FMS Patriots — August 2011

Hey everyone!

Last time you saw the mighty Patriots gearing up for their debut season in the Premier League. Just a year a go, these 18 year old’s had swarmed the town of Scunthorpe in the hope that they could save the local team from relegation. Now, with records broken in the first season and a Championship title in the bag, the youngsters are about to embark on their biggest test so far. Personally, I am fairly confident of survival in the long run. We have the strength in depth and have proven that we offer much more than both the newly promoted sides, and the weaker sides of the Premier League. Although there was a slight problem in that we faced three, top six teams in the first four games. Confidence is non-existent, but as we have nothing to loose there is always the chance of an upset! Fingers crossed then eh?

So, we started the debut against non other than Liverpool. A very strong side on their day, and one that with the likes of Gerrard, Suarez and now N’Zogbia, can tear any team apart. My stomach was filled with butterflies even though I didn’t think we had much of a chance and as the ref blew his whistle, we were off with me on the edge of my seat and Patriots Park buzzing! First call of action, Sears heading over the bar from a Dezmo corner. Something tells me that the die hard Liverpool fan won’t even be attempting to score with an effort like that ;). The away team hit back, controlling the rest of the first half as Suarez teased the back four. Dribbling around them, his two attempts to feed N’Gog were wasted as the Frenchman couldn’t steer any of his attempts goal wards. Straight after the restart though, there was action! Steven Gerrard getting sent off for two bookable offences, get in! With 10 men Liverpool struggling, the Patriots were rampant as a flurry of chances came close. All hopes of a clinical finish were fading for FMS until newly named captain Sears struck home three minutes before full time. His tap-in from a McLean short corner grabbing all the three points for the Patriots in a game they were predicted to get well-beaten. Looks like he wasn’t afraid to score after all..

With the three points in the bag, FMS were hungry for more! This time however they would have to face Fulham at Craven Cottage, a hard place to go at the best of times. Still, the momentum was with the newly promoted side and after the result against Liverpool anything is possible. First half was amazingly action packed seeing one-on-one chances being saved left, right and centre. Vaibhav must take most of the credit for some unstoppable saves against Murphy and Hangeland. On the other hand, FMS had numerous openings to carve open a goal but all their striking options were not clinical enough in the first half with Smith and Pepper both missing in-front of goal. Second half got off to a stormer though as the away side took the lead within the opening 5 minutes. A Smith through-ball finding Crosby on the left hand side. His shot was initially saved but the re-bound fell to Pepper who stuck it home from all of 5 yards. They extended their lead with a Smith tap in just after the hour mark before the home side managed to grab a one back a couple of minutes after. That proved to be a consolation goal though, meaning the Patriots dream start to the Premier League continued.

We took a break from Premier League fixtures and focused on progressing in the League Cup at the expense of 2nd round opponents Peterborough. As we were on home soil, I saw it fit to introduce some of the lads who hadn’t played as much as I would have liked over the past year. Things didn’t get off to the best of starts though and we went behind after Mackail-Smith scored a brilliant solo goal, smashing it off the post and letting the keeper parry it into his own net. Bushy pulled one back though after a 40 yard through ball from Hazza got him one-on-one with the keeper and things started to look bright for the youngsters. However, things turned sour just before half time as Posh managed to take the lead through the same scorer. I tried to install some motivation at half time but things just got worse as Mackail-Smith added his 3rd and 4th goals to cause a huge upset for the league 1 side. Hopefully this was just one of those days for the players, but I was furious all the same…

Maybe we could turn that great upset into a great triumph? Well, it would be tough as we entertained a strong Arsenal side for the final game of the month. I was less than confident, and as the whistle blew my fears were almost instantly realised as the away side managed to take the lead in the opening 6 minutes through a Chamakh goal. Arsenal were dominating possession throughout and we were lucky to draw level at half time. Crosby playing a delightful ball into the path of Pepper, who rounded Enyeama and slotted it home to give the fans something to shout about! Disaster for Vermaelen as the Belgian international was sent off for a straight red just after the restart which meant an opening for the Patriots to exploit. Could they take advantage? Um no. Robin Van Persie giving 10 men Arsenal the lead back after only 5 minutes. FMS did start pressing at this point, and they finally got their just deserts as Pepper managed to get his brace after another Crosby assist. The points looked like they were going to be shared, but deep into the game Menez broke Patriot hearts as he stuck one home inside the area. Gutted..

Early doors but that left us hovering around the Europa League places after 3 games. It was very important that we managed to grab points from somewhere in August though as to not be scared with the threat of relegation. Only 34 more points to go! :D

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

Reserve Games:

First reserve game of the month, and it was away to Blackpool! Alex bagging himself a hattrick with Bmwdestroyer rounding off the rout with a goal of his own.

Second and final game of the month saw the reserves face Liverpool. They duly followed in the first team’s footsteps as Liam101, Niller and Big O each managed to bag one on the way to victory.

Loan news next then, and I tried to listen to all your requests in getting first team football away from Patriots Park. There was a number of teams in for each of you and I only accepted the ones that were promising you that. So.. Here is the list:

Injury news as well, and there were some bad ones this month:

Lastly, it’s the international duty news. I think this is pretty much the whole squad?!

Congratulations to Sears and Plobdork as well:

We also got ourselves on the award’s panel this month…

That’s right, all three places in the Young Player of the Month award have been occupied by an FMS player. Sears got the award though, just pipping Crosby and Pepper respectively. Well done lads :)

Next month we kick off against Manchester United at Old Trafford to carry on the near impossible start to the season. Then we entertain Sunderland and take a trip to Forest which hopefully we will get a couple of points out of with any luck:

So that’s your lot for this episode boys and girls! Thanks for reading and as ever stick your comments in the box if you want anything doing to your little pixelated character ;)