Greetings FMS readers from a rather chilly Toronto where it feels like -17C outside and not much better inside either. Though as Plymouth are deep in a desperate relegation battle the blood pressure is high enough to keep me warm as we battle on! So let’s take a look at the last two months….
February 2015
I’ll start off with the finances which continue to grow in positive territory and that’s a good thing!
We began the month with a mid-week fixture at home to Man City which was good for gate receipts, bad for league position. We were going to lose no matter who I sent out so I decided on fielding the back- up players and rest my starting eleven for important games coming up against West Brom and Stoke which we could win. We lost this one 3-0
In a hard fought game at The Hawthorns, Ryan Shotton headed us in front early in the second half from a corner kick and in a game of limited chances West Brom found the equalizer in the 70th minute. We picked up three yellow cards and were fortunate to finish the game with 11 men still on the field.
Back at Home Park we played Stoke at their own game as Chris McLaughlin turned the ball into the net off a long throw after just seven minutes to give us the lead. In similar fashion to our previous game this was yet another tough battle with so much at stake but an own goal early in the second half sealed Stoke’s fate and gave us three vital points. Unfortunately this game was marred by injuries and we finished the game with just 10 men.
Most critical of the injuries are the two defenders Richards and Bertucci.
It was off to Craven Cottage for our Fourth Round FA Cup replay and for the third game in a row we found ourselves in a battle, the prize home field advantage in the next round against Liverpool. The entire first half saw Bhasera play brilliantly at left back and Geynrikh tormenting the Fulham back four but the ball just wouldn’t go in the net for him. The second half played out much the same and as extra time was starting to enter my thoughts a blistering shot by Pelosi now playing on the right saw the ball bounce around in the box and was turned into the net by Yu Hai, 1-0! With time starting run out I switched to Contain/Defensive strategy but we killed the game off right at the end as substitute Rodriguez headed in our second goal from a free kick by Yu Hai. We had made it through to the 5th round!
Our next game was also in the FA Cup and the town had been gripped by cup fever after knocking out Fulham and with the prospect of playing Liverpool. We got off to a dream start as Genyrikh broke free down the right and unusually for him squared the ball into the box for midfielder Jaguare to smash into the net after 6 minutes. Some slick passing and terrfic movement off the ball created the Liverpool equalizer in the 23rd minute after which we beagn picking up yellow cards which would be 7 by the end of the game. Ten minues after the break we conceeded the go ahead goal from a corner ( yet again –despite training) after which Liverpool shut us down and our cup run was over.
Back to the league and we were off to Southampton where we lost by a single goal sending us back to 16th place with just 2 points between us and the relagation zone. We finshed the game with just 10 men after losing our third left back in as many games and was the key factor in the defeat.
March 2015
Zeytulaev’s return from injury was marked with a goal after just 15 minutes as we took on Spurs at Home Park to the delight of the capacity crowd of 16,388. The fans joy did not last long as Spurs created an equalizer just on the half hour. We stood our ground though had the better possession and held the Londoners to a draw.
Next we went to Villa Park where Federico Rodrigues headed us into a 2-1 lead which we held all the way to until the end of the game when under no presureWilliam Ekong back pass went straight to Agbonlahor and it was 2-2. I let William know excactly what I thought of that in the dressing room.
With two weeks before our next competitive game I arrange a quick fitness friendly against Bath City which allowed some playing time for fringe players. A first half hat-trick by Romanian youngster Iosef Baesu was enough to dispatch a stubborn Bath team.
The final game of this short month saw the return of Liverpool and one Bobby Ponton, remember him from my first season? In one of football’s ironies it was Ponton who gave Liverpool the lead early on but we kept our heads, pushed forward and eventually got the equalizer as Rodriguez was brought down in the box and converted the penalty right on half time. That incident reduced Livepool to 10 men as they started the second half but they seem unfazed by the numerical disadvantage and quickly took a 2-1 lead. Centre back Jamie Richards headed in the equalizer not long after to put us back on level terms but The Reds weren’t finished and went back in front through Cavani after 64 minutes. But we weren’t done either. Ten minutes from time Zeytulaev’s run down the right culminated in across right at the byline which found substitue Genyrikh who controlled the ball on his chest and…..GET IN!!! Genyrikh had rescued us a vital point against the current champions.
Results Summary:
I’m disappointed that we lost to Southampton but overall things went according to plan — we didn’t lose too many — which I’m happy about.
League Table:
So, we are just a point above the relegation zone but realistically any team up to and including Blackburn could go down meaning there’s going to be one heck of a fight to stay up.
Fixtures:
We couldn’t have it any harder, three games against teams looking for European places and three more against relegation battlers.
March did end on a positive note as IIyas Zeytulaev won the player of the month award which is quite an achievement for our little club.
One final piece of business saw the board annouce a link with League One side Brighton who will be a feeder club for us and we will be able to send young players to them as well. The board have always refused to invest in any youth development programs so this relationship should prove ideal for our younger players.
Well that’s about it for this update and given the cold weather outside I don’t think the Season Finale report will be too far off! Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your comments.
Johnny Karp
15 января, 2012 at 09:47
Very good results there Kevin, the relegation battle is tough but I think you have a great chance of survival. You just have to beat Blackburn and Wolves and get a draw at West Ham. Best of luck!
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:12
Thanks Johnny. This one is going all the way to the end I feel with a tense last day of the season. Yikes!
Darren Smith
15 января, 2012 at 09:53
Wow this is developing into the most exciting relegation better I think I’ve ever read. That’s what is so cool about writing stories, you can be down the bottom but as long as you’re still fighting for something its so interesting. Anyway, great results in my opinion, as you said the slip against Southampton could prove costly but lets hope that isn’t the case. Though I must say those fixtures don’t look kind, come on the Green Army. :)
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:12
Wow, thanks a lot Darren. I know my FM talents deteriorate as I progress up the league system so I’ve been trying to at least provide a good story. The Southampton result was a bit of a let-down.
Tom Barnes
15 января, 2012 at 10:34
Brilliant read, cant wait for the next one. Getting really excited, more than the actual league! Birmingham on the last day of the season could be the key result. Good luck!
GREEN ARMY!
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:13
Hey Tom
Thanks for the comment and I’m happy you are enjoying the story.
Laxeyman
15 января, 2012 at 10:35
Pretty decent results Kevin, you’re right in the thick of an exciting relegation battle now! Your form over the last few months has been pretty good, so hopefully you can keep that up in the final fixtures, and if you can, I reckon you’ll stay up :) Good luck!
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:13
Yep we are in an exciting battle for sure though I’d rather be safely in mid-table. Hopefully your prediction is correct!
Jamie
15 января, 2012 at 10:50
I’d bet on it being any 3 from 5, and as an Argyle fan, sincerely hope you aren’t one of them. I’m in my first season with PAFC, and after a nightmare start that led me to believe that survival was all I could hope for, 1 defeat in 11 leaves me one place and one point from the playoffs. My only problem, and any advice would be gratefully received, is that I have the max number of loans in, my squad is still paper thin, and the board are requesting I cut the wage bill, as it started out above budget. Grrr!
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:14
Hi Jamie
Thanks for your comment mate. I hope to avoid that drop zone for you. In answer to your question are there any reserve players you can off-load? Also you could try adjusting the budgets in the “boardroom screen” which I did a few times with Plymouth. Managing PAFC from a budget perspective is difficult but is achievable, just set yourself a maximum amount your willing to pay a player DON’T stray from it. Also look for cheaper players from oversees…but this really relates to next season.
CsAtlantis
15 января, 2012 at 12:03
It’s a tough battle down there Kevin but you should be okay if you do well in your 6 pointers against other relegation candidates, your season could hinge on your last games against west ham and birmingham, hopefully you can confirm your survival before then……..
Good luck, and hopefully you do not get as many injuries
By the way, your side sure did get a lot of yellow cards in the loss in the FA Cup against Liverpool :P
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:15
We were quite undisciplined against Liverpool which I don’t know why? I think you have hit the nail on the head in terms of how the season will play out. Thanks for your support!
Dino Ozbolt
15 января, 2012 at 14:45
seriously this corner thing is pretty dumb.. I mean they scored 3 freaking times from corners in one game!! It was my first game where I rage quit, but that is just plain stupid. No matter how much you prepare the team, they still score every game.
In every second game there is a corner goal which is in my opinion,well sad.
Good luck with your battle, I hope you stay up. I’m also playing season finale with my newly promoted Sheffield,but we are preforming amazing. we’re 6th at the moment! haha
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:18
Hi Dino
Appreciate you pointing out the corner problem. Even if I bring everyone into the six yard box the opponents still score whereas when I’m attacking the ball goes harmlessly over the bar in most cases. Very frustrating!!
Dino Ozbolt
16 января, 2012 at 12:49
And the main problem is that it happens way to often…
Anyway, good luck with your battle, I hope you’ll succeed!
vaibhavc
15 января, 2012 at 15:27
Some good results there Kevin, but it still will be a heck of a fight to stay up. You need to beat Wolves, Birmingham, and West Ham. Hope you stay up mate! And I do remember Ponton.
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:18
Hey vaibhavc
Glad you remembered Ponton. I probably should have kept him and yes one big showdown ahead!
Sears
15 января, 2012 at 17:54
Well Kevin, performances are certainly improving. It’s still extremely tight down there but going on recent form, I think you’ll be able to stay up. Good luck!!
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:19
Thanks Sears, it’s going to be a close finish for sure!
siavosh
15 января, 2012 at 18:25
hi buddy,
You know one point above relegation zone is better than be in the relegation zone,isn’t it?
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:19
Hi siavosh
You bet it is!!
nielsneutron
15 января, 2012 at 19:13
Oh it is nail-bittingly close. I hope you can stay up especially the game vs. Stoke shows that Plymouth do have something to say in the Premier league.
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:21
I haven’t got too many nails left to chew….no kidding! Was very pleased at how we performed against Stoke
Woody
15 января, 2012 at 19:29
some good reults there kevin
i think you’ll just beat the drop this year
anyway good luck
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:21
Hi Woody
Thanks for the confidence boost mate!!
George Dobson
15 января, 2012 at 20:21
Good luck Kevin really hope you stay up also I used to concede off corners all the time too but then I cahanged my match preperation workload to high and made my focus defending set peices and that has worked for me !!!!!
Kevin
15 января, 2012 at 20:23
Cheers George!!
Thanks for the defending corners tip, that’s useful. I think mine is set at low or average?
George Dobson
16 января, 2012 at 21:46
Make sure you put in on high
TheZiggy
15 января, 2012 at 20:51
Given the teams you had to play, I think you did well. It’s a shame you could only get a draw against West Brom, but some of the other results made up for that.
I hope you can maintain the form to keep out of the relegation zone. The matches against Blackburn, Wolves and Birmingham look to be key fixtures. Hopefully you can sneak a few points in some of the other matches.
Ana Garcia
16 января, 2012 at 22:21
Why are relegation battles more exciting that title battles?!
I was hoping too see your next post now as I really wish you can survive!
This is turning into a fantastic story, I have my fingers crossed for you so the best of luck!! :)
P.S. On my tactic I will send you it when I feel a little better I had a bit of a relapse, and am not feeling to well at the moment.
Martin - F.M.J.S
16 января, 2012 at 23:51
Hi Kevin
this is gong to be a big battle to the end. I hope you will survive. Best of Luck :)