Hello folks, the time has finally come for my Motormen to test their strength against the Blue Square Premier sides. Welcome back to another episode of the story, you surely remember that we brought in a few players during pre-season and I was particularly curious to see how my new strikers would cope with the opposition. But before going through the first matches I would like to let you know about something that happened after our last friendly game, the impressive 5-0 victory over Championship side Derby County.
Their manager, a certain Kevin Blackwell, made a shocking statement after the game saying that my team could do a lot better! That statement left me speechless: «if we can do better than you surely can’t do any worse», that’s what I would have answered but unfortunately that option was not available in the game. Anyway, this shocking statement added another reason behind a decision that I have taken: I won’t attend press conferences and generally I won’t speak to the media at all. My talking will be done exclusively through my players on the pitch!
Now let’s move on to football: our first game was at home against Cheltenham, a team that was predicted to finish 7th. We had a pretty good start to the game, we were pushing for the opening goal but unfortunately we missed two good opportunities and our opponents found the back of the net the very first time they came forward. They hit the post shortly after the goal but we managed to get in the equalizer before half time when Danny Uchechi‘s shot bounced off the post into the path of Pablo Navas and the Spaniard scored on his debut. The second half was equally entertaining, both teams hit the woodwork again but Cheltenham clinched it thanks to a great injury time goal, I wouldn’t have expected that striker to score from such an angle… We started the season with a home defeat, that wasn’t a good sign but the team played a good game and the result could have been a lot different if we would have displayed better finishing.
We had another home game coming up and the visitors were promotion contenders Crawley, predicted to finish 4th. The visitors took the lead just three minutes into the game with a spectacular 25 yard drive and our fans were already starting to think about relegation. The team was not affected by the nightmare start though and we leveled the game on 15 minutes when Danny Uchechi converted a penalty kick after Pietro Palladino had been brought down inside the area. We continued to play pretty well and the reward came on the stroke of half time when centre back Oliver Nicholas headed in an Uchechi free kick cross. Shortly after the break Omar Koroma fired in his first goal of the season and then settled the game during injury time when he received a good pass from Shane Williams.
Our first away game of the season saw us playing against another promotion contender, the title favourites Luton. I was quite curious to see my lads in action against what appeared to be the best team in the league. We could have enjoyed a flying start but Danny Uchechi hit the crossbar just 25 seconds into the game and then the match cooled off and there were no clear chances until half time. Luton dominated the first half but we managed to break the deadlock four minutes into the second half when Uchechi headed in a corner kick cross at the near post. Then we took control of the game, kept possession very well and even missed a good chance to double the lead. It was a solid display from my lads and that surely gave me great hopes for the future.
We had another away game coming up and this time we were going to meet relegation candidates Braintree, predicted to finish 21st. They started the game well though and took the lead on 12 minutes thanks to a magnificent goal, it’s worth watching :) We were not playing very well but managed to level things three minutes before the half hour mark when Oguzhan Ozyakup fired in a great free kick shot. Striker Michael Ricketts could have put us in the lead but he missed a huge chance before the interval. We were chasing the winning goal but disaster struck in our penalty area on 52 minutes, the referee saw something that I really didn’t notice and pointed to the spot. We were one goal down again and missed another two great chances before defender Oliver Nicholas pushed a corner kick cross in with a sliding finish. The hosts could have won the game during the final minutes when they had two great chances that were gifted to them by some incredible blunders from my defenders. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
mark
25 ноября, 2010 at 16:00
no way, 5-0 which you beat derby county fill with the likes of miles addison and kris commons??
what the heck, that is impressive and the manager of derby county team say that you can do better, what , is he on crack? anyway, may you show me the info screenshot of that match
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 16:05
The match info screen and the highlights of that game are in the previous post: https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2010/11/vauxhall-motors-fc-blue-square-premier-pre-season/2/
I don’t think that he was on crack but it surely was a pretty shocking statement :)
Laxeyman
25 ноября, 2010 at 16:24
Hi Johnny, that’s a pretty decent start, it’s good to see your side banging in the goals. Hopefully you can sure up the defence with the new centre back, and the two wingers look good as well. Good luck next month.
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 17:22
Thanks Laxeyman, I hope we’ll continue to score and maybe concede just a few less…
dami
25 ноября, 2010 at 17:14
decent start to the season…hope you can keep up the form next month.
Though it’s sad to see carolan leave…
dami
25 ноября, 2010 at 17:15
btw-I prefer the zoomed vertical scrolling view…
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 17:23
Thanks for the feedback Dami. Selling Carolan was a sad moment but I can’t pay his wage just because he was good in FM 2010… He did well in Blue Square North but I’m afraid that’s his maximum in FM 2011.
Sears
25 ноября, 2010 at 17:43
That’s a good start Johnny. You made some decent signings too, I think you’ll battle for a play off spot at least. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 18:16
Thanks for the confidence Sears, you’re quite optimistic :)
Vinners
25 ноября, 2010 at 17:54
Haha a good start to the season! Albert is pretty good for me and scores a couple which makes me happy as well :) Well done and good luck for next month!
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 18:17
Thanks Vinners, you’re my unofficial scout :)
JonnySniper
25 ноября, 2010 at 18:34
Good start Johnny, Keep up that kind of form and you’ll be pushing the top half if not play-offs. Good luck fella.
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 19:54
Thanks Jonny, I hope to see even better form ;)
Chris @ Chester
25 ноября, 2010 at 18:36
Good start to the season Johnny, just like last season , I would bet on a straight promotion. The strikers look good too, shame about Carolan though, I think he was my favourite player from your Dorchester game,
Good luck for the rest of the season mate
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 19:52
Thanks Chris. You didn’t reply to my last email, did you receive the FM 2011 DVD?
Chris @ Chester
28 ноября, 2010 at 00:27
Didn’t I? Yes I received the game but I’m not happy as I’m now having problems with ,my laptop, it cuts out after a while and this has corrupted my saved game. Still, no complaints from me so far, my tactics seem to work brilliantly, :-)
Johnny Karp
28 ноября, 2010 at 00:57
Well, the next World Cup Predictions contest might have a laptop as the big prize :) Sorry to hear about your problems, back up the saved games in the future ;)
warren
25 ноября, 2010 at 18:41
Decent start to the season and Im sure that you will get better and start to move up the league table soon. Good luck for the rest of the season and hope you achieve the best you can.
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 19:54
Thanks Warren, I hope that we can only do better from this point on.
Darren Smith
25 ноября, 2010 at 18:49
Hey Johnny, you have enjoyed some decent results so far so well done. I still think you’ll be pushing for the top five. You have signed a lot of new players and they need time to settle. Besides I feel like Im getting a feel for your managing style now and if Im wrong correct me but you seem to improve as the season goes on…so top five for me mate.
ps I have finally managed to sort out the Football Manager rankings table. Take a look at let me know if you’d like to be entered.
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 19:57
I guess you are right Darren, my teams seem to build up form as the season progresses. I’ve seen the FM rankings table but I don’t think that I’ll remember to send you an email after each season… I guess you can enter me though and I’ll do my best to keep up.
Darren Smith
26 ноября, 2010 at 13:54
Thats the beauty of having your own blog mate, Ill do the updates for you. I read your stories and never miss a post anyway, so Ill make sure to update your points as and when you win stuff. After your heroics last season you are already top mate.
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 14:26
Thanks a lot Darren, I’ll follow the rankings closely from now on :)
Kevin
25 ноября, 2010 at 19:54
Hi Johnny
Not a bad start and it seems that you have the perfect partnership in Koroma and Uchechi up front. Sad to see Carolan go as he’s been a long time favorite but if he’s not as good then….he’s gotta go.
Sergio Sanchez should help you with your defence though.
Johnny Karp
25 ноября, 2010 at 19:59
Thanks Kevin. Uchechi and Koroma are doing well but I’m expecting more from the other two, Asante and Ricketts. Sanchez is better than Carolan so I had to let him go although I would have liked to get him to the Premier League with us.
Arjuna
26 ноября, 2010 at 02:02
Hey Johnny,
You’ve made a good start to a new challenge!! I agree that talking to the press can be irritating, especially when you are just asked the same questions over and over again!!! You should do very well this year.
Arjuna
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 06:49
Thanks Arjuna. I would have expected silly questions from the press but I was surprised to see such a statement from a fellow manager like the Derby County one.
Lye
26 ноября, 2010 at 02:24
Hi Johnny,
Not a bad start in my opinion. I agree with Darren, your team will just get better. Once the strikers start scoring, you will be in for a smooth ride. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 06:50
Thanks Lye. The goal scoring went pretty well although we missed quite a few easy chances, it’s the defense that needs to do better.
hils
26 ноября, 2010 at 07:39
Hi Johnny,a not bad start there!!!!!!!!!! I still cant belive that rant!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!=D
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 09:19
Thanks Hils!
paine
26 ноября, 2010 at 07:46
I saw you have Omar Koroma, I loved this little player in FM 10, an excellent back-up.
A bit downgraded from last year though.
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 09:18
I had Koroma in FM 2010 as well and I agree that he seemed a bit better in the previous version. I just realized that you started a new blog, I’ll add it to the links page right away! :)
Paine
26 ноября, 2010 at 21:27
No problem mate, thanks.
Sayam Khan
26 ноября, 2010 at 12:16
Hi Johnny
Same problem as me! conceding! However it is a pretty decent start and your new recruits look really good.
1 word to describe that statement: SHOCKING
Good Luck :-)
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 14:27
Thanks Sayam, I’ve already noticed some improvements in the defense after playing a couple of games in September.
Ana Garcia
26 ноября, 2010 at 14:32
Ha!
That manager having a go at you and he has only won 15% of his games! :D
Similar thing happened to me, where a manager said the reason his team lost was because of the state of our pitch, when we played them at their home ground. Wierd I guess!
Good signings as always! Nice to see another Spaniard, I will be cheering for both ;)
As always best of luck on a very long season.
Johnny Karp
26 ноября, 2010 at 16:48
Thanks for the good wishes Ana. I agree that some of these manager statements are ridiculous, I don’t even bother to read most of them but this one got my attention :)
Laxeyman
27 ноября, 2010 at 13:14
Hi Johnny, I was just wondering what role you play Danny Uchechi? I also have him and I was wondering how to get the best out of him. Cheers.
Johnny Karp
27 ноября, 2010 at 14:45
Most times I employ him in the defensive forward role but he played a few good matches as a complete forward as well.
Laxeyman
27 ноября, 2010 at 15:05
Ah right, thanks :)