Cambridge United: August 2011

Hello friends and I’m happy to bring you the latest update in my Football Manager Story as Cambridge embark on thier first season in the Football League.

A good crowd of almost 6,000 showed up for our opening game of the season as we took on Wycombe Wanders. We dominated the proceedings from start to finish restricting Wycombe to just one shot on target whilst up the other end created much for ourselves with opportunities falling to practically everyone. In the end it was a frustrating start to life in League 2 as we lacked the killer touch to win the game.

Next up was the League Cup 1^st Round tie against Millwall at The Abbey Stadium which saw us get off to a bright start in the opening 15 minutes and it looked like we were going to give our opponents a hard time. Millwall though soon settled and opened the scoring with a low drive into the corner of our net after 20 minutes. That was all the encouragement they required and from there on controlled the game eventually running out a comfortable 4-0 winners.

An injury to Martin Hansen in training saw Dean Bouzanis get his first start of the season as we travelled south to London to take on Orient in League 2 action. Bouzanis though was about to face the same fate as Hansen in the League Cup as our defence was shambolic allowing way to much space allowing Orient to race out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. RB Rory McAualey provided the cross for N’Goma to head in our first goal of the season but the home side regained their two goal advantage whilst we were still celebrating. Although we fared somewhat better in second half, Orient powered home a fourth goal late in the game to leave us reeling near the foot of the table and leaving myself and the coaching team to ponder where we have gone wrong?

We were back at home for our next game against Hartlepool with ML Karl Moore producing an inspirational first half performance that was worthy of something other than just near misses. A bad case of ball watching by our defence allowed Hartlepool to take the lead early in the second half which they defended resolutely for the rest of the game. Another defeat led to the players being booed off the field and I faced a barrage of abuse from the fans as I headed back down the tunnel.

The following game was away to Burton and we fell behind inside ten minutes as once again we conceded a goal struck from distance. The next 80 produced a catalogue of near misses from N’Goma, Newton and Hoesen and it was substitute Ismael Fofana who rescued a point for us after Williams had played a through ball which he cleanly struck into the roof of the net on the stroke of full time. This was a much needed point to calm the wrath of the fans if nothing else.

For the second time this month we took on Wycombe but this time in the Southern section of the JPT. Scott Wootten put us ahead with a bullet of a header after Josh Morris had beautifully floated in the ball from a free kick on the left flank. Harry Pell who hasn’t had the best of starts with the club showed a bit of class with a precision pass into the Wycombe box that Fofana whacked home past a stunned looking Wycombe keeper. The third goal came on the stroke of half time as Morris took the corner with the ball being headed back across the box by Wootten and was met on the volley by youngster Luke Berry for the best goal so far of his young career. The second half produced a far more pedestrian performance and we even gave up a goal but nonetheless it was a far more encouraging display by the lads and a good way to end the month.

Results Summary

League Table

Fixtures

After last seasons record breaking points and goals our start to the season is a real major concern for everyone at the club. Although Fofana has started to score the other three strikers are very much struggling in front of goal. The temptation is there to go for a «panic» loan but for now I’ll resist that to see if my striking unit can improve in September against opposition, who like ourselves, are in the lower half of the table.

Thanks very much for reading and have a fantastic weekend which features the FA Cup semi-finals!!