Dorchester Town Story: March 2016

Hello folks and welcome back to the small town of Dorchester! Our Football Manager 2010 story continues with one of the toughest months in the history of the club, a month in which we had to meet football giants like FC Bayern, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. We were still sitting second in the Premier League at the end of February and we also had the privilege of continuing our Europa League and FA Cup runs. Let’s see what we managed to do in March.

The first match of the month was played at Old Trafford and it was the FA Cup quarter final with Manchester United. We enjoyed a fantastic start with two of my players taking us to a great two-goal lead before the 12th minute: Iulian Marin was the man who played the assists and Craig Carlisle was the one who powered them in! Unfortunately Man United clawed one back quickly, Nani rounded off a flowing team move on 16 minutes. We held on until half time with a bit of help from the crossbar on one occasion but the team was looking quite solid. We started to play even better in the second half, we were dominating the game but Wayne Rooney leveled the game wit a goal against the run of play right on the hour mark. Things got worse when left back Can Kahveci had to be stretchered off the pitch, we were down to 10 men but we managed to hold out until the end of the game and earn the right to stage a replay at home.

Next up, the first leg of the Europa League clash with German titans FC Bayern. Their team was very solid with great talent especially in midfield and upfront. We were lucky enough to get off to a flying start again, Iulian Marin chipped a ball past the defense and Craig Carlisle rounded the keeper to give us the lead inside the opening minute. Then Bayern took control of the game, we were under a bit of pressure until half time but goalkeeper David De Gea kept our lead intact with a few superb saves. The pressure cooled off a bit after the interval, we were in better shape and even managed to convert the better display into a goal when substitute Gael Kakuta made a great run down the left flank, then burst into the penalty area where he was brought down by a defender. Christian Stuani converted the penalty kick and we were celebrating a solid two-goal lead. Fran Merida had a great chance to make it 3-0 a few minutes later but he was denied by the keeper and we paid the price for that missed chance as Bayern clawed one back nine minutes from time. The Germans switched to a 4-2-4 setup, they were determined to net the equalizer but we pulled back and held on to grab an important win. The one goal margin was a slim advantage to take into the second leg but I guess we couldn’t have done any better.

Back to the Premiership, our first league game of the month was a very tough one at Emirates Stadium. We were in 2nd position and Arsenal were just behind us in third, a true derby! I was pleased to see my team defending very well during the initial minutes and even more excited when Christian Stuani produced a magnificent solo effort to bag his 20th goal of the season! We continued to defend very well, Arsenal were limited to shots from distance that were easily handled by De Gea. Liam Parker had a good chance to double our lead in the second half but we didn’t really need that as Arsenal were unable to do any damage. Our unbeaten run stretched to a fabulous 30 games, easily the best run in the club’s history!

Another unbeaten game would have booked us the passage to the next round of the Europa League, we had to hold out for a draw in Germany. It was a huge task though and I chose to start with a more cautious setup. We were defending pretty well, Bayern were unable to create any clear chances but that was until the 22nd minute when John Heitinga was sent off for a violent and totally unnecessary tackle. I wasn’t expecting such a blow from an experienced player like him but the team held on well until half time. The one man disadvantage proved to be more important after the break, Bayern were really pouring forward and we were surviving with more and more difficulty. We did survive until the 69th minute when Huntelaar fired one in, the game was looking as good as over. I was trying to figure out a way to create some chances to score but that went up in smoke on 73 minutes when Laszlo Tamasi was stretchered off the pitch, we were down to 9 men and our European adventure was over. Things got even worse after the game, the physios announced that Tamasi‘s season was over, he was going to spend four months on the sidelines… Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.

Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.

Back to the Premier League for another tough test, our next game was at home with 8th placed Liverpool. The game started well for us again, Iulian Marin played another perfect assist and this time it was Christian Stuani who fired it in from inside the penalty area. We continued to play well but wasted a couple of good chances before Torres put one past our keeper with a stunning long range strike. Liverpool pulled back after the goal and contained our attacks perfectly, we were unable to get anything past their defense and recorded yet another Premier League draw.

Next up, the FA Cup replay against Manchester United. It was the only cup competition that we were still in so I was quite keen on pushing through to the semi final. My plans seemed to be ruined by a terrible start, United took the lead five minutes into the game after a great counter attack that left my defense totally stranded. We managed to get back into the game before the break though, Rafael Coelho netted the equalizer with a great effort from an acute angle. The game was quite spectacular but even, there was nothing to separate the two teams as the match went into extra time. We needed something special to avoid the penalty shoot-out and that special moment was produced by Liam Parker, he bent in a fabulous shot from 25 yards that sent the ball straight in past a helpless keeper. United tried to react during the final moments of the game but we pulled back and defended our lead very well. We were through to the semi finals where we are going to meet a weaker opponent, Wolves.

But we had to keep things going in the league before that semi final, another tough game was ahead of us as we had to travel to Old Trafford again to meet Manchester United for the third time this month. We were on a 21 match unbeaten run in the Premier League but that great streak ended with a crushing defeat. We got off to a nightmare start again as United took the lead just three minutes into the game but then we wasted two huge chances before United doubled the lead on the breakaway. That second goal made my team crumble and we conceded the third goal a minute before the break. I was unable to change things around at half time, we had an even worse second half but we did manage to get in a consolation goal…

The final game of the month was away at 18th placed Hull, a team that was struggling to avoid relegation. They had shown good form before that game though, Hull were on a three match unbeaten run! We had to win the game though, we had no excuses! Things seemed to be right on track after winger Anderson gave us the lead on six minutes, we were in control until half time. I was hoping for a quiet second half but my plans changed two minutes after the break when Martins easily ran past my centre backs and fired in the equalizer. We got back in attack and celebrated taking the lead again on 67 minutes when Craig Carlisle did some great work to set up Rafael Coelho. Our joy was ruined by Obafemi Martins yet again though, my centre backs were unable to stop him and he leveled the game 11 minutes from time. The clock was ticking and we were pouring forward… The 90th minute went by, we entered stoppage time with slim hopes of grabbing the three points that we would have deserved. Crosses were flying into the Hull penalty area and one of those balls found its way into the net: Craig Carlisle headed on a cross to Coelho who headed it on again into the path of Anderson who stabbed it in! Phew, that was a nervy one…

We managed to hang on to that second spot and I think that we have a top four finish in the bag at this point. We still have an outside chance to claim the title, we are five points behind Tottenham with six games to play.

Our schedule is not very tough, we should be able to get at least four or five wins out of the last six Premier League games. We’ll also have the very important FA Cup semi final at Wembley, I really want to reach the final and grab that silverware!

That’s how it was folks, our unbeaten run ended, we crashed out of the Europa League, but we are still in with a chance to lift the FA Cup and maybe try to push the title chase down to the wire. I hope that Tottenham will drop some points in the first three league games in April, that could draw us closer and add more pressure on the Spurs. We have to do our job first though, we have to win our games and then check the other results. Thanks a lot for reading my friends, stay tuned to see the final post of the season!