Hello everyone and welcome back to my Southampton Football Manager Story 2011. Last time we saw The Saints ease through their pre season so lets see how we got on as our Championship campaign began.
August 2011:
It was time for the season to get underway and our first opponents were Derby County at Pride Park. We arrived full of confidence but were sent home with our tails between our legs suffering a 3-0defeat and a harsh lesson of life in The Championship.
An easier game followed where we defeated Aldershot 2-0 in the League Cup with newly arrived striker Marcus Haber coming on as a late sub and setting up the second goal. Back in league action we scraped a 1-0 wing over Doncaster thanks to a penalty converted by Conor Clifford.
I didn’t really need another striker but just for the heck of it signed Marcus Haber as he is Canadian!
We travelled to Nottingham next to play Forest which saw Eric Botteghin head us in front early on with Bakambu playing his heart out in fabulous first half display, eventually doubling our lead early in the second half with a powerful low shot. Forest would pull one back late in the game but this indeed was a great result for the club.
Three days later we faced Premier League side West Brom in the second round of the League Cup. It was a gruelling game which by the end left my team thoroughly exhausted but on an emotional high having eliminated West Brom with two headed in goals by DC Davies and Morgan Schneiderlin.
We still had two games to play before this month would end and both against better teams from Yorkshire in Barnsley and Leeds United.
Barnsley proved to be a very tough team to play and after going behind in the 29th minute we fought our way back into the game eventually equalizing early in the second half through Tom Cleverley – his first for the club. We should have really won the game with the amount of opportunities created but the ball just wouldn’t cooperate in going over the line for a second time.
The final game of the month was away to Leeds and the fans had really been looking forward to this one. Jason Puncheon opened the scoring being the first to meet a low cross by Cleverley but then Leeds very much took control of things but strong defending ensured we held onto a slender lead. The equalizer came in the 70th minute as Leeds caught us off guard with a swift counter attacking move though Brazilian Eric Botteghin headed us back into the lead 7 minutes later. Leeds poured forward as we moved into injury time and a smashing breakaway by Bakambu from inside our own half was superbly finished off by the young Frenchman to make it 3-1.
League Table:
So after a frightening start at Derby we composed ourselves nicely and are very much in the thick of things after the first month. There’s a along way to go of course but this is a very encouraging begining.
Fixtures:
September will open up with a derby match against Portsmouth and in the League Cup we will face another Midlands team in Birmingham City.
Well that completes this update and thanks for taking the time to read it.
The last day of voting for my FM2012 team will be tomorrow October 1st so if you haven’t already please feel free to choose a team below but it very much looks like Plymouth is the popular choice and has been the front runner from the start.
Many thanks to all who have voted and I never imagined over 200 votes would be cast.
Dan
30 сентября, 2011 at 12:11
Hi Kevin,
Good start and hopefully you’ll stay around the play-offs or higher for the rest of the season. Good luck.
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 13:21
Thanks Dan
I’m very pleased with how we have started.
Darren Smith
30 сентября, 2011 at 12:17
Very nice start to the season mate, I reckon you could look for a top six finish. Keep up the good work and enjoy tomorrow. :)
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 13:23
Well, we are doing better than expected and a play off finish would be nice. I’m looking forward to that corporate box to watch Toronto FC :)
George Dobson
30 сентября, 2011 at 13:30
Great start Kevin hope it carrys on
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 18:46
Thanks George, me too :)
Johnny Karp
30 сентября, 2011 at 14:03
That’s a very good start Kevin and that win against West Brom surely puts the cherry on the cake! Well done and good luck for the coming months!
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 19:03
I was quite surprised with the win over West Brom which is very encouraging going forward.
Laxeyman
30 сентября, 2011 at 16:03
Good start Kevin, particularly after that defeat to Derby, you turned it round well and that bodes well for the rest of the season. If you can keep it up then the play offs look very likely,, good luck!
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 19:05
After that Derby defeat I was in a state of shock so I was delighted when the rest of the month went very well.
vaibhavc
30 сентября, 2011 at 19:29
Hey Kevin
Good start for you so far. You turned around the Derby result with 3 back to back wins. Play Tom Cleverly as an ARM Inside Forward. He did amazing for me there in the Prem as United. Only a suggestion.
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 19:53
Hi vaibhavc
Thanks for the suggestion.I’ll give that a try next time I play him.
Sears
30 сентября, 2011 at 21:00
Promising start to the campaign Kevin, I’m sure you can continue your good form and clinch a play off spot.
Kevin
30 сентября, 2011 at 23:11
Hi Sears!!
Yes i’m happy too with the start particularly after that Derby defeat :)
Lye
1 октября, 2011 at 04:46
That’s a great start Kevin, the team has settled well in the Championship. By the way you are going, you will definitely be among the top teams this season. Good luck.
Martin - F.M.J.S
1 октября, 2011 at 10:28
Hi Kevin
Nice start to the season. Good win over West Brom too. Keep going and good luck with rest of the season.