The month started very well as we had a good home leg against Atletico Madrid, we enjoyed total domination and were leading 3-0 at some point but Atletico managed to pull one back on a free kick. It was a pretty good performance from my lads though, especially from midfielder Robert Ackermann who opened the scoring with a fine effort (click here to watch the goal). The first league match in April was more difficult than expected, 13th placed Blackpool put in a great performance and I admit that we were very lucky to win that one courtesy of a lucky and late own goal. The second leg against Atletico was spectacular, they had noting more to lose and we didn’t have too much pressure either considering the first leg result. We won the game eventually and I was pleased to see backup striker Lucas Cuello finally scoring his very first goal for the club. Then we had another easy game in the Premier League, 11th placed Sunderland were the victims and my lads didn’t let the three points slip away.
At that point our full attention was on the Champions League semi final draw… Needless to say, we’ll meet Manchester City yet again! I already know their squad by heart, meeting them six times in a single season is just too much! The other semi final will see Arsenal facing a surprising Galatasaray, the Turkish champions managed to knock out Tottenham!
Before that we had a couple more league games, the first one being the toughest: at Old Trafford with Man United.
Manchester United vs Vauxhall (Premier League)
Venue: Old Trafford
Attendance: 71,517
Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Gary Warner, Danny Wilson, Marat Bykov, Pierre Touya — Moustapha Gueye, Indio, Marcos Fernandez, Tiago — Zé Carlos, Parana
Team Talk: For the fans!
Our first half was just terrible, I couldn’t believe my eyes! We had just one shot on target during the opening 45 minutes and that was on a corner kick! The home side wasn’t doing much better but they did manage to squeeze one in on a corner kick, a bunch of my players were inviting each other to clear the ball from our area and Rooney pushed the ball in. To make things even worse right winger Gueye got injured just before the goal and I had to send in Leadro Velasco.
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: I want to see more from you!
Half time substitutions: Hans Larsson for Warner
The second half saw some better movements from my lads but we were not nearly good enough. We got lucky on the hour mark as we bagged a strange equaliser: a free kick shot from Indio was deflected off the wall, the ball bounced to Bykov whose header came back off the bar and into the path of Parana who fired home. That goal woke the lads up and we needed just three minutes to produce a second, a fine team move brought the ball to Zé Carlos who fired it straight into the top corner. We were dominating the game at that point and we made it 3-1 later on when Indio received a good pass from Tiago before unleashing a fierce shot into the top corner. Manchester United reacted after that goal and they pulled one back with 7 minutes remaining but we held firm and even hit the crossbar during stoppage time through Tiago. It was a great comeback but we had to count the wounded again, Moustapha Gueye was going to be out for 6 weeks…
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Indio
Flop of the match: Hans Larsson
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Match Stats
We had another away game to face after the trip to Old Trafford, I was expecting a tough one at 10th placed Blackburn. It was easier than expected though, Parana put in a great performance and we won 3-0.
And after that game I clicked «save game» and then «exit», I wasn’t ready for another match against Man City! :) So it’s time to look at the Premier League table… Arsenal have a game in hand, Tottenham have no less than two… But even if they both win those game we’d still have 7 points on Arsenal and five on the Spurs. Meanwhile Southampton and Huddersfield will play Championship football next season and Liverpool seem ready to follow them downstairs!
We have to win just two of the last three games to secure the title and I’m 100 percent sure that we will do it since we won’t meet any big teams in those last three games. Hell, I might even decide to give Liverpool a hand if we secure the title by then… My main concern is the Champions League at this point, we have to reach the final again although Man City will surely be difficult to beat.
Given the strange Liverpool situation some of you asked for more details about their manager and squad. I can tell you that Slaven Bilic is their current manager while the squad seems pretty good if you look at the names.
Before wrapping up let me present the traditional players’ top five. Parana is still in command, he is having a brilliant season as he scored 27 league goals for us (a new record)! Then there’s our pair of centre backs, Marat Bykov and Danny Wilson, they scored 20 goals between them and generally looked strong and concentrated at the back. Zé Carlos is close behind those two, maybe tied with Wilson in third given the average rating while Leandro Velasco closes the top five at this point.
Erick asked for two screen shots, unfortunately I can provide just one as I was unable to find Espericueta in my game.
That’s all for now my friends, I hope that you have enjoyed this update and that you will forgive me for publishing it with a slight delay. Thanks for reading, looking forward to your comments and requests!
Ana Garcia
16 июля, 2011 at 20:13
Congrats Johnny as the title looks secured!
Good to see your rivalry contine with Mr Mourinho! At least now he is starting to show you some respect!
Arsenal beating Ajax 11-0 in total in the CL quarter finals was a bit of a shock, but your war with Morinho continues so am hoping you can outclass him again!
As always the best of luck! :)
Johnny Karp
16 июля, 2011 at 21:24
Thanks Ana, the Arsenal result against Ajax was not very surprising as we beat them 7-1 in the group stage if I remember correctly. I’m looking forward to another clash with Mourinho, we have a good chance this time considering that there will be two legs.
vaibhavc
16 июля, 2011 at 20:22
Hey Johnny
The title seems to be yours, well done. Mourinho and you hate each other, no matter what he says! Arsenal whacked Ajax 11-0, that was very weird. And how many times do you face Man City? 3 times played, 2 more to go!
Johnny Karp
16 июля, 2011 at 21:28
Thanks Vaibhav, I agree that we should secure the title shortly. About Mourinho, I don’t hate him, I don’t hate anybody to be honest. I just don’t like him, there’s a big difference between that and hate. About Man City, we had four games against them this season: two in the league (1 win and 1 draw), the Carling Cup final (won) and the FA Cup quarter final (lost).
vaibhavc
17 июля, 2011 at 07:25
I meant this update.
Aaron
16 июля, 2011 at 20:48
Great month Johnny, just hope you don’t decide to help Liverpool…I’d love to see them relegated (even if it is just in your game) Also…will the youngsters feature return any time soon ? :)
Johnny Karp
16 июля, 2011 at 21:25
Thanks Aaron, I have some sympathy for Liverpool because of their fantastic anthem and loyal fans. I’m not sure that I understand the youngsters question, we have the lowest average age in the league.
Aaron
18 июля, 2011 at 00:08
No the feature you used to run about your young players in the reserves? Lol
Johnny Karp
18 июля, 2011 at 10:16
Oh, I understand now :) I guess I forgot about that feature :)
Laxeyman
16 июля, 2011 at 22:04
Very good again Johnny, you’ll certainly win the league, and I’m backing you to beat City in the CL, so hopefully you can go all the way! Good luck!
P.S PLEASE do Liverpool a favour if you’ve already won the league by the time you play us!
Johnny Karp
16 июля, 2011 at 22:31
Thanks mate, I’m not very optimistic ahead of the City games for some reason but we surely have the quality to beat them. I think I will try to help Liverpool, I’ll think about it if we’ll have the title secured by then.
Lye
17 июля, 2011 at 05:12
Hi Johnny,
It’s getting close. The title is just few inches away. You will surely lay your hands on them. Your rivalry with Mr Mourinho is going to carry on as long both of you remain managers. I still believe you will triumph over Man City in two legs. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
17 июля, 2011 at 09:52
Thanks Lye, there is a great rivalry with Mourinho indeed and I hope to get the better of it this season.
CsAtlantis
17 июля, 2011 at 08:57
Wow Ajax absolutely got themselves thumped by Arsenal, ate 11 goals without reply
The title is in the bag, you can win it even with your youth team, just need a point or so I think
Wow, you’re meeting Mourinho again, you sure are playing each other a lot, feels like Barca vs Real this year :P, good luck against him
Johnny Karp
17 июля, 2011 at 09:53
Thanks CS, it does feel like Barca vs Real! :) I disagree about the league though, one point wouldn’t be enough because Tottenham have two games in hand at the moment.
Darren Smith
17 июля, 2011 at 09:14
Well done Johnny, great to see you beat City for the League Cup trophy. Also your EPL form is amazing and certainly seems to have wrapped the title up with some easy opponents remaining. Your biggest challenge is passing City in the Champions League although I feel like they’d be easier to beat over two legs as opposed to one in a neutral ground so better to get them now then in the final. Having said that, Arsenal look like making it and that thrashing of Ajax would scare the crap out of me :)
Johnny Karp
17 июля, 2011 at 09:56
Thanks Darren, I agree that our chances are better over two legs against City. Arsenal have a very strong team, I remember that they were the first team to beat us this season, and one of the few teams that achieved that I might add. I’m sure that Galatasaray won’t be a problem for them despite the upset against Tottenham.
Andre Tissier
17 июля, 2011 at 21:49
Finally managed to get all the way through your story and up to day Johnny. Might I congratulate you on your success, getting them to the brink of three titles in a row is an impressive feat. Hope you can beat Man City again and make it to the final of the Champions League. Just a question though, what will you do after having won everything? Get them to the richest club in the world?
Johnny Karp
17 июля, 2011 at 21:56
Thanks for reading the story mate, I hope that you have enjoyed it. Making a rich club is not something that I want to do so I guess I might retire after winning everything, maybe I’ll do that after winning five Premier League titles. Anyway, I’m not sure right now but the «richest club» thing is not a goal that I would like to achieve.
Sears
17 июля, 2011 at 22:27
Congrats on the League Cup win Johnny, impressive :-)! And what’s going on at Liverpool, absolutely shocking tbf.
Johnny Karp
17 июля, 2011 at 22:55
Thanks Sears. I don’t know what’s going wrong at Liverpool, from what I see they definitely have a squad that would allow them to finish in the top half of the table.
Erick Wolf
19 июля, 2011 at 07:46
Good read, and thanks for the screenshot.
The title is pretty much yours already, and I’m sure you can also claim the CL title this year!
Johnny Karp
19 июля, 2011 at 08:27
Thanks Erick.
Sayam Khan
19 июля, 2011 at 20:03
Hi Johnny, I’m back! Hope you are well!
Your team has really grown this season, winning the two City games quiet easily is enough evidence! And hopefully that turns into three. Hope you win the PL, can’t see any slip ups with you incharge ;-) Looking forward to your next update, Good Luck!
Johnny Karp
20 июля, 2011 at 09:15
Hey Sayam, nice to see you back! We should win the Premier League title, I would resign if we won’t! :)
Richard
20 июля, 2011 at 12:18
Just wondering, I have recently started as AFC Wimbledon in the BSP league and as you have been very successful in your game, whether you could recommend any players that are a must sign in that league and can play beyond.
Johnny Karp
20 июля, 2011 at 14:05
I can’t remember all of them but there are three players that must be signed at that level: Oliver Nicholas (CB), Shane Williams (CM), Omar Koroma (ST).