Southampton: 2010 / 11 Season Finale

Hello friends and thanks for coming back to read the final installment of this seasons Football Manager Story as Southampton battle for a place in The Championship next season.

April 2011:

Seven games remaining then as we started the push towards the summit which we began with a home game against Exeter. After much deliberation about the merits of my own tactic I felt it was time to unleash the “Manchelona”, created by Darren which had been stored in my Match Preparation package as a secondary tactic all season long.

Guly do Prado ran Exeter ragged in the opening 30 minutes creating a penalty opportunity and scoring one himself. I had to take him off at half time as he was knackered. We added a third very late in the game for what turned out to be a very easy victory. Our next game was also at home and with Swindon on the horizon I had to make some substantial changes. We came up against a resilient Tranmere Rovers but ended up with all the points winning by a sore of 3-1.

The following game was away to league leaders Swindon and in an enthralling encounter we took the lead inside 20 minutes with a sweeping strike from youngster Alex Chamberlain. Swindon equalized just after the hour from on corner with do Prado narrowly missing what could have been the winning goal. A 1-1 result was a fair outcome. Away to MK dons things were going exactly the same as the Swindon game but we suddenly exploded into action scoring three times in the space of eight minutes halfway through the second period for a valuable away victory over a promotion rival.

So with just three games left this is how things stood…

The last of our three games on the road was at Oldham with Guly do Prado opening the scoring after just 26 seconds which was quickly added to by a sensational strike from 30 yards out by Morgan Schneiderlin. We had our tails up and went looking for more but Oldham managed to compose themselves though eventually capitulated late in the second half as Brazilian DC Eric Botteghin headed in in number three.

It was back to St Marys’ for the penultimate game of the regular season which saw the visit of south coast rivals Bournemouth. It was a totally one –sided affair but we failed to make good on our industrious performance in front of goal and relied on the head of Eric Botteghin to scrape a slender 1-0 win.

With April over and done with I was fortunate enoough to pick up another Manager of the Month award.

So with one game remaining the situation was clear. We had to win at Notts County and Peterborough had to lose at home to Bristol Rovers which was highly unlikely.

I started an unchanged eleven as we took the field at Meadow Lane with the exception of Chamberlain coming in for Lallana. County were firing on all cylinders and we were on the back foot for the first twenty minutes with GK Bialkowski pulling of a couple of fine saves. Our first real chance fell to Chamberlain in the 23rd minute but he stroked the ball wide of a Puncheon cross and shortly after Eric Botteghin headed against the bar from a corner. County though took the lead 8 minutes from half time catching us out with a counter attack but we soon equalized through Puncheon who had drifted into the box and finished off a through ball by Des Nevis.

The second half was end to end stuff with both teams producing thrilling moments and fine saves by each of the Number 1’s. Chamberlain missed stunning chance just after the hour mark and I began to warm up Lallana to replace him. However my left back was tiring and so was the midfield which meant I had to alter my attacking plans. With four minutes left in normal time and tied at 1-1 I knew any chance of automatic promotion was slipping away. Dean Hammond broke up yet another County attack and fed the ball forward to Guly do Prado who slid it past the defenders and there was …………CHAMBERLAAAAIIIIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two –One, the 17 year old had done it with a well struck shot into the corner of the net. County poured forward but we were rock solid at the back and held on for four agonizing extra minutes. We had done what we needed to do.

We all stood around on the field waiting like Mission Control in Apollo13 for news to come through from London Road and finally it did. Peterborough had astonishingly lost at home to Bristol Rovers and we were on our way up having snatched second place right at the “eleventh hour”. Unbelievable!!!

Final Day Results:

League Table:

Super Sevens:

My Brazilian duo topped the rankings table and I was delighted with a really solid season by Aelx Chamberlain who has received interest from both Chelsea and Liverpool. I hope I can keep him for next season.

So that completes this update and a dramtic end to the season that will see us in The Championship next season which I hope you will follow along as it will be most likely my final chapter of Football Manager 2011.

Looking to the future and FM 2012, thanks to one and all who have voted for my new team and there is still time to cast a ballot as the poll closes next Saturday. Johnny, you were right at passing the 150 mark, I was expecting maybe 30 votes in total!

Have a great weekend and thanks for taking the time to read this.

 Загрузка ...