Hello my friends and thanks for coming back to read another episode of the Vauxhall Motors Football Manager 2011 story! As you know we were still sitting in 2nd place in the Championship at the end of January 2015 but we were tied on 56 points with third placed Middlesbrough and five points behind leaders Burnley. The race for promotion was tight and fierce so we had to keep up the tempo if we wanted to get the reward at the end of the season. Let’s see how February went…
Vauxhall vs Peterborough (Championship)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Kaka, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley – Alex Chamberlain, Connor Newton, Daniel Toribio, Keith Higgs – Lenny Nangis, Andrés
Team Talk: You can win today!
Peterborough were down in 19th place before the game so it was a good chance for us to grab the much needed three points. Our plans seemed to be a bit too optimistic though as the visitors had two clear chances early on before we took the lead against the run of play in the 20th minute when centre back Mervin Simon nodded in a corner kick cross. The goal gave my lads more confidence and they started to play a little better. It took us only 16 minutes to double the lead, striker Andrés did well to round off a quick team move with a powerful finish. Peterborough reacted with good determination but they were denied by goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis twice before Lenny Nangis bagged his 10th goal of the season on the stroke of half time. The result was quite harsh on our opponents as they played as good as we did overall.
Half time score: 3-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Graeme Owens for Chamberlain, Matthias Gohlert for Toribio, Ibrahima MBow for Nangis
The result seemed to be secured and my lads got a bit complacent, Peterborough were dominating the game and deservedly pulled one back with a great goal just after the hour mark. We defended a bit better after that goal though and managed to restrict the opponents to shots from distance. We grabbed the three points but I was not pleased with the team’s performance.
Full time team talk: none
Man of the match: Andrés
Flop of the match: Graeme Owens
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Swindon vs Vauxhall (Championship)
Venue: The County Ground
Attendance: 7,093
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis – Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Jason Banton – Lenny Nangis, Andrés
Team Talk: You can win today!
Swindon were in 18th place before the match so they were needing the three points as badly as we were. We got off to a slow start again but this time we also got punished for that as Swindon took the lead just 90 seconds after the kick off. Luckily Mervin Simon stepped up again to restore parity from a corner kick just three minutes later and then we even took the lead on 9 minutes when Andrés skipped past two defenders before powering in. The team was looking good, we were dominating the game but squandered a couple of chances before Lenny Nangis tucked in an Andrés cross. Unfortunately Swindon found the back of the net again seven minutes before the break to maintain their 100 percent shooting ratio: two goals from two shots on target. My lads were not to be denied though and Lenny Nangis scored his second goal of the game just before half time as he rounded off a superb team move.
Half time score: 2-4
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Graeme Owens for Chamberlain, Daniel Toribio for Brown, Ibrahima MBow for Nangis
I was sure that we were going to get the three points and I was expecting my team to score a few more goals after the break. Unfortunately Swindon were looking like they were being managed by Harry Potter, their third shot on target went in 10 minutes after the re-start! Another 15 minutes went by, we wasted a few more chances, and then Daniel Toribio made a huge error inside our penalty area and gifted Swindon the equalizer! I just couldn’t believe it. We still had 15 minutes to get back ahead but luck was not on our side, we squandered another couple of big chances and dropped two points that seemed to be ours at half time. It was a nightmare but we had to forget about it quickly…
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Lenny Nangis
Flop of the match: Daniel Toribio
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Vauxhall vs Swansea (Championship)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Carlos Santos, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley – Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Keith Higgs – Lenny Nangis, Andrés
Team Talk: You can win today!
We had a chance to redeem ourselves against 9th placed Swansea, a much more difficult opponent but this time we had the support of our regular 3,000 fans. The game did not start well for us as we lost left winger Keith Higgs to injury after just six minutes but Andrés gave us the lead on 13 minutes with a great strike. Right winger Alex Chamberlain made it 2-0 on 25 minutes after firing in from close range but then Swansea took over and forced goalie Dean Bouzanis to make a couple of fine saves before half time.
Half time score: 2-0
Half time team talk: Encourage.
Half time substitutions: Ibrahima MBow for Nangis, Connor Newton for Brown
Chamberlain‘s offensive appetite was on display after the break as well and he managed to net his second goal of the game on 54 minutes when he volleyed home a good cross from left back Grant Baddeley. He even had the chance to make it a hat-trick seven minutes later, Andrés was brought down inside the penalty area but Chamberlain was unlucky to hit the post from the spot. We were enjoying a great spell of dominance and we finally managed to convert that into another goal six minutes from time when Andrés blazed in a beautiful free kick shot. Something wrong happened from that point to the final whistle though as we gifted Swansea a goal and another two clear chances in just six minutes! I was relieved to hear the final whistle and see the three points in our bag, my players were showing unbelievable lack of concentration on some occasions…
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Andrés
Flop of the match: Ibrahima MBow
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Our next game was the replay of the FA Cup fourth round clash with Premiership side Bolton, we managed to grab a pleasing 2-2 draw away from home and our fans were looking forward to welcoming a top flight club at Rivacre Park. Please go to the next page to see what happened…
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Pretty good month there Johnny, a lot of games, and some good results, especially the demolition of Bolton, what a performance! Your defence is still a little shaky, but hopefully that won’t matter too much as the title race is still pretty tight, the game against Burnley will be crucial. Good luck!
Thanks Laxeyman. I guess our defense will not improve much until the end of the season so we’ll have to keep scoring a few if we want to hang in there.
Hi Johnny
What a disappointment against Norwich. I was convinced after te bolton game you were on your way to Wembley. Never mind, you are still in with a good shot at automatic promotion to the Premier League but a really crucial month awaits you….
Good luck!!!
Hey Kevin, I was quite optimistic before the Norwich game too but… I guess Wembley will have to wait but we’ll get there sooner or later.
Well done Johnny
A great win against Bolton is the cup and altough it was dissapointing to be knocked out in the next round just thing of the money you’ve made. It will be a close run thing for the title but the exit in the FA Cup could be a blessing in disguise. Hope you at least get promoted.
Thanks Warren. You are right about the FA Cup, the exit might help us in the league but it would have been so nice to advance to the next round, so nice…
Hi Johnny,
yet again, a superb month.The level of consistency your team is showing is phenomenal, especially considering their young age. Shame you lost to Norwich in the cup,but that’s football.I’m sure you made a tidy profit anyway. Good-luck in the title run in, I’m positive you can secure another amazing promotion.
Hey Sears, I didn’t check the finances but I guess the FA Cup run did bring some cash in. I hope you’re right about the promotion :)
Hi Johnny,
Fatigue maybe the cause of that defeat against Norwich. I am equally surprised that the players let the game slip away after that convincing win against Bolton. You look good for the promotion as you have a game in hand over Middlesbrough. Good luck.
Hey Lye, I guess fatigue was a factor but Norwich played a lot better than Bolton did. A game in hand is good to have but we’ll still have to win that match :)
Not bad Johnny, but you should be fine for automatic promotion, and I feel that you should win the title
Josh
everythingthatisfm.blogspot.com
Thanks Josh. I guess the game at Burnley will be decisive for the title, we might have a chance if we win that one but it will be very tough.
Mostly reiterating what the lads above have said, great month for you in terms of results. Little unlucky that you weren’t able to capitalise on Burnleys position at the top because of the draws but you look nice and solid up there and I’ve got no doubts you can seal an automatic promotion spot.
Good luck!
Thanks for the confidence Jake, next month will be decisive and I hope to remain second at the end of it.
Hey Johnny, I personally think that was a good month and has kept you well in the promotion race. With the FA Cup not around to distract you, the teams form and confidence could well get a boost from a much needed rest. Looking forward to a nail biting end mate. :)
Hi Darren, I agree that the FA Cup exit might be a slight advantage as fitness will be a problem during the last months of the season. I hope that we’ll keep a clean bill of health and stay in the top two.
Hey Johnny,
Good month there. Mervin Simon seems to be scoring so many goals from corner kicks, he is very good in the air and he isn’t even that tall! If you hadn’t lost the lead so many times, you could have won those games. And you can’t seem to find a good penalty taker! M’Bow and Chamberlain missed, Howson was the best one even though he missed one so far in this season.
Thanks mate. Simon is doing very well, both upfront on corners and at the back, his interventions saved us quite a few goals this season. About the penalty takers, Andrés is my first choice but when he’s not on the pitch M’Bow takes over. Unfortunately he seems to be low on confidence and that’s why he missed. There’s a different story with Chamberlain, I let him take that penalty because he had the chance to pull off a hat-trick but he was unlucky to hit the post.
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will continue your form until the end of the season!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Hils!!!
Your fans must enjoy watching your team play with 83 goals scored and 48 against! Am glad to see your a fan of attacking football!! :)
Its really close at the top and you have two really tricky away games at sides around you so I suppose that will help define your season and if you can keep in the automatic promotion places.
I have my fingers crossed for you!
Football is about goals but I guess both me and the fans would be happier if we’d concede a bit less. We’ll need some luck, I’m sure of that, so thanks for the fingers crossing :)
Unlucky about the defeat to Norwich. Good month overall, and I smell Vauxhall being in the premiership next season ;-)
Thanks Sayam, I guess I’ll have to trust your smell :)