Manchester City were full of confidence, they knocked out Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and they were going to play the final against Barcelona. They had another final to play before that though, in the lovely town of Ellesmere Port! As you can see Mr. Mourinho started his usual mind games before the big match, I refused to comment.
On to the big game now, the whole town was watching us, all the grocery stores were closed and all the pubs were filled with Motormen fans dreaming of celebrating a historic achievement…
Vauxhall vs Manchester City (Premier League)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 10,266 (sold out)
Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Julian Marino, Javier Godoy, Mervin Simon, Pierre Touya — Abdallah Yaisien, Radek Vecera, Tinga, Tiago — Wellington Paulista, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: For the fans!
Needless to say that we were missing three of our best players: Parana (we had already gotten used to that), Leandro Velasco and Zé Carlos. The Citizens had just one important absence, Joe Hart was injured but their replacement goalie is a pretty good young regen (he’s on my shortlist).
Switching to final mode now, I will try give you an idea of what I felt during the game, minute by minute.
3rd minute — Good move from the Citizens, shot from the edge of the area but Luis Guilherme holds the ball easily.
9th minute — Abdallah Yaisien bursts into the penalty area, he tries to shoot but his effort is blocked by a defender’s body… The ball falls to Wellington Paulista… And he thumps home, that’s the spirit! (click here to open the video)
19th minute — The game was quite nervy, tension was very high so chances were slim. Tiago tries a right-footed drive from inside the penalty area, his right foot is not too good so the ball is easily held by the keeper.
20th minute — Thunderous shot from Witsel, great volley from the edge of the area… Off the crossbar! Phew…
21st minute — Fine move from my lads, MBow passes to Tiago who passes on to Tinga, he’s unmarked in the middle of the area and shoots… way over the crossbar! Oh, we might not get any more such chances…
37th minute — Manchester City counter attack, the finishing was forgettable.
43rd minute — Yaisien passes the ball straight to an opponent, Man City‘s left winger has the ball at the edge of the area and shoots on target… Huge save by Luis Guilherme, immense!
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: For the fans!
Half time stats
Half time substitutions: Graham Howson for Vecera
46th minute — Manchester City try their luck from distance again, easily held. It takes a lot more to beat Luis Guilherme, he’s like an octopus!
47th minute — Good move from the Citizens, the ball is crossed into the box and Witsel heads on from seven yards… Held! The header lacked power.
48th minute — Ibrahima MBow plays a brilliant through pass for Tinga, the Brazilian enters the penalty area and shoots… into the side netting!
51st minute — We’re on a counter attack, Tiago runs with the ball down the left flank, squares it for Ibrahima MBow… He’s inside the penalty area and unleashes one of his trademark powerful finishes… Get in! It’s in the back of the net, Ibrahima MBow makes me proud once again! (click here to open the video
54th minute — Graham Howson plays a through pass for MBow, he receives it and enters the penalty area, powerful shot… and in! His 10th goal of the season! Maradonaaaaaaaaaaaa! (click here to open the video
55th minute — Instant reply from the Citizens, Belfodil is just too quick for Mervin Simon and scores a fine goal. (click here to open the video)
61st minute — Fine move from Mourinho‘s men, Witsel is at the end of it again but his shot is diverted wide by Luis Guilherme. Time to make some changes, Denís in for Tinga, Javier Garcia for Tiago.
62nd minute — Huge chance for the Citizens, a cross into the penalty area finds Belfodil at six yards but his header goes over. Phew…
70th minute — Substitute Denís tries his luck from 25 yards, just wide!
80th minute — Dazzling run from Wellington Paulista on the right flank, he gets into the box, squares it but the cross is deflected… But Denís pops up a slides it home! It’s over José, it’s over! (click here to open the video)
Full time team talk: Sensational!
Man of the match: Ibrahima MBow
Flop of the match: Tinga
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Time to celebrate! The Motormen have won the Premier League title, the capital of English football moves to Ellesmere Port!
The last game of the season had no importance for us, Liverpool beat us 2-1 but Zé Carlos still managed to get a goal in, he was competing for the Premier League Golden Boot ;)
Here’s the final Premier League table, Tottenham finished second as Manchester City probably decided to focus on the Champions League final after that fine sunny day in Ellesmere Port :) Former champions Chelsea had a forgettable season as they finished outside the European places while Bolton, Newcastle and Birmingham are going to play Championship football next season.
After such a big success I headed to the boardroom with big thoughts in my mind, I was quite sure that they won’t be able to refuse me! And, as you can see from the discussion below, they accepted after being reminded of who took them this far ;) They agreed to improve the training facilities, the youth facilities, the youth recruitment network and they also gave me a higher wage budget on the spot!
I won’t comment on the player stats for the season, I will leave that to you. In my view all the 25 first team players are true heroes and they deserve praise. Of course, some of them disappointed me at times and some will be leaving the club come July but I don’t want to ruin the moment so I won’t name them now.
Time for some well-deserved awards! Unfortunately just two of my players were given such recognition at the end of the season: Leandro Velasco and Zé Carlos.
I was given an award too, I’m Premier League Manager of the Season for the second time in a row!
Before wrapping up, here are the results from the finals that were played after the conclusion of the Premier League season.
FA Cup Final
Europa League Final
Champions League Final
Yes, José Mourinho did have a successful season after all, I guess he will be on my case next season :)
The finances are looking great at the moment and we didn’t receive the TV rights for the coming season yet! I hope I’ll have a good transfer budget, I want to defend the title and maybe get my hands on some other trophies as well.
Last but not least, we’ll be moving into our brand new stadium soon, I’m looking forward to that! Alright folks, it’s 2 am in Bucharest so I will finally put an end to this post. Thanks a lot to all of you who read the whole thing, you deserve this title as much as I did! (I hope your eyes are still OK though :) )
Sears
28 мая, 2011 at 00:12
Well, I’ve just been working all night filling drinks for thirsty customers… Thanks Johnny, reading one of your updates is exactly what I needed! I was dying to read this update as well :-p And it was well wrote it! What a wonderful season you had, and god damn you José! Soooo close to the semi finals of the Champions League… Ah well, there’s always next season! Congratulations on winning the Premier League, that a lone is a marvelous achievement. The finances are looking superb so hopefully you can bring in more quality players during the summer and win the Champions League next season :-)
Good luck :-)
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 00:28
Thanks Sears, I’m happy to see that I’m not the only night bird around here :) It has been an exciting season and I hope that the next one will be even better.
Sears
28 мая, 2011 at 00:35
Yeah, I’ve hardly ever seen you up this late on the site :-D… Unfortunately my break is over-back to work for me :-( Looking forward to your next post :-p
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:43
I do have some night rounds now and again :)
MRDNRA
28 мая, 2011 at 00:27
That was immense. Congratulations on taking the club so far already, I can’t wait to see what you can do next.
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:42
Thanks mate, further strengthening the squad comes next :)
Billy
28 мая, 2011 at 00:51
Congratulations On Your Success, I Look Forward To Seeing Vauxhall Next Season
Great Post
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:43
Thanks Billy, I’m happy that you enjoyed the post.
Sibo
28 мая, 2011 at 00:53
Wow!
That was way too much tension for me but I’m being an insomniac so I checked out the site, this is a great update Johnny, full of good news (at the end)!
Well done on winning the Premier League and to all your players for winning the awards, it is a shame you were denied some of the other trophies, but I am sure next year we will see Vauxhall’s name on much more than the Premier League!
Well done and good luck with pre-season! :D
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:44
Thanks Sibo, at one point I was afraid that we were going to lose all the trophies but we rallied the troops just in time :)
CsAtlantis
28 мая, 2011 at 02:20
Wow 3 pages worth of juicy updates, just what I need before the Champions League final :D
That was some tough luck in the League Cup, you had more shots and same number of shots on target but nothing went in
That Velasco long shot against Birmingham was good, straight into the bottom corner, even better was the fact that he won the ball by himself in the opposition half
Again your team couldn’t let their shots count againstt Arsenal in the FA Cup and Man City in the Champions League, theres always next year (hopefully with less injured players)
Mourinho should be moving on soon (he should want to win the Champions League with another team :P), but that was a sweet 4-1 thrashing of his Man City team to get revenge for the loss in Champions League and secure the league title (nothing better than beating your closest challengers), congratulations on winning the league
How did your team only get 2 players inside the Team of the Season, Mervin probably deserved a spot in defense
Glad to hear that your board has, after some gentle prodding, agreed to all your demands, moving to your new stadium should boost gate receipts and improve your finances
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:49
Thanks for the comment CS, I agree that we were not inferior in the Carling Cup final, FA Cup quarter or CL quarter but the one that I regret the most is the second leg against Man City, we really deserved to go through there. As for Velasco, he is a great player as he always manages to do something useful even when he doesn’t score. About Mervin, I wouldn’t have picked him in the team of the season, he made a few costly mistakes even though he had a high average rating in the end.
Mariano
28 мая, 2011 at 02:46
Well done, an amazing accomplishment to win the Premier in your second season, hope the board give you more money so you can win the Champions next year!
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:50
Thanks Mariano, I’ll try to force them to give me more money :)
vikingmarius
28 мая, 2011 at 08:02
Fantastic post johnny really had me intrigued I was actually feeling like I was part of your game :P You did great to get a fantastic premier league win and with some more luck next year you can take the FA Cup and Champions League, you were also hopelessly unlucky in the carling cup final, and up and down season, but at least you have the league to show for it :) Look forward thouroghly to your next post
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:53
Thanks Marius, I’m glad that some of the tension came across in the post :) It was an up and down season and I can say that I was expecting that since the squad is not strong enough to dominate the league yet. We might do that next season with the right transfers.
vaibhavc
28 мая, 2011 at 08:13
Hey Johnny
That was amazing from you, to win the Premier League! I was certainly not expecting that to happen. Maybe next year, you can win the Champions League. I hope you do. Ze Carlos is a fantastic player, and hopefully he scores as many goals as next season.
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:53
Thanks Vaibhav, I hope that Ze Carlos will bang in even more next season with the help of some better midfielders ;)
Lye
28 мая, 2011 at 08:17
Hi Johnny,
Well done on winning the Premier League title, at least laying your hands on the title after exiting from the cup competition. I was as frustrated as you when i saw Man City scored in deep injury time. You should be progressing, Jose Mourinho should finish empty handed instead. It is still a successful season as the motormen made history in winning the title. There will be more to come so i am looking out for that. Cheers Motormen.
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 09:55
Thanks Lye, that CL quarter final exit was quite frustrating indeed but in the end it made the lads stronger and more determined to get the Premier League title.
Laxeyman
28 мая, 2011 at 09:45
Amazing post Johnny, even by your standards :) And what a great season you had, the title race was close but to beat Man City like that was fantastic, maybe you are the «special one» now after beating Mourinho :) Hopefully next season will see you get an extra cup, as well of course as retaining the league. Looking forward to your pre season :)
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 11:21
Thanks Laxeyman, I’m glad that you have enjoyed the post. I don’t want to be a «special one», I want to beat «the special one» :)
Kevin
28 мая, 2011 at 10:02
Hi Johnny
After working my way to page three I’d forgotten what was on page 1…LOL! So all I will say is what a fantastic effort this season and you truely deserved to win the Premier League and what a monumental job you have done in bringing Vauxhall to the pinnacle of English Football. I’m sure next season you will add some European silverware to the boardroom trophy cabinet. You sir are a steely eyed missle man!!
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 11:19
Thanks a lot Kevin, it was a fantastic season and I am very happy that we pulled it off in the Premier League. Champions League glory will be difficult to obtain but we’ll get there sooner or later ;)
Callum
28 мая, 2011 at 12:19
After that very long post will save your eyes :P The post was quantity and quality and i think one of your best.Throughly enjoyed reading it. Good luck for next season put Jose in his place :D
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 16:51
Thanks Callum, I’m glad that you liked the post.
Darren Smith
28 мая, 2011 at 13:21
Top to bottom, page by page and word by word…my eyes have fallen out of their sockets lol :) Great post Johnny and I reckon an unlucky season. That’s the difference between 1,2,3 or four trophies in my opinion a little luck and the players turning up at the right time. Still an incredible achievement to win the title, simply brilliant. As always you prove the godfather of lower league FM.
Looking forward to pre-season now, I think you could take Vauxhall to the next level.
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 16:53
Thanks Darren, the next level would be winning the Champions League and that might still be a bit too much for this club. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to try though :)
Sayam Khan
28 мая, 2011 at 13:43
First of all, I like the title of the post Johnny ;-) Excellent achievement in winning the PL, unlucky in the LC final and your CL campaign, even though I think the latter was good enough for your club at this current time. Just wondering, will you be selling Parana as he does get injured quiet a lot.
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 16:54
Thanks Sayam. And no, I will not be selling Parana because it’s not his fault that some defenders tackle him so hard and break his leg. The lad has great talent and he’s just 19 years old (or 20), he has at least another five years with the Motormen in my view.
Daniel
28 мая, 2011 at 15:32
Can’t seem to sum this up!
Truly amazing what you have done for vauxhall!
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 16:55
Thanks Daniel, I am still amazed myself :)
Jack
28 мая, 2011 at 15:32
MBow is such a legend slamming those goals in against City! As everyone has said before, fantastic post Johnny, and a fantastic achievement lifting the premier league trophy in your second season! Unlucky in the FA and League cup you deserved more. I can also feel your frustration at loosing to Man City, probably in the most cruel way as well i.e. a set piece in injury time. The club looks in good shape as well, all you need now is some outstanding Vauxhall academy regens to make a truly awesome side! Like I said at the start of the season though your team really needs a quality centre back, and I think that’s what cost you in the big games, i.e. the inability to keep a clean sheet. Anyway, a fantastic season, long may Vauxhall’s reign continue! Keep the posts coming!
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 16:56
Thanks for the comment Jack. MBow really is a legend, he always turns up just when I need him! You are right about the centre back, that will be my main target during pre-season. About the academy regens, I guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer since the board have just started to invest in the youth recruitment network.
Ana Garcia
28 мая, 2011 at 16:06
Great post Johnny, I am glad you had the last laugh on Mourinho! It seems he has it in for you!!
Ze Carlos has been amazing for you, so am hoping you can keep a hold of him and Velasco was equally as good with a few new additions you should be able to push your team to the next level and compete for the champions league.
It seems a great rivalry has started with you and Mourinho one I hope you can win, and bring as many trophies as you can!
Good luck!
P.S. Am nervous for tonight! Lets have our fingers crossed for a Barcelona win! :)
Johnny Karp
28 мая, 2011 at 16:59
Thanks Ana. As a matter of fact Barcelona are chasing Zé Carlos, they are issuing comments about him on a weekly basis. So far the lad said that he doesn’t want to leave so I hope to keep him at the club for another few years. I hope that Mourinho would hate me at the end of next season :)
P.S.: I’ll be cheering for Barca, obviously, but I want them to win after extra time because I placed a bet on that :)
Excessive
29 мая, 2011 at 11:48
Excellent post mate you did get your own back on Jose after all, and in all honesty im glad you did as i’d hate to see him at city. Hopefully we can do what the red side of manchester failed to do last night and win that Champions league against Barca like they did in your save ;)
Was very nervous opening up that last page, but you really did a number on city! Hopefully with that, you can go onto challenge for that Champions League crown. You’ve already pipped the holders ;)
Good luck.
Johnny Karp
29 мая, 2011 at 15:08
Thanks Jake. Well, if you were nervous before the last page you can imagine how I was before playing that decisive game :)
Iain
29 мая, 2011 at 15:06
Hi Johnny, i haven’t commented for a while but i have still been reading your story, first of all i’d like to say that you’ve done amazing with Vauxhall, i think a Champions League final could be on the cards for next season :D, second, Dont let Ze Carlos leave he is an amazing player.
Johnny Karp
29 мая, 2011 at 15:09
Thanks Iain, I hope that we will get at least a CL semi final next season. And don’t worry, Ze Carlos is not going anywhere! :)
Iain
29 мая, 2011 at 15:12
Good, he really is an amazing player, was wondering if you’re planning to spend big in the transfer market?
Johnny Karp
29 мая, 2011 at 17:11
Well, I’ll surely spend as much as the board will give me :)
Martin
29 мая, 2011 at 17:29
Hey Johnny!
Unlucky in the League Cup final against Manchester United and also in the FA Cup against Arsenal. You were definately unlucky against Manchester City, but you did well to get to the Quarters. But in the end amazing result to win the Premiership title and claiming the title for the first time, sure the first of many :). WOW I cant believe the board granted you all them facility upgrades…great to see you bullying them into submission :)
Looking forward to the next season mate :)
Johnny Karp
29 мая, 2011 at 18:44
Hi Martin, thanks for the comment. We had our fair share of bad luck, I agree, but we could have done better. About the board, I guess I did well to put pressure on them at the right moment, the very next day after winning the title :)
Mariano
11 июня, 2011 at 17:54
Hi Johnny, I congratulate you for winning the Premier league!
But for me is getting quite frustrating……..
I just finished my 5th season managing Havant & Waterlouville in the Premier league, I´m doing very good, but there is always a team that make more points than me……
1st season 72pts 4th
2nd 82pts 3rd
3rd 89pts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2nd
4th 87pts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3rd
5th 85pts 2nd……………………. Man City made 98 points!
I can´t believe it, i already won the Champions league but not the Premier!
What to do?
Johnny Karp
11 июня, 2011 at 20:27
Hey Mariano, thanks. I can understand how frustrating it is, you surely got enough points to win the title at least in two of those seasons. I can’t really tell what’s going on there but I guess you should be making around 90 plus points in the fifth season. Do you concede more goals than the other top teams, do you score less?
Mariano
11 июня, 2011 at 20:56
I can´t see anything strange or any suspicious pattern when I check the goals I scored or conced compared to the ones of the other top teams during the last 5 seasons…….
Last season I can only remember one game where my team deserved to loose…….
The other games we lost or ended up tied we deserved to win for sure……
But what can you do when the top team makes 98 points eh?:)
I feel like Pellegrini managing Real Madrid:)
I have all coaches 4 and a half stars, I have great plyers completly gelled(they would die for each other)…
I Use your tactic and your training schedule…
The last season when I send my scouts out they hardly come with players with more than 3 starts……
I guess I will have to keep on trying:)!
Johnny Karp
11 июня, 2011 at 21:14
I guess you’re right, there’s not much you can do when a team finishes with 98 points. However, I guess you might want to try a less risky tactic (like Darren’s 4-5-1), that’s a bit against my footballing credo but it might give you better results.