We remained top of the table and even widened the gap, York were eight points behind us! Promotion surely looks like a distinct possibility now, we just have to keep pushing until March…
At the halfway point of the season on-loan left back Lee Molyneux emerges as our most consistent player, he has been flawless at the back and also very inspired upfront since he recorded no less than 10 assists. I’m pretty satisfied with all the players so far but I felt we needed a couple of reinforcements just to be sure (more about that later).
The player that I would like to single out at the end of December is left winger Alexandru Gheba, a Romanian player. I brought him in last season on a free transfer and he quickly became one of my favorite players. He played for a Romanian second division team at some point but his career didn’t take off as I brought him from a non-league Romanian club. Last season he made 38 appearances, scored 7 goals and made 5 assists. This season he already hit the target six times and also made four assists. What I like the most about him is his creative approach to the game, I never know what he’s going to do when he has the ball around the opponent’s penalty area. Sometimes he goes to the byline and crosses, sometimes he cuts infield and plays the ball through the gap for the strikers, sometimes he dribbles his was through the defense and scores :)
And now about the transfers. I asked the board to find me a parent club but they failed to do that yet again, I guess I’ll have to keep trying. The good news is that I managed to make a transfer! Let me narrate what happened.
One of my four scouts came to the office and he was looking pretty excited. I am trying to imagine a dialogue between him and me, let’s see if I’m any good at that. ;)
— Sir, I found a good player in Ireland!
— Please tell me he’s a goalkeeper!
— No sir, I’m sorry. He’s a centre back and he just ended his contract with the Shamrock Rovers.
— A centre back… We’re pretty well covered in that area with Ryan Carolan and Visatovici, I don’t know…
— Sir, excuse me for interrupting you, he’s better than Ryan!
I got off my chair, went round my desk and looked my scout straight in the eyes.
— Are you sure?
— Yes sir, trust me!
— Then what are you waiting for, get his agent on the phone!
That’s how I imagined the conversation. The player’s name is Stefan O’Brien, a regen centre back that already has 5 caps in the Ireland Under 21 national team! There were more than a dozen clubs interested in him so when I offered him the contract I chose to give him 200 pounds per week instead of 120 pounds, the wage that he was requiring. He put pen to paper right away and he will join the club on the 1st of January!
His attributes look very good indeed, he has very good pace and defending attributes but I am a bit concerned by his low team work and work rate attributes. I hope he’ll correct those things once he’ll get a bit more experience and I’m looking forward to seeing him in action alongside fellow Irishman Ryan Carolan.
We’ll be quite busy in January, seven games to play including the FA Trophy second round.
That’s about it folks, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the post. There probably won’t be any more transfers in January since we’re already over the wage budget but I will try to bring in a couple of players on loan to enhance the squad.
Sears
30 июня, 2010 at 12:24
Thats a good dialogue you wrote there Johnny! I’m not quite sure why Shamrock Rovers let that youth player go… He seems to be a promising player! Now you have an Irish centre back line!… You surly have wrapped up the title now, and nice to see you got revenge on Ebblesfleet. Well done!
James
30 июня, 2010 at 12:37
hi johnny really enjoy the posts,
trying to make my own so check it out.
thanks :)
http://profootymanager.blogspot.com/
Callum
30 июня, 2010 at 14:23
Good month again Johnny. I am pretty amazed Shamrock did let Stefan go he looks great he will surely be a great player for you. Noticed Jivan has slight concerns keep your best striker happy ;) Think you are pretty much certain to be promoted now unless you get an injury crisis.
Johnny Karp
30 июня, 2010 at 15:06
@Sears
Thanks mate, I hope that the two Irishmen will be like a wall in front of our keeper. They should get along together well too :)
@James
Thanks and good luck with your blog, I’ll keep an eye on it ;)
@Callum
Thanks. I was pretty surprised to see that guy on a free transfer. Jivan is concerned about the media attention that he’s getting, he feels a bit under pressure. He had the same problem last season but recovered after a month or two.
Callum
30 июня, 2010 at 15:33
He might go a couple of games without goals because of the hype.
Zinedine Zaiddin
30 июня, 2010 at 16:40
Quite good progress, and I think the part about Christmast Gift for your fans is the best part for this entry. Keep it up mate!
Mo
30 июня, 2010 at 17:15
Excellent dialougue, i enjoyed that!
I hope to see you in League 2 next season!
And that player looks pretty good!
dami
30 июня, 2010 at 17:27
Another good month,the new signing looks really good…hopefully your team will gain promotion soon…
Laxeyman
30 июня, 2010 at 18:22
Well done Johnny, that’s a pretty good month. I think you’re almost certain to get promoted now, what a great job you’re doing! Stefan O’Brien looks like a decent player, hopefully he’ll develop well and be a rock at the back for you in the coming years.
Rob
30 июня, 2010 at 18:56
Hi Johnny good month again I was just wondering if you could please tell me your best starting 11 thanks a lot.
Rob :).
Johnny Karp
30 июня, 2010 at 19:10
@Zinedine
Thanks a lot for your comment.
@Mo
Thanks, I’m happy that you enjoyed that little piece of fantasy.
@Dami
Thanks, I hope to get promoted with a few games to spare but we have to keep the good form into the next couple of months.
@Laxeyman
Thanks mate, I hope to keep O’Brien up to the Premier League :)
@Rob
Thanks for the comment. The best starting eleven would be like this: Maximiliano Catalano between the sticks, Mensah on the right in defense, Molyneux on the left, Carolan and Visatovici in the middle, then in midfield Mycoe on the right and Gheba on the left, el Kadi and Juanje in midfield, Jivan and Dabu upfront. Usually I have to replace both wingers and one of the central midfielders in the second half because they always get quite tired.
Kevin Mayo
30 июня, 2010 at 23:00
Hi Johnny
Excellent find from the Republic of Ireland which should really enhance your defence even further.You certainly ended 2010 with a bang in that 5-1 hammering of poor old Telford. Great stuff!!
Majk
1 июля, 2010 at 09:36
Excellent as usual! I enjoyed the transfer-story in the end and he does certainly look like a promising young centreback, that could at this point get lots of playing time already which would only help him develop his stats.
Johnny Karp
1 июля, 2010 at 10:04
@Kevin and Majk
Thanks, I have high hopes for that Irish youngster. He will be a first team regular right away and I hope he’ll have the ambition to develop his skills.