Greetings from Canada and welcome faithful readers to the next installment.
With a difficult Christmas schedule ahead I decided to throw caution to the wind and send a 4-3-3 formation up the M5 to Preston. Just before we set off on our trip we heard the news that we had been drawn at home against League 2 side Exeter in the FA Cup Third Round. The new formation in part somewhat paid off as we had the lion’s share of the possession but as usual ended up chasing the game, falling behind just after half time. Tomas Pekhart equalized for us after 53 minutes with a lovely shot on the turn but despite our dominance we failed to get the ball into the net.
Our midweek game was at home to Sheffield United and I felt confident that this could be a three pointer for us and we couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. Our Ivorian striker Jonathan Kodja put us ahead after only 2 minutes with a beautiful glancing header from a Lansbury cross. United though pulled one back sixteen minutes later but when Lucas Neill was sent off I thought we had the game in the bag. Sheffield though defended sternly but Kodja managed to find a hole and scored a second just after half time. We held onto our lead for the rest of the game but would have liked a bigger margin of victory.
The following Saturday 19th place Watford visited the County Ground and we felt another victory was on the cards. Unfortunately the weather played a dominant role in this game and both sides found it difficult to move the ball around on a cold and frosty field. Again I went with the 4-3-3 formation but my front three were as cold as the field especially Kevin Dupuis who has gone 10 hours without scoring. Pekhart and Kodja both had reasonable chances but Scott Loach between the Watford posts played a blinder and we had to settle for a goalless draw.
Up next for us is a trip to Everton, Bristol City and finally home against Reading. This is a huge Christmas schedule for us and I need our strikers to start scoring.
The trip to Goodison Road is one I’d rather forget about. We were thumped 3-0 even though we had the greater possession. The game started badly before the referee blew his whistle as Jonathan Kodja announced again that he didn’t like Wiltshire and to top that Jacob Mellis says he can’t handle the media attention that the local television and newspapers are giving him.
Onto the game and Everton went ahead following a goalmouth scramble that keeper Tom Heaton did his best to stop but couldn’t hold onto the ball. Twenty minutes later disaster struck as Henri Lansbury was injured following a lunging tackle by Dan Gosling who added the insult by scoring 5 minutes later. Everton dominated the second half easily breaking down any attacks we put together and Leon Osman’s 35 yard effort was almost the final nail in the coffin. That came in the 89th minute as my young striker John Guidetti was also injured.
The news wasn’t good the following day as Lansbury will be out for 3 months and so will be returning to Arsenal. Guidetti’s recovery time will be at least 6 weeks which leaves just Pekhart up front as I’ve had enough of strikers Dupuis and Kodja they will both be listed for the January transfer window. My other striker Febian Brandy will not be fit until next month so Michael Mifsud may make a surprise return to the first team.
Our Boxing Day game matched us up with bitter rivals Bristol City at Ashton Gate. I decided to draft in Callum Kennedy (ML) and Michael Mifsud from the reserves to cover the injuries. Mellis was to be benched with Munoz taking an attacking midfield role behind Pekhart. I was nervous of another beating and tried not to show it. We started off brightly passing the ball around well and putting Bristol under pressure. We were rewarded for our efforts after 24 minutes when Iriekpen who had returned from injury headed us in front from a corner. Munoz could have made in two – nil moment’s later but blasted the ball into the stands from close range. City pulled one back after the break and with Munoz missing another I decided to replace him with Mellis who scored after just 20 seconds from coming on the field. To defend the lead I sent instructions to counter and we caught them on the break with Mellis sprinting ahead of the chasing pack to slot home a third. After the nightmare at Everton this was sensational!
Our final game of 2010 was against our other “M4” rival Reading, just two days after beating Bristol City. Although confidence was high the team was tired and this reflected in a slow drawn out first half. We did try to step things up after the break with Douglas and Gasmi both coming close but to no avail. Our injury crisis continued and Tomas Pekhart ripped a calf muscle and he will be gone for four months.
We’ve ended the year then in a play off spot and I’m more than happy with that. I’m not too happy about my striker situation as they are either injured or don’t want to play which means I’m going to have to find a player on loan as soon as the transfer window opens up.
Current Top Ten: Coca Cola Championship
Lye
20 января, 2010 at 02:44
Hi Kevin
Aside from the defeat against Everton , i think you have a good month. Unlucky about the injuries, i hope you can find some good loanees to help you out and doesn’t affect too much for the upcoming games.
There are still a lot of games to play for, if you can maintain the form, i believe you really have a good chance for the promotion.
Laxeyman
20 января, 2010 at 09:47
Well done Kevin, if you forget about the Everton result you’ve had a good month.
Matthew
20 января, 2010 at 11:45
You are allowed to sign players on loan outside the transfer window when you are in the championship so why don’t you try that? Would recommend Fabio Zambaleta from Newcastle.
Kevin Mayo
20 января, 2010 at 14:59
> Lye and Laxeyman, thanks for your support
@ Matthew, thanks for the tip about loaning outside the window. I did know that but had forgotten. Also I check out your recommnedation. Hope Newcastle don’t require any contribution as the Swindon Board are very tight with money. This is an ongoing problem for me.
Martin
20 января, 2010 at 15:08
Well Done Kevin.
Don’t Worry Too Much About The Everton Game Because Those Dips In Form Always Happen Every So Often
TheZiggy
20 января, 2010 at 15:43
Aside from the match against Everton that was a good month, especially with the problems you’re having with injuries and players not being happy.
As for Jacob Mellis, you’ll just have to live with the fact that it’ll take a while before he can handle the pressure. I had the same problem with Angelo Balanta, and every press conference I went to where it was mentioned, I always said it was the press putting the pressure on him. You’ll probably also start getting managers talking about having to stop him, which won’t help, but he should come through in the end. The only way it seems to get over it is to keep on having the faith to play him.
Hopefully you can pick up some good loan signings so you can maintain your push for a playoff place.
Matthew
20 января, 2010 at 15:52
Fabio Zamblera not Zambaleta. Sorry :)
Newcastle didn’t ask for a wage contibution when i signed him
Kevin
20 января, 2010 at 15:55
Matthew: I’m at work now so I’ll look him up when I get home.
Ziggy: Thanks for your unput. I did continue to play Mellis but now he’s injured again!
TheZiggy
20 января, 2010 at 18:47
Bad news that Mellis now has an injury. You seem to be suffering quite a few lately, which is bad luck. Unfortunately there’s not a lot that can be done about it, but hope it doesn’t hurt the form of the team.
Kevin
20 января, 2010 at 19:09
Hi Ziggy
Some of the games are played on real «mud baths» remember Johnny’s Notts Co pitch? I think that may contribute; as well I’ve been playing several on hard and frosty pitches.
Martin
20 января, 2010 at 21:18
Ive Got A New Post :)..
http://martinfmstory.blogspot.com/2010/01/rest-of-season.html
TheZiggy
20 января, 2010 at 23:16
That’s not good if you’re playing on «mud baths», plus hard and frosty pitches too.
Worryingly for me, every home match I can remember for my QPR side for a couple of months, it has been raining and the pitch is definitely heading that way slowly, although the pitch condition is said to be Ok. Just for a bit of reality though, I’ve seen footage of how bad the Loftus Road pitch could get in the 70’s, and I wonder how they managed to play on that surface. It probably wasn’t even the worst pitch either, which is scary.
Kevin
20 января, 2010 at 23:20
Ziggy
I remember the QPR pitch. I think they laid an all weather surface for a time and Oldham too if I remember correctly. I think UEFA allowed it for one season though I could be wrong.
Laxeyman
21 января, 2010 at 00:20
Kevin I think your right about Oldham using an all weather pitch. Of course they use it in Russia, in extreme cold as well ( much to England’s downfall).
TheZiggy
21 января, 2010 at 00:25
QPR did indeed have and all weather surface, or astroturf as they called it. It was in place for several seasons, and Luton were another club that also did this. Apparently there was another club besides Oldham, but I can’t think who it was though. I can’t remember exactly when it taken up again, but I think QPR had already decided they wanted to remove it before it was banned anyway.
I did get to see QPR play West Ham on the old pitch before that happened, with a great 3-0 win, my first ever football match at the age of 10. I saw us play Chelsea a couple times on the astroturf, both of which we annoyingly lost :( To be honest that surface had a number of issues, one of the biggest being how the ball bounced up from it. It was crazy at times. It was good that they went back to a proper grass pitch, with much improved drainage :)
TheZiggy
21 января, 2010 at 15:06
I’ve just been looking into how long QPR had that astroturf in place, and it’s longer than I even thought, being laid in 1981 and taken up in 1988.
The other team to lay one of these pitches was Preston, who oddly put theirs in just as QPR got rid of their own one.
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 15:09
Yay, Luton! :P
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 15:17
Ive Got A Question For People Who Use Blogger…
How Do I Get It To Notify Me When Someone Comments On My Blog?
Kevin Mayo
21 января, 2010 at 15:40
Ziggy: Jeez,was it that long? Mind you it was nearly 30 years since it was put down.
Martin: I’ll look into it lunchtime, but i’m not really sure so no promises.
Everyone: Check out Johnny’s last post. Another somewhat negative comment. Got to get back to work. 8.40am in Canada. See you later!
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 18:11
Its Not Really Negative Its Just His Opinion, But Still, Johnny Doesnt Cheat!:P
Kevin Mayo
21 января, 2010 at 18:27
Martin: Yoo’re right of course,it’s his opinion which he’s entitiled too. I don’t think Johnny cheats either, I beleive he’s just very analytical which helps him nake good transfers and tactical decisions.
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 18:52
Spot On!
Have You Got Any Info. On My Comments Notification Problem
Kevin
21 января, 2010 at 18:55
Martin: I’m sorry mate. Bit of a disaster at work to deal with so I now won’t have time. Maybe later.
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 18:57
Ok Thats Alright I’m Not Too Fussed Anyway:)
TheZiggy
21 января, 2010 at 20:49
Kevin, that does also mean I’ve been supporting QPR for 30 years as well, through some good times, and then the bad times, and now through the comedy times. At the rate of manager turnover we must be in the running for setting some kind of world record. I wonder who will be the next manager to come in. Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse? ;)
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 20:49
Yet Another New Post!:)
http://martinfmstory.blogspot.com/2010/01/gearing-up-for-20102011-season.html
Kevin
21 января, 2010 at 21:01
Ziggy: I’m England first then a sot of Man Utd supporter for a very long time. Bobby Charlton,George Best Denis Law etc… My memories of QPR are Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh, Terry Venables and Gerry Francis. Now you can probably guess my age. LOL. Old body…young heart!
This year I»ll be viewing my 10th World Cup!
TheZiggy
21 января, 2010 at 21:45
Kevin, you mention some of the greats there, with Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh assuming almost Godlike status for QPR. Much as Charlton, Best and Law for Man United. It’s great to see some of the footage from those times, with those players tearing sides apart with such ease.
Whether or not you have an old body, if you still have a young heart, that’s the main thing. Don’t know about you, but I’ve not left my first childhood yet. ;)
This will be the 9th I’ve seen, although it has to be said, my memories of the 1978 World Cup are hazy.
Kevin
21 января, 2010 at 22:13
Ziggy: Correction it’s my 11th World Cup OMG!! I’m even older than I thought! :)
I love the old games and always looking on You Tube for old BBC MOTD stuff. My favourite clip though is Banks’s save against Pele in the 1970 World Cup. I remember it «live» like it was yesterday.
Martin
21 января, 2010 at 22:54
There It Is…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngE9RCAdWaE
:P
TheZiggy
22 января, 2010 at 00:17
Martin, thanks for posting that link. I’ve seen it many times, but it is one of the most astonishing saves, and should be watched regularly. It’s hard to comprehend how he managed to deflect the ball up and away that angle.
Those old MOTD’s are good to watch. I guess if England had actually qualified for 1978, I might have more memory of it. lol.
Rooneye
22 января, 2010 at 20:42
Bit of a mixed month there, but still the season is looking good so far, I hope you get your promotion!
You also have Jacob Mellis, so does Johnny and i have him on loan at Southampton, so is he a good player? how good does he play for you and do you think I should look into signing him permanently? Im going to start playing him a little more after seeing that you and Johnny both bought him :D
Kevin
22 января, 2010 at 21:21
Hi Rooneye
I think just acheiving a play off sopt would be good based on my miserable board of directors who won’t support potentially excellent signings.
Jacob Mellis is a good player but for me is prone to injury. Then again I may not have him set up correctly on the field that could cause that?
Martin
22 января, 2010 at 21:36
Jacob Mellis Plays For Everton On My Game
Well, He Probably Doesnt Play Much :P
TheZiggy
22 января, 2010 at 23:54
According to one of my scouts, he has the potential to be a decent Premiership midfielder. Given the price it seems Everton would want for him, in my game at least $5.5m, he doesn’t seem worth it. I’ve picked up several foreign players totalling much less who have much better potential. Picking him up as a loan player player is okay, but unless you can get him a lot cheaper to buy, I wouldn’t bother with him. Alexandre Coeff from RC Lens, 2 years younger is a much better prospect, and I only paid £600k for him.
Laxeyman
23 января, 2010 at 13:32
The Ziggy, I agree with you about Jacob Mellis. For a team in the premiership I would advise against signing him, although he would be a good Championship player. Kevin, if a player is getting injured in matches there’s not much you can do about it, but if he’s getting them in training maybe you should reduce his workload.
TheZiggy
23 января, 2010 at 14:19
Scouts and coaches should tell you if a player is injury prone. If they are, then you know the risk you’re taking. Sometimes a player will just get unlucky. In my first season I had loaned Clement Grenier, and he spent nearly half the season injured, because it seemed all he had to do was get out on the football field and he’d be the victim of a crunching tackle. I actually bought him at the end of the season, and now gone nearly two years without an injury.
Johnny Karp
23 января, 2010 at 16:04
Hey Kevin, your campaign is still looking good! With another good striker upfront you should reach the play-offs, I can bet on that. Good luck!
Kevin Mayo
23 января, 2010 at 17:40
Ziggy / Laxeyman Thank for your comments about Mellis. I am guilty of not doing proper research before buying /loaning players. I just look at their attributes and dive right in. I must do better next season.
Johnny, Welcome back mate!
I think my campaign will end with a play off spot..hopefully.
TheZiggy
23 января, 2010 at 23:52
Kevin, you really should have as many scouts as the club will let you have, and of course as good a quality as you can get to join the club. When I first played FM09 I have the same attitude as you with scouting, and the fans were always getting upset about some of the complete donkey’s I brought to the club. lol.
I never look to sign a player now without first having them scouted. I usually get Oliver Bierhoff to scout most of the ones I’ve checked out. It’s amazing how poor some of the players turned out to be that I thought might be good.
Johnny Karp
24 января, 2010 at 11:07
@Ziggy
I brought Bierhoff to the club too, he’s scouting South America at the moment and he found some pretty good players there.
Kevin
24 января, 2010 at 11:18
Ziggy: Thanks agin for the continuing flow of information. Just checked out Bierhoff and he looks REALLY good. Leverkusen want 200,000 in compensation so that’s out.I have 4 scouts in total but only 1 that has judging A & P over 15. All four do find good players but then the board won’t pay the wage bill even though the player is willing to sign. Case in point Gael Kakuta.