Here we go dear friends, the final episode of the Championship season is finally here! It has been a long difficult journey but we were close to achieving something that seemed impossible at the start of the season: the Championship title. We only needed three wins out of the last five games, we had to play well and get those nine points!
The first game of the month was at home with 21st placed Peterborough, a team that we defeated quite clearly away from home, 3-0 in November. We didn’t play too well in the first half but managed to score twice. It wasn’t thanks to our game but due to some very poor defending from Peterborough. We continued the poor performance until Peterborough clawed one back in the second half, then my boys realized that they had to bring things under control. At that point we were 7 points clear of Newcastle, the second placed team.
The next game was at home with promotion contenders Derby County, they were in 7th place but still had a good chance of getting a play-off spot. We took the lead right after the break thanks to a superb header from Tomas Pekhart, he tried that in the first half too but only managed to hit the crossbar. Derby tried hard to get back into the game after the goal but we defended very well and grabbed another win, two out of two so far in April. With those three points we secured promotion to the Premier League and we needed just one more win to get our hands on the title!
Next up, a tricky away game at 13th placed Doncaster. We managed to defeat them 1-0 at home back in December and I was expecting another difficult game against them. We had to play well but for some reason we didn’t, it was a poor performance and the 0-0 draw postponed our title celebrations.
The next game was another difficult one, at home with 10th placed Cardiff, the team that defeated us 3-2 in December. It was a nightmare game back then, we were leading 2-0 and got beaten 3-2 in only a few minutes. We produced a solid performance this time and we were 2-0 up again in the 71st minute. I guess I was a bit overconfident and refused to pull back and defend the lead. Well, it seems that was a mistake, Cardiff pulled off another comeback and delayed our title celebrations again!
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Martin
8 января, 2010 at 14:17
Well Done!
You Should Try Your Best To Get Alibec Tied To A Permanent Contract
And To Get The Pitch Relayed
Maybe You Could Search For Some Brazilan Magic To Help You In The Premiership
James
8 января, 2010 at 14:53
Yea try and get Zezinho on loan usually from Juventus .. WELL DONE!!! =) i wish you luck. Ure gona need it
kevin
8 января, 2010 at 14:54
Johnny
Congratulations on winning the title though for me this was never in doubt. Looks like Pekhart has been a fantastic signing for you and i hope he continues this form as you make your inevitable charge towards Europe glory. I feel another Chester City in the the making.
By the way is Sven still around with Notts Co?
Johnny Karp
8 января, 2010 at 15:39
@Kevin
Thanks Kevin. Yes, Sven is still around but I haven’t seen him working so far :)
@James
Thanks mate, I’m sure we’re going to need luck ;) I wrote down your suggestion, I’ll have a look at Zezinho.
@Martin
Thanks Martin, Alibec is a priority for the transfers campaign. I always liked Brazilian players and I am surely going to try bringing another Brazilian to my team. It’s quite difficult though because many of them are not given work permits.
Lye
8 января, 2010 at 16:15
Well done mate, fantastic season and you will become a legend for the club soon or maybe you already have been. I wonder whether you have any intention to get a world class goalkeeper, i believe Ben Amos and Kasper Schmeichel need few more years to be capable of handling those world class strikers in the premiership. This is one of my suggestion, I don’t know whether you see is there a need to buy another keeper. Once again congratulations on the promotion and looking forward to see Notts County in the premier league.
Sonny
8 января, 2010 at 16:34
well done m8
Johnny Karp
8 января, 2010 at 16:37
Thanks for the comment Lye! I am considering bringing a new keeper but it’s not my top priority. I will probably look for a free transfer if I’ll bring a new keeper but we’ll have to see how much transfer money I’ll have to spend. I hope to have at least 15 million pounds…
Calum
8 января, 2010 at 19:43
Johnny, you said that you hope that you would get at least £15 million but I expect you to get about £25 million. I got Newcastle promoted and that is how much money I got. By the way, how many people can go in your stadium as if you cannot fit much in you would be better asking for an extension.
Good luck in the PL!!
Johnny Karp
8 января, 2010 at 20:09
@Sonny
Thanks buddy.
@Calum
We have 20,000 seats in the stadium, should be OK for now. It would be nice to get 25 million, I hope your prediction will prove to be right. And thanks for the good luck wish :)
Martin
8 января, 2010 at 22:52
New Post:http://fm10charlton.blogspot.com/2010/01/preparing-for-championship.html
Martin
9 января, 2010 at 00:31
Johnny, I’m Starting To Think Of Starting A New Game, I’m Getting Bored Of Charlton.
HELP!
Levo
9 января, 2010 at 03:53
Well done on reaching the Premiership Johnny this is where the real work starts you are now in a league where the biggest jump has to be made.
I think most of all you need make sure that you sound at the back, mainly tactically and that you have determined, ambition players. Having a small reputation now will make it hard to attain Premiership quality players. So good transfer head needs to be on your shoulders.
Don’t be afraid to spend a few years just hanging on in their, it is a marathon not a sprint and it will take time to adapt to the Premiership. Good luck though!
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 10:21
@Levo
Thanks for the advice mate, I’m currently working hard on the transfers, it’s not easy at all.
@Martin
How could I help you Martin? You should know best what bores you and what doesn’t. It would be nice to continue with Charlton if you ask me, at least for another season or two and you might get job offers from other teams.
kevin
9 января, 2010 at 12:13
Hi Martin
I know exactly what you mean. This use to happen to me all the time, that is getting bored until I came across this site. My main reason was that I seemed to be unable to string together consistent results whilst reading about other people (on Sortitoutsi) who were apparently unbeatable.I’ve stopped focusing on that and I’m just trying to enjoy the game in my own way, even though it can be frustrating, and of course share the experience.
I chose Swindon simply because they were close to where I was born which maybe a little more difficult for you. I think Johnny’s approach to the game is the right on, selecting a lower club and trying to build them up, though there’s nothing wrong in starting say with Arsenal either. I would stick with Charlton as you seem to be doing well but other than that write some teams on a pieces of paper and do a «blind» draw to see which one comes out of the pot.
Martin
9 января, 2010 at 14:38
Thanks Kevin, You Always Try To Help Me :P
I Don’t Think I’m Good Enough For The Lower Leagues
Whenever I Play As Chelsea (The Team I Support), I Seem To Do Well.
Anyway, I’ll Finish My Season, And Maybe Apply For Some Jobs
One Question, Is It Harder To Get A New Job On FM2010 Than On FM2009?
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 14:47
Martin, I don’t think is harder, from what I’ve seen so far is similar to FM 09.
dinthead
9 января, 2010 at 15:42
I’m with Notts County, and I have just been promoted to the EPL. Anybody recommend any more signings.
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 15:53
@dinthead
Congrats mate! I’m into the transfer window right now, you’ll see my new players here in a new post.
dinthead
9 января, 2010 at 16:42
ok then mate, I managed to get Jo on a free but I need another backup striker. And possibly a RB and a RW.
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 17:11
You could go for experienced players, some of them might be free, like Anelka, Abidal…
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 19:50
WOW! That’s impressive Radu, I’m looking forward to reading the post!
Laxeyman
9 января, 2010 at 20:12
Well done Johnny, doing a great job! I would suggest buying a GK because I feel whoever is in goal is going to have alot of work to do! Good Luck for next season!
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 20:15
Thanks for the recommendation Laxeyman, I will try to find a bargain deal probably :)
Martin
9 января, 2010 at 20:23
You Should Try To Get Charles N’Zogbia If You Ever Need A Left Winger
Or If You Need A Centre Back Try This Brazilian Guy Called Dalton Or Another Braazilian Guy Called Fabricio, If You Can Get Work Permits
Johnny Karp
9 января, 2010 at 20:27
Thanks Martin, N’Zogbia is on my shortlist. There is a problem with foreign players though, I see that in the Premier League you have to submit a 25 player squad with at least 8 home grown players… I’d have to try bringing more home grown players than Brazilians…
James
10 января, 2010 at 15:12
When are you gona post the prem season???
Johnny Karp
10 января, 2010 at 15:34
James, I’m currently working on the post, I hope to finish it today :)
James
10 января, 2010 at 17:38
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay im looking 4ward to it =D
Mads Tønder (aka Mass Thunder)
11 января, 2010 at 01:40
Congrats on the promotion.
You inspire me in my own game, I have three teams Dresden, Leeds and Verona, they start in the 3rd league in their different countries, And it’s more to get a feel of who’s good and who’s not in the lower, so you can make shortlists and know whom to buy in a new game.
But i’m also thinking ’bout takin maybe Wimbledon or Rushden and start from scratch, as the most fun in the game comes with building up a squad (as you do) and take them all the way.
And then when you get that big job offer, it’s much more fun to be managing a big club, instead of just starting right away being almost the best club in Europe or whereever you choose.
Well, enough about me, regarding Transfers, get as many big stars as you can on free transfers, stars with EPL experience, and save the money for maybe 2 or 3 big key signings.
And buy a lot of promising players for the youth squad (i mean a lot!), as there is nothing more satisfying than making stars yourself instead of buying them + the competition in the squad and the level of your first team players will rise, as the club get’s better and better players. I’ve done it in so many games, and it really works!
Cheers from Denmark:-)
Johnny Karp
11 января, 2010 at 07:49
@Mass Thunder
Thanks for the comment. I agree that building a team from the lower leagues is the most rewarding experience in Football Manager, taking unknown youngsters and making them football stars is extremely pleasing. That’s what I’m trying to do what I did in the Football Manager 2009 careers too.
eddie eddie
14 января, 2010 at 22:09
Good results for you there.