[FM19] Ashton United

[KJG]

Hello guys, this is my time writing about a save and didn't know if I wanted to post this one. But I have just started my fourth season, having alot of fun (and agony) with this save and wanted to share it.

Ashton United were founded in 1878 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester as Hurst Football Club. The Robins play their home matches at Hurst Cross and have just been promoted from the Northern Premier League Premier Division to the National League North, which is the highest in the pyramid Ashton have ever been.

As you can see Ashton have never won a single competition in their history, something we look to change, and have the worst facilities a club can have on the game. The next post will detail our first season and once I get caught up I will post updates every two months of game time. Thank you for reading and hope you enjoy!

 

[KJG]

We were expected to finish in the relegation zone and had alot of work to do with creating a tactic, which took over half the season, and bring in new players but year 1 was a success.

 

We finished just outside the playoffs with not alot of consistency througout the year but we majorly over achieved and would look to push for promotion the following season.

[KJG]

Year 2 saw us win the first trophy in club history as we won the league with divisions best defense and just enough goals to what would have been draws the year before into wins. Stockport and Hereford gave us run for our money all season long with us just having enough at the end to get over the line. I believe we were predicted to finish third in the league this season.

[KJG]

Year 3 was a dream season, and really forunate to get promoted, as we could not get a draw to save our lives at the beginning of the season. The middle third saw the team get red hot and nobody could stop us. That was until our FA Trophy match around the christmas period got postponed for two or three weeks which caused us to play matches every three days for the next month. But we managed to sneak into the playoff and pull off the improbable and gain promotion to the football league.

The next update will be the first month of the current season, along with tactic, players, and facilities.

[KJG]

So now I am all caught up with my save and it is time to catch you up with what the facilities look like now, the finances, tactic, and the players.

Year after year I have been pestering the board about youth recruitement and junior coaching, the stadium is currently being expanded, and the training facilities are being improved.

This is the tactic that I am using, it is very good defensively and if the attackers do their jobs it scores enough goals to win games.

I know what you want to ask and no I do not have Bolton as a parent club, they were just the only club willing to loan me players that were better than I already had. Brockbank was on loan the year before and is my best centerback. Smith was also on loan the year before and will play the dm role. Lewis, Moulden, and Howarth all slot into the starting eleven.

This is the squad, don't be tricked by the star ratings most of them are national league quality. Which probably explains why the media doesn't believe in us.

That being said how did bad was the start of the season?

I'm in shock, after the first match against Tranmere I thought we were in for a long painful season but I changed the mentality from cautious to positive and put Howarth in for O'Reilly which seemed to shore up the defense. The game against Wycombe should have been a win but a late goal split the points.

That string of results leaves us in fifth and in the playoffs, which I appreciate but the squad is nowhere good enough for this and needs to sit a year or two survive League One.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Going great so far.

[KJG]

23 hours ago, Nobby_McDonald said:

Going great so far.

Thanks, better than expected.

 

After the good start to the campain could we keep it up in September and October?

Terrible September, Brockbank got set off in both 1-3 losses, the first one we were up 1-0 when he saw red which completely changed the game. The second red didn't really matter as we were never in it. Up 3-1 against Cheltenham, cruising, then got hit for 2 goals in a minute against the run of play. October was a fanastic month outside of the Aldershot match, which we got FMed, all the results were warrented. Rotated for the cup match as I saw no point in playing the starters. With these two months down where does that leave us in the league?

Sixith, way above expectations and probably unstainable as we're not nearly as good as the other teams vying for promotion but who knows maybe we can pull it off.

Made three signings since the last update. Coulson was signed due to the fact that all of my right wingers got injured at the same time and the fact that Broom is not good enough for this level. McGregor and Feeney were signed to give depth in the center of the field, both will get significant playing time throughout the season with the amount of games left to play.

Great for Gary hopefully he can keep it up, he was one of the main reasons for reasults we had. The next update will be after December, we're playing Stevenage in the FA Cup so there is a chance to advance and the club really needs the money right now.

Edited December 11, 2018 by KJG

[KJG]

November & December

November was a great month two wins and a draw in the league, a mirracle in the EFL Trophy, and through to the third round of the FA Cup. December was another story, with three 0-1 losses and two wins in the league and out of the EFL Trophy on penalties.

League Table

Down to seventh after a terrible December, at one point we were up to third and in the automatic positions.

Signing

Brought in Steve Coutts mainly because of his ability at his age and what my head of youth recuitement believes he could to be a League One player.

Luke Coulson also won goal of the month, which I believe is the first time one of my players has ever won it.

The FA Cup third round match against Peterborough United was on the first of January so I decided to play it and we won. Crazy opening fifthteen minutes with four goals and big win against the fourth place team in League One. We drew either Aldershot or Tranmere at home, which sucks because we could of used an away match against a big side for the finances.

[KJG]

January & February

We've done pretty well in the league the past two months, especially in February, with five wins in nine matches. I had to play the Stevenage game twice because fm crashed on me, the first time was a 3-3 with Stevenage scoring on both shots on target and a rediculous own goal. They also scored on an own goal the second time of asking.

League Table

That run of results vaults us up into fifth place and just two points off the automatic spots. Now on to the FA Cup results.

Fourth round matchup against Tranmere, their only highlight was the goal, a long shot from way out that the boys like to conceed. With the victory we got a game away against Newcastle.

Didn't embarrass ourselves but never really challenged. McGegor's red card didn't help things but the match netted the club alot of cash which was immediately used to improve youth recuirement and junior coaching.

200 Matches

Had my 200th match in charge of the club against Port Vale, a match in which we sucked and were never in. The next update will have the end of the season, it will include the playoffs if we make it, and also the youth intake, hopefully we get some good players.

[KJG]

March, April, & May

Very inconsistent through the end of the season which ultimately saw get knock out of the playoffs in the first round. But lets talk about Ebbsfleet down. The Ebbsfleet match was won fairly easy at 3-1 but came at a price.

Bunney got injured through the end of the season but was replaced by Spratt. Then the Luton match came.

And there goes both my left backs, which is a key position in the tactic, but it only gets worse in the Notts Co. match.

I'm convinced that the game hates me at this point as now my leading goal scorer is not out for the season.

These three also got injured during this span, which basically meant that getting out of the playoffs was impossible.

League Table

Ended up finishing 7th which is way better than expected but not as high as before the injuries.

End of Season

Three main players made this season possible in Gareth Howarth, Gary Lewis, and Ryan Loft. I was expecting Howarth just to be a backup at the start of the year but he quickly proved to be the number one and improved dramatically during the season. Gary Lewis just seemed to make the team better attacking wise when he was on the field and was my best playmacker, too bad Bolton don't want to loan him back. Ryan Loft was the main goal scoring threat in the team with 22 on the season.

My goal for next season is to finish top half again, maybe sneak into the playoffs but who knows, we have to get better at both full back positions, defensive midfield, replace Lewis, and look to get stronger on both wings. The board also agreed to improve the youth facilities. Pretty good season over all but could have better considering the end of the year injuries.

[KJG]

Transfers

Garnett, Thomas-Griggs, Blake, Piggott, Egan, and Chadwick are all starters with Brown, McCann, and Phillips providing depth in the team. Bolton triggered Coutts release fee but we were able to get him back on loan for the year.

Starting XI

This will be the primary starting xi should every one be healthy, over all I think the squad is much stronger than last year. I had to fight to keep Howarth as Portsmouth triggered his release fee but we signed him to a new contract without any release fees.

League Prediction

We're predicted to finish 17th, the board expects to avoid relagation but I think we can finish top half without any trouble. Next update will be the start of the season. See you then!!!!

[Nobby_McDonald]

A very good season, shame about the playoffs defeat.

[KJG]

On 17/12/2018 at 16:35, Nobby_McDonald said:

A very good season, shame about the playoffs defeat.

Thanks, it was a hell of a season but injuries and the update kinda put a damper on it.

[KJG]

July & August

After a terrible preseason and the loss to Luton, as well as the inconsistency at the end of last season, I made some changes tactically and they seem to have worked. We were really bad in the first half against Chesterfield and at half time is when I made most of the changes, we managed to go 2-1 up before giving up the equalizer. The win over Wigan was unexpected, as they are in the Championship, and I actually used instant reasult for it. We had won five in a row in both the league and the cup before lossing to Premier League Watford. I rotated the entire squad for the Northampton match which we lost on a late goal, that was harsh on the boys as they gave it everything they had. Finally was the loss to Tottenham under 23s, they out classed us.

League Table

After August we sit in fourth place in the table. We are conceding way too many goals for my liking and I will try to find a way to tighten up the defence while not handcuffing the attack. I also have to fix attacking corners as the update just killed corner routine and we can no longer score from them. Also it seems that every cross gets blocked and its really frustrating, I've started telling them to hit early crosses so hopefully that helps. There were no new signings but I did try to sign a Northern Irish center back who wanted almost three grand a week to be a rotation player, so that didn't happen. The next update will be after October, see you then!

[Nobby_McDonald]

That's an early start to the season.

[KJG]

On 20/12/2018 at 16:01, Nobby_McDonald said:

That's an early start to the season.

It seems that the game is making the seasons start earlier each year for some reason.

[KJG]

September & October

Was messing with the tactic throughout these two months, with reasults being very inconsistent in September. I would recap the matches but they were played so long ago that I forgot what happened. The defense vastly improved in October with clean sheets in five of the six matches. The 3-6 to Port Vale was fustrating as you can see below.

All of their shots were on target. They scored in the first minute, we managed to tie it up early but then the flood gates opened up. It didn't help that Howarth rolled his ankle right before this match.

League Table

After these two months we moved up to second place in the league, we are four points off the top and four points above the playoffs. Thanks for reading and see you after December.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Actually it's 2022... is it anything to do with the Qatar World Cup?

[KJG]

7 hours ago, Nobby_McDonald said:

Actually it's 2022... is it anything to do with the Qatar World Cup?

No because they moved it to Australia in the summer.

[KJG]

New Contract

Forgot to put in the last post that I signed a new contract. Couple of Championship clubs came calling and the board thought to offer me a new one.

November & December

Inconsistent in the league but advanced in the cups. Changed to a 4-2-3-1 which has started to create more chances but the finishing needs to improve. I think we're starting to regress to our talent level with most of the squad being National League level. Managed to get Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup, unfortunately its at home.

Klopp freaked out about this match for some reason, don't know why he's challenging for the title.

Good effort, Liverpool played their starters so there was never really a chance. It was a home tie we didn't make any money from it which sucks because we could have used it.

League Table

Starting to slip in the league, conceeding way to many goals to compete for automatic promotion. We scored a ton of goals on corners in the past but can't score any this season for some reason. Hopefully we can turn things around but I just don't see it. See you guys after February.

[KJG]

Transfers

I decided to start with the transfers this time because we signed three new players, two on a free and other on loan, and made a big sale.

Brought in Isak Thorvaldsson, a central midfielder from Iceland. He's on a lot of money but can play basically every role in the middle of the pitch and is automatically our best player.

Graham Cahill is in on loan from Bournemouth, was brought in to play the AP role in behind the striker. He's had some very good performances for us thus far.

Wilmott was signed due to his potential being that of a Championship striker. He's already represented the u19 for Wales.

I sold Gareth Howarth to Middlesbrough for $1.5 million. I didn't want to sell him because he's our everyday keeper but he kick up a fuss about wanting to leave and given the finances we really couldn't turn down the offer.

Facilities

Improved the youth recruitment to established. Asked to improve the junior coaching before this but was told we were underperforming this season.

This was our performances thus far when the junior coaching was rejected.

January & February

Jekyll and Hyde in the league over the last two months. Made the EFL Northern semi's after beating League One Hull, who played their starters, and Wolves u23s. Don't know how we could beat those two and be crap in the league but we managed it. February was a great month, should have beaten York but could never finish our chances. Great to beat Burton who are managed by Tony Pulis, even more so after he talked crap in the media before hand.

Apperantly he couldn't handle the defeat. Maybe thats why he's in League Two now.

League Table

That leaves us in 5th in the table, which after December and January is unbelievable given how bad they were.

Fantastic February from the youngster, was hoping to sign him on a free when his contract ran out but he sign an extension since coming on loan. 

[KJG]

Youth Intake

Nothing to impresive but the best intake we've had so far. Vaughan is the best of the bunch, we'll try to retain him as a ball winner in the cm position.

End of Season

Brilliant way to end the year. A perfect April with only one draw out of six. In alot of these matches we not dominate but clinical enough to edge out the win. But even with these reasults was it enough to go up automatically or will we have to settle for the playoffs.

League Table

Clinched promotion on the final day of the season over Luton (who won the playoff to go up aswell). Once we brought in Cahill to create for us we became a much more dangerous side.

Awards

Two members in the team of the year in McGregor, our player of the year, and Blake who had a solid season at the left back position.

Facilities

We have to ground share with Bury because our own stadium is 500 seats short of the requirements for the football league. In real life I feel we would just put in the seat but football manager says otherwise. The board agreed to improve the youth facilities and junior coaching, I guess now we're not underachieving.

Squad

You can see why McGregor was our player of the season with 12 goals, mainly from free kicks and long shots, and 7 assists. Piggott end up being the #1 striker at the end of the season with Loft not scoring and being injured. Wearne chiped in with 11 goals and 16 assists but would disappear in matches and is probably not good enough for League One. Thomas-Griggs and Phillips split time at right back this year and did a great job, with both of them improving every month. Hoping to bring back Howarth and Cahill for next season but not Chadwick, he was inconsistent at best and never really threatened the opposition. Gonna be looking at improving centerback and both wings as well as bring in young goalkeeper this offseason.

[KJG]

Busy preseason this year in which we made 10 new signings, one sale, released alot of players, changed the tactic, and kept teams from signing Steve Phillips from us.

Transfers In

The first six players were released from premeir league teams, with Henrique and Boyce going to be starters, Kirk is going to backup at left back, O'Keefe backs up in the center with McGranaghan and Fisk in the reserves. Brought in Burgoyne for $28k to be the starting keeper with Blaney right behind him. Ekumah is one of the starting centerbacks and McLaughlin backing up Cahill who is back on loan.

Transfers Out

Sold O'Reilly because he's not good enough anymore and sent McCann on loan so he wouldn't complain about playing time. A number of championship teams came in for Steve Phillips, the highest payment being at $1 million after instaments which isn't high enough. The board tried to accept a bid for him but I managed to convince them otherwise.

Released a ton of players, most of them youth players. Loft and Clayton were the only ones who played more than five games last year.

Tactic

Because we didn't sign any new wingers, I don't like they play on this years game, we've switched to a 4-3-1-2. We're going to try to hold on to most of the possesion, looking for the overlap on both wings, and hoping the strikers and the mezzala arriving late to add support.

Preseason

Good preseason winning all but the draw to championship Middlebrough and the loss to premeir league Wolves. My assistant schedule Barnsley who are in our division so i don't know why that was allowed to happen.

League Projection

Media projects us to finish 23rd this season, the board expects us to fight against relagation but I believe that we can stay up if we can get enough goals from the stikers and stay healthy throughout the year.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Well done on another promotion KJG.

[KJG]

On 07/01/2019 at 17:07, Nobby_McDonald said:

Well done on another promotion KJG.

Thanks, it was a crazy run at the end of the season.

Transfers

Two transfers in with Kian Spence to start in the midfield and Will Swan to provide depth up front. Didn't really need Swan but if one of our strikers gets injured then we only have two left in the squad.

Sold Broom because we don't use wingers any more, then sent out five on loan mainly players that won't get any time in the squad. As you can see we got a new affiliate in FC Halifax.

August & September

August was inconsistent as the team got used to the tactic, we were up 3-1 against AFC Wimbledon but threw it away late. Took Brentford, who just got relegated from the Premier League, to penalties. September saw Wilmot and Henrique start to finish their chances that started the five match winning streak. We don't hold possession like I thought we would but we create plenty of chances either by streching them with our width or by countering with balls over the top.

League Table

After the first two months of the season we lay in fifth place in the league through eleven matches against sides that are all over the table.

[KJG]

October &November

Terrible October with only win in the cup. Three draws and three losses, gave up alot of goals from corners and indirect freekicks that no one marks on even though their set to man mark. November was much better, advancing in both the FA Cup and EFL Trophy, aswell as two wins and a draw in the league. Should have beaten Leeds, don't know how they got relegated, as we dominated the stats but they grabbed a goal because Ekumah switched off on the move.

League Table

We're in 8th in the league going into December. The squad are one of the better goal scoring teams but are average defensively conceeding 30 goals in 20 matches.

New Contract

Board offered me a new contract after November.

[KJG]

Transfers

Chris Kirk leaves for $130k, was not good enough for this level yet and we needed the money. Kane Walker comes in on loan as a reasult of Kirk leaving, needed another leftback alongside Blake.

December & January

Okay December, advancing in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy while testing out a 4-2-3-1 because teams had gotten used to the 4-3-2-1 that we used and oh my god January. A perfect month with the only blemish being a 2-2 draw to AFC Wimbledon. Beat Championship Brighton and Brentford in the FA Cup while moving past Bury and Rotherham in the EFL Trophy.

League Table

Those reasults saw us vault up to 5th in the league in touching distance of automatic spots. Got lucky not to be forced to sale players in the January as there was tons of interest in them.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Doing very nicely this season.

[KJG]

On 21/01/2019 at 16:29, Nobby_McDonald said:

Doing very nicely this season.

Thanks young players progressing is the main reason for the season going so well.

February & March

Okay reasults the loss to West Ham hurt as we were in the match. Little bit of an injury crisis and players on international duty in March made selecting the sqaud hard. Getting goals from a wide variety of players which is a good thing to see. We also made it the EFL Trophy final against Peterbrough who we beat handly the month before can we do it again.

Yes we can, totally dominated the match. Peterbrough are not having a good season so this was expected but it's always nice to win a trophy.

League Table

In fourth with Hull having a game in hand on us. Two points off automatic promotion hopefully we can get there and not have to go through the playoffs.

Youth Intake

Okay youth intake Gascoigne is the best player of the bunch (he doesn't show up because I moved him to the senoir squad before I took the screenshot). Jake Smith could be a good centerback but by that time we might be past his level.

[KJG]

End of Season

Not the best end of season with two wins and three losses. The Port Vale and Plymouth losses hurt because they had nothing to play for. Given how tight the playoff race is so are these reasults good enough.

League Table

Managed it on goal difference after finishing tied on points with Rotherham and Northampton. We're up against Oxford who have been very good this year and spilt the two meetings this season.

Playoffs

Just managed a draw in the first leg with the Cahill goal in the 94th minute. After being down at the half, we came out guns ablaze in the second with three goals. With this win we go to Wembly to face off against Sheffield Wednesday.

Very boring match after the early goal with lots of fouls that broke up the rhythm of the game. With this we are promoted to the Championship where we'll probably be relegated.

Squad Stats

The defence will have to be improved for next season if we want any chance of staying up. Got 55 goals from Wilmot, Henrique, and Swan which was the main reason that we got promoted.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Excellent promotion. Good luck with your predicted relegation battle.

[KJG]

On 28/01/2019 at 16:00, Nobby_McDonald said:

Excellent promotion. Good luck with your predicted relegation battle.

Thanks, its gonna be tough given that we have lowest total salary by a long distance.

Transfers

First the outs, McGregor goes out on loan because he wasn't going to play much this season. Henrique leaves for $2 million to Hearts, he wanted to leave and for that price I couldn't say no also go 40% of the next sale. Before we get into the ins, apparently I forgot that I got the best Brexit and can have 17 foreign players.

Nikolic was agreed to before last season ended, decent amount of pontential but won't see much of the field. Gard is in on loan from Arsenal and now my best central defender. Gonzalez in on loan from Notts Forest, needed a new left back and there is a future fee for $1.3 million. Fletcher is on loan from Blackburn for DM depth. Aguayo was poached from the US, now my best AM will rotate will McLaughlin. Gata was brought in for $550,000 from Portugal, needed a ballwinner and he's the best and cheapest option. Wilson and Miguel Angel Chan are from the US and will provide depth for the striker role, according to my YOTM Chan can be a Premier League player. Zubcic, Croatian from the US, and Shrimpton-Benham are backups.

League Prediction

Time to shock the world, or atleast England. Not the biggest morale booster but we'll try to stay up. Hopefully good tactics and our strength up front will do the job for us this season.

[KJG]

August & September

Good start to the season with three wins and two draws in the first five matches but then reality hit. Three losses and two draws in five league matches, the defence has just fallen apart at times and the we are not finishing our chances.

League Table

We sit in 18th and are five points ahead of relegation, but we have the worst defense in the league and something has to change.

[Nobby_McDonald]

The launderette called. They have your clean sheets.

[KJG]

1 hour ago, Nobby_McDonald said:

The launderette called. They have your clean sheets.

Oh that's where they were, hold on let me pick them up. 

October & November

October was brutal, only the one victory but eleven goals concedeed. Something needed to change so went into the tactics and decided to go a little more defensive. I moved the AMC in the 4-2-3-1 to a DMC defensive midfielder on defend and change the DMC in the 4-1-2-1-2 narrow diamond from a deeplying playmaker to a defensive midfielder on defend. Well lets just say that it worked because we got four straight clean sheets and won four of the five matches played. Including the last update you can tell when Mirko Zubcic played in defense because we've given up 18 goals in the four matches he's played. 5-1 against Cardiff, 5-1 against Middlesbrough, 4-1 against Aston Villa and 4-1 against Reading, I'm surpised that the boy hasn't wanted to go back to Croatia.

Brought in Luka Stjepanovic on a free, has good potential and need a third right back in the squad in case Phillips or Thomas-Griggs got hurt or leaves.

League Table

The last two months has left in 13th with a negative goal difference and the fifth worst defense. On a good note we can score goals which show that our strickers can hang with the jump in level.

On a different note, Pitbull (Mr. Worldwide himself) has given up on the music industry and took a punt on being a footballer. Hope it works out for him but he should probably stick to music.

[KJG]

December & January

Mixed bag of results the past two months, the highlight being the 2-0 victory against Everton in the FA Cup. In the league we went 3-3-3 which is about as average as you can get. The best part about the last two months was that no one left which is great because there were teams wanting a few of our guys.

League Table

Those results leaves us in 14th in the Championship.

 

[Amarante]

Nice series great upturn in results keep it going. 

[SiAloha2019]

You’re almost finishing up your 7th season; Already will end at mid table position. Now with just 2 more years at most, you will be in the prem. I can’t wait for Ashton utd to smell the real competition. 

Predictions: 5 years into the prem, you will be win the league title. That is IF you don’t get relegated. 

You are going to get regelated in your 1st season at prem which is why 5 years you need luck on your side. So id guarantee 10 years into the prem you will get the title. That’s achievable.

also, Where’s the Motto? I feel like an underdog team should get a motto that suit them.

im thinking “From Ashes to Almighty Alpha”

[KJG]

17 hours ago, Amarante said:

Nice series great upturn in results keep it going. 

Thanks the turnaround in results really helped because about every week or so I was kept getting the message to hold a team meeting.

5 hours ago, SiAloha2019 said:

You’re almost finishing up your 7th season; Already will end at mid table position. Now with just 2 more years at most, you will be in the prem. I can’t wait for Ashton utd to smell the real competition. 

Predictions: 5 years into the prem, you will be win the league title. That is IF you don’t get relegated. 

You are going to get regelated in your 1st season at prem which is why 5 years you need luck on your side. So id guarantee 10 years into the prem you will get the title. That’s achievable.

also, Where’s the Motto? I feel like an underdog team should get a motto that suit them.

im thinking “From Ashes to Almighty Alpha”

I'll take mid table for this season and next aswell. I think we can win the Prem in four to six seasons in it if we're able to keep players for more than two years. I never really thought about a motto, the club doesn't have one so if someone can think of one. 

Febuary & March

Only two wins from nine which is not ideal but with four draws atleast we're gaining points. Out of the FA Cup to Milwall which is disappointing because I thought we could get past them fairly easily.

League Table

After 39 matches Ashton sits in 14th place, eleven points above relagation, and in a safe mid-table position. Given that most of the are young league one players with lots of potential, this is an overachievement if I say so.

Transfers

Now I know what your going to say why another striker and centerback but there is a reason. First 6ft 6in Bojan Radojkovic is a moutain of an 18 year old, who comes in on a free with a small contract has really no risk involved. Youssouph Mbaye was brought in because I couldn't help myself. I know I have a problem.

Youth Intake

Good youth intake most will be League One players but there are a few with some potential to impact the team in the future.

Brad McIntyre might be the best of the bunch, a centerback that can play all across the back. Has a few things he needs to work with but has attributes in all the right places.

[KJG]

End of the Season

Well thats ugly, confirmed safety after the Walsall match and got the chance to play some youngsters in the last three matches but to get two points in the last seven games is not good enough. If we were futher down in the table at the beginning of April we would have definitely gone down.

League Table

Finished the season in 18th place, could have been in about 10th if the results were there but I'll take it in the first season. I kept playing after this point and forgot to get the screenshot of the squad stats but they weren't that great but if ya'll would like to know some stats I'll try my best to get them. The aim next year is to finish around 10th but there is alot of interest in players and not much money so it might be a grind but we'll try our best!!

Edited February 18, 2019 by KJG

[Nobby_McDonald]

Well done staying up but very poor end to the season.

[djpdavey]

On 10/12/2018 at 03:47, KJG said:

We were expected to finish in the relegation zone and had alot of work to do with creating a tactic, which took over half the season, and bring in new players but year 1 was a success.

 

We finished just outside the playoffs with not alot of consistency througout the year but we majorly over achieved and would look to push for promotion the following season.

Great first season!

[KJG]

On 18/02/2019 at 16:54, Nobby_McDonald said:

Well done staying up but very poor end to the season.

Thanks, the end of the season was atrocious.

16 hours ago, djpdavey said:

Great first season!

Thanks, it was a real grind because we had the worst team in the league by a long distance.

[KJG]

Transfers

We'll start with the outs. Harry Burgoyne was the first to go, we couldn't pass up $500k and Blaney needs more playing time. Harry Brockbank leaves for $210k, money we couldn't pass up and to clear the way for Zubcic. Guillermo Aguayo had his release clause meet by Charlton and would not negotiate a new contract. Aaron Ekumah was not going to play so why keep him on the books. Miguel Angel Chan leaves after one year because he no longer wanted to stay after the offers came in, but I would $5.5m for 4 or 5 goals last year is good return.

Silva comes in from Portugal to split time with Blaney. Classon will start at left back, hopefully he grows because he was the best one I could find. Goncalves is coming in to replace Aguayo. Campenelli will start out on the left wing. Chibueze comes in on loan and will start on the right wing. The key to all of these transfer is that they were all on frees.

August & September

A good start to the season, changed back to the tactic that was used at the start of the story for the Hull match and have produced some really good results. The EFL Cup with Aston Villa sucked because we were two goals up and then had fm crap out the defence.

League Table

After the first two months we are in fifth place with match in hand. In a real good with an actual chance at promotion but there is a long way to go.

Facilities

This is how the facilities look right now, the data analysis and youth facilities are being improved as we speak. I haven't gotten the ability to improve training facilities for about the last six months so hopefully that changes soon.

[KJG]

October & November

Very average two months that started with three straight draw that involved a 2-2, 2-2, and a 3-3. These were followed by two losses then two wins and then two draws. We rounded out the period with a loss and a win. These past two months have been very weird because at times we look like a team that scores for fun but can't defend, then a team can neither score nor defend, and then a team that can defend but not score. Basically we been average and hopefully it doesn't cost us in the end.

League Table

We now sit in sixth place, only six points above 12th but six points from 1st. We need to improve defensively to continue this challenge for promotion.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Still got a chance to reach the Premier League...

[KJG]

On 28/02/2019 at 15:10, Nobby_McDonald said:

Still got a chance to reach the Premier League...

We did but kinda threw it away.

December & January

Ya thats not good. No wins in December and only one in January, the defence has just gone out the window the past two months.  18 goals conceeded over this time period which is not good enough for any club. Advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup with fairly easy draws, next up is Chelsea.

League Table

We've fallen all the way to 12th place in the league, hopefully our form can improve to atleast make our position comfortable.

Transfers

Kian Spence left for Notts for $135K, he wasn't playing and was one of the highest earners so he had to go. Garnett and Mbaye go out on loan to get playing time.

Deco and Nathan Williams join the squad, Deco comes in for $300K and could be a steal if he pans out. Williams joins on a free, needed a 3rd keeper in case the impossible happens.

[KJG]

February & March

I don't get this squad, we can beat Chelsea and Derby, draw against Huddersfield and Stoke, but lose to Sheff Utd and Luton. Don't know how we managed the Chelsea result given they fielded a full strength squad for the match. Besides that match, we've been average and are offically out of the promotion chase, which sucks because we have we have one of the better defenses in the league but can not score enough goals.

League Table

After two months we are still in 12th place but are 11 points from the last playoff spot and 12 points from the final relagation spot. I would have taken midtable before the season, but having started the season as well as we did its kinda disappointing.

Youth Intake

By far the best youth intake we've had so far, with five guys that could be anywhere from decent Premier League to good Championship players if they can meet their potential.

Matt Peake is a central midfielder who has good dribbling, first touch, passing, and technique, has decent mentals but needs to improve his physicals and hopefully he can grow taller. Josh Dover is a left back with pretty technical and mental ability for a 16 year old, with good physicals and at 6'1" he could be a good defender for a long time. Joel Ball is a right back who also has good technical and mental ability for his age and solid phyical ability but need to grow a few inches to be effictive in the air. Sam Barnes is a right winger who is fairly fast and agile who needs to improve alot in the techinical and mental aspect of his game but is in good standing for a 15 year old. Jason Hart is a striker who I'll look to make into a left sided inside forward, he got good finishing, technique, and heading, with some fair mental ability and room to grow on the physical side of the game. Andy Hooper is a center mid who is the biggest project out of the bunch and is probably not going to make it but you never know.

[KJG]

End of Season

One win to finish the season, should have beaten Norwich (late equalizer) and Sunderland (went up 1-0 but Phillips switched off on all 3 of their goals), drew to Burnley to end a very average year.

League Table

Finished the year in 14th place, which is respectable but the lack of goals really killed us.

Squad Stats

Only one player with double digit goals this season in Mark Wilson who scored 22 goals in all competitions, a real breakout year for the American. Gard and Zubcic, with Feeney every once in awhile, formed a great partnership in the center of the defense. Paul Vaughan saw his role increase again this year making 34 appearences (31 starts) and is hopefully the first in a wave of youth products to come. Couldn't choose between Blaney and Silva in goal, their about the same ability wise and have nearly similar goals against averages.

[Nobby_McDonald]

Excellent youth intake. Shame the season petered out to pretty much nothing.

Aston Villa relegated to League One. Crikey.