Being the head coach of the national team of Senegal I was invited to vote for the 2022 Golden Ball and I have to say that I had a very tough time choosing because no less than 11 Vauxhall players were on the list of nominees! I guess that proves just how good this team is…
… and I’m happy to report that it was Zé Carlos who won the much coveted award, he surely deserved it too!
The striker also won the FIFA World Player of the Year award with Leandro Velasco coming in third…
Last but not least we had three players in the World Team of the Year and another two on the bench, that was quite rewarding as all these players joined the club when they were very young and now they have turned into world superstars!
The player stats screen at the halfway point of the season sees young centre back Miranda leading the average ratings charts but that is because he has only played in six games. However, he has scored four goals and played pretty well throughout. I decided to promote him from the reserves team (click here to view his profile) after selling Javier Godoy for no less than 18.25 million pounds to Man United! Miranda is not as good as Godoy yet but I think he will get there pretty soon if he keeps playing like this.
As for the rest of the statistics, you can see that Zé Carlos and Parana kept on scoring while Brazilian wingers Gilson and Tiago also added a good contribution to the cause with quite a few goals and assists.
And now, on to Africa! :) I had two matches left with Senegal to secure the qualification to the African Nations Cup and I’m pleased to report that we have won both games courtesy of incredible striker Khouma Babacar. In fact, I think that this team would be rubbish without him.
We were quite lucky with the African Nations Cup group draw as we will have to face Angola, Egypt and Mozambique. That is a lot better than group B for instance when Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and holders Ivory Coast will battle it out for the top two spots. I think we can reach the quarter finals and maybe even win the trophy but there is one condition: no injuries to Khouma Babacar! :)
That’s about it for now my friends, thanks a lot for stopping by to read this update. I’m looking forward to your comments, questions, requests, rants, the comments box is ready and waiting for you! :)
Excessive
17 сентября, 2011 at 14:14
Well done Jonny, the Vauxhall team are bulldozing their way through yet another season! Little unlucky with the Arsenal result, but lapses like that happen in football.
Good luck with Senegal though! Babacar is one hell of a striker and im sure that he will guide the way through the group stages and maybe even to the trophy.. With two of the four teams from group B out, you will stand more of a chance!
Johnny Karp
17 сентября, 2011 at 17:18
Thanks Jake. You are right about Babacar, he can single-handedly push us through to the quarter finals but then we’ll need more to advance. You’re right about group B as well, I secretly hope that Ivory Coast will not reach the quarter finals :)
Kevin
17 сентября, 2011 at 14:33
Great job Johnny. That’s unfortunate against Arsenal but otherwise you are steaming ahead with an incredible goal talley half way through the season. You’ve gotten off to a godd start with Sengal so all the best for the finals. Should be exciting!
Johnny Karp
17 сентября, 2011 at 17:19
Thanks Kevin, I am surely looking forward to the African Nations Cup ;)
Darren Smith
17 сентября, 2011 at 15:52
Well done mate, brilliant form and you’re doing it in style. I honestly can’t think of how anyone can stop Vauxhall completing another clean sweep. It would certainly take some bad luck.
I hope Senegal can win the African Nations Cup as that would be a great trophy to add to your CV…if anyone can do it you can.
Johnny Karp
17 сентября, 2011 at 17:20
Thanks Darren, I hope we will perform another clean sweep but I’m not that keen on that. About the African Cup, I think that Babacar will have a far bigger importance than me.
George Dobson
17 сентября, 2011 at 16:29
well done great results Babacar is amazing miranda sems to be playing well to lets hope he becomes a amazing player
Johnny Karp
17 сентября, 2011 at 17:20
Thanks mate, I agree that Babacar is amazing while Miranda could become a good defender, maybe not an amazing one but a good one.
Sears
17 сентября, 2011 at 16:38
Great start to the campaign Johnny! Your new tactic is quite remarkable, creates so many chances … Anyhow, keep up the good work :)
Johnny Karp
17 сентября, 2011 at 17:21
Thanks Sears. We didn’t create as many chances in each game but the tactic does produce some fun on a regular basis :)
vaibhavc
17 сентября, 2011 at 18:02
Hey Johnny
You have only lost one game since the campaign has started. I actually thought you didn’t lose a single game when I started to read the post. You are doing well with Senegal, keep up the good work!
Johnny Karp
18 сентября, 2011 at 11:39
Hey Vaibhav, I guess we were pretty close to ending the year unbeaten…
riggsy
17 сентября, 2011 at 18:39
Great work Johnny your team has performed exceptionally well in all competitions and I’m sure you will do well with Senegal too! Good luck for the rest of the season mate :)
Johnny Karp
18 сентября, 2011 at 11:39
Thanks Riggsy!
Laxeyman
17 сентября, 2011 at 18:54
Brilliant as ever, you’ve built an incredible team from almost nothing, well done! Ze Carlos, Parana et al are just brilliant and I’d be surprised if you don’t win the lot. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
18 сентября, 2011 at 11:40
Thanks Laxeyman, I do have brilliant players indeed :)
Lye Kuek Hin
18 сентября, 2011 at 12:42
Hi Johnny,
All is going well mate. There is no doubt it’s going to be another successful season. Too bad about the unbeaten run but i guess it has to happen sometimes. 11 nominees, the world’s best players are in Vauxhall and i will be very surprised if a Vauxhall player didn’t get the award.
Good luck on the African Nations Cup. Love to see you win above the expectations.
Johnny Karp
18 сентября, 2011 at 13:31
Hey Lye, it was a good season so far and I think that a good African tournament could make it one to remember.
Martin - F.M.J.S
18 сентября, 2011 at 16:04
Hi Johnny
Its a very good start to the season mate, Some positive results. Good Luck with the rest of the season.
Also good luck with the African Nations Cup too, i look forward to seeing how you get on.
Johnny Karp
18 сентября, 2011 at 19:01
Thanks mate, I’m looking forward to the African Cup of Nations as I never played this tournament in FM 2012 until now.
Johnny Karp
18 сентября, 2011 at 19:01
Thanks mate, I’m looking forward to the African Cup of Nations as I never played this tournament in FM 2011 until now.