Hello dear friends and welcome back to the Notts County Football Manager 2010 story. As you know from the previous update we were in second place at the end of November, just behind leaders Chelsea. That was something that didn’t happen in the last couple of seasons so we had to show better form and get back where we belong, on top of the table.
The first game of our winter was away at 12th placed Wolves, an in-form team that was coming from three straight wins. We managed to put them under pressure right from the beginning of the game and after a couple of missed chances Sergio Aguero picked up a through ball from Jonjo Shelvey and passed it into the back of the net. The Argentinian striker was the shining star in the first half, he played an exquisite first touch through ball for Bonetti who doubled our lead with an unexpected left footed finish. The second half was quite rough, lots of fouls, and Wolves were creating danger from dead ball situations thanks to their superior height. Sergio Aguero closed the game on a counter attack, a superb run and a perfect cross for Romano‘s powerful header. An error in defense gave Wolves the consolation goal but it wasn’t over until Sam Hinshelwood got the chance to score his first goal of the season.
Next up, the away game at AC Milan. The game was not very important anymore because we are already qualified and sure to finish top of the group but I still wanted a good performance. Milan dominated the first half quite clearly and we had to thank Rene Adler for keeping us in the game. Sergio Aguero created a good chance for himself just before the break but he didn’t have the determination to finish it. Milan were still in control after the interval and they scored eventually, they totally deserved it. We tried to react but a corner kick goal ended our hopes four minutes from time. It was our first defeat of the season and I guess I wasn’t able to motivate the players well enough to perform better.
That was our last game before traveling to Australia for the Club World Cup. Our opponent in the semi final was Japanese side Okayama FC. I had a look at their squad, the names seemed familiar but were looking more like motorcycle brands than football players. We were strong favourites to win the game and it got even easier right away: Sergio Aguero was clean through and one of the Japanese defenders stopped him with a kamikaze tackle that got him sent off. We were slowly building up the pressure and Cristian Zapata gave us a well deserved lead with a powerful corner kick header. Fabian Delph doubled our lead five minutes before half time, we were playing just as well as we needed too. The second half was fairly easy despite having to face a really strange formation, see for yourselves!
Despite the crowded defense we bagged in another two goals in the second half to make it through to the final.
Before the final we witnessed the Champions League first knockout draw. It went fairly well, we get to play Celtic Glasgow and I guess we should get through to the next round.
Back to the Club World Cup now, I expected to meet Estudiantes in the final but they got beaten 3-0 by New York Red Bull in the semi final. So we had to meet the Americans in the final act, a much easier game in theory. And it was fairly easy as Rafael Sobis scored an early goal to open things up. New York tried to react, I appreciated that and so did Sergio Aguero: he punished them twice on counter attacks. Then he completed his hat-trick with a real gem of a goal, he skipped past two defenders, then past the keeper and pushed it in. The second half was just fun, the trophy was ours and I can officially say that I won everything there was to win with Notts County! 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
27 апреля, 2010 at 17:00
Hi mate congratulation on laying your hands on the last trophy club world cup. Well done on beating your closest rival Chelsea. Think you will open up the lead wider and wider as month goes by.
P.S based on the votes, i think you will get Dorchester.
Johnny Karp
27 апреля, 2010 at 17:41
@Lye
Thanks mate. About the poll, I think that as long as the gap stays below 10 votes between the first two or three choices then anything can happen. There is plenty of time until Sunday and I hope more people will cast their votes.
Ana Garcia
27 апреля, 2010 at 18:09
Great month, and 6 points clear with a game in hand means it will be very difficult to catch you.
Aguero with 22 goals in 28 games, seems he is worth every penny you payed!!:)
Matthew
27 апреля, 2010 at 18:28
Hi Johnny
I’m sure you will win the league. In my game I started off well with Southport the I lost in the FA cup 1st round and my player’s morale all drop and we can’t teams that we have already beaten away and we are losing quite heavily eg 3-1 4-0. Do you have any suggestions.
Thanks
Matthew
Laxeyman
27 апреля, 2010 at 18:30
Hi Johnny, a great month there, well done. I think you’ll win the league no problem, hopefully you can win them all this season!
Joseph
27 апреля, 2010 at 18:32
Brilliant again!! Aguero and Romano together are unstoppable!
Are you looking to bring aanyone in in January?? Thanks
Micheal
27 апреля, 2010 at 18:58
Hi jonny
Well done another great month. That win was very handy against Chelsea and it gives you some breathing space at the top of the league. Good luck for next month. :)
Johnny Karp
27 апреля, 2010 at 18:59
@Ana and Laxeyman
Thanks, we just have to keep going in the next couple of months and then it will be easier.
@Matthew
It’s difficult when the team starts to lose confidence, you might want to try to encourage the players and boost their morale on a short term. But on the long run only results can bring back confidence.
@Joseph
Indeed, they are an unstoppable dynamic duo. I won’t make any transfers in January unless I’ll have a really bad injury that would force me to replace that player. I hope there won’t be such events though.
ravenie
27 апреля, 2010 at 19:01
Despite the defeat to Milan that was a very good month for you. Looking forward to last half of your season :)
Kevin Mayo
27 апреля, 2010 at 19:38
Hi Johnny
Well done on another fabulous month. Clinching the World Club title completes the Notts County trophy cabinet.Nice to see you back on top at the end of the year and I’m sure there is further silverware to come. Brilliant!
Johnny Karp
27 апреля, 2010 at 21:46
@Micheal
Thanks mate. Indeed, that win over Chelsea was very important.
@Ravenie
Thanks. I was quite disappointed with that performance but I know that usually we can play a lot better than that.
@Kevin
Thanks, you’re quite enthusiastic :) Well, we have the league, the two domestic cups and the Champions League, I’ll be looking to win all of those again but I admit that I don’t have the same hunger for glory as last season.
Martin
27 апреля, 2010 at 23:29
Well Done Johnny Nice Set Of Results In The League.
I Can’t Believe Dorchester Is Leading The Poll, It’ll Be The Same Sorta Thing And I’d Like To See Something Different And More Interesting,
Only My Opinion Though
Johnny Karp
27 апреля, 2010 at 23:46
@Martin
Thanks buddy. About Dorchester, I don’t think it will be the same because the club is much, much poorer than Notts County, so it will be a very difficult test from that point of view. Anyway, the poll is not closed yet so you might get your wish after all :)
Martin
28 апреля, 2010 at 18:23
I Didnt Mean Exactly The Same But Just Basicly, Starting Low Down In The English Leagues Then Working Your Way Up