Most of my players were exhausted but luckily I had the perfect chance to give them a rest, the FA Cup 4th round game against League Two side Carlisle. My backup players put on a great show, Peter Singh hit the net four times, Jonathan Ezquerro and Packie Doolin scored as well but I was extremely happy to see 17 year old centre back Raul Munteanu scoring a goal on his debut. The game was very entertaining for the crowd at Avenue Stadium, I was quite pleased with the healthy result too.
Back to the league then, we had a home game coming up against 11th placed Bolton, a team that beat us quite clearly in September. Things appeared to take a sad turn again as Bolton took the lead just five minutes into the game with a bizarre goal, probably the weirdest goal I’ve ever seen in FM 2010. Their left winger was running down his flank, my right back was far behind him but I was not too worried since my centre backs were well placed and the midfielders were tracking back. Things appeared to be all set for a cross inside the box but my keeper suddenly decided to walk away from the goal line straight to the edge of the area, then stopped there to admire the ball going in…
My lads were not affected by that early goal though, we were pushing forward and managed to level the game on 20 minutes when Fran Merida played a great pass for Laszlo Tamasi who powered it in between the keeper’s gloves and the near post. Eight minutes later the two players made the Bolton defense witness the same drill, through pass from Merida and Tamasi finish but this time the ball went in off the far post. The game was going our way, the team was playing very well and Iulian Marin made it 3-1 with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. The second half was entirely ours as well, we could easily have added a couple more goals to our tally. Bolton‘s first clear cut chance came two minutes from time but Davide La Rocca saved it.
We were preparing for the last game of the month when I received the news that I hoped not to receive… A good offer came in for centre back Petre Micu after I previously refused around three offers of 3 million pounds. Hoffenheim offered more than 5 million and the chairman rushed to accept it against my will, I can’t agree to sell the best player in the team for 5 mil! I offered Micu a new contract at Dorchester but he most probably will not accept it since he asked for 8,000 pounds per week and I was allowed to offer him at most 4,000 pounds…
Anyway, he was still with us for the last game of the month, away at 15th placed West Ham. I told the lads to play for the fans, we had to give them a reason to be happy before Micu‘s departure. The first half was quite spectacular, both teams were determined to attack and score but luckily only my lads managed to hit the net, an outstanding solo effort from Liam Parker gave us the lead on 26 minutes. Then goalkeeper Davide La Rocca stepped into the spotlight, he was fantastic between the sticks and we had to thank him for leading 1-0 at half time. I was hoping for a more quiet second half but the first five minutes showed me that my hopes were not going to be fulfilled. West Ham were pouring forward so I decided to switch the strategy to counter, which means a deeper defensive line, less attacking full backs and a much more careful possession play. We could have doubled the lead on 55 minutes but Parker‘s good shot from distance hit the crossbar, then the game turned our way when the West Ham right midfielder received his marching orders after a second bookable offense. A handball inside their box gave us the perfect chance to wrap it up and Omar Koroma didn’t miss from the spot. We won the game but hats off to West Ham, they played a good game and never gave up despite being one man and two goals down.
Petre Micu received an award to wrap up his career at Dorchester, he was picked Premier League Young Player of the Month… He was our best player until now, an average rating of 7.32, 29 appearances, seven goals and an assist… He has not yet accepted the contract offer from Hoffenheim but I think it’s just a matter of time. Unfortunately I think that the sale will not give me any money to bring in a replacement so I will have to rely on the current players. I might ask the chairman to join us in training, maybe he’ll make a good centre back :)
By the way, I managed to sell Jonathan Dos Santos for 550,000 pounds.
But let’s look at the bright side, we managed to consolidate our 6th place, we have four points on Birmingham and I hope we’ll be able to hold on to that lead next month.
We’ll have some tough games though, at home with Man City and Everton and also the FA Cup clash with Birmingham.
That’s about it for now my friends, I’m quite eager to play the February games and also to see if Micu will leave the club or not. Although I am almost sure that he will leave I still hope that he might turn down the offer from Germany… Thanks a lot for reading, stay tuned for the next update during the weekend ;)
Sayam Khan
1 октября, 2010 at 21:30
Well done johnny, good month, and fingers crossed micu doesn’t leave.
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 10:15
Thanks Sayam.
Jack
1 октября, 2010 at 21:40
Johnny another great month! I think a europa place is a certainty now, especially with how you’re playing. You can also see how your side is only a few quality signings away from greatness. I can’t help but wonder though if you’d be any better having a big target man as a complete forward and moving liam parker to right wing? I’ve used your tactic before (to great effect) but by using Edin Dzeko as a complete forward, of course this is only my interpretation of your tactic but your thoughts on the matter would be interesting. Good luck with next month anyway! Only two points behind Arsenal in 4th could prove an exciting finish.
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 10:18
Thanks Jack. I think that the tactic works with or without a big target man. It could work better with a stronger complete forward but I couldn’t afford anybody like Dzeko right now anyway, he is big but he also has skills and pace and such complete forwards don’t come cheap. Parker does well on the right wing too but at this point he is the best striker that I have in the team so I think that moving him on the right flank would be a waste of his talent. He scored lots of goals all by himself, receiving the ball to his feet and then skipping past the defender and striking it.
Kevin
2 октября, 2010 at 00:39
Hello Johnny
Well done on keeping that 6th position and unlucky against Arsenal. I can’t find my glasses so is that right your new stadium seats 81,000?
I hope too Micu stays with the team. By the way that wandering GK happened to me too in my old Swindon game.
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 10:19
Thanks Kevin. It’s 8,000 seats, not 81! :) They didn’t build the Camp Nou at Dorchester yet :)
Kevin
2 октября, 2010 at 12:27
I found my glasses :)
81,000 LOL. That didn’t seem right :)
Lye
2 октября, 2010 at 03:17
Hi Johnny,
It was a great month you have, a Europa place is for you to lose even though there are some tough games waiting for you but i hope you will nick it. It will be great to see Dorchester playing against the Continent. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 10:20
Thanks Lye, I hope that we’ll be strong enough to defend that position.
hils
2 октября, 2010 at 08:20
Well done Johnny. Now TOP HALF is a very,very realistic target!!!!!!! Good luck!
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 10:21
Thanks for the good wishes and for the suggestion too.
Laxeyman
2 октября, 2010 at 11:11
Well done Johnny, good month and now you should finish top 6, which would be fantastic. Shame about the loss to Arsebal, good luck for next month.
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 16:19
Thanks Laxeyman, I hope we will manage to hang in there among the top 6.
Darren Smith
2 октября, 2010 at 13:05
Hey Johnny, well done on another good month. Its amazing how well you have adapted to the Prem! You must surely aim for a minimum top seven finish now. Its a shame about Micu, but you got a decent price I guess.
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 16:18
Thanks Darren. That money doesn’t really make a difference for me now because I won’t be able to buy anybody but Micu’s absence might be important. Well, I’m sure it will be important since he was our best player this season. And the price is not that good either, I’m sure that I would have gotten at least 10 mil for him next season.
Jack
2 октября, 2010 at 15:02
Your stadium is going to have be upgraded again surely, 8100 is silly really :P Even Blackpool’s stadium capacity is around 12,000. Surely there are more football fans in Dorchester?
Johnny Karp
2 октября, 2010 at 16:14
They will probably upgrade it again during the summer if the club will have enough money.
Sears
2 октября, 2010 at 18:35
Great work Johnny, you must be so proud. Shame about Micu, to lose such a wondeful defender during the closing stages of the season could prove crucial in your sides challenge for a European spot, though there wasn’t much you could do about it. When I start a new game I always set the asking price of my prized players through the of so the so called big clubs won’t be sniffing around for to long. Well done mate.
Johnny Karp
3 октября, 2010 at 11:32
Thanks Sears. I tried the asking price trick at some point but most players tend to get upset if you set a high asking price for them.