Southend were in great shape before the league derby at Rivacre Park: they were on a six-match unbeaten run and they also kept a clean sheet for six games! We had a pretty good start to the game and nearly took the lead inside the opening 10 minutes when striker Akwasi Asante saw his cracking shot from inside the area bouncing clear off the crossbar. We did take the lead on 18 minutes though when defender Derrick Williams nodded home from a corner kick, it was his first ever goal for the club! Unfortunately the same defender gifted Southend the equalizer, an error just three minutes before the break made the score level again. We started to push forward with more determination after the interval and the reward came 18 minutes from time when Asante‘s shot deflected off a defender and went into the back of the net! There was no reaction from Southend and we could have scored at least one more goal before the end of the game. I was very pleased with the result as it gave us a five-point cushion at the top of the table.
The next game was away at 23rd placed Exeter, we had to be careful and not get complacent. The game started very well as Omar Koroma converted a Pietro Palladino counter attack move just seven minutes into the game but Exeter produced a very good display and it was goalkeeper Martin Hansen who preserved our lead with a few great saves. Unfortunately the home side netted the equalizer on 53 minutes, it was a free kick header that was facilitated by some dismal marking from my defense. We needed just two minutes to restore the lead though, a very good team move was finished in style by Luke Williams who volleyed home from inside the penalty area.
Next up, a tough home game against fifth placed Stockport. We dominated the opening half hour but unfortunately we conceded a free kick goal yet again, it seemed that my players were marking each other rather than the opponents! Luckily we reacted instantly as Darryl Duffy celebrated his return on the pitch by scoring his 20th goal of the season. Stockport were playing well though and they came close to taking the lead just before the break when they were denied by a great save from Martin Hansen. Duffy was tired so I replaced him with Koroma at half time and the move proved to be inspired as Omar Koroma scored moments after the interval after a nice one-two with Luke Williams. Our joy lasted just six minutes though, Stockport pegged us back and then took control of the game. They had another couple of good chances before the end of the match but we held out and grabbed a point.
We had just one more game to play before the end of 2012 and it seemed to be a fairly easy one, away at struggling 22nd placed Morecambe. Well, I still can’t explain what happened there but we were totally outplayed and deservedly lost the game 3-0. During the game I suspected those were not my players on the pitch wearing the Vauxhall shirts, somebody might have replaced them with plumbers and engineers! It was by far the worst performance of the season and it really gave me something to worry about.
Our unbeaten run was over but I was happy to see that we held on to the five-point advantage over Southend. We will have to start playing better again though, otherwise that lead might vanish real fast!
However, that last game can not cast a shadow on what was a very good first half of the season. My players are dominating the League Two tables: Darryl Duffy is the league’s top goalscorer, Peter Leven tops the assists table while the average ratings table is totally dominated by my lads.
Overall the players did better than I would have expected at the start of the season, especially my first choice strikers, central midfielders and centre backs. I don’t think there will be any changes in the squad during the January transfer window unless some big club will come to steal one of my players.
We will have seven games in January, including the FA Cup third round match against Championship side Crystal Palace. I would surely love to win that one but we will have to focus on the league games and grab as many points as we can.
That’s how it was folks, not bad overall but I’m still quite upset about that defeat at Morecambe. They played a plain 4-4-2 formation, no tactical surprises there, but my players were simply unrecognizable. I hope to see them back in shape in January, otherwise what seemed to be a perfect season might turn into a nightmare…
By the way, if you have not joined our forum you should do that quickly because all the members that will join until tomorrow morning will have the chance to win a Football Manager 2011 DVD!
Plobdork
22 декабря, 2010 at 16:15
Wow johnny this is a really good story good result against southend good luck in next half of season
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:54
Thanks mate.
Laxeyman
22 декабря, 2010 at 16:27
Great month again Johnny, the win over Southend was really important. I wouldn’t worry about the game against Morecambe, you’re still 13 points clear of 4th place and almost a certainty for promotion. Hopefully you can pull of a shock and beat Crystal Palace, good luck!
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:54
Thanks Laxeyman. The table situation looks good but I hope the team will recover from that last defeat and start playing well again.
Sears
22 декабря, 2010 at 17:11
Your team seem to score a lot of goals Johnny, that’s always a boast. Hopefully you can maintain your current form and I think you can beat Palace in the FA Cup as well. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:55
Thanks Sears, that FA Cup win would be a very nice bonus :)
Kevin
22 декабря, 2010 at 21:07
Hi Johnny
I think it’s always nice to lead the pack come the end of December so well done in maintaining that top position. Looking forward to a «giant killing» result in the FA Cup against Palace. Anyway, great update and entertainment as usual.
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:56
Thanks Kevin. We’re leading the pack but that last performance was a total wreck, I hope I won’t see any of that again until the end of the season!
Darren Smith
22 декабря, 2010 at 22:00
Hey buddy, like you said the last game should not shadow a great start. Your comfortably top and have been playing some great football. I cant wait to see the second half of your season, goodluck mate. Another promotion is on the cards!
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:57
Thanks Darren, I hope that the team will get back to «great football» soon.
James
22 декабря, 2010 at 22:53
Johnny, you’re a managing god! keep it up!:)
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:57
Thanks James, you are too kind.
James
23 декабря, 2010 at 23:01
Haha:), but one question, when you change a player e.g. injury or fitness, do you change the positions role?
Johnny Karp
24 декабря, 2010 at 07:11
No, I don’t change the role.
Marius
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:57
Happy birthday Johnny !
Hope you entertain us with many beautiful stories in the years to come !
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 07:59
Thanks Marius, I’m very pleased to see that you are still following the stories :) I guess I’ll see you in a couple of days, take care.
Marius
23 декабря, 2010 at 08:20
Don’t worry about the 3-0 defeat against Morecambe , Real Madrid lost 5-0 to Barcelona but still are in good position to win the title.
And Mourinho doesn’t have your management skills.
Hope he doesn’t read this.
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 10:42
Well, I think that Mourinho should be reading this, he might learn a thing or two. Especially about being modest ;)
hils
23 декабря, 2010 at 08:33
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will get promoted!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 10:42
Thanks Hils :)
Chris Williams
23 декабря, 2010 at 14:29
Wow! Your stories are excellent! So are your management skills! :)
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 14:38
Thanks for the compliment Chris.
Nick
23 декабря, 2010 at 16:27
great month as usual Johnny. I genuinely think that you are the best football manager player I have ever seen ;-)
P.S. please check out my FM blog and follow it if you like it
http://fmaddict.fmcrowd.com/
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 16:52
Thanks for the compliment Nick. Good luck with your blog (I had a look and I would suggest a less darker theme and also posting actual screen shots instead of photos of your laptop display).
Sayam Khan
23 декабря, 2010 at 18:57
Johnny, good month there, Duffy is playing really really well. Sorry to say this but i think a big club will come for him in the higher leagues :-(
Johnny Karp
23 декабря, 2010 at 20:07
Thanks Sayam. Well, at least I hope those big clubs will come with some money! :) I won’t let Duffy go easily, that’s certain!
Lye Kuek Hin
24 декабря, 2010 at 14:08
Hi Johnny,
Think i am a bit late but still want to wish you a belated Happy Birthday. Well done on the win against Southend and an important win. You will surely go up, the only question is what position you will be. But i believe you will win the title. Darryl Duffy is a goal scoring machine. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
24 декабря, 2010 at 19:08
Thanks Lye, I guess we’ll keep going well if Duffy will keep up his form.
Victor
26 декабря, 2010 at 09:03
Hi Johnny!
I would like to know if you live in Romania?
Johnny Karp
26 декабря, 2010 at 10:33
Yes Victor, I live in Bucharest.
Victor
26 декабря, 2010 at 19:17
Si eu sunt roman. Imi place foarte mult site-ul tau si e foarte bine organizat. Dar tu esti singurul care posteaza pe el, inafara de celelalte story-uri?
P.S.: Daca ai cont pe fmro.ro, cum te scrii?
Johnny Karp
26 декабря, 2010 at 20:37
Mulţumesc. Nu sunt singurul care postează, mai sunt câţiva autori. Nu cred că am cont pe fmro, chiar dacă am n-am mai intrat pe acolo de ceva vreme.
P.S.: Let’s keep the comments in English from now on, OK? It’s a matter of respect for the other readers.
Victor
27 декабря, 2010 at 08:21
Ok. No problem.