I had to go abroad to find another striker and I finally settled for Polish player Szymon Kazmierowski, a strong lad with good all-around abilities. He played for Polonia Warszawa last season and managed to score eight goals in 23 league appearances, I hope he’ll improve that percentage in League Two.
The best of the players that I brought in on loan is English regen right winger Andy McKay, a 17-year old player from Manchester United. He has great potential and I hope that he will be able to develop well at Dorchester since he will be given lots of opportunities to play first team football.
My assistant thinks that we have a problem with the right back role and I agree with him. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a good right back and since we are already over the wage budget I guess we’ll have to do what we can with the available players.
My assistant arranged a tough set of friendly games for us and I am satisfied with the results overall. There were just two disastrous games, the defeat against Blue Square South side Bath and Championship side Bristol City. The other games were quite pleasing and I am proud that we managed to beat Championship team Nottingham Forest and League One outfit Bradford.
The odds are against us again but we’re used to that…
Here’s my 24-man squad, a multinational team with players from all over the world. I still couldn’t manage to bring in a Brazilian player although there were a few interested. They were not given work permits so I guess I’ll have to wait until next season. The starting eleven should be something like this: Tudor — Hoyte, Carolan, O’Brien, Daprela — McKay, El Kadi, Ferry, Rosalia — Koroma, Kazmierowski. I guess I will sell one of the backup wingers at some point but I can’t decide which one at this point.
The first month of the new season will see our debut in the Carling Cup, we will have to face League One side Coventry. As for the league games, I hope to get at least nine points out of the first five games.
That’s how our pre-season was my friends, thanks for reading. Again, I’m not sure what to expect from the new season but I hope that I’ll be able to keep my promise to the board and get a top half finish. Where do you think we’ll end up?
Chris @ Chester
19 июля, 2010 at 12:45
I’ve gotta say Johny, you have the worst board in the world. But still you’ve done a tremendous job preparing for league 2. It might just be me but I thinkt there isn’t a great difference in quality between bsp and league 2. Good luck with promotion
java
19 июля, 2010 at 13:13
u know? if i were u i’ll quit the game and maybe uninstall my football manager.
ur board is the «best», but u still managed to prepare a good squad.
ur story’s very inspiring…
i’ll create my own football manager blog soon. :D
good luck johnny!
Sears
19 июля, 2010 at 13:15
Hi Johnny, the board seemed to show no ambition but with the resources available, you did a wonderful job. I really believe you can shock a few people in the new season and secure a play-off spot or an automatic promotion spot. I wish you all the best luck, goodluck.
Johnny Karp
19 июля, 2010 at 14:31
@Chris @ Chester
Thanks mate. I don’t know much about the level of play in L2, I guess we’ll have to find out.
@Java
Uninstalling FM is not an option, never! :) Thanks for the good luck wish, let me know when you’ll have your blog up and running.
@Sears
Thanks for the confidence, I guess we’ll know more after the first couple of months but I surely hope that your prediction will prove to be right :)
dami
19 июля, 2010 at 14:08
well the club is owned by two 18 and 21 brothers who probably don’t know how to run a club… but I think you should be able to achieve a promotion spot…
anyway I have a problem…I have this two forward who don’t score as much as I would like…any advise on what roles to give them…
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab213/dami007/7GencaySivuk.png
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab213/dami007/9ManuelSosa.png
Johnny Karp
19 июля, 2010 at 21:38
Dami, it’s not just a matter of striker roles. From what I see those two have great potential and very good abilities so normally they should perform well. But football is a team game and a striker can’t score if he doesn’t receive enough balls into good positions or if he constantly has to use his weaker foot etc. The first thing that you should check is if the team is creating enough chances for these strikers, if not then you have to modify the tactical set up. In my tactic the striker roles are assigned in a manner that makes them blend in with the rest of the team, pass the ball and enter exchanges with the midfielders or wingers. Anyway, the point is that I can’t say «use that one as a poacher and the other one as a complete forward» because you have to assign those roles according to your tactical set up.
Ana Garcia
19 июля, 2010 at 15:01
Your transfer policy is much like mine in respect of signing players from all over the world!
All my teams are very multi national but I too favour my home country’s nationality (Spanish in my case, Romanian in yours). Plus you must have a great scouting network just like I like to have!
A tough season ahead I always found the step from non-league to professional was always tough and took me a few season to establish myself, however with your record at lower league level I wouldnt be surprised if you were pushing for the top four!
Best of luck Johnny.
Lye
19 июля, 2010 at 15:28
I think we are used to the way the board works in the lower league mate. My Thurrock board should be the most stingy board in the FM world, i only have 60k to work with in the Championship. Nevertheless i think you have sign some bargains there and this should equip you to challenge for a play-off spot. Good luck.
Cal
19 июля, 2010 at 15:33
Good job at finding such good players i don’t know how you do it!!!
It must be annoying having such a bad board but you’ll be able to do it
Good Luck in Legue 2!
Laxeyman
19 июля, 2010 at 16:40
Hi Johnny, once again the board have let you down, but you’ve still managed to bring in some decent players. I think you’ll acheive your top half expectations, and you may go even higher, good luck!
Callum
19 июля, 2010 at 16:45
Like the new polish striker. I am a bit disappointed with Jivan leaving as i was quite attached to him. I think you will do well and a play off place is realistic although your team looks a bit shaky in a few of the friendlies. Good Luck Johnny :)
java
19 июля, 2010 at 17:10
haha… i don’t really mention it johnny. just i can’t wit ur board. if there are difficulty level mode on FM2010, playing as a manager of Dorchester Town is a Very Hard difficulty level, maybe Expert, or Legendary. U’re doing a great job Johnny.
well, i just started to play a new game (patch 10.2.0.) with Aldershot.
i just finished building the squad for the first season and won my first match. :D
i’ll write it down on my blog immediately. when i finish i’ll post the link here.
sorry if there are some wrong words, i’m indonesian, my english is… hehe… (u know what i mean)
Darren
19 июля, 2010 at 17:29
Hi Johnny, you’ve made some real progress there. Its ashame your board are as tight as a ducks a**e though. Well done on capturing Simon Ferry, I had him with Havant and Waterlooville. A very good midfielder however his lack of football leads to a long bedding in period.
I remember the Champions League game very well, Rangers were blown away by Unirea. Tudor may be old but he is a quality signing for League 2. I also like your new strikers, they could make the difference in a tough season. I’m not a betting man but if I were, I’d have Dorchester for the play-offs. Good luck Johnny
Kevin Mayo
19 июля, 2010 at 17:43
Hi Johnny
Darn this time difference as everyone has said it all before I get a look in :)
Anyway, Ferry should be a great asset to your team and as usual found an array of little gems for your team. Good luck with League 2!
java
19 июля, 2010 at 20:06
This is my new blog Johnny, i’m still an amateur in both blogging and playin FM, a cocky amateur. :D
Please check it out if you have some free time.
http://kickinorder.blogspot.com/2010/07/first-shots-of-shots.html
Johnny Karp
19 июля, 2010 at 20:15
Hi Java, I had a look but I can’t comment since I don’t have any of those types of accounts required to comment. You should change that setting. Anyway, I noticed that you signed Danish full back Rang Shawkat too, he should be a decent backup in my game.
java
20 июля, 2010 at 04:45
I’ll change the setting immediately. Sorry i’m new with blog. :)
Well, i have no choice because of the wage budget, so i approached some free players. Actually i found a great goalie for my squad, Villafuerte. He’s 30 and 15 caps for ecuador. He agreed to sign contract but i couldn’t get the work permit for him.
Johnny Karp
20 июля, 2010 at 05:16
Yeah, work permits are hard to get indeed.
Johnny Karp
19 июля, 2010 at 20:12
@Ana
Well, my scouting network could be better… I have only seven scouts but I tried to bring in staff with knowledge of various countries in Europe and beyond. Thanks for the good luck wish.
@Lye
Thanks mate. I can’t remember exactly, when did they find you a parent club for your Thurrock?
@Cal
Thanks for your kind words. Part of «how I do it» can be found here: https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2010/07/football-manager-lower-league-management-guide/
@Laxeyman
Thanks for your encouragement. They did let me down but I think they will have to wake up at some points. Otherwise I think that I might remain at the club longer than them ;)
@Callum
Letting Jivan go was a tough decision to make but he had quite a few injuries and that affected his overall strength. I also needed to free some of the wage budget so I decided to sell him.
@Java
Don’t worry about your English, it isn’t that bad and the good thing is that you can always improve it with a bit of work. I’m looking forward to reading your blog.
@Darren
Thanks for your optimism, you could win a lot of money too considering the odds :)
@Kevin
Thanks! I have pretty high expectations regarding Ferry, he should be the leader in our midfield.
Lye
20 июля, 2010 at 01:36
Hi mate, if i remember correctly, they got me a parent club when we were in league 1. I had the same situation as you requesting for a parent club for few times and got rejected. I got fed up and never ask again. They automatically link with Peterborough during league 1 times.
Johnny Karp
20 июля, 2010 at 05:17
Thanks for the information Lye, then I guess I should wait until we get promoted to L1…
Andries
20 июля, 2010 at 11:00
Johnny,
I love this episode. The build up stories are favorite with me. I caught myself being angry at your board over your transfer and wage budget. It’s an absolute outrage, calling themself a proffesional club with such resources! Wish you the best of luck!
Jolicobbler
20 июля, 2010 at 11:17
Some good signings, Johnny. Will you adapt your play to accommodate your playing surface?
I know how stingy theses boards can be. I just survived L1 with Eastleigh on the last game. I now have a 20% smaller wage budget this season and that’s after saying I would finish in the top half. I’ve had to ship out players and bring in loans. Makes things interesting I suppose!
We have just moved to a new stadium so finances are a bit tight but with bigger crowds comes more money…next year should be better.
Good luck with the season. I’m predicting a top 3 finish!
Johnny Karp
20 июля, 2010 at 11:31
@Andries
Thanks mate. I guess they still have to learn what «professional» means.
@Jolicobbler
We played on muddy pitches at home and away too so far so I guess we’re used to it. Thanks for the good luck wish and I wish you the same for your Eastleigh career.
java
20 июля, 2010 at 12:28
http://kickinorder.blogspot.com/2010/07/august-good-start.html
My next post is done… check it out, thanks….
@johnny: Do you know when the next FM patch release? or maybe FM 2011?
Johnny Karp
20 июля, 2010 at 15:14
There won’t be another patch for FM 2010. FM 2011 will probably be released in October or November but nobody knows that for sure yet.
java
20 июля, 2010 at 19:06
i see…
thanks for the info sir. ^^