Tottenham vs Vauxhall (Premier League)
Venue: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 53,694
Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Gary Warner, Mervin Simon, Danny Wilson, Marat Bykov — Moustapha Gueye, Indio, Robert Ackermann, Walid Mechergui — Zé Carlos, Parana
Team Talk: You can win today!
The first game of the season against the Spurs had gone pretty well, we had beaten them 4-0 in October, but I was sure that we wouldn’t see such a score line again. In fact, Tottenham had a bright start to the game and they broke the deadlock on a corner kick after 13 minutes. That goal was the only exciting moment before half time though, the remaining minutes were painfully boring.
Half time score: 1-0
Half time team talk: I want to see more from you!
Half time substitutions: Abdallah Yaisien for Mechergui
We started to plat a bit better after the break but we still were rather unconvincing. I made another pair of changes on the hour mark, Hans Larsson for Warner and Leandro Velasco for Gueye, and fortunately those changes paid off after just a few minutes. Substitutes Larsson and Velasco worked together to create the chance, the ball went inside the box for Parana and a desperate tackle took the ball away from him but sent it into the back of the net. Then we started to take the game to them but Tottenham held out for the draw. We were still top of the table though as Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at Fulham.
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Marat Bykov
Flop of the match: Parana
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
We had two cup games coming up and I’m pleased to say that we won both. First we clinched a good away result against Schalke in the Champions League, not a big win but definitely good enough, and then beat Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round despite fielding a weakened eleven (Liverpool are not what they used to be…).
The last game of the month was the most important one too, we were facing 2nd placed Arsenal at Vauxhall Stadium. The Gunners were just 1 point behind us before the game and although we had beaten them in the FA Cup earlier in the month all our fans remembered that it was them who inflicted us the very first defeat of the season, 2-1 in October.
Vauxhall vs Arsenal (Premier League)
Venue: Vauxhall Stadium
Attendance: 25,875
Starting line up: Luis Guilherme — Gary Warner, Marat Bykov, Danny Wilson, Pierre Touya — Leandro Velasco, Indio, Robert Ackermann, Tiago — Zé Carlos, Parana
Team Talk: For the fans!
We got off to a bright start this time and could have broken the deadlock early on but Parana missed a certain goal after just five minutes. We were not to be denied though and we scored the opener on 17 minutes when Tiago made a stunning run on the left flank before crossing in for Velasco who anticipated his marker and slotted home. We continued to press forward, Robert Ackermann squandered a big chance five minutes later but we did score after another two minutes on a corner kick. It was Danny Wilson who headed on for Marat Bykov whose header forced a desperate clearance attempt from Kadlec who couldn’t do more than to push the ball into his own net. Our domination continued, Arsenal were unable to cope with my lads and that resulted into a second own goal, a rather lucky one this time.
Half time score: 3-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Abdallah Yaisien for Velasco, Graham Howson for Ackermann
Arsenal were a bit more lively after the interval but we were handling them pretty well. Our mission became easier on 67 minutes when Arsenal‘s left back got sent off for a wild tackle on Yaisien, we had a numerical advantage and we made that count 10 minutes from time when Parana‘s parried shot fell to Graham Howson who slotted home. It was a great win against our closest title rivals, I was quite happy with the display.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Leandro Velasco
Flop of the match: Robert Ackermann
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the highlights.
The league table looks a lot better now, we have three points on Tottenham and four points on Arsenal while Man City still hold mathematical chances. Man United are out of the race while Liverpool are sinking…
Parana has been our best player so far, he has scored 24 goals and provided 10 assists. Marat Bykov is pulling off another great season while Zé Carlos and Leandro Velasco are as reliable as ever. As you can see Danny Wilson‘s performances are improving, he managed to score five goals and I think that he will be an essential player during the decisive months of the season.
March will start with a big match for us, our second shot at the Carling Cup after getting beaten in the final two seasons ago by Manchester United. Then we’ll meet Man City again in the league, I hope to beat them twice just to hear Mourinho complaining :) Then we should wrap up the qualification against Schalke before facing a tough trip to Old Trafford in the Premier League.
That’s about it for now folks, thanks a lot for reading. I’m looking forward to reading your thoughts in the comments, requests and questions are also allowed, as always.
Screen Shot Requests
Wolves Squad for Erick
Barcelona Squad for Ana
Plobdork
9 июля, 2011 at 19:15
wow very surprised to see liverpool there gud resultes there johnny title almost a certainty how long are you carrying this story on for by the way?? :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) hopefully forever.
Johnny Karp
9 июля, 2011 at 19:50
Thanks mate. Forever is not an option but I will let you know when I’ll start thinking about ending the story.
vaibhavc
9 июля, 2011 at 21:05
Hey Johnny
Big win against Arsenal puts you first in the league table. You seem to be doing very well in the FA Cup and good luck in the Carling Cup final.
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 01:27
Thanks mate, I’m quite keen on winning the Carling Cup for the first time.
Darren Smith
9 июля, 2011 at 23:14
Well done Johnny, still on for a quadruple and you have the players to pull it off. I think this story has a lot of years left in it to be honest and wouldn’t want to see it end. Great work as always and I can’t wait to see how far you go. My prediction is a double at least, maybe even a treble. Good luck
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 01:28
Thanks Darren, I’d settle for a treble but not with the FA Cup :)
CsAtlantis
10 июля, 2011 at 03:19
Atsudo Uchida in the Barca squad, interesting………
Doing fine in the league johnny, Arsenal and Tottenham are keeping pace though, keep it up and the trophies might just swarm in like they are out of style :D
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 10:08
Thanks for the encouragement mate.
Lye
10 июля, 2011 at 09:26
Hi Johnny,
Good win against your closest rival Arsenal. You are still competing in all competition and i hope this will be your best season ever. Give us the quadruple this season. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 10:09
Thanks Lye, we’re on track but there still is a lot of work to be done.
Kevin
10 июля, 2011 at 09:37
Hi Johnny
Those end os Janaury EPL results were a little concerning but as usual when it matters your team came up with the bid results especially over arsenal to put you back in the driving seat. Good luck as you go after all the major trophies!
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 10:09
Thanks Kevin, we will surely need some luck along the way.
Mike
10 июля, 2011 at 10:41
Hi Johnny,
Your team seem to be progressing really well in the cup competitions and i think you have a great chance of going the distance in all of them. Good luck in the carling cup final, I think city have a strong team but I reckon your lads will turn up in the big game. As for the league, you have had some fantastic results against the big clubs and that’s given you a well deserved lead at the top. With ten to play, its in your hands.
Great post, as always!
Mike
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 12:52
Thanks Mike, I’m looking forward to the Carling Cup final. I agree that the title is in our hands now but we’ll have to grab good results in March if we want to hold on to it.
Laxeyman
10 июля, 2011 at 14:24
Good results again Johnny, you’re in a fantatstic position to win the league now, and I’m pretty sure that you will. Hopefully you can bag a double or a treble, you’re doing well in the CL, so hopefully you can keep going, good luck!
P.S Liverpool in the relegation zone :( Hope they can pull out of it!
Sears
10 июля, 2011 at 16:03
Great stuff Johnny, great win against Arsenal! I’m sure you will win the league, and all the other cups too… Good luck pal :-)
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 17:02
Thanks Sears!
Rob
10 июля, 2011 at 20:39
Good results Johnny, again, definitely backing you for the treble :D will you do another game on fm11 as universitatea craiova, the team that came 2nd in the vote all the way back in november, or will you play this game until the next fm?
Johnny Karp
10 июля, 2011 at 21:32
Thanks Rob. I don’t think I will do a Craiova game before FM 2012 because there simply won’t be enough time for that. But since that choice came second in that poll I will keep my promise and start a Craiova game in FM 2012.
Erick Wolf
11 июля, 2011 at 09:00
Great months. I’m delighted with Da Silva’s acquisition!
Can I get just one more screenshot?
Jonathan Dos Santos and/or Jorge Espiricueta
Johnny Karp
11 июля, 2011 at 10:32
Thanks Erick. You can request as many screen shots as you want, no problem. Just to make sure, we’re talking about Mexican player Jorge Espericueta, right?
Matt Clark
11 июля, 2011 at 19:19
Great results pulling yourself back ahead of arsenal
I can’t believe how badly Liverpool are doing could you show a screenshot of their team and who is the manager
Johnny Karp
12 июля, 2011 at 07:42
Thanks Matt. Liverpool are quite surprising indeed this season, I will post those screen shots in the next update.
Ana Garcia
13 июля, 2011 at 20:51
In prime postion once again with a narrow three point lead over second place, still some tricky games to go so hopefully you can win the title.
Good to see Mourinho still struggling in the league! :)
Thanks for the Barca pic, looks a little wierd but I bet your happy to see a Romanian there!
Good luck!
Johnny Karp
14 июля, 2011 at 10:12
Hey Ana, I’m quite happy to see Mourinho failing in the Premier League once again. About Barca, we used to have two Romanian players there in the 1990s and one of them was the captain… It’s all in the past now unfortunately.
Keenannn
16 июля, 2011 at 13:08
Can you post a screen shot of the liverpool team please?
Johnny Karp
16 июля, 2011 at 13:15
I will publish that in the next post.