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Vauxhall Motors Story: January 2014
Hello folks, I’m happy to bring you a fresh update to my Vauxhall Motors Football Manager 2011 story! As you remember we had an action-packed month of December, we had to play no less than nine games, but it ended well since we were top of the League 1 table at the end of the year. We had a three point cushion over second placed Preston so I decided to change the season expectations to «promotion». Now let’s see how January went.
Southampton vs Vauxhall (FA Cup 3rd round)
Venue: St. Mary’s Stadium
Attendance: 16,994
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Jacob Hronec, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Alex Billington — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Mark Cullen, Dale Hills
Team Talk: You can win today!
The odds were firmly against us for this game since Southampton were promotion contenders in the Championship. I was hoping that we could pull off an upset though and I fielded the best eleven that I could gather. The initial minutes of the game saw us being on the back foot but Martin Hansen pulled off a good save to keep the score level. Then we slowly took control of the game and even created two good chances before half time. We missed those chances but I was quite happy with the first half display.
Half time score: 0-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Nathan Rooney for Brown, Darryl Duffy for Cullen
We continued to play fairly well after the re-start and our courage was rewarded on 54 minutes when Dale Hills made a good run and crossed the ball into the box where Graham Howson headed home for his 10th goal of the season. I was thrilled but I knew that we had more work to do if we wanted to go through to the next round. We managed to keep the game fairly quiet until the final 10 minutes, then the home side really started to put us under pressure. We weathered the storm and I was very happy to have pulled off such an upset and also to bring some decent money into the club’s coffers.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Graham Howson
Flop of the match: Mark Brown
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Vauxhall vs Charlton (League 1)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 2,500 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Keith Higgs — Mark Cullen, Dale Hills
Team Talk: You can win today!
Promotion contenders Charlton were having a rather disappointing season, they were in 9th place before the game. It turned out to be a special afternoon for my team, the lads started the game very well and we took the lead on 18 minutes when Mervin Simon headed in a corner kick cross. That effort was canceled after just eight minutes, it was a swift counter attack move from Charlton that surprised my defenders. My lads were playing too well though and we regained the lead just two minutes later when midfielder Graham Howson fired in a spectacular drive from more than 30 yards out, a superb goal! The game was fairly entertaining and Charlton could have leveled it again just before half time when they hit the crossbar from close range. We deserved the lead though, no question about that.
Half time score: 2-1
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Jason Banton for Bogado, Jacob Walcott for Higgs
I was hoping to extend the lead after the break but what happened was beyond my wildest dreams… My players managed to put no less than seven more goals past Charlton, we had a sensational second half! Strikers Dale Hills and Darryl Duffy bagged two goals apiece, centre back Mervin Simon netted his second of the game while Jason Banton and Mark Cullen also found the back of the net. This probably was our best game of the season so far, a tremendous performance from start to finish.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Graham Howson
Flop of the match: Keith Higgs
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Brentford vs Vauxhall (League 1)
Venue: Griffin Park
Attendance: 6,379
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Alex Billington — Carlos Bogado, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Darryl Duffy, Dale Hills
Team Talk: You can win today!
It was difficult to move on to the next game after such a tremendous win but we had to get back to earth, Brentford were in 5th place and I was expecting a tough game. Fortunately Mervin Simon made things smoother again with a corner kick header, the lad was really finding great form after recovering from the early-season injury. He could have nicked a second one seven minutes later but that time he wasn’t so lucky as his header hit the crossbar and bounced out of danger.
Half time score: 0-1
Half time team talk: Encourage.
Half time substitutions: Jacob Hronec for Harris, Nathan Rooney for Howson
Brentford enjoyed a good start to the second half, we were under a bit of pressure but my defense was coping with it very well. I was hoping to ease the pressure by scoring on a counter attack and that happened in the 61st minute when Darryl Duffy stabbed one home. The game was in our hands after that goal, Brentford were no longer able to create pressure so we walked away with the important three points.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Mervin Simon
Flop of the match: Carlos Bogado
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Vauxhall vs Q.P.R. (League 1)
Venue: Rivacre Park
Attendance: 2,500 (capacity crowd)
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Bogado, Matthew Ball, Graham Howson, Keith Higgs — Omar Koroma, Mark Cullen
Team Talk: You can win today!
After the 9-1 win over Charlton our fans were expecting another spectacular display from us on the return at Rivacre Park as we were about to meet another promotion contender, 6th placed Q.P.R. Things started pretty well, we were dominating but we wasted two huge chances before the visitors were awarded what appeared to be a rather harsh penalty kick. They converted from the spot but we leveled the score before half time when a good pass from Matthew Ball found Mark Cullen who fired into the top corner from just inside the penalty area. Q.P.R. were launching dangerous counter attacks though and we were lucky to be saved by the woodwork twice before half time.
Half time score: 1-1
Half time team talk: You can win today!
Half time substitutions: Peter Leven for Howson, Jacob Walcott for Higgs
Many of my players appeared to be quite tired but we were still dominating the game. Unfortunately we missed another big chance before a gaffe from goalkeeper Hansen gifted a goal to the visitors on 71 minutes. From that moment on my players started to make countless errors, we nearly gave away another goal before Dale Hills lost his head and got sent off for elbowing an opponent. We didn’t really deserve to lose the game but I guess winning it would have been too much.
Full time team talk: Disappointing!
Man of the match: Ken Harris
Flop of the match: Carlos Bogado
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Notts County vs Vauxhall (Johnstone’s Paint Trophy North Final, first leg)
Venue: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 8,679
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Oliver Nicholas, Mervin Simon, Alex Billington — Jacob Hronec, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Darryl Duffy, Mark Cullen
Team Talk: For the fans!
This was the most important game of the month, I was keen on reaching the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final and I considered the first leg to be crucial. The first half was fairly dynamic, Notts County dominated the initial 20 minutes and hit the post on a free kick but we took control in the final 25 minutes. It was goalless at the break and that was a good result for us.
Half time score: 0-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Omar Koroma for Cullen, Keith Higgs for Harris
We could have taken the lead three minutes after the re-start, it was a huge chance but Jason Banton missed the empty net from seven yards! He wasted another chance before the hour mark so I decided to replace him with Jacob Walcott. We were still dominating the game but it was heading for a goalless ending. I would have been happy with that but I was even happier when Mervin Simon powered in a corner kick header on the stroke of full time to give us a very important one goal lead to take into the second leg.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Mervin Simon
Flop of the match: Ken Harris
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
We had two more league games to play before the end of the month, go to the next page to see what happened.
Gillingham vs Vauxhall (League 1)
Venue: Priestfield
Attendance: 4,468
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Carlos Bogado, Matthew Ball, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Omar Koroma, Mark Cullen
Team Talk: You can win today!
Gillingham were in 18th place before the game so I was hoping for a win to wash down the bitter taste of that home defeat against Q.P.R. Things got off to a good start as Mark Cullen slotted home on 18 minutes to put us ahead. We were safely in control of the game and could easily have doubled the lead before the break.
Half time score: 0-1
Half time team talk: Encourage.
Half time substitutions: Peter Leven for Howson, Keith Higgs for Banton
The second half was pleasantly quiet, we were controlling the game and finally killed it off 17 minutes from time when Cullen made the most out of a good pass from Omar Koroma. It wasn’t spectacular but unfortunately you don’t get more points for winning 9-1 :)
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Mark Cullen
Flop of the match: Jason Banton
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
Notts County vs Vauxhall (League 1)
Venue: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 3,885
Starting line up: Martin Hansen — Ken Harris, Daniel Pappoe, Mervin Simon, Alex Billington — Jacob Hronec, Mark Brown, Graham Howson, Jason Banton — Darryl Duffy, Mark Cullen
Team Talk: You can win today!
Back to Meadow Lane after just eight days, I bet the Notts County fans were not happy to see us again so soon. The Magpies were having a troubled league campaign, they were in 15th place before the game but I was expecting them to be keen on getting revenge after the JPT defeat. We started the game with great enthusiasm and Mark Cullen wasted a huge chance inside the first minute of play! We continued to pile on the pressure but the lads were quite wasteful, I was beginning to worry. Fortunately Notts County conceded a penalty kick a couple of minutes before the break and Graham Howson coolly converted from the spot.
Half time score: 0-1
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Derrick Williams for Billington, Omar Koroma for Cullen
The home side tried to get back into the game after the break but they were lacking the firepower to do that. Their chances of a fightback were shattered 20 minutes before half time when one of their strikers got sent off for a wild tackle and from that point on we took control and fired in two more goals through Darryl Duffy and Jacob Hronec (his first of the season).
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Darryl Duffy
Flop of the match: Omar Koroma
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
So, it was an almost perfect month but I guess fatigue took its toll on the players during that game against Q.P.R.
The even better news is that most of the title contenders did worse than us so our lead increased to 10 points! I guess we have a couple of fingers on the title, we just have to stay focused and put both hands on it sooner or later.
Before wrapping up the post I’m happy to announce that we had some transfer activity during the January window, three players joined the club for a total of 120,000 pounds!
But where did I get all that money? Well, if you remember I told you that centre back Oliver Nicholas wanted to leave the club and he didn’t change his mind although I tried hard to persuade him to stay. I decided to let him go for 425,000 pounds to Norwegian club Lillehammer, it’s a step back in his career if you ask me but he didn’t want to listen to my advice. He enjoyed the best years of his careers at Vauxhall Motors and I was quite sad to see him out the door.
I had to be safe before selling Nicholas, I wouldn’t have sold him without having a replacement ready. Fortunately I found that replacement in Zambian international Sashi Chalwe, an experienced player with very good attributes at this level. I tried to get him during the summer transfer window as well but he wasn’t given a work permit back then. He should provide great cover for at least another season I guess.
Next up, a player for the future: 18-year old South African left back Lucky Sibiya. We already have two good left backs but I felt that paying only 30K for this lad to Ajax Cape Town would be a good piece of business for the club. He will probably be loaned out until the end of the season, then we’ll evaluate him again and maybe sell him for profit ;)
Lat but not least, another player that was spotted by my scouts in Africa: 18-year old Senegalese striker Ibrahima M’Bow. He also has French citizenship so he didn’t need a work permit, I paid 120K for him to Senegalese club Jeanne D’Arc. He is a skillful and hard working lad and he will be given some first team football right away.
February will start with another FA Cup battle as we’re going to meet Championship side Burnley in the 4th round. We’ll also have the second leg of the JPT North final and five league games, another busy month ahead of us…
That’s about it my friends, thanks a lot for reading this update and I’m looking forward to reading your opinions.