Hello friends and welcome back to the latest installment of my Football Manager Story which last time saw Plymouth get off to a reasonalbe start to the season.
October 2012
A quick review of our finances show that things are steadily improving at Home Park with a healthy balance of just over 1.2 million
Our first game of the month was a difficult encounter away to Millwall and although I was hoping for a draw we surprisingly came away with an unexpected victory thanks to a header from 18 year old William Ekong 13 minutes from time.
The following game saw us fail to get revenge over Wycombe in the JPT and we were soundly beaten by two goals to nil. Back home we dominated proceedings against Notts County but despite our 63% possession we failed dramatically in front of goal until Nathan Eccelston broke away and coolly tucked the ball under the diving keeper in the 89th minute.
Mid-month saw us travel to Scunthorpe and although we got a break with the home side being reduced to 10 men early on we still lacked entertainment in front of goal and should have come away with three points.
The goalless draw with Scunthorpe was followed by two more draws against Shrewsbury and Huddersfield before we finally broke that sequence at the beginning of November with a 1-0 win over Chesterfield at home. Nathan Eccleston got the only goal of the game in the 66th minute of a cross by right back Jordan Pearce.
League Table: ( including Chesterfield result)
November 2012
On the training ground a slight modification to our strategy produced an exhilarating second half performance in our next game away to Walsall. After a forgettable first 45 Nigerian striker Sanmi Odelusi gave us the lead with a fabulous twisting shot from just inside the box to bag his first goal for the club 10 minutes into the second period. Winger Luke Daley powered home the second with a low driving shot into the corner of the net which Bhasera on the left flank reproduced to add the third goal in a dominating 7 minute spell. Walsall quickly pulled one back but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome of the game.
FA Cup 1st Round
The road to Wembley began away to AFC Wimbledon where we arrived with a make shift line up thanks to international call ups and a couple of minor injuries. We quickly found ourselves a goal down after 15 minutes caused by statue like defending whilst up the other end we struggled in front of goal. An assertive half time talk seemed to back fire as Wimbledon went two up and our exit looked inevitable. Odelusi though pulled one back after 56 minutes with a breakaway run and finish which motivated the team with Luke Daley scoring a typical powerful effort to make it 2-2 twelve minutes later. Daley turned into superman, flying down the right flank time and time again and was rewarded for his effort as his cross in the 82nd minute was fumbled into the net by the Wimbledon keeper. A brilliant comeback confirmed our path into the next round.
The final game of the month was in league action at home to Bournemouth in which we took the lead off a Jamie Richards header with Walton supplying the cross ball from the corner spot. That good start was quickly neutralized and it was 1-1 after 16 minutes. Nathan Eccleston fired us back into the lead off an inch perfect pass by Walton and he went on to produce a dazzling display which culminated in a second goal on the hour mark. Complacency allowed the visitors a late goal but by then the three points were already secured.
Full Results:
League Table:
Holy mackeral we are in second place, and I never even saw that coming!
Super Sevens:
A great couple of months by Eccleston ensures that he tops this table which is othwewise dominated by defenders.
Fixtures:
We begin December with an FA Cup game at home to Bath City with a top of the table clash with Exeter on the horizon.
Thanks a lot for reading this and have a great weekend.
Laxeyman
26 ноября, 2011 at 14:04
Good results again Kevin, your side is very solid and the signs are promising for an excellent campaign :) If Ecclestone stays fit and keeps scoring then anything is possible, good luck!
Kevin
26 ноября, 2011 at 18:31
Hi Laxeyman
Eccelston has been brilliant though I’m pleased with Odelusi who I have been hiding away in the reserves.
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2011 at 14:31
Well done Kevin, I think another promotion is on the cards! I’m also hoping for a nice FA Cup run ;) Good luck!
Kevin
26 ноября, 2011 at 18:34
Hi Johnny
Hopefully I can repeat that memorable Cambridge cup run from the last version!
Darren Smith
26 ноября, 2011 at 16:04
Well done mate, great to see Plymouth at the right end and you look good for promotion….also fantastic finances considering what you started with so great work.
Kevin
26 ноября, 2011 at 18:37
Cheers Darren
I’m really keen to try and keep good financial books this time around even if it means sacraficing a transfer target.
vaibhavc
26 ноября, 2011 at 18:47
Those are good results Kevin, well done. Promotion might be a bit too early to say, but its a good aim. The finances are looking good. As long as it goes up its good.
Kevin
27 ноября, 2011 at 11:23
Hi vaibhacv
Happy with the fniances, happy in second place. Hopefully both will continue on.
Ana Garcia
26 ноября, 2011 at 19:13
Well done Kevin!!
Seems you have taken to the this league very well, and you look set for another possible promotion.
Your finances look very healthy also so the best of luck! :)
Kevin
27 ноября, 2011 at 11:24
Hi Ana
Things have gone on a lot better than expected both on and off the field.
Lye
27 ноября, 2011 at 04:35
Hi Kevin,
Big big improvement from the previous month. The team has settled more or less in League 1, hopefully you can build on there and stay there until the season ends.
Kevin
27 ноября, 2011 at 11:26
Hello Lye
Yes it is. Eccleston’s form is a major contribtuor to where we are currently at.
CsAtlantis
27 ноября, 2011 at 12:44
Wow Kevin, your team has pushed on and is now firmly established as a contender for promotion, if Eccleston plus Richards and Ekong can keep this up you could go up again into the Championship!
Kevin
27 ноября, 2011 at 16:10
Hi CsAtlantis
I know it’s crazy. I would never has seen us near the top with such a young team
TheZiggy
27 ноября, 2011 at 13:47
A great couple of month there, remaining unbeaten. To be in second is outstanding, and puts you right in with a good shot at claiming another promotion.
I’m most definitely jealous of your finances. Torquay really is quite a struggle when it comes to money.
Kevin
27 ноября, 2011 at 16:13
Hi Ziggy
I’m delighted and shocked to see where we are though i’m trying to keep an even keel for now.
Plymouths finances were pretty poor so good loan signings, playing well and staying under budget both on salary and transfers has indeed helped
Stromson
27 ноября, 2011 at 19:53
Hey Kevin!
1) I always forget to comment after I read, and it always takes me a day to figure it out. >.>
2) Finances are looking awesome!
3) Holy cow, you had me worried in the first half, but second place! That’s excellent!
4) Looking forward to a nice little FA Cup run.
Calin
28 ноября, 2011 at 08:28
Good results, Kevin. It’s also nice to see that the bank balance is now fine and you don’t have to worry about seeing red there :)
Sears
28 ноября, 2011 at 17:22
Like Stromson, I always forget to comment after I read the post…. Well done so far though and really enjoying this! Well done!