Hello folks, it’s time for the most important moment in the club’s history, the Premier League debut! Vauxhall Motors FC is not a small lower league club anymore, we have made it to the top flight and everybody in town should be justly proud of that achievement. Getting to the Premier League was just a step in my plan, I want to see the Motormen leaving their mark in Europe sometime but there’s a long winding road to walk until then. I brought in no less than 15 new first team players during pre-season and I was extremely curious to see them in action against the best clubs in England.
We didn’t have the easiest of schedules in the opening month, first we had to meet Blackburn at home (predicted to finish 10th), then defending champions Manchester United and last but not least Tottenham (predicted to finish 2nd). This post will also take you through the month of September so prepare a cup of tea and turn off the TV!
Vauxhall vs Blackburn (Premier League)
Venue: Halton Stadium
Attendance: 11,267
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Julian Marino, Cameron Lindsay, Mervin Simon, Grant Baddeley — Thorsten Schon, Radek Vecera, Mark Brown, Jelle Van Damme — Pavol Vesely, Andrés
Team Talk: You can win today!
As you know we were forced to play our home games elsewhere until the expansion of our own Rivacre Park will be completed but I hoped that this fact was not going to have a big impact on our results. I was more worried about the tough opponents that we were going to meet and Blackburn proved that my fears were justified after just 20 seconds, they broke through our defense but fortunately goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis made great save to keep the score level. The pressure continued for around 15 minutes but then my lads started to play better, we were having good possession but the problem was that we were not going too far with the ball. Things seemed to turn our way five minutes before the break when a brutal tackle on Julian Marino got one of the Blackburn players sent off but we couldn’t make the most out of the numerical advantage before half time. Moreover, it was Blackburn who took the lead during stoppage time thanks to a swift move that left my defenders standing.
Half time score: 0-1
Half time team talk: I want to see more from you!
Half time substitutions: Shyamdew Weibolt for Vecera, Nathan Dyer for Van Damme
We didn’t do much better in the second half, we had great possession but we failed to create clear cut chances. We did manage to get a few shots in but Blackburn‘s goalie was in good shape so they held out for the three points. The second half performance was a bit encouraging but we had to remember that we played that against 10 men. However, I didn’t field my best eleven in this game because some of the players, including Connor Wickham, were not match fit yet and I usually prefer to field fit players.
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Cameron Lindsay
Flop of the match: Andrés
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Manchester United vs Vauxhall (Premier League)
Venue: Old Trafford
Attendance: 75,797
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Julian Marino, Cameron Lindsay, Mervin Simon, Jelle Van Damme — Thorsten Schon, Radek Vecera, Shyamdew Weibolt, Roni Porokara — Pavol Vesely, Andrés
Team Talk: Pressure is off.
I wasn’t expecting much out of this game, we were meeting the defending champions and top favorites for the title so I couldn’t ask the players to win this one but I surely wanted them to try hard. My lads were under siege right from the start though and the Red Devils needed just six minutes to break the deadlock. The game continued on a similar note, Manchester United were playing real football while my lads were merely exercising their constitutional right to run around on a football pitch on a Saturday afternoon… The second goal came on 22 minutes, it was a rather unlucky corner kick goal I guess, but we had reasons to rejoice just three minutes later when Mervin Simon headed home for our first ever Premier League goal! A great shot from United‘s striker restored the two-goal gap before the break and it was quite clear that we were going to get beaten.
Half time score: 3-1
Half time team talk: Sympathise.
Half time substitutions: Grant Baddeley for Van Damme, Nathan Dyer for Porokara
We were totally outplayed in the second half as well, if it was a boxing match I would have threw in the towel. However, there were some rare moments of good football from my lads and we could have clawed one back 15 minutes from time when midfielder Shyamdew Weibolt rattled the post with a nice shot from distance. Manchester United deserved to score another goal but they did that in a rather ugly fashion: one of my players was lying on the ground injured but our opponents went on and scored instead of kicking the ball out of bounds. Anyway, we received a lesson of football but not a lesson of fair play… However, I did manage to sweeten our relationship with Man United after the game as they agreed to loan out midfielder Lionel Riehl to us until the end of the season. I thought he might provide some cover on the left flank, our weakest area.
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Mervin Simon
Flop of the match: Cameron Lindsay
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Bristol Rovers vs Vauxhall (Carling Cup 2nd rnd)
Venue: The Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 4,071
Starting line up: Tim Howard — Kaka, Bryan Purdrue, Osman Chavez, Grant Baddeley — Wayne Routledge, Inigo Perez, Elias Kost, Keith Higgs — Connor Wickham, Ibrahima MBow
Team Talk: You can win today!
This Carling Cup match against League 1 side Bristol Rovers was a great chance to get a good breath of air after two consecutive defeats and it also was an opportunity for me to send in the players that were still lacking match fitness (I gave some of them a run with the reserves earlier). We had to win this one and we got off to a perfect start as Connor Wickham bagged his first ever goal for the club after just 30 seconds. Our opponents tried to react but we were much better than them and made that count on the score board on 23 minutes when a good counter attack move saw Ibrahima Mbow squaring for Inigo Perez who coolly slotted home from the middle of the penalty area. Five minutes later Wickham banged in his second of the game, moments after rattling the crossbar with a great shot. The game was as good as over and it was a relief to see the team finally beating someone…
Half time score: 0-3
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Shyamdew Weibolt for Perez, Lionel Riehl for Higgs, Andrés for Wickham
The second half was quiet, there wasn’t much to see except another goal from our lads. New signing Lionel Riehl made a good run down the left, crossed it inside the box and Ibrahima MBow volleyed home to make it 4-0. We played the last 21 minutes with only 10 men as centre back Osman Chavez picked up a knock but the injury was not very serious.
Full time team talk: Well done!
Man of the match: Connor Wickham
Flop of the match: Andrés
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Vauxhall vs Tottenham (Premier League)
Venue: Halton Stadium
Attendance: 11,464
Starting line up: Dean Bouzanis — Julian Marino, Cameron Lindsay, Mervin Simon, Jelle Van Damme — Thorsten Schon, Radek Vecera, Mark Brown, Roni Porokara — Connor Wickham, Andrés
Team Talk: Pressure is off.
Back to the league for another meeting with a giant, Tottenham were considered to be the second best team in the league after defending champions Manchester United. Everybody thought that we were just like innocent lambs taking a trip to the slaughterhouse but I expected the players to do better since we had absolutely nothing to lose. In fact, my lads started the game with good ambition and I was particularly pleased with right back Julian Marino who was doing an immense job to keep Gareth Bale silent on that flank. The Spurs were dominating the game quite clearly but we managed to keep a clean sheet until half time with some help from the crossbar on one occasion. We did suffer a setback two minutes before the break though, Jelle Van Damme got injured and I replaced him with Grant Baddeley.
Half time score: 0-0
Half time team talk: Pleased.
Half time substitutions: Pavol Vesely for Wickham
The pressure became even bigger after the break, the Spurs were pouring forward but we were hanging in there with good determination. We were saved by the post again on 66 minutes but we didn’t have that luck again five minutes later when Tottenham finally broke the deadlock with a fine move. Our hopes of a comeback were destroyed just three minutes later when Julian Marino left the field on a stretcher. I had already made the third substitution minutes earlier so we were down to 10 men. Tottenham were in full control of the match and they sealed the three points with another goal two minutes from time. We had no chance of getting something out of this game and the result was quite natural, our third straight league defeat. Marino was going to be out for six weeks, not the best news…
Full time team talk: Sympathise.
Man of the match: Julian Marino
Flop of the match: Andrés
Match Stats
Video Highlights
Click here to watch the match highlights.
Not an ideal opening month to be honest, three straight defeats and just one goal scored… We did get a win in the Carling Cup though but the future was not looking too bright.
September was not looking as tough but we still have an impossible test to take in the Carling Cup as we were drawn against cup holders Arsenal. The players’ morale was still good overall so I was hoping to come out of the bad patch and get some points on the table.
I couldn’t stop playing the game after such an opening month so I continued until the end of September, please go to the next page to see what happened in the first month of our first autumn in the Premiership.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Laxeyman
29 марта, 2011 at 19:00
Not a great start Johnny, but you’ve obviously got a lot of potential to improve, and I’m sure you will. I reckon you challenge for a top 8 finish once your team gels, I hope I’m right :) Good luck!
Johnny Karp
29 марта, 2011 at 19:42
Thanks Laxeyman, I hope you’re right too! :)
hils
29 марта, 2011 at 19:02
Hi Johnny,good 2 months there!!!!!!!!! Hopefully you will get better as the months get on!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
29 марта, 2011 at 19:43
Thanks Hils, the two months were not that good but I think that we can do better in the future.
Ana Garcia
29 марта, 2011 at 19:29
We are in the same boat I think!
Its always tough early on and I felt like you did that you dont know whether to be happy or dissapointed but I guess come end of the season we will find out.
Still lots of points to play for and plenty of time to improve, beating Arsenal away was probably a better achievement than me beating Real Madrid at home! So really well done on that result.
As always best of luck on the rest of the season and I have my fingers crossed that you can survive.
:)
Johnny Karp
29 марта, 2011 at 19:45
Thanks Ana, I think that you are right in your assessment of the situation. It’s always difficult for a newly-promoted team during the early stages of the season but I hope that we’ll improve our game in the future.
MRDNRA
29 марта, 2011 at 19:54
Considering your stature in the Premier League, you could’ve done a lot worse. In my current Leicester game I also had Man U as my second game of the season, also away from home, and also lost 4-1! That was having lost 2-1 to Villa in the first match, but the following match I comfortably beat Bolton 2-0. I’ve not done anything since but it’s interesting to compare, especially given you’re probably much better at the game than I am.
Anyway, good luck, and looking forward to the next post.
Johnny Karp
29 марта, 2011 at 21:18
You are right, things could have gone a lot worse. I agree that it would be interesting to compare although I don’t necessarily agree that I’m a better manager. Anyway, thanks for the good luck wish, I’m sure we’re going to need some of that good fortune. :)
Darren Smith
29 марта, 2011 at 20:28
Hey Johnny, not the greatest start…but just look at your opponents during the first month. I think you should disregard it and look at the second month which was much improved. Andres is a great regen and I can see him becoming a legend with the Vauxhall fans. Good luck mate.
Johnny Karp
29 марта, 2011 at 21:19
Thanks Darren, I hope we’ll do even better in the next months. You are right about Andrés, he’s an exceptional player and I guess I was very lucky to be able to get him for free last season.
Alex
29 марта, 2011 at 23:37
Hi Johnny,
You were given a very cruel start to the season but your team did very well to put that behind them and have a much better September. Once your team properly gels I think you could be aiming for Europe as you have good players at your disposal. Good luck, hopefully October takes the same tone as September rather than August!
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 08:44
Thanks Alex, I think that we’re on the right path but I’m not thinking about Europe yet, relegation is too close to aim that high at the moment.
Lye
30 марта, 2011 at 02:07
Hi Johnny,
I won’t be worrying too much about the results. There is gulf in quality between the Motormen and the big clubs but you have proved you can win against teams that are on par with you. The win against Arsenal showed nothing is impossible. Your guys have to show more confidence and courage for the coming games.
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 08:44
Thanks Lye, I agree that more confidence and courage will give us better results.
CsAtlantis
30 марта, 2011 at 03:13
Johnny I think your team is not doing that badly, considering that your first month league fixtures were pretty hard to get anything out of, it’s just your first season so consolidation is more important, a safe mid table position seems possible with your squad, Wickham will be a key player for you
You’re doing well in the League Cup, keep up the good work
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 08:45
Thanks mate, I hope to see more from Wickham in the coming months.
Liam101
30 марта, 2011 at 04:20
Hey Johnny. Not a great start but there some real toughies there. Has Wickham become world class? With your upcoming matches I can see some good results and a lengthy cup run on your hands.
Good luck
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 08:46
Thanks for the good wishes Liam. About Wickham, I wouldn’t say that he’s world class since he has yet to score his first league goal for us. I believe that he has great potential though.
Kevin
30 марта, 2011 at 09:10
Hi Johnny
Well the first few games you had to experience some tough losses but perhaps that’s a good thing? So many promoted teams start well then slide down the table. Vauxhall on the other hand are now doing the opposite and are now moving up! September was a better month and after back to back wins especially over Arsenal can only bost morale and hopefully string together some great results in The Fall months.
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 10:49
Hi Kevin, I was expecting a bumpy road in the first month but I guess we recovered pretty well in September (except that defeat against Birmingham). The following months will tell us more about our strength and about what we could achieve this season.
Excessive
30 марта, 2011 at 09:29
Absolutely agree with Kev, after the first month the results could only get better and you proved that your players have what it takes to succeed in this league by beating Arsenal. Hope you can go far in the carling cup and obtain a safe mid table place come the end of the season.
Be happy with what you have, you have a great base of players and coming into one of the best leagues in the world is tough as many have found out before in real life. It will take time but I know you can get there :)
Good luck!
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 10:51
Thanks Jake. Your comment reminded me of an old Romanian saying that goes like this: «If you don’t have what you like, then you must like what you have!». ;)
Vaibhav C.
30 марта, 2011 at 09:43
Hey Johnny,
Not a great start I guess, but September was a good month for you, except for the loss. Boro are doing much worse.. Great win against Arsenal and I think that you can win against Portsmouth in the Carling Cup.
Btw-how come you are never at work? All your updates are always on weekdays :P
Johnny Karp
30 марта, 2011 at 10:53
Thanks for the encouragement Vaibhav. I do have a rather odd schedule at work, sometimes I work during the weekends, sometimes I get a day off in midweek, I guess that explains why my updates come during the weekdays at times. But not all of them really, most updates are published during the weekend. Btw, I am at work now :)
Sayam Khan
31 марта, 2011 at 16:57
Hi Johnny, first few months are always difficult as you don’t know what your best team is. If you get it correct then well done, but that isn’t the case most of the time. Great victory against Arsenal! By the way, are Arsenall successful in your game? In my game they only won 3 trophies up to now… (Europa League, League Cup and Premiership last season)
September was a good month and hopefully it will carry on that way!
Good Luck!
Sears
2 апреля, 2011 at 13:52
Sorry for the late replay but tremendous start buddy. Great win @ Arsenal!
Johnny Karp
3 апреля, 2011 at 08:33
Thanks Sears.