Hello folks, it’s finally time to read the latest episode of my Vauxhall Motors Football Manager 2011 story! I am sorry that I had to keep you waiting so long but I have been away on a field trip and that made writing and publishing almost impossible. Anyway, back to the story: we were proudly sitting in third place in the Championship at the end of November and we were also preparing for a historic Carling Cup quarter final clash with Premier League title holders Manchester United. That was going to be our first match in December, a nice trip to Old Trafford…
Manchester United vs Vauxhall (Carling Cup quarter final)
Venue: Old Trafford
Attendance: 64,437
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Jacob Hronec, Bryan Purdrue, Mervin Simon, James Campbell – Alex Chamberlain, Mark Brown, Suso, Jason Banton – Lenny Nangis, Andrés
Team Talk: You can win today!
It’s safe to say that Manchester United were the best team in England at the time of the game, they were the Premier League defending champions but also the current leaders in the top flight. We had nothing to lose though so I was hoping to see a brave performance from my lads. The game itself looked a lot different than I would have hoped, Manchester United were way better than us. We survived the pressure for half an hour but the Red Devils took the lead with a great goal and then could have scored at least a couple more before half time. It was quite clear that they were in a whole different league, there was no chance in the world to turn this game around.
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: Pressure is off!
Half time substitutions: Grant Baddeley for Campbell, Daniel Toribio for Suso, Graeme Owens for Banton
We had our one and only chance to score moments after the re-start but the goalkeeper denied it and then the giants killed off the contest by scoring twice in just three minutes. It was all over but at that point I was hoping to keep the score line decent. Fortunately the players regained some composure and we managed to escape with a three-goal deficit. This game showed how much we have to improve before reaching the peak of English football, there’s a lot of work still to be done…
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Mervin Simon
Flop of the match: Grant Baddeley
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Vauxhall vs Portsmouth (Championship)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 3,000 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley – Carlos Chavez, Connor Newton, Suso, Jason Banton – Dale Hills, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
Back to the league, Portsmouth were in 9th place before the game so I was expecting a tough match after the lesson that we were taught at Old Trafford. Several players were tired after being chased around for 90 minutes by the Red Devils, striker Andrés was suspended, so I had to make some changes in the starting eleven. Luckily we managed to take the lead after just four minutes, centre back Sashi Chalwe broke the deadlock with a perfectly taken free kick from 20 yards out. Pompey reacted promptly though and they deservedly netted the equalizer on 27 minutes. That was a wake-up call for my lads, they regained control of the game and Mervin Simon put us ahead again with a corner kick header. We doubled the lead on the stroke of half time as Ibrahima MBow was tripped inside the penalty area and then stepped up to convert the spot kick.
Half time score: 3-1
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Bryan Purdrue for Simon, Daniel Toribio for Banton, Paul Harris for Hills
Unfortunately Portsmouth got back into the game just 27 seconds after the break when some poor defending allowed them to cut the deficit back to one goal. I was expecting the worst at that point but my team returned to the usual commanding style of play and eventually restored the two-goal lead when substitute centre back Bryan Purdrue scored his first ever goal for the club. The game was quite entertaining but I was relieved to have grabbed the three points after the onslaught at Old Trafford.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Sashi Chalwe
Flop of the match: Daniel Toribio
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Vauxhall vs Sheffield Wednesday (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, Suso, Jason Banton – Andrés, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
We had a good chance of continuing the winning streak as we had another home game coming up against 21st placed Sheffield Wednesday. We started on the right foot and took the lead after 13 minutes when a Mervin Simon corner kick header bounced off the crossbar and into the path of left winger Jason Banton who headed home. We could have scored a few more before the break, the game was totally under our control but the rather poor finishing kept our lead at just one goal.
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: none
The domination continued after the break and we finally managed to extend the lead two minutes before the hour mark when right winger Carlos Chavez headed home a Jason Banton cross. Ibrahima MBow added his name to the score sheet six minutes later and it was all over, the three points were ours. We could have added one more goal just before the final whistle but Andrés totally screwed up on a penalty kick as he blazed it over the bar.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Jason Banton
Flop of the match: Andrés
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Crystal Palace vs Vauxhall (Championship)
Venue: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 14,267
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis – Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley – Carlos Chavez, Mark Brown, Suso, Jason Banton – Andrés, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
Our first away game of the month was against another relegation candidate, Crystal Palace were down in 20th place before the match. It didn’t start too well for us though, the home side showed great determination right away and goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis made three important saves inside the opening 10 minutes! Things got back on track after that, we took control of the game and M’Bow wasted a big chance before Jason Banton finally broke the deadlock by rounding off a flowing team move. Then we got lucky a minute before the break when a shot from Andrés deflected off a defender and went it but things got even better as our Spanish striker powered one in during stoppage time after a great counter attack move.
Half time score: 0-3
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Daniel Toribio for Brown, Keith Higgs for Banton
We were safe and dry after the first half so we took the foot off the gas after the break. We kept the home side at bay easily but there was an unfortunate event that ruined our joy, right winger Carlos Chavez got injured and was going to be out for two months.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Sashi Chalwe
Flop of the match: Keith Higgs
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
We had two more games to play before the end of the month, please go to the next page to see how those went.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Excessive
March 2, 2011 at 15:44
Looking good mate! Very strong in the league for a newly promoted club and I’ve got no doubts that you can push for a season in the premier league next year on current form.
Unlucky against united, hard to go to OT at the best of times but you gave it a decent shot.
Shame about M’Bow though, I’m having the same trouble. Value goes down in the last year of contract so I would offload him sooner rather than later. I’m sure you will be able to find adequate backup at a fraction of the price!
Good luck, I’ll be following.
Johnny Karp
March 2, 2011 at 20:04
Thanks Jake, we will get our revenge on Man United sooner or later! M’Bow is not in the last year of contract though, Chalwe is. I won’t be selling M’Bow cheap, I think I will be asking at least 3 million for him, maybe even more.
mark
March 2, 2011 at 21:01
no, get at least 5-10 million for him because i really want to see you spend your money wisely and make the motorsmen to be a formidable team
love your blog always even though i don comment that much
p.s: try to get at least 15 million perhaps???
Johnny Karp
March 2, 2011 at 21:12
Thanks a lot for the comment Mark and for reading the blog, much appreciated. I guess you are right, I’ll start the bidding at 15 million if the offers will come in and then see where the auction goes from there. I’m afraid that the board might accept lower bids than that and there would be nothing left for me to do then.
mark
March 2, 2011 at 21:14
also try incentives such as goals scored in 10 matches or maybe international appearance so the cash can keep flowing to the gate of your motormens.
Johnny Karp
March 3, 2011 at 11:41
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll try to get the best possible deal.
Laxeyman
March 2, 2011 at 16:35
Another good month Johnny, up into second and I’m sure you’ll stay up there. M’Bow looks like he’ll be difficult to keep hold of, hopefully you can keep him, but if you can’t I’m sure you’ll get a good price for him. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
March 2, 2011 at 20:05
Thanks Laxeyman, maybe selling M’Bow would give more space to Dale Hills and Paul Harris to develop so it won’t be a tragedy if the money is good.
Darren Smith
March 2, 2011 at 19:24
Hey Johnny, that was an extremely impressive run of form!! I hope you hold onto M’Bow but if not be sure to hold em’ to ransom…there is a lot of high profile clubs interested and that just shows what a talent you’ve unearthed and raised.
This season could beat all prior to it I reckon. Promotion is looking good and that would just be incredible.
Johnny Karp
March 2, 2011 at 20:07
Hi Darren, now that you have said it I guess I realized it too: promotion would be incredible! I got caught up in the game and forgot all about where we came from just a few seasons ago. I guess M’Bow should realize that we’re on the fast track towards glory so he might want to stick around :)
Josh Allen
March 3, 2011 at 01:58
Hi Johnny,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and you have done really well. I hope you are able to keep your players, they have really performed well, and you are probably heading for promotion.
Josh
P.S visit my new blog
http://everythingthatisfm.blogspot.com/
Johnny Karp
March 3, 2011 at 11:43
Thanks Josh, I’ll be keeping an eye on your blog. If you want it to be added to our community page please let me know, terms and conditions here: http://footballmanagerstory.com/community/?page_id=2
workoutdude
March 3, 2011 at 02:28
Hi Johnny,
Excellent progress. With your star striker, and January window looming, I think some bids will be flying in.
Raising to $15M won’t scare the big guys off. It would be interesting to see how much they do bid. Are you able to show that in your next posting, as an added feature to the games that you provide detail on?
TQ
Regards
Workoutdude
Johnny Karp
March 3, 2011 at 11:44
Thanks mate, I will surely add the transfer news in the next post if there will be any moves in our out of the squad.
Lye
March 3, 2011 at 11:19
Hi Johnny,
Very good month you have here. Another strong second half performance will surely see you lead your team to Old Trafford next season. You look good for the promotion. A bid from a high profile club will see your star striker leaving. But i don’t see any bad effects on your team even M’Bow leaves as i know you will find a better player to replace him. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
March 3, 2011 at 11:45
Thanks Lye, I just hope that M’Bow won’t be sold cheap by the board. I agree that we can replace him although I’d be sad to see him leave.
Kevin
March 3, 2011 at 14:01
Hi Johnny
Your team really showed strength of character after the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford wining four out of the next five games. You’ve really brought this team a long way and hopefully you can keep the side intact until the season ends unless of course you get some really good offers in the January window. As usual you are bring us all another superb story with a team achieving way beyond all expectations!
Johnny Karp
March 4, 2011 at 06:25
Hey Kevin, thanks for the compliment. I have to say that I’m proud of the team, I was expecting a tough time after that defeat at Old Trafford.
Ana Garcia
March 3, 2011 at 15:15
Great month Johnny as always!! :)
Quick question in your team talks do you ever praise individual players? And do you ever use ‘have faith’ or ‘expect a performance’ or any of the others?
Its nice to see Chalwe doing well for you! He was fantastic on my Real Union game and I was pretty sad when he retired!
Good luck on the remainder of your season!!
Johnny Karp
March 4, 2011 at 06:28
Thanks Ana. I rarely use individual talks, I want the team to act as a team so I don’t like to single out individuals or give them special treatment. The individual approach does have some benefits sometimes though. Chalwe might not be with us next season, he doesn’t want to extend his contract and there already are several clubs interested in getting him for free come July. He did very well for us though, great player!
hils
March 3, 2011 at 15:38
Hi Johnny,great month there!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will keep the form going!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!
Johnny Karp
March 4, 2011 at 06:28
Thanks Hils!
Vaibhav C.
March 3, 2011 at 17:05
Hey Johnny,
Great month there! I was hoping you could pull of an upset at Old Trafford, but it wasn’t to be, but at least you tried your best. Who scored for United? It would be weird if Howson scored! If you could have win against Sheffield United, that would have been a great month.
Johnny Karp
March 4, 2011 at 06:29
Thanks mate. Howson didn’t play for United, he was in the reserves team. About the goal scorers, you can see them in the match stats screen shot, can’t you? Anyway, a striker named Marilungo bagged a brace and Daren Fletcher scored as well.
Sayam Khan
March 3, 2011 at 17:42
Hey Johnny, great set of results! Well done! Ibrahima Mbow is one hell of a player, would be a great striker in the PL me thinks. Dont sell him!
Johnny Karp
March 4, 2011 at 06:30
Hey Sayam, thanks for your input. I would surely prefer to keep M’Bow, that’s certain.
Sears
March 3, 2011 at 19:49
Wonderful run, shame about M’Bow, he looks a great prospect.
Johnny Karp
March 4, 2011 at 06:31
Thanks Sears. We didn’t lose M’Bow just yet, I’ll do my best to keep him at the club.