Hello everyone and welcome back to my final update for Football Manager 2011 as I bring you the conclusion of my Southampton story. We left off last time with The Saints in second place in the table, six points behind Birmingham so how did it all end up?
March 2012:
I got nostalgic and decided to finish the season off with how I started FM 2011 using my old “left flank” Wrexham 1.3 tactic which paid off handsomely with a 3-0 win over Watford thanks to two stunning strikes by Finnish midfielder Matilla. We followed that with a tense 0-0 draw with QPR and then came up with another 3-0 win over Norwich. A captivating performance by Jason Puncheon was the centre-piece of a 3-1 win away to 5th place Hull and two stunning strikes by forwards Wickham and Betanin finally saw off Peterborough in a 2-1 win at St Mary’s. After a bit of a first half scare we finished off the month with another three goals at home to Reading which saw Wickham take a nasty knock but he seemed to be okay for the final 5 games.
League Table:
That superb run of form saw us secure a play-off spot and maintain second place with Forest taking over as leaders.
As I just mentioned we now had just 5 games to play in the regular season, two of them away to teams looking for promotion.
April 2012:
In a very even match a sensational free kick by Sakari Matilla gave us the 1-0 win away to Blackpool and kept us level on points with Forest but we now had a game in hand as they had lost in midweek to Leicester 3-0. Our game in hand was a midweek encounter with Coventry which saw a dramatic change in the line-up as I planned for the showdown with Birmingham. My strategy almost backfired as after going 2-0 up through a brace by Chamberlain Coventry clawed two goals back but Edgar Cani headed in the winner 4 minutes from time and suddenly we were top again and three points clear.
Three games to decide the title and first was our huge game away to Birmingham. Brazilian defender Botteghin had the ball in the back of the net within the first ten minutes but the goal was disallowed for an infringement. Birmingham replied with an effort that was cleared off the line and after a tense first half the score remained 0-0. Connor Wickam gave us the lead just before the hour mark as his speed was too much for the defence and struck the ball under the keeper from a Mattila through ball. The home side equalized some 10 minutes later and the score remained unchanged until full time.
Our final home game of the season was played in atrocious weather against Swindon and a single piece of magic by Tom Cleverly saw him slip his marker and his shot provided the only goal of the game for a crucial three points. That left us top and promoted to the Premier League as Birmingham could only draw and Forest who won still remained three points behind. We just needed a draw at Cardiff to win The Championship.
And so the final game of the season (and FM2011) away to Cardiff which we won by 2-0 with both my winter signings doing the business to ensure The Championship trophy was on it’s way to St Mary’s.
Results Summary:
We had an incredible run of form to finish of the season winning every game except two.
League Table:
Squad Ratings:
Sakari Matilla proved to be an absolute gem of a signing from Italian side Bellinzona, with Betanin, Puncheon and Wickham making the difference between «also ran’s» and league champions. Goalkeeper Brian Murphy has to be the unsung hero as his efforts between the sticks were nothing short of monumental and was paramount to us conceeding only 32 goals for the season.
So there we have it, Southampton are off to the EPL though sadly that brings an end to this story and Football Manager 2011. Many thanks for all your support and comments over the past year and especially those during a family illness crisis back in the UK which I very much appreciated.
I’ll be back with Plymouth Argyle in Football Manager 2012 so until then keep safe and good health!!
Martin - F.M.J.S
12 октября, 2011 at 23:35
Hi Kevin
That is such a good way to finish your last story in FM11 Congrats. Can’t wait now for FM12 and to start my new story and i look forward to your first post on Plymouth Argyle story.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 00:00
Thanks Martin, I’m looking forward to getting started on FM2012 too :)
vaibhavc
13 октября, 2011 at 04:36
Hey Kevin
Great way to end FM11. It is was very crucial and difficult to stay unbeaten in all those games. Amazing job mate. It sad to see that Southampton will never be in the Prem, but exciting to see how you manage Plymouth.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 09:23
Hi vaibhavc
I’m delighted too st the way things ended especially that unbeaten run which blew me away.
nielsneutron
13 октября, 2011 at 06:31
Great ending.
Btw you Wrexham tactic is there a download link?
Hope you can get as great success with Plymouth Argyle.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 09:26
nielsneutron — glad you like the ending
There is a link to the tactic in the downloads section but I have tweaked it a little since the original. If you want to email me at kevin.mayo@live.com I’d be happy to send you the updated version.
Dan(MDTM)
13 октября, 2011 at 08:59
Great final season! Too bad you can’t win the EPL with Southampton but I’m sure you will with Plymouth:)
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 09:28
Thanks!!
It would have been interesting to see how we would have done in the EPL and hopefully Plymouth will bring me that success.
Johnny Karp
13 октября, 2011 at 10:13
Yay! I told you! :) Congrats on the title Kevin, this was a quick story but a great one and you surely deserved this happy end!
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 12:29
Thanks a lot…it did go by pretty quick especially as I plyed alot over this past long weekend. Anxious to get to that demo :)
Paine
13 октября, 2011 at 11:06
Why don’t you play another season Kevin? Nine days before FM 12 release, It could be interesting to test your team strength in the Premiership.
Good season anyway.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 17:25
Hi Paine
That’s tempting but with the demo out for FM 2012…well that’s more tempting :)
Darren Smith
13 октября, 2011 at 12:12
Well done mate that was a superb finish to the season as you revived Southampton. Winning two trophies and building a strong team was the perfect end to your FM11 career. Can’t wait for FM 2012 and hopefully you can get some demo time in now.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 12:32
I honestly felt the team would slide at the end of February so I thought what the heck an brought in my old tacitc which suited Southampton perfectly. Only regret, I wish I had chosen them back last year as I could have had a mammoth story with them I feel.
Lye
13 октября, 2011 at 13:11
Hi Kevin,
Fantastic end to the season. That close a wonderful story and looking forward to another successful season in FM12.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 17:26
Pretty good eh? But to be honest I never imagined we would win so many games!
Sears
13 октября, 2011 at 14:22
Well done mate, a perfect way to end the story.
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 17:27
Yeah, it couldn’t have gone any better really :)
Laxeyman
13 октября, 2011 at 16:09
Fantastic Kevin, brilliant way to end with Southampton, well done! That tactical switch worked a treat, and I’m looking forward to your Plymouth story :)
Kevin
13 октября, 2011 at 17:31
I was quite shocked how well the switch worked. I should have used it earlier in the season. Hope I bring you a good story in FM 2012
Freddie
14 октября, 2011 at 16:13
Well done!!
Please vote for my FM12 team footballmanager20112012.blogspot.com
Kevin
15 октября, 2011 at 12:25
Hi Freddie
Greetings from Canada and thanks for your comment. I just voted for Leeds on your blog. Good luck!
Stromson
14 октября, 2011 at 19:15
Well done Kevin! While I preferred your Cambridge story, this was a fine way to finish out FM11. I’m genuinely excited for your FM12 story, and I can’t wait to see how you manage with Plymouth (and their Pompey-esque financial crisis in particular).
Kevin
15 октября, 2011 at 12:27
Hi Stromson
I’m glad you enjoyed my Cambridge story which I’ll try and repeat with Plymouth. However in the dome at least this club is in dissaray on and off the field…ouch!