Linderoth volley put Blackburn in front just before half-time. Matt Jansen then doubled it for them.

We had a lot of pressure and Tonton managed to pull one back but it was too little, too late.

Blackburn 2-1 West Ham

Sunderland (Peter Reid) vs West Ham

Next up a League Cup tie at Sunderland. I'm going to give the new formation another spin here to see how we play. This is a tough game against a very good side.

(Chiotis: Duff, Tate, Danny Smith, Konchesky: Carss, Kippe: Fazlagic, Tonton, Amoo: Boere)

Gareth Barry put them in front with a penalty and Bruce Dyer then scored twice to put the game beyond us before half-time. I switched back to the normal formation at half-time.

The second half performance was a lot better (not that it could really have been any worse).

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

Danny Smith was injured for two weeks after this match.

West Ham vs Middlesbrough (Bryan Robson)

This game needs to be a win otherwise heads will roll.

(Chiotis: Dermitzakis, Browne, Kippe, Hanstveit: Carss: de Vries, Fazlagic: Amoo, Tonton: Tommy Smith)

It only took 11 minutes for us to break them down, Tommy Smith heading home a cross from Samir Fazlagic to put us in front. Tonton then doubled the lead, heading in a cross from Hanstveit.

Unfortunately, just after half-time, Tommy Smith decided to get himself sent off, reducing us to 10 men for pretty much the entire second half. However, despite the red card we were still swarming all over Boro and Tonton made it three firing home after a knock-down from Chris Beardsley (who came on for Amoo when Smith was sent off).

Red card excepted this was a good win and a good performance. Exactly what we needed.

West Ham 3-0 Middlesbrough

Birmingham (Trevor Francis) vs West Ham

Next up, a tough trip to Birmingham in the lead. After their nasty poaching of my players last season I really, really want to win this game. And preferably give them a little bit of a thumping while we win it. I'll love it if we beat them, love it.

Tommy Smith's suspension hasn't kicked in yet so it's an unchanged line-up from the win over Middlesbrough.

It was 0-0 after a fairly dull first half.

It was also a fairly dull second half. Well until Tonton scored the winner in injury time. Another very good three points. And as for Birmingham, that's what you get for stealing my players.

In reality though this was one of the dullest games of football I've ever had the misfortune to witness.

Birmingham 0-1 West Ham

Tommy Smith is injured but it largely coincides with his suspension anyway.

West Ham vs Manchester United (David O'Leary)

And we end the month with a nice easy game against the team who have won the title three times in a row. And who are top of the league again this season. This could go very, very wrong.

Leon Knight replaces Tommy Smith in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

It was an even, entertaining first half with good quality football throughout. Unfortunately there were no goals but there were still plenty of positive signs. Unfortunately Fabio Liverani managed to net a winner for them on 65 minutes. Frankly these guys are so strong in this save that it's going to be a long time before we actually manage to overtake them.

Pos     Team                            Pld  Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Won  Drn  Lst  For  Ag   Pts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st     Man Utd                         15   6    0    1    15   8    6    1    1    12   3    37   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd     Wolves                          15   5    2    0    11   2    4    1    3    10   10   30   
3rd     Leicester                       14   6    1    0    13   5    3    1    3    7    11   29   
4th     Leeds                           15   4    2    1    13   9    4    2    2    15   13   28   
5th     Sunderland                      15   6    0    1    16   6    2    3    3    10   8    27   
6th     Arsenal                         13   3    3    0    9    3    5    0    2    11   5    27   
7th     West Ham                        15   6    0    2    19   5    2    1    4    5    8    25   
8th     Chelsea                         15   5    1    2    12   4    2    1    4    5    9    23   
9th     Man City                        14   5    1    2    14   14   2    1    3    9    10   23   
10th    Tottenham                       15   5    2    1    14   4    1    1    5    8    16   21   
11th    Newcastle                       15   5    0    3    9    6    1    1    5    9    19   19   
12th    Liverpool                       13   1    2    2    2    6    3    3    2    8    9    17   
13th    Sheff Wed                       15   2    4    2    8    5    2    0    5    5    10   16   
14th    Middlesbrough                   15   3    3    2    13   11   1    1    5    4    14   16   
15th    Blackburn                       14   3    0    4    7    8    1    2    4    3    10   14   
16th    Everton                         15   3    1    4    8    9    1    1    5    6    16   14   
17th    Portsmouth                      14   2    4    1    7    3    0    3    4    1    6    13   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th    Wigan                           15   1    1    6    5    11   2    2    3    6    9    12   
19th    Fulham                          15   2    1    4    9    12   1    2    5    6    13   12   
20th    Birmingham                      15   0    1    6    8    15   1    2    5    6    13   6

Well it's still been a very good start to the season. I'm enjoying seeing Birmingham stuck at the bottom of the league and we look like a Premier League team. At this stage I can't really ask for much more from my players.

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[CM01/02] Forever Blowing Bubbles- Playing the West Ham Way

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