Vauxhall Football Manager 2011 Story: February 2015

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

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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

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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

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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.

Vauxhall vs Bolton (FA Cup 4th rnd replay)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis — Alex Chamberlain, Connor Newton, Mark Brown, Daniel Toribio — Andrés, Dale Hills

Team Talk: You can win today!

Given the recent performances in the league I have to say that I was quite afraid of the FA Cup replay against Premier League side Bolton, we had to play a lot better than we had done recently if we wanted to avoid an embarrassing defeat. Luckily the lads managed to ease my concerns right away as we took the lead after just three minutes: a fine move saw Daniel Toribio crossing into the box and striker Dale Hills fired in a beautiful volley. The we had to endure some pressure in our own box but we defended well before witnessing another gem from Dale Hills, a superb effort from the edge of the area gave us a two-goal lead after 23 minutes. That goal unleashed my players and we managed to get another one in after just five minutes, Alex Chamberlain spotted a good run off the ball from midfielder Connor Newton, passed through the gap and Newton coolly finished it off from inside the penalty area. Then we kept Bolton at bay quite easily until half time, we were dominating the game to the delight of our roaring fans.

Half time score: 3-0

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Suso for Chamberlain, Ibrahima MBow for Andrés

Things didn’t change after the break, we were still in control and even had the chance to make it 4-0 seven minutes after the re-start when the referee awarded us a dubious penalty kick. No worries though, we didn’t take advantage of it as Ibrahima MBow missed the chance to end his goal drought. He did that five minutes later from an easier position, Dale Hills set him up and he couldn’t really have missed from there. Strangely enough, MBow seems to be playing rather badly after signing the new contract with us, I wonder why… Anyway, it was a great performance from my team against a superior opponent, I was proud of the lads!

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Dale Hills

Flop of the match: Suso

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

Norwich vs Vauxhall (FA Cup 5th rnd)

Venue: Carrow Road

Attendance: 20,185

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Jason Banton — Lenny Nangis, Andrés

Team Talk: You can win today!

We advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup and we were quite lucky with the draw as we avoided the Premier League teams. We were drawn against fellow Championship side Norwich but I was expecting a tough game since they had beaten us 2-1 at Rivacre Park in November. In fact, the opening minutes showed that we were facing a much more difficult game than we had against Bolton as Norwich were denied by the post on 10 minutes. My lads were playing pretty well too and Andrés missed a good chance before Mervin Simon brought joy to our fans yet again with a corner kick header. Our joy lasted just four minutes though, Jason Banton made a needless challenge inside our box and the referee pointed to the spot. Norwich didn’t refuse the gift and made it all square after 31 minutes. That was just a temporary setback, we were all smiles again after just five minutes when central midfielder Mark Brown coolly finished off a blitz counter attack move. The game was fierce though, Norwich were not showing signs of giving up and they managed to restore parity two minutes before the break courtesy of some clumsy defending from my lads. The home side could have even taken the lead before half time but they were denied by the post again.

Half time score: 2-2

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Kaka for Baddeley, Connor Newton for Brown, Daniel Toribio for Suso

We ran out of luck after the break though, totally… Norwich took the lead after just two minutes with a fabulous strike and then we were denied by the crossbar three minutes later. The lads kept pushing forward, we were trying hard to make it all square again but Lenny Nangis wasted the best chance as he missed the empty net from eight yards. The players did their best but Norwich also played very well, it was one of those games that neither of the two sides would have deserved to lose.

Full time team talk: Sympathise.

Man of the match: Mark Brown

Flop of the match: Jason Banton

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

Vauxhall vs Southampton (Championship)

Venue: Rivacre Park

Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Bryan Purdrue, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Chavez, Mark Brown, Suso, Ibrahima MBow — Andrés, Dale Hills

Team Talk: You can win today!

Back to the league for a tough match, we were facing 7th placed Southampton with a severely reduced squad due to fatigue accumulated in the two exciting cup games. I had to send in Ibrahima MBow as a left winger this time and also gave starting spots to centre back Bryan Purdrue and right winger Carlos Chavez who had just recovered from a nasty injury. Luckily we got off to the best possible start as Dale Hills rounded off a spectacular team move inside the opening minute of the game! We continued to push forward after the goal but unfortunately we were denied by the woodwork twice before Southampton leveled the game against the run of play with a free kick header. It was quite a blow for the team, we were no longer able to create chances and even allowed our opponents to come close to taking the lead twice before half time.

Half time score: 1-1

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Ken Harris for Kaka, Connor Newton for Chavez

Things set out nicely for us immediately after the break as the referee finally decided to send off Southampton‘s left central midfielder after he had committed several fouls in the first half. We had the numerical advantage and we started to take the game to our opponents, we were pushing forward with the centre backs inside the midfield circle but we had no luck at all… Several good moves went to waste and the very last one saw Andrés‘ injury time effort thundering off the post. Bad luck hits hard some time and we dropped another two points that we really deserved to get.

Full time team talk: Disappointing!

Man of the match: Andrés

Flop of the match: Mervin Simon

Match Stats

Video Highlights

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Huddersfield vs Vauxhall (Championship)

Venue: The Galpharm Stadium

Attendance: 11,071

Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Kaka, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Ray Davis — Alex Chamberlain, Connor Newton, Mark Brown, Jason Banton — Lenny Nangis, Dale Hills

Team Talk: Pressure is off!

Last game of the month, away at 16th placed Huddersfield. Confidence was at an all-time low, I just couldn’t imagine my players scoring anymore! This time we got lucky though, the home side looked better than us during the opening minutes but it was us who took the lead three minutes before the half hour mark courtesy of a huge blunder in the opposition defense. The goal gave us a bit more courage and he lads started to play better. We could have doubled the lead on the stroke of half time but the woodwork denied us once again.

Half time score: 0-1

Half time team talk: Pleased.

Half time substitutions: Ken Harris for Davis, Matthias Gohlert for Brown, Daniel Toribio for Banton

The game quiet and boring after the break, neither of the two teams was looking capable of playing some real football out there. The match suddenly came to life on 69 minutes, Huddersfield scored on a counter kick and we were contemplating another setback. That was not the case though as Lenny Nangis ended a counter attack with a perfect finish to give us the lead 10 minutes from time. I was afraid of Huddersfield‘s reaction and decided to pull back and defend, I don’t do that very often, but this time I was fearful… The move paid off in the end, we held out with ease and grabbed the much needed three points.

Full time team talk: Well done!

Man of the match: Lenny Nangis

Flop of the match: Jason Banton

Match Stats

Video Highlights

Click here to watch the match highlights.

It was a good month overall, we were beaten just once in seven games but that defeat stopped our encouraging FA Cup run. In the league we managed to win three out of five but we dropped four points that we really should have taken.

The situation at the top of the table is unchanged despite all the ups and downs: Burnley are still five points ahead of us, we are still second, tied on points with Middlesbrough but this time we have a game in hand on Boro.

We’ll have just five games to play in March, that’s quite a relief. This month will be decisive though as we will meet leaders Burnley and 4th placed Bristol City, both away from home.

That’s about it for now folks, thanks for following the story through this rather difficult month. I hope that it was a pleasant read and I’m looking forward to your comments. Oh, and don’t forget to vote for the March Goal of the Month, we have quite a few gems in this month’s competition!