Hello friends and welcome back to my latest update of my Football Manager Story. If you remember from last time I finished off with the incredible FA Cup result in which we beat Liverpool at Anfield in the fourth round. The draw was made for the 5th Round and we were drawn at home to Blackburn. You’ll see some of the bigger teams have been drawn against each other so maybe a semi-final place could be a reality?
Here’s a look at the clubs finances as of January 2012. We have hit the £1,000,000 mark for the first time!
We travelled up the Lancashire coast for our next league game to face Morecambe who had handed us a 4-1 thumping back in September. After our defence was spilt wide open in the 12th minute for the home side to take the lead we fought back with goals from Conor Newton and Scott Wootten to take all three points. Our return to the Abbey Stadium saw us take on Colchester who had moved up to second place and it was Will Keane who earned us a point scoring late from the spot in what was for the most part a drab match.
The following game was also at home this time against Torquay. With a Blackburn on the horizon I completely changed the starting eleven for this mid-week encounter. Nadir Ciftci who had been left on the sidelines for some time now opened the scoring within the first ten minutes meeting a lovely cross from Walcott on the left flank. CB Tony Diagne powered in the second with a fine header from a corner to put us two up after 30 minutes. We were looking comfortable and remained in control up until the interval. Torquay mounted several attacks in the second half but loan GK Conor Devlin produced a string of fine saves but was eventually beaten in the 72nd minute. We replied almost instantly with a visionary pass from DM Harry Pell which picked out Ciftci who placed the ball past the keeper for his second of the game and put the match beyond all doubt.
The town been gripped again by cup fever for the visit of Blackburn Rovers to The Abbey Stadium for this FA Cup 5th Round tie. Expectations were somewhat high following the win at Anfield in the last round and those were lifted even higher as Nadir Ciftci picked up a through ball by Shane Williams and slotted it into the corner of the net after just 8 minutes. The packed stadium erupted but the joy was short lived as Blackburn soon fashioned an equalizer 7 minutes later and the game remained all square until half time as the rest of forty five proved uneventful. Blackburn took the lead early in the second half and scored with a low driving ball into the box that we failed to deal with. That goal was seemingly enough for the visitors who then proceeded to shut us down and we never even saw the opposing penalty area for the rest of the game and so our cup run was over.
Following the cup defeat we had two games left to play in the month which saw us endure another defeat away to Stockport County but then kept a clean sheet for the first time in ages with a comfortable win at home to Hereford to complete the month.
February Results
League Table (top six)
We still hold on to top spot but only just and realistically it looks like a three horse race now for automatic promotion. Our last game of March will be against Southend and could prove to be pivotal in the outcome of the season.
The first game of March saw us travel to Northampton whom we had crushed in the FA Cup earlier in the season. The home side were in no mood to have another such defeat inflicted on them and after falling behind to a penalty kick by Nadir Ciftci after 28 minutes went about wearing us down. By late in the second half we were exhausted and two goals in the last 6 minutes gave Northampton the victory and we lost top spot in the table.
We returned to The Abbey Stadium to face Crewe on the following Tuesday and due to fitness or injury I had to go with a 4-5-1 formation. It paid off very nicely in a very even encounter with goals from Frenchmen Tony Diagne who headed in form a corner and AMR Michel Sanchez who scored his first ever goal for Cambridge.
After the match the board announced that they were so pleased with our league performance that an extra £1,000,000 would be available in the transfer budget. Too bad they didn’t announce that in January!
Next up was away to Bradford City with striker Will Keane getting two goals both of which he forced across the line from corners that had been headed back in by Scott Wootten. A magical run by ML Karl Moore ended with a through ball into the box that Nadir Ciftci got a hold of and planted it in the corner of the net for a well deserved victory.
The next two matches saw us throw away a 2-0 lead at home to Cheltenham, tying that game 2-2 and then played like total morons away to Dagenham where we lost by 2-0. It was then time for our showdown with Southend at The Abbey Stadium. Due to an injury crises with the front line which saw only Nadir Ciftic available I had to get in another loan signing this time from Blackburn. Here’s is profile below.
On to the game which set off at a frantic pace as we tried desperately to find the early goal but Southend were having none of it. Just of the stroke of half time Joan Angel Roman lobbed the ball into the box that Atajic took on his chest, rounded the keeper and tucked it home – 1-0. In typical fashion Scott Wootten headed in from a corner in the 57th minute to extend our lead before Southend deservedly pulled one back some 20 minutes later. With the clock ticking down Southend launched another attack which ended in a brilliant save by Martin Hansen that fell into the path of skipper Brian Saah who then inexplicably slammed the ball into his own net! We had thrown away a decent opportunity for all but ensuring automatic promotion and so the last 5 games of the season will decide who will go up with Colchester as they look almost certain champions.
March Results
League Table
Fixtures
So the last two months have been particularly challenging especially with injuries and I’m very much regretting the sell of Mustaphe Traore at the start of the season as it’s obvious our defence is not as effective as last season. With five games remaining I feel we just have to win them all to ensure automatic promotion as Southend are a very strong team.
That’s it for this update so thanks for reading and see you next time for the season finale!
vaibhavc
11 мая, 2011 at 18:42
Hey Kevin
Unfortunate to see your FA Cup run end, I was hoping you could make it to Wembley. But your performance in the league is amazing, and you deserve to get automatic promotion.
Kevin
11 мая, 2011 at 19:04
Thanks vaibhavc, I hope that get that auto promotion too :)
Darren Smith
11 мая, 2011 at 18:48
Hey Kevin, a good set of results there. You seem to have problems with those injuries, but are still coping well and look set for promotion. In fact, if you win one more game you’ll be mathematically promoted!! Yey! Your finances look fantastic, you have more than Newcastle lol ;) Extremely generous of your board too, don’t go spending it all at once, though the cash will help build for a better start in League One. Well done anyway Kevin. :)
Kevin
11 мая, 2011 at 19:07
Hi Darren
I didn’t go into detail but injuries have been a pain this season. That’s funny I have more money than Newcastle :) I’m wondering though if that transfer money will still be there come July!
Johnny Karp
11 мая, 2011 at 18:57
Too bad that the FA Cup fairytale is over but I guess you have a much better chance for promotion now. It’s a shame that you missed out on the three points against Southend but I predict that you will secure that second spot with at least two games to spare ;)
P.S.: What a generous board, giving you the money when you can’t spend it! :)
Kevin
11 мая, 2011 at 19:09
Hi Johnny
I thought that sucked giving me that kind of cash after the transfer window closed! Was annoyed with that Southend result and hope it doesn’t come back to bite me in the you know what!
Sibo
11 мая, 2011 at 19:53
Ooof!
Unlucky losing out on top spot Kevin, it is of course mathematically possible, but with your injuries and the amount of time left I would prefer to focus on securing that automatic promotion spot if I were you, just saying… :D
Apart from that the club look good, the finances are wonderful, but as all good things do, your cup run came to an end :(
Good luck and I hope you manage to avoid the play-offs Kevin! :D
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:07
Hey Sibo
I hope to avoid those play offs as well but those injuries are a concern
Laxeyman
11 мая, 2011 at 19:53
Looks like promotion is all but secured Kevin, 1 more point should see you go up, and you deserve it after a great season. Shame about the loss to Blackburn, but you did fabulously well to get to the Quarters. You have a very generous board, and hopefully they’ll keep being so helpful, I wish mine were the same!
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:08
Hi Laxeyman
I couldn’t beleive what the board gave me. Wish they had done that in Janaury though!
Sayam Khan
11 мая, 2011 at 21:10
Hi Kevin, seems like your club is very wealthy, to have 1m in the bank in league 2 is quiet an achievement! I honestly thought you would run away with the title during the season but injuries have affected you. Unlucky there. Anyway you should get automatically promoted. Good Luck!
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:09
Hi Sayam
The injuries have been a pain, especially losing Fofana which has held us back somewhat.
Ana Garcia
11 мая, 2011 at 21:32
Such a shame to see your cup run ended after beating Liverpool, but I guess you can focus on the league and promotion.
Finances are great so am hoping you can celebrate a promotion next time!
Good luck!! :)
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:10
Thanks Ana
I thought we could beat Blackburn at home but that’s the cup for you.
Excessive
11 мая, 2011 at 23:04
Great set of results there Kevin, just a little shy of what you needed unfortunately.
Great cup run nonetheless and I hope that you can stay in touching distance of Colchester, who seem to be running away with it at present?!
Good luck :)
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:11
Hi Excessive
Colchester shot to the top out of nowhere and I don’t excpect to beat them now so it’s all about getting second place.
Alex
11 мая, 2011 at 23:41
Hi Kevin,
Shame to see you out of the cup, but as a League 2 side it was expected.
You are very close to automatic promotion, there is no way you cant get promoted ;). Hopefully that money they gave you grows by the end of the season so you have even more, you are rich for a league 2 side!
Good luck for the remainder of the season :)
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:12
Thanks Alex
I was surprised we got as far as we did in the cup and even more surprised by the money that came my way.
CsAtlantis
12 мая, 2011 at 00:02
Well you didn’t get too many chances against Blackburn, losing 1-2 was pretty respectable considering they had a lot more shots Kevin, seems like Colchester are pretty far in front, but who knows, a run of bad form could put you back in the running for 1st, but for now I think finishing 2nd to avoid the trouble of the playoffs should be your main objective
Not a bad loan signing from Blackburn there, though Atajic is more of an attacking midfielder as far as i know :P
Good luck in getting promoted Kevin, and some very nice looking finances
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:15
Hi CsAtlantis
I think Colchester will snag the title now and I really want to avoid the play offs if possible.
Sears
12 мая, 2011 at 01:11
Absolutely brilliant Kevin! Everything is going according to plan, shame about the defeat to Blackburn but you went on a phenomenal cup run. Good luck in your last batch of fixtures, hopefully you’ll pip Colchester to the title, good luck!!
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:16
Cheers Sears
I really thought we’d beat Blackburn especially playing them at home.
Lye
12 мая, 2011 at 01:38
Hi Kevin,
It’s a pity your cup run is over but they seem too good for your side mastering a number of shots. Automatic promotion spot is almost confirm and no doubt you will be playing league 1 football. You missed out on the title due to some poor results but most important of all you are going up. I hope your board will still be showing you that kind of money during pre-season. Good luck.
Kevin
12 мая, 2011 at 09:18
Hello Lye
As long as we go up some way that’s all that matters. I’m wondering if that money will still be around in the off season?
hils
12 мая, 2011 at 15:27
Hi Kevin,good 2 months there!!!!!!!!!! Unlucky on the fa cup loss!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!