Oldham vs Vauxhall (League 1)
Venue: Boundary Park
Attendance: 3,042
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Jacob Hronec, Sashi Chalwe, Mervin Simon, Lucky Sibiya — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Ibrahima M’Bow
Team Talk: You can win today!
Oldham were in 17th place before the game, not worried about relegation so they were only playing for pride. My lads were determined to kill the game off as soon as possible and it went well: we took a two-goal lead inside the opening nine minutes thanks to Jason Banton (10th goal of the season) and Mark Cullen. We relaxed a bit too quickly though, Oldham pulled one back on 16 minutes and then fired in the second eight minutes later by taking advantage of a big error from Mervin Simon. My players bounced back and reacted immediately, a quick exchange between Cullen and Ibrahima M’Bow gave the young striker the opportunity to score again and he didn’t miss.
Half time score: 2-3
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Matthew Ball for Brown, James Campbell for Sibiya
The second half was a lot more quiet on our end, we were dominating the game and finally managed to kill it off on a nicely flowing counter attack that was converted by central midfielder Graham Howson. Better news were awaiting after the match, Brentford lost their game so promotion was secured! Preston moved up into second place, nine points behind us, so we only needed one more point to secure the title!
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Graham Howson
Flop of the match: Lucky Sibiya
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Barnsley vs Vauxhall (League 1)
Venue: Oakwell
Attendance: 6,038
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Sashi Chalwe, Daniel Pappoe, Alex Billington — Jacob Hronec, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Ibrahima M’Bow
Team Talk: You can win today!
I was expecting a difficult game at Barnsley despite their poor position in the table. They were in 21st place but I was expecting them to play with great determination since this game was decisive for their survival chances. In fact, they opened the scoring just four minutes into the game and it was a nice goal too! Mark Cullen pegged them back on 17 minutes by taking advantage of some rather funny defending but we were unable to convert our domination into a half-time lead. Even worse, Barnsley took the lead thanks to a stoppage time corner kick header!
Half time score: 2-1
Half time team talk: Sympathise.
Half time substitutions: none
Things got back on track immediately after the re-start, Mark Brown fired in a superb shot from 20 yards out int the top corner. Then we added three more goals, a corner kick double for Sashi Chalwe either side of a Cullen goal, but Barnsley were not giving up and they clawed one back 13 minutes from time. That was all they could do though, Mark Cullen wrapped up a top performance with his hat-trick goal five minutes from time and we won the title in style!
Full time team talk: Good result!
Man of the match: Mark Cullen
Flop of the match: Jacob Hronec
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Time to celebrate again, our third title in four seasons and our fourth consecutive promotion!
The last two games of the season didn’t matter anymore, we lost the last one but Jason Banton scored a beautiful goal against Doncaster, you can watch it in the February Goal Of The Month Competition.
Here’s the final league table, Preston finished second and Brentford got promoted after the playoff. We scored 109 goals, not too shabby :)
The thing that worries me is that our best two players of the season are loanees, that isn’t a good sign for the future. Graham Howson was by far our best player but we’ll get into more details about him later. Mark Cullen did a good job upfront, he bagged 28 goals and made 15 assists, while veteran Darryl Duffy added 19 goals and 14 assists. My top three centre backs also did very well and so did our best prospect, left back Grant Baddeley. He is still targeted by some top Premier League clubs and I’ll surely be facing a tough challenge in keeping him at Rivacre Park come July. Young strikers Ibrahima M’Bow and Dale Hills didn’t do as well as I would have expected but they have shown good signs of progress during the last few months so they could well be ready to deliver next season. However, I think that the current squad is not good enough for the Championship so I will be looking to replace at least half of the current players.
And now about Graham Howson, the regen central midfielder from Manchester United. The most important thing to say is that we wouldn’t have been anywhere near the top of the table without him, his contribution to the cause was simply outstanding: 50 appearances, 16 goals, 33 assists, 7 man of the match awards and an average rating of 7.57! I will surely be trying to secure a loan deal for him next season, I will even walk all the way to Old Trafford and beg if necessary!
As I said, the squad will need heavy strengthening. I might need money to bring in new players but the club’s financial situation is not good at all. I’m expecting a pretty disappointing pre-season to be honest…
The club’s facilities also require heavy spending, I requested improvements to the board countless times but they can’t do much without money. I guess next season will be all about survival…
Anyway, I shouldn’t worry before I really have to. We grabbed the title and that’s the most important thing, a great achievement for our small club and a proud moment for the fans. Thanks a lot for your support and for reading the updates throughout the season, I appreciate it. Please don’t forget to vote for February’s Goal Of The Month and I also invite you to check out our brand new «baby-websites»: the Social Network, the Community website and the Video website. You could also have a look at the forum, there are a few very promising stories unfolding there!
James
7 февраля, 2011 at 19:50
Fantastic Johnny, i wish i was as good a manager as you! Good luck in the Championship mate! with the clubs finances i think you might need it :)
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:33
Thanks James, I agree that we might need all the luck we can get :)
Sears
7 февраля, 2011 at 20:19
Hey Johnny, congratulations on yet another unbelievable promotion. The 15 gap shows your team had no trouble winning the title despite the tense but exciting ending. Your main worry now is probably your clubs facilities. You know how essential it is to have splendid facilities as the benefits are huge. Hopefully your board will finally start upgrading them. Your finances will improve soon as I think you receive around one million in tv rights? Good luck during pre season, I’m sure you can purchase enough quality to launch yet another stunning title challenge :-)
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:35
Thanks Sears. I don’t know about he title challenge… What I know is that the squad will require heavy strengthening and as things stand right now there might not be a lot of money available to do that. I’m constantly trying to persuade the board to invest in the club’s facilities but so far they made just one slight investment in the training facilities.
Laxeyman
7 февраля, 2011 at 20:29
Great season Johnny, Vauxhall march on and on! Howson was unbelievable for you, you have to get him back next year, and I’m sure he’ll come :) You’re right about needing to improve the facilities, but from my experience it’s the one thing boards never want to spend money on. Anyway, congratulations on a great season and looking forward to seeing what you do in pre season!
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:36
Thanks Laxeyman. Well, my board might want to spend on the training facilities, the problem is that they don’t have the money to spend! :)
Darren Smith
7 февраля, 2011 at 21:12
You HAVE to get Howson next season. He is amazing and look at how many assists he managed. What a find Johnny. Well done on your success and completing the double is an excellent achievement. Just looking at your club info shows how amazing you are. The capacity, facilities and pitch are terrible…yet your almost even with the bank balance and have taken Vauxhall to the Championship. Next season will be tough but I can’t wait to see what happens. Well done mate. :)
ps Kevins stay above you in the lower league rankings was short lived, your back in 2nd :)
Kevin
7 февраля, 2011 at 23:14
I knew that would happen :)
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:37
Thanks Darren, Howson was a real blessing this season. And we didn’t pay his wages either, Manchester United did! :)
Kevin
7 февраля, 2011 at 23:48
Hi Johnny
Stupendous season winning both the JPT and League One quite handsomly in the end. 109 goals in just incredible and you MUST beg for Howsen. He’s still only 19 so you may have a good chance of getting him again. Your facilites are a bit rough to say the least and need improving quite a bit to play in the EPL which is only a matter of time I feel. Anyway thanks for bringing us another superb story that has us glued to our PC’s awaiting the next episode.
GO CRAIOVA!!
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:39
Thanks Kevin. A loan bid for Graham Howson will be the first thing that I’ll do when the transfer window opens :)
Jack
8 февраля, 2011 at 04:22
Great stuff Johnny! I’m predicting 2nd for next season then onto the premiership! This has been a great story but there is plenty more to come. Obviously your facilities need improving, especially your stadium size, 2500 is no where near enough, especially when your stylish football is bringing in the crowds! Good luck with next season Johnny, I’m already looking forward to knowing to who you have signed.
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:40
Thanks a lot for your confidence Jack but I seriously doubt that we’ll get promoted next season. I guess we’ll know more after pre-season, I’m quite curious to see if I’ll manage to bring in enough good players.
dami
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:20
Amazing job done winning a double, hope you continue to make waves in the championship
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 06:41
Thanks Dami, we’ll surely be trying to pull off a few upsets :)
Mariano
8 февраля, 2011 at 08:33
Amazing achivement!
I´m very curious on how you are going to be doing next season.
Do you send your AM to get loan reports on specific positions or you scout the big clubs for loans straight away?
How did you find Howson?
I´m in january league 1 in my Havant game in promotion position, but already started with my 48 month spendings, I bought a Russian regen for 2.5 million dollars:)
Cheers
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 11:13
Thanks Mariano. I remember that I did send the AM to look for central midfielders available on loan last season but I can’t remember if he’s the one who found Howson or if I found him myself (because I did my own searching for loan players, especially central midfielders, strikers and wingers). Your club seems to be very rich if you spent that much on a single player! Even on 48 months, the club still has to be able to cope with the monthly installments.
Mariano
8 февраля, 2011 at 11:26
I play lots of friendlies(all over the season):)
I don´t know if it´s for sure, but in my experience in most FM versions, if you get in debt or your economy it´s not very good, you tent to receive very high offer for your players
Lye
8 февраля, 2011 at 11:29
Hi Johnny,
A fruitful season you had here, clinching the double, congratulations. Some of your players are simply amazing. Graham Howson is an amazing player, 33 assist, what a contribution! Next season will be tough. You can’t do much about it as Vauxhall has a very small stadium. They are unable to bring in any extra money out of it. I believe you have to depend on loans and some free transfers. Hopefully they will give you a bigger wage budget. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 15:42
Hi Lye, thanks for your comment. I hope for a good wage budget, I have no hopes at all for a transfer budget.
Smithy
8 февраля, 2011 at 11:48
hi mate u know at start oof season it has sky bet and tells you the odds of who will get promted how does that come up because it didnt come up for me last year
and btw im at school so computer slow
Johnny Karp
8 февраля, 2011 at 15:41
I always saw that piece of news at the beginning of a season, are you sure you didn’t just skip it?
Sayam Khan
8 февраля, 2011 at 17:48
Well done Johnny!
Does Graham Howson have a release clause? I would try buying him if you could…. Or if your going to loan him, then add a future fee….
Your club information is pretty similar to mine, apart from the finances where I am much worse!
Good Luck in the Championship!
Johnny Karp
9 февраля, 2011 at 09:07
Thanks Sayam. He doesn’t have a release clause but I will try buying him if a loan deal doesn’t work out.
MRDNRA
8 февраля, 2011 at 22:35
Just read your whole story from the start. Amazing achievement to get 4 consecutive promotions, well done. Your facilities are definitely in need of improvement though, especially (in my mind) the stadium. 2,500 is very low capacity even for league 1, in the Championship it can’t compete with the bigger clubs in terms of anything really (especially, and most importantly, revenue). Still, not to be too negative, you’ve had some excellent players come in on loan, really hoping you can get some of them back. Best of luck for next season, looking forward to the future updates.
Johnny Karp
9 февраля, 2011 at 09:08
Thanks a lot for reading the whole thing, I hope that you have enjoyed it. I agree that the small stadium is a big disadvantage but there’s not much I can do about that. I have requested stadium expansions every summer but didn’t get the answers that I wanted until now.
Iain
9 февраля, 2011 at 13:45
hi, congrats on your 4th consecutive promotion you truly are the master of the lower leagues.
in terms of finance i would suggest selling maybe 2 players that you dont use for money, you could ask your board for the increased transfer percentage thing or with the money ask for stadium expansion. hope you will be able to bring howson back to the club as he is a great player, 33 assists in a season is quite astonishing.
good luck with your pre-season !
Johnny Karp
9 февраля, 2011 at 14:55
Thanks Iain. I will surely be selling a few players, even more than two, but I’m not sure that we’d get a lot of money for them.
hils
9 февраля, 2011 at 15:27
Hi Johnny,great end of season there!!!!!!!!!! Congrats on doing the double!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
10 февраля, 2011 at 09:00
Thanks Hils :)
Mariano
10 февраля, 2011 at 03:43
Hi Johnny,
I also just finished my 4th season managing Havant and won the Johnstone and the League 1!
Thanks to you and your site as I wouldn´t be able to achive this without all the information posted here!:)
Now, you are going to have very difficult next season, me too, I just had a look and Newcastle is coming down from premier to championship, Porthmouth is already there and only one player of them earns more than my whole team yearly budget!
I will try to loan a lot of players from the big teams.
I´ll share my strategy:
I start scouting all the positions for loans and start biding on all the better ones, when they accept, I delay the deal for one week, so I take 2 weeks to choose the best 4 year loans for my team. And then later on I try to get some 3 month loans too.
Cheers
Johnny Karp
10 февраля, 2011 at 09:02
Good job Mariano, that’s a great achievement and I’m happy if I could help. About the loans, that’s a good strategy I guess. However, I rarely get players for just three months, I prefer to employ some youngsters rather than have players coming and going on loan all the time.