Hello my friends, it’s time for another episode of the Vauxhall Motors Football Manager 2011 story and I’m happy that you have dropped by to read it. The latest update left us at the end of October 2014 and I’m pleased to remember that we were in 4th place in the Championship table at the end of that month, surely not bad for a newly-promoted team. We were also having a great Carling Cup run as we managed to qualify for the quarter finals after going past the likes of Newcastle and Fulham.
In fact, the very first thing that happened in November was the Carling Cup quarter finals draw! Well, we were not very lucky this time: we will meet Premier League leaders Manchester United at Old Trafford!
I checked their staff to see if Sir Alex Ferguson was still there but he wasn’t, he retired at some point and the club decided to name an in-house successor: former assistant manager Mike Phelan. I’m looking forward to that game but there is still a long way to go until then as it’s going to be our first match of December. Until then, lets’ see how November went.
Vauxhall vs Bristol City (Championship)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley – Carlos Chavez, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Keith Higgs – Andrés, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
We had a tough match right away against 7th placed Bristol City. The league table was pretty tight as you can remember so any win was bound to make a difference in the rankings. The game turned out to be much easier than I would have expected though, partly because we managed to break the deadlock quite early through striker Andrés who muscled the ball off a defender and slotted home. Then it was winger Keith Higgs who stepped into the spotlight, he fired in a quickfire double and we were leading 3-0 after 23 minutes of play. It was a great spell of domination for my team and we could easily have bagged at least one more goal before the break.
Half time score: 3-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Suso for Howson, Daniel Toribio for Higgs
There was just one player who underperformed in the first half: central midfielder Graham Howson. I decided to replace him at half time although I felt quite bad about that decision because this was his last game at Rivacre Park… His loan deal expired a couple of days after the game and he returned to Manchester United, there was nothing I could do about that. Anyway, the other players swept away my sadness with a thrilling second half performance. First it was right winger Carlos Chavez who tapped in an Ibrahima MBow cross, then Bristol City pulled one back but that was just a consolation goal for them as we managed to fire in another three goals. Ibrahima MBow restored the four-goal lead with a placed finish, then midfielder Suso bagged his first goal for the club with a first time finish to another cross from M’Bow and then the midfielder returned the favor to Ibrahima Mbow for the last goal of the match. It was a brilliant performance and our highest scoring win of the season so far.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Ibrahima MBow
Flop of the match: Graham Howson
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Cardiff vs Vauxhall (Championship)
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 11,440
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, James Campbell – Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs – Andrés, Dale Hills
Team Talk: You can win today!
Cardiff were down in 24th place before the game after a disastrous start to the campaign but their recent form was pretty good, they were unbeaten in four games. The home side had a better start to the game, they were dominating but we held out and managed to break the deadlock on 36 minutes when left winger Keith Higgs found Andrés with a very good pass and the Spanish striker gave us the lead with a cool finish. The match continued to be quite tough but Cardiff were no longer dominating so we held on to the lead until half time.
Half time score: 0-1
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Jacob Hronec for Campbell, Carlos Santos for Chalwe
Quite a few of my players were tired for some reason and that allowed Cardiff to control the match after the break. We were not showing much upfront anymore but our defense was doing a good job. Or at least they did until three minutes from time when Jacob Hronec made a stupid mistake and got dispossessed inside our own box, Cardiff said thanks and secured a share of the spoils. It was our first draw of the season and I guess Cardiff deserved a point as they had played pretty well throughout the game.
Full time team talk: Good result!
Man of the match: Keith Higgs
Flop of the match: Dale Hills
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Leeds vs Vauxhall (Championship)
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 19,047
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley – Carlos Chavez, Connor Newton, Mark Brown, Keith Higgs – Andrés, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
Leeds were in 11th place before the game but I was expecting a tricky match since there were quite a few good experienced players in their squad. We had a much better start this time, we were in control of the game but Andrés wasted two big chances before finally stabbing one into the top corner from the edge of the area. Leeds reacted very well after the goal and their pressure paid off on 39 minutes when they netted a well-deserved equalizer. We managed to restore the lead during injury time, centre back Mervin Simon was upended inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Andrés stepped up calmly and slotted home his second goal of the match, things were going well but I was expecting a fierce second half.
Half time score: 1-2
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Jacob Hronec for Harris, Suso for Brown, Daniel Toribio for Higgs
In fact, Leeds were trying hard to make it all square again but they were leaving gaps at the back for us to exploit on counter attacks. We managed to create quite a few chances but we had to wait until seven minutes from time to settle the game, Ibrahima MBow displayed a great solo effort to put the three points in our bag. It was a good match and I was very pleased to be victorious at Elland Road.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Andrés
Flop of the match: Carlos Chavez
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Vauxhall vs Middlesbrough (Championship)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, James Campbell – Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs – Andrés, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
The good results pushed us up into third place and that made the game against Middlesbrough even more interesting since they were in 2nd place before the match, three points ahead of us. Each of the two teams managed to create and miss a clear cut chance inside the opening ten minutes of the game but M’Bow missed the biggest one on 12 minutes, a real sitter. We came close again on 30 minutes when right winger Chamberlain hit the crossbar but the first half ended all square.
Half time score: 0-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Matthias Gohlert for Brown, Daniel Toribio for Higgs
We needed to break the deadlock but in such tight games only something special can do that. Fortunately that special moment came just five minutes after the re-start when Spanish midfielder Suso powered one into the top corner from way out, a sensational goal! That moment was soon forgotten though as Middlesbrough leveled the match after just 11 minutes when centre back Mervin Simon was quite unlucky to put through his own net. Both teams were looking quite tired during the final 30 minutes so it ended all square, I guess we can blame bad luck for this one.
Full time team talk: Good result!
Man of the match: Suso
Flop of the match: Mervin Simon
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
We had three more games to play before the end of the month, the update continues in the next page.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Hi Johnny
First off my eyes don’t hurt as the font looks bigger and I can read the post without my glasses. Have you changed something? It’s good anyway :)
On to the football then and quite a magical way to start the month with that thrashing over Bristol City. That must of got the old adrenaline pumping! Although a few points behind Burnley you have quite a good chance of making some ground up with next months schedule. Good luck at Old Trafford in The Carling Cup and thanks for a great update as always!!
Hey Kevin. I didn’t change anything about the fonts but I could try to make them bigger if you want. I don’t know if we can catch Burnley, that’s not my goal at the moment. I just want to escape Old Trafford with a narrow defeat and then consolidate this third place.
Hi Johnny,
A big win against Bristol set you the way for this month. Another great month consolidate your position at the top, who knows Burnley will have a slip and you will have a chance to close in on them. Good to travel to Old Trafford, the stadium is big and your travelling fans must be cheering pretty loud. Good luck for next month.
Hi Lye and thanks for the good luck wish. I don’t think that we have too many fans that will travel to Old Trafford but I’m sure that the whole town will be watching the game on TV :)
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!!! Great 7-1 win!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Hils!!! ;)
great win against bristol city johnny,
Andres is starting to bang them in now and completley deserved playyer of the month!
pleas check out my football and football manager blog at http://www.everythingfootballandotherstuff.blogspot.com
thanks and good luck at old trafford!
Thanks mate, Andrés is starting to show me the kind of stuff I’m paying him for but I believe that he can do even better.
Perfect way to start the month Johnny! 7-1 is a great victory! I just looked at Andres’ attributes, and they are excellent. I think he coud be a good player in the Premiership, what do your coaches say? Also I think you can still win the title as there is long time left in the season! Good Luck!
Thanks Sayam but I’m not thinking about the title yet. Andres surely has the talent to play in the Premier League, the coaches agree with that.
Hey Johnny,
Great month and it started really well as well, 7-1! I thought you could win against Cardiff but I was wrong, you drew 1-1. I can’t wait for the United game, I am really looking forward to it!
Yeah, I was expecting a win at Cardiff as well but they played really well so I guess a draw was a good result considering the strength that the opponents have shown.
Well done Johnny
NIce to see that your challenging well in the league but its an added bonus that you are in the League Cup quarter finals. It should be an exciting game at Old Trafford. Sorry I havent commented for a while but I have been busy lately on work etc.
Good luck for the rest of the season.
Thanks for the comment Warren, the Carling Cup run is a blessing for the club’s finances to be honest.
Good month again Johnny, the 7-1 win over Bristol City must have been extremley satisfying. It looks like you’re in a good position to challenge for an automatic promotion place, and maybe even Burnley if they slip up. It would be very funny if you beat Man Utd, I really hope you do it :) Good luck!
It would be quite funny to beat Man United, I agree. But it seems nearly impossible as they are the current Premier League leaders and also the title holders! I just hope to score a goal there…
Well done on the 7-1!
Andres seems like a real star in the making I hope you can keep hold of him or at least get a big money offer for him when the time comes.
So far so good and into the playoff’s plus with the tie against Manchester United you have nothing to lose so might aswell have a real go!
Good luck Johnny. :)
Thanks Ana. There is some interest for Andres from a couple of small Spanish clubs, Levante and Las Palmas, but I guess he will remain with us until the end of the season. Then a big club might snap him up but there’s a lot that can happen until then.
Well done Johnny, what a fantastic run. You are starting to show the competition how serious Vauxhall are about promotion. Andres looks fantastic and your up and coming fixtures leave the door right open for the top two. I can’t wait for the Man Utd tie…thats going to be a real great watch. :)
Thanks Darren, I hope we’ll survive the trip to Old Trafford somehow and then keep getting some points in the league.
Your team have found some consistency now and good luck against Man Utd. It would be fantastic if you beat them! Andres is a great prospect, he’ll defiantly turn into a great player!
Thanks Sears. Beating Manchester United would be a huge upset but I guess we have our chance. Andrés surely has enough talent but he has to keep working hard if he wants to become a star.
Hi Johnny, congratulations on your impressive work with Vauxhall, it is magic… Can you tell me what match options you using? I meen do you watching full match or just key or extended? I know that my English is not the best but I hope that you understand my question. :))
Hi Markota. I always prefer to watch the extended highlights but I did use full match for a while when I needed to see how the tactic works in more detail. And don’t worry about your English, it’s more than OK.
Come on Johnny! When’s this next post? :)
I’m sorry Jack, I think you will have to wait for a few more days… I’m on a field trip at the moment so there is no time for FM or writing for now. So I guess that the next post should be published next Tuesday or Wednesday…