Hello friends and welcome back to my continuing Cambridge United story which last time out saw us end October on a high with a 5-1 thumping of Blackpool. Let’s see if we could continue that kind of form despite all the dressing room turmoil of late.
November
The first game of the month saw another East Anglian derby with a trip to Portman Road to take on second place Ipswich Town. A very tough encounter saw both sides create and squander chances and after falling behind early in the second half we came up with an equalizer from the penalty spot converted by RB Marcelo Canteros. A draw was a fair result and I was happy with the point.
Our second game was an equally as difficult encounter as Nott’m Forest visited The Abbey Stadium and were in third place in the standings. Danish striker Jacob Plambech gave the Forest defence a torrid time in the opening thirty minutes but their Northern Ireland GK Lee Camp was stopping everything being fired at the goal. Forest though took the lead with some slick passing and finishing just before half time and it wasn’t until 8 minutes from time that Plambech was finally rewarded with a goal heading in from a deep cross by Canteros. Another draw. Hmmm?
It was our third game in seven days and it took us all of 76 minutes to wake up in our visit to Selhurst Park but we finally overcame Crystal Palace with goals from Bandiera and Plambech for a much needed come from behind victory. Back home we entertained Plymouth with MR Sean Power finding the head of DC Bandiera at least a dozen times but to no avail. We left it very late indeed to secure the win with Jeff Webster finding opposite wingman Johnny Gorman in the box whose curling shot beat the Plymouth keeper with minutes to spare on the clock. We made it three wins in a row at Pride Park with Derby taking the lead after just six minutes. Jacob Plambech then produced two fine goals in the space of fifteen minutes to secure a 2-1 away win.
Following the Derby game the draw was made for the Third Round of the FA Cup which will see us take on Aston Villa at Villa Park. Good day out for the fans not so good for the team.
Morale was now the best it had been since we got promoted to the Premier League but STILL players were unhappy with several knocking on my door to discuss my performance as a manager. I’m tempted to start transfer listing some of these players but they are crucial to our chances of reaching the play-offs.
December
The Christmas season started off with Deportivo La Coruna showing in interest in Mariano Blanco which didn’t really surprise me. No offer as yet but I slapped a £6.5 million price tag on the young Spanish midfielder.
On the field our first encounter on the month was at home to 21st place MK Dons so I switched things around a bit to give some fringe players an opportunity. The strategy almost back-fired as we allowed the visitors too many chances and I had to bring on Plambech in the last 15 minutes who then put us ahead with a well-executed strike on goal which was followed by a farcical goalkeeping error that allowed Maclaren to add a second in injury time.
Next up we travelled to Hull where our changed strip of all white blended in nicely with the snow. Glen Richardson opened the scoring after 16 minutes forcing the ball across the line from a corner kick. First half domination failed to produce any further goals but 10 minutes into the second half Gorman added a second as Hull made a mess of clearing a free kick that ended up in Gorman’s path to tap into the net. An unlucky deflection allowed Hull a late goal but not enough to change the course of the result.
My 300th game in charge of Cambridge marked the start of a 4 game Christmas schedule which began with a 1-0 win over Swansea thanks to a sensational 30 yard strike by ML Andreas Dossena. We stayed at home for the visit of Newcastle with Jacob Plambech given us the lead within 40 seconds. A typical bullet header by Bandiera made it 2-0 after 20 minutes and that was all that was needed to fend off a struggling Newcastle.
A trip up to Yorkshire to take on Huddersfield was next with ST Glen Richardson finishing off a lovely counter attacking move inspired by Plambech after just 6 minutes. Huddersfield equalized just before the half hour mark but DC Lune restored the lead with a headed in corner just on the stroke of half time. A cheeky little lob from Scottish striker Jamie MaClaren finished off the game in the 73rd minute for a really satisfying away win.
We closed out the year with a home game against Bolton with a view to making a clean sweep of this four game series. Sadly that didn’t happen as we were reduced to 10 men following the sending off of DC Giovanni Ferrara after 31 minutes. Jamie MaClaren had given us the lead some nine minutes earlier. Bolton made it 1-1 just before half time and a second half rear-guard action saw us hold out for the draw as the visitors tried desperately to take advantage of the extra man.
Results Summary:
Two months unbeaten — now that’s a turnaround in fortunes!
League Table:
Thanks to those results as seen above we now find ourselves in the play — off picture!
Other News:
I was linked to two other jobs in December, both Premeier League clubs, those being Aston Villa again and also Sunderland. If you recall I was offered the Villa job prior to starting our Premier League campaign. In any event I declined to comment and both vacancies were eventually filled. I did apply however for the vacant Northern Ireland manager position as I felt this was a good chance to get into international football but I was an unsuccessful candidate.
Back to Cambridge and the Stadium upgraded which was finally completed, extending our capacity to almost 13,000.
Finances:
We dropped a little down to 16 million probbably becuse of having to pay for the stadium upgrade.
Fixtures:
We start off the New Year with an FA Cup encounter with Aston Villa and then have three important games against fellow promotion challengers in Burnley, West Brom and Sheffield United.
Phew, that’s it for this report other than to say I have some big news to start off the next update. No, I haven’t resigned and I guess it’s not really that big other than for the club itself and a first for me. Anyway you will have to wait and see :)
Thanks for reading as always and I look forward to your comments.
Nicholas Phipps
18 августа, 2011 at 19:18
Great too see your turnaround in fortunes and your team are starting to click :) Looking forward to seeing the next update and interested to see the ‘news’
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:49
Thanks Nicholas — it’s nice to have some forward momentum going. i’m not sure if the news is that exciting after I posted about it!
Dan
18 августа, 2011 at 19:35
Nice to see you’ve managed to pull yourself up into the play-off places Kevin. Your actually not that far from automatic promotion but it seems like goal difference could be an issue if it comes down to it. Hopefully it won’t though and you can go back up automatically. Good luck.
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:51
Hello Dan — I’m very pleased that we have suddenly ended up with a promotion chance and I’ll have to work on that goal difference tally!
nielsneutron
18 августа, 2011 at 19:45
If you can keep your top players and the current momentum you even have a chance of winning the championship.
I can’t wait for the news.
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:52
Hi nielsneutron — good point about keeping my players as I’ve rejected several bids for quite a few first teamers already.
Darren Smith
18 августа, 2011 at 20:01
Haha, just call me Mystic Meg…I knew you’d turn the form around and things should get easier from here on out. Great work mate and you certainly avoided a mini crisis. The stadium expansion is great news and I think promotion this season will land you with a nice budget to avoid relegation next season looking at your finances. Good luck mate.
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:54
Hi Darren — well given your flair for predictions you could try your hand at the fairground!Yeah, the crises seems to be over for now, in fact it’s just like being at work which really sucks. I was happy to get the stadium expanded as well.
Johnny Karp
18 августа, 2011 at 20:24
That’s more like it, well done Kevin! You’re heading back up to the Premiership, I’m telling you! :)
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:55
Mr Karp — I truely enjoy confidence in me — I hope I wont let you down!
Sears
18 августа, 2011 at 21:26
Good work Kevin, KIU!
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:56
Hi Sears!!
I’ll do my best mate!
Laxeyman
18 августа, 2011 at 21:29
Good run of form Kevin, your players seem to be gelling nicely now, and if you can keep up this form then automatic promotion is certainly possible. Hopefully it can keep going, good luck!
P.S Looking forward to the news in your next post :)
Kevin
18 августа, 2011 at 21:58
Hey Laxeyman — I wish I hadn’t opened my mouth now as I don’t think the news is that exciting anymore :)
I think Jan & Feb will be crucial months for an automatic spot.
vaibhavc
18 августа, 2011 at 23:03
Hey Kevin
Great job for Cambridge in these months, two games unbeaten. If results stay like this, then you will be promoted in no time. Good luck!
Kevin
19 августа, 2011 at 01:28
Thanks vaibhavc — long way to go yet but hopefully you are right :)
Lye
19 августа, 2011 at 01:29
Hi Kevin,
This late charge of results could be crucial. The confidence and morale should be back. You are not too far behind the leaders. I have a feeling if you keep on performing the way you are now, you can claim that automatic promotion spot and make it your own.
Kevin
19 августа, 2011 at 21:44
Hello Lye
Confidence is back and as for the late charge I totally agree.
George Dobson
19 августа, 2011 at 08:57
Hi kevin well done on turning your fortunes around I hope you go up.
Kevin
19 августа, 2011 at 21:44
Hi George- thanks for the comment and the support!
Michael Grantham
19 августа, 2011 at 16:40
Great to see your team turning the form around kevin, Im sure you can push on for an automatic promotion place! good luck
Kevin
19 августа, 2011 at 21:45
Hi Michael — Appreciate you leaving a comment and I hope you are right with that prediction!
CsAtlantis
20 августа, 2011 at 06:07
Great run of form you’re having Kevin, you are just 3 points behind the 2nd automatic promotion slot, and you’re playing Sheffield United, so good chance for you to go straight back up, keep it up, the stadium expansion will pay itself back quickly