Hello my dear friends, it’s been so long since my last post… I’m sorry for the rather prolonged interruption but I was extremely tired after last week’s field trip so writing was out out of the question. I’m slowly recovering now, so I’ll try to give you a new episode of my Notts County Football Manager 2010 story. We were still unbeaten at the end of November, that’s what I remember, let’s see how we played in the last month of 2015.
The first game of the month was the tricky Carling Cup encounter with Chelsea. I was expecting a spectacular game but the two teams failed to live up to that expectation. Chelsea parked the bus and defended extremely well and my players struggled to find enough space to create danger. We took a number of shots but most of them were either blocked by the defenders or went wide, that’s how we only managed to send one shot on target in 120 minutes. The game went to the penalty shoot out and this time we were luckier than Chelsea and clinched the win. The great news is that we’ll meet Nottingham Forest in the semi final, I guess the fans will be quite happy to watch another derby.
Back to the Premier League, we had an away game at 15th placed Reading. The first half saw us playing quite badly, Reading had a couple of good chances but failed to take the lead. We created a bit of pressure after the break but not nearly enough to score. Cristian Zapata came to the rescue once again with a powerful corner kick header but our joy was short lived, Reading got back level two minutes later. We did win the game eventually, right during the last minute. It was a moment of magic from my strikers, a quick exchange between Andrea Romano and Rafael Sobis gave the Brazilian the perfect chance to score and he slotted it home. We didn’t play well at all and that was only one reason to be concerned. The other one was Fabian Delph, he got injured quite badly and will be out between 2 and 3 months.
Next up, the last Champions League group game, away at Atletico Madrid. Both teams were already qualified for the next phase but we had a chance to finish top of the group if we would have won the game. We started the game well, dominating and keeping Atletico’s defense under pressure. That was converted into a goal eventually, Ashley Young made a superb run down the left flank, curled in a pinpoint cross that Andrea Romano headed in. Atletico tried to react but their best chance came from a free kick, Marek Hamsik hit the post with a fabulous shot. We looked in control of the game after the interval but Atletico managed to score a sensational equalizer, Ignacio Camacho powered one in from way out to make it all square. We continued to attack but Atletico‘s defense was hard to break down. Simon Kjaer did it again though, he powered in a corner kick header 8 minutes from time. Just when I was preparing to reorganize the defense for the last hot added time minutes Andrea Romano rifled in a superb free kick from 30 yards out. It was a hard fought game and I was very happy to claim the victory and finish top of the group.
While we were waiting for the first knockout stage draw I had another draw to attend, the very important UEFA Euro 2016 groups draw. Well, my England were seeded 2nd so we will have to face mighty France and strong Denmark and Bulgaria. I guess we have a good chance of finishing second in that group but it won’t be easy.
Back to the Premier League then, struggling 17th placed Tottenham were coming to entertain us at Meadow Lane. We were piling up the pressure right away and Rafael Sobis scored the opener after a good pass from Nicola Bonetti. Sobis doubled his tally before the break and then made Tottenham’s reaction useless by converting a penalty kick and earning another hat-trick.
The next game saw us travel to 8th placed Newcastle, one of the most in-form teams at the moment. They were unable to stop Rafael Sobis though, the Brazilian striker netted another hat-trick in less than half an hour! Guilherme and Kjaer added two more goals so we were 5-0 up at half time! Newcastle came out with a double or nothing attitude in the second half, they were going all out attack and it paid off, they nearly got back into the game. My players must have been too sure of the victory at half time. Anyway, we won it but conceding three goals in 20 minutes is not a good sign. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Lye
31 марта, 2010 at 16:27
Hi mate, your team is unbeatable. You will be ruling the premier league again and should have no problem easing past Valencia. Thought you have a tough group for England, should be vying with France for the top spot. I am very impressed with your centre half paring, they can defend and they can score too.
cory berman
31 марта, 2010 at 17:46
good to hear from you again and your team is going from strength to strength even with the delph injury and guilhelme’s unexplained lack of form, But that can happen. I dont agree with Lye, valencia have a great team : silva,villa,juan manuel mata,joaqiun and Co. but im sure you are better team and shall prevail over two legs but you might encounter some problems in doing so. Good luck!!
ravenie
31 марта, 2010 at 18:03
I wish my player were such good finishers as yours my young strikers finding it difficultto find the net
Majk
31 марта, 2010 at 18:09
Your centre backs are immense. Sobis is way too good aswell. 18 goals in 15 innings is truly remarkable. Valencia shouldn’t pose that much of a threat as long as you can keep their few star players in check. Villa and Silva might even be a bit old at this stage? Well Silva should be around 30-ish anyway, still a real threat, unless he has been sold.
Hope you’ll do well with England as that is your biggest challenge, seeing as your Notts Co is more or less unbeatable.
Sears
31 марта, 2010 at 19:13
Cory,I agree with Lye’s remark over yours because I think your forgetting how old some of those players you mentioned are.Remember,he’s in the year 2015,not 2009.But yes they do have a great team,but maybe its old by now?Im not sure but Johnny has gone a few years in to the future!
Johnny, your team is doing fantastic.Title is sealed allready,it just has to be wrapped up now.Two big derbys coming up, I wish you luck in what should be a trilling encounter.Well done,you should be very proud of yourself and your team.
sam warren
31 марта, 2010 at 19:25
Well done another good month. You should be able to easilt progress from the euros with England and I think that you can easily go all the way.
I think that you have got the title wrapped up and in the bag for a second consecutive season and I hope you can win the Champions League as well. Busy 6 months ahead of you then, hope you can achieve it all.
warren
Laxeyman
31 марта, 2010 at 19:48
Hi Johnny,
Well done, another great month. The title will surely be yours once again, your team is just unbeatable! The Valencia game will be quite tough, but I think you’ll go through as they’re main players are probably quite old by now.
The England group is tough, it will be a challenge, but I think you’ll finish at least second.
Kevin Mayo
31 марта, 2010 at 20:49
Welcome back Johnny
I’ve missed your updates but it’s good to see that all is as should be in the world of Notts County, that being unbeatable. A nice little lead at the top of the table to finish the month and games in hand too. Romano has been a superb buy for you and I’m glad to see Hinschelwood still gets a look in.
Micheal
31 марта, 2010 at 20:55
Wow Sobis is in deadly form at the moment. No 1 as far as I can see will stop you winning the league.
Johnny Karp
31 марта, 2010 at 21:57
Thanks for sharing your views and for the kind words folks, I surely missed your passionate approach to the game. :)
@Lye
The pair of centre backs has been essential to our progress so far, all the big clubs are sending in offers for Zapata and Kjaer now…
@Cory
Valencia have a good team even if, as the others said, Villa & co are quite old now. Villa is 34 if I remember correctly but his technical skills are still world class. I’ll tell you more about their team in the February update.
@Ravenie
Experience is pretty important, strikers gain composure and concentration with age. Rafael Sobis is 30 years old, so I guess he’s at the peak of his career.
@Majk
I agree that England is the biggest challenge but I still have something to prove with Notts County, win the Champions League!
@Sears
I am quite pleased indeed but I still hope to see better performances from them.
@Sam Warren
I don’t think we’ll have an easy run with England, France have an incredibly strong team, Italy and Spain are great too.
@Laxeyman
I’d settle for the second place in the group with England, I just hope we won’t have any injuries because there are not too many world class players available to call up.
@Kevin
I think that Romano is the best transfer I ever made, he is unstoppable and still young!
@Micheal
Sobis is a killer indeed, he started the season on the bench but then fired his way to the top.