Hello folks and welcome back to the Dorchester Story! Our life in the Championship was getting better and better, we had another good run of results in February and were sitting 5th at the end of the month, six points clear of the 7th placed team! We had a chance to grab a play-off spot but the seven games we had to play in March were absolutely crucial for our challenge.
The first game of the month was at home with 11th placed Huddersfield, they were play-off contenders too since they were tied on points with the seventh placed. Omar Koroma got us off to a flying start, he blasted in a banana shot only 30 seconds into the game! Then we showed a solid display until half time but not too incisive to be honest. Things changed after the break because I was forced to make some dramatic alterations in the team because of some fitness issues. I had no more fit central midfielders so I chose to change the tactical set up to a 4-3-3 with one CM, one central striker and two wide strikers. That was a counter attacking set up and I was hoping to score another goal and settle the game. We were under some pressure after the break but we were defending pretty well and our breakaways were looking quite threatening. One of those counters ended with Liam Parker being brought down inside the box, Omar Koroma netted the penalty and it was all over despite Huddersfield‘s injury time consolation goal.
We had another home game coming up, 19th placed Wigan were coming to meet us. We had a rather disappointing first half but we managed to score one, Liam Parker powered one in a couple of minutes after the half hour mark. Things were looking set for a quiet second half but some poor defending allowed Wigan to score the equalizer two minutes after the interval. My lads woke up and started pouring forward but our finishing was below par so we dropped two points.
Despite the poor performance against Wigan it appears that my name is listed among the probable successors to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, that’s quite pleasing :)
Back to the league, we had a good chance to get a win as we were playing away at last placed Watford. Omar Koroma set us on track again with a magnificent solo effort but we were not playing too well and Watford were pushing us back. They got a penalty kick on 23 minutes but the shot was saved by Davide La Rocca, it was the turning point of the game. We started to play a bit better and Mancini didn’t miss the chance to score from the penalty spot after Koroma was brought down inside the box. We had no more problems in the second half, we created countless chances and midfielder George Thorne made it 3-0 by scoring his first ever goal for the club.
Back at home for the next game, Pompey were coming at the Avenue Stadium. Portsmouth were touted as promotion contenders at the start of the season but they were sitting 14th before that game, they were having a disappointing season despite having some very good players in their squad. Our first half was a total mess, we were invisible in attack and sloppy in defense… Pompey scored the first goal from a free kick after my defenders failed to clear the crossed ball and then a similar second from a corner kick. Things got a bit better after the interval, Mancini came off the bench and clawed one back but just when our hopes were back up Javier Vila had to be taken off so we were down to 10 men. We were still in with a chance to get one point but it was all over on 74 minutes, Angelo Rossini had to be taken off too so we were down to nine men. Pompey netted another one, they were too many on the pitch :) The bad thing was that both injuries were quite serious: Rossini had to be out for three months and Vila for two months. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Sayam Khan
14 сентября, 2010 at 16:07
Good month Johnny, you should be able to get a play off spot.
Good luck :-)
Johnny Karp
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:15
Thanks Sayam, I guess we shouldn’t drop more than 8 points :)
Laxeyman
14 сентября, 2010 at 16:14
Well done Johnny, your team look set for a play off spot, I think an automatic place is unlikely. Good luck, I’m looking forward to seeing how you do in the play offs!
Johnny Karp
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:16
Thanks Laxeyman, we’ll need all the luck we can get in the play-offs.
hils
14 сентября, 2010 at 18:42
Well done Johnny. You have taught me to belive in miracles! Mohammed Tchite really is your main threat this season and next season he will be showered in offers!
Johnny Karp
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:20
Thanks Hils. I think I will sell Tchité at the end of the season, he’s 30 years old and I think I might find better and younger players.
Kevin Mayo
14 сентября, 2010 at 19:01
Hi Johnny
Well done, you are almost there. With that important win over Leeds a play off spot is almost assured now, but you still have a key game with Newcastle though I’m sure you can do it. Good luck with the end of season!!!
Johnny Karp
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:21
Thanks Kevin, that win over Leeds was essential indeed. I think that the most important game will be against Southampton, Newcastle are almost champions already.
Darren Smith
14 сентября, 2010 at 19:04
Great work Johnny! You have pulled off some right results there, 8 points clear of seventh offers lots of breathing space. I’m not too sure Dorchester will make the top two though as next month looks terribly tough. However, you never know given your current form. Well done mate and Im routing for a fifth consecutive promotion!
Johnny Karp
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:22
Thanks for your support Darren, a fifth consecutive promotion would be fantastic! I never managed five consecutive promotions or at least I can’t remember achieving something like that before.
Ana Garcia
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:03
Good going so far!!
Down to the nervy final few games!! You should hold onto your playoff place I think but the auto place may be just out of your grasp especially with that tricky run out.
Johnny Karp
14 сентября, 2010 at 20:23
Thanks Ana. I don’t think we can get that automatic promotion place simply because Bristol City are unlikely to drop more than 8 points in 5 games.
Lye
15 сентября, 2010 at 01:32
Hi Johnny, most likely the play-off spot is secured. However i think you will prevail and promote through the play-offs. Your team seem to have good record against the other play-off contenders. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
15 сентября, 2010 at 09:10
Thanks Lye. You are right, we have a good record against most of the contenders and that surely gives me and the players more confidence :)
rab carr
15 сентября, 2010 at 20:45
Alright Johnny,, your storey about your season with dorchester is nothing short of amazing you must be some manager , tactics, training, singing must be spot on well done man
Johnny Karp
15 сентября, 2010 at 22:01
Thanks for the compliment. You can see my approach to the game in detail here: https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2010/07/football-manager-lower-league-management-guide/
Sears
15 сентября, 2010 at 21:08
Hi Johnny,
play off spot should be secured now, and like Lye said, your record against those around you is marvelous. I thought in FM09 you got Blyth promoted five times in a row? If I can do it with Chelmsford City, I’m sure you can do it too :-D Goodluck!
Johnny Karp
15 сентября, 2010 at 22:00
Thanks Sears. No, I didn’t get five promotions in a row with Blyth, only four… We stopped for a season in the Championship and then got promoted.