Welcome back folks! I’ve had an unusual amount of spare time this weekend and I decided to invest most of it into one of my favourite hobbies, Football Manager 2011! So, here’s a fresh update to the Vauxhall Motors FC story, an episodes that starts in January 2012 after we had moved top of the table at the end of December. The race was very close though, Cheltenham and Luton were just two points behind us, so I knew that we couldn’t afford any slip-ups.
The first match of the new year was at home with struggling 22nd placed Braintree, needless to say that I was expecting a win. Dutch striker Akwasi Asante had a great first half and gave us a cozy two-goal lead after 25 minutes: first he made a fine run and squared it for Michael Ricketts and then he scored one himself with a close range volley from Sam Hart‘s cross. Then left winger Hart smashed one in himself to make it 3-0 at the break. Asante bagged another one three minutes after the interval but our complacency allowed Braintree to pull two goals back. However, Asante completed his first hat-trick for the club by converting yet another assist from midfielder Shane Williams.
Next up, a much more difficult game: away at 6th placed promotion contenders Grimsby. This one was Danny Uchechi‘s game: first he provided the assist for Omar Koroma‘s opener and then fired one in himself before Grimsby clawed one back on 18 minutes. It was just a temporary setback though as Uchechi went on to complete a fine hat-trick with two more goals either side of half time. Our second half display was close to sensational, we created loads of chances but unfortunately we scored only once during the last 45 minutes.
The next game was the very important FA Trophy second round game against Mansfield, we had to go through in order to balance the club’s shaky finances. We got off to a dream start as centre back Fraser Kerr headed home a corner kick just two minutes into the game. Then we managed to keep things quiet until half time and struck a lucky second after the break when one of Mansfield‘s defenders put one past his own keeper. Our opponents pulled one back nine minutes from time but we never looked like losing the game although we could have killed it off much earlier with better finishing.
Back to the league then, our next game was at home with 7th placed Cambridge. We missed a very good chance early on but I forgave the players after we took the lead thanks to a killer counter attack started by Sam Hart and finished by Danny Uchechi. We were in control of the game throughout the 90 minutes and we could have wrapped it up several times but we wasted quite a few decent chances, including a penalty kick.
The last game of the month was away at Kevin‘s Wrexham, they were down in 16th place before the match. I was hoping to extend our winning streak but I was in for a big surprise as I could hardly recognize my players on the pitch during that game. It’s true that Wrexham scored a rather fortuitous corner kick goal and it’s also true that we missed two clear cut chances but we never looked like winning this one to be honest. It was a deserved win for Wrexham and quite a setback for my lads after a great run up to that point.
We were still top of the table though, Cheltenham dropped into sixth place but Histon and Luton were just one point behind us!
The race was incredibly tight so I though that some fresh blood might help us during the decisive moments of the season. I made two new signings, both of them spotted by my scouts in Slovakia‘s under 21 squad. First we brought in striker Julius Gombala, a talented and quick lad that could do a decent job upfront.
I didn’t want him to feel lonely so I also brought in one of his teammates, right midfielder Jacob Hronec. He is a solid player overall and the best thing about him is that he can cover every single role on the right side of the pitch, from right back to right attacking midfielder. Two players left the club after these new signings were completed: veteran striker Michael Ricketts and midfielder James Paris. So, January was over but with the race being so tight I decided to keep the game going for another month! Please move on to the next page to see what happened in February 2012!
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
warren
6 декабря, 2010 at 19:13
Its getting close at the top there Johnny and I hope that you are able to win most of your game next month but you have a very busy month and I hope that your squad is able to cope so that you can end the season with a double.
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:16
Thanks Warren. I’d be happy with a promotion but I wouldn’t say no to a double :)
Laxeyman
6 декабря, 2010 at 19:40
Hi Johnny, a decent couple of months there, but your side is still quite inconsistent, one game they look brilliant and the next they look awful! However, you’re still in with a great chance of promotion, and like you said, March will be crucial. Good luck!
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:17
Thanks Laxeyman. It’s been quite frustrating to watch my lads in action, I never know what to expect from them…
hils
6 декабря, 2010 at 19:42
Hi Johnny,good month there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hopefully your team will win the title!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:17
Thanks Hils :)
Darren Smith
6 декабря, 2010 at 21:38
Wow what an exciting end to the season. Its all very tight and you are looking strong in the FA Trophy as well. Hopefully any late bad form is out of the way now and you’ll steam on to the title. Keep it up mate.
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:18
Thanks for the encouragement Darren.
Arjuna
6 декабря, 2010 at 23:01
Hey Johnny,
You did well in January to get to the top of the table, nut have struggled in Febuary, but I still feel you can do it now! Keep it up
Arjuna
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:18
Thanks mate.
Kevin
6 декабря, 2010 at 23:15
Hello Johnny
Those were a really exciting couple of months and an even more exciting finish to the season in store for us readers. Your March schedule is as insane as mine so good luck at keeping players fit and injury free!
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:19
Thanks Kevin, we’ll need a good chunk of luck to pull it off.
Ana Garcia
7 декабря, 2010 at 00:20
The fixtures for the lower leagues in England is crazy!
I just saw Kevin’s fixtures and seeing this am surprised you can cope! Your squad will be streched to its limits, am glad my side have the winter break to look forward too! :)
Best of luck Johnny, hope your squad can survive 9 games in 27 days!!
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:20
Thanks Ana, we’ll survive somehow I guess but we might be breathing heavily at the end of the month :)
Jack
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:01
That is some month in March! I think you will still win the league though, you always manage it somehow :P Asante is really starting to prove his work now despite the slow start. Also is Uchechi the league’s highest goalscorer yet? Good luck in March! Keep it up!
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 04:21
Thanks Jack. I don’t think that Uchechi is the league’s top goalscorer but I will check later.
paine
7 декабря, 2010 at 08:35
The table is really close Johnny but your new Slovakian signings should help you, above all Gombala should do very well at this level.
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 17:24
Thanks for sharing your view Paine. Gombala seems to be adapting well and I hope he will get in a few goals by the end of the season.
Lye
7 декабря, 2010 at 10:27
Hi Johnny,
A lot of games to be play. But i think your team have no problems in handling the tough schedule. You are just not far behind. Keep going. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 17:25
Thanks for the encouragement Lye, we’ll need a lot of confidence to pull it off.
cous
7 декабря, 2010 at 12:37
Julius Gombala is a good signing. I managed to get him for Queens Park on an Amatuer contract………no-one else was interested in him at the time. He went on to score goals for fun!
Unfotunately I left Queens Park after finishing 6th in the first division as the board would not turn the club semi professional to meet my expectations. My talents have quickly been snapped up by lowly Aldershot Town in League 2 in England, so I will be pushing for promotion through the leagues………..similar to you and Vauxhall, although I have a head start.haha
Johnny Karp
7 декабря, 2010 at 17:27
Thanks for sharing your experience Cous, I hope that Gombala will be as good as he was in your game.
Sears
8 декабря, 2010 at 13:55
Well done Johnny. A month or two of consistent results should see you climb up the table!
Johnny Karp
8 декабря, 2010 at 14:31
Thanks Sears. The race is close though so a decent month of March might not be enough to clinch the title.
James
8 декабря, 2010 at 17:39
Johnny, ive been reading this whole series and i find it extremely interesting. One thing i did notice, which is on the transfer and business side of the story, is that it almost seems like pace is your main priority along with determination when you sign a player. Is this purposely like this or is it just the best you could find; and if it is and if i copied your story (sorry:)), should i try to find fast and determined players or the type of ones that suit the position e.g finidhing — striker?
Johnny Karp
8 декабря, 2010 at 19:14
You are right James, pace is one of my priorities, at least for full backs, wingers, strikers (and also for centre backs along with acceleration). Determination also is a key attribute, I like to have a determined and ambitious squad that fights for the ball and doesn’t get put down by hardships. There are a few other attributes that I monitor when signing a player, depending on his role, but I’ve already covered that in this post here: https://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2010/12/how-to-find-the-right-players-in-football-manager-2011-the-key-attributes/
Unfortunately some compromises have to be made at this level because you can’t really find the perfect players and get them to sign a contract for a 300 pounds per week :)
James
8 декабря, 2010 at 19:33
Okay, Thank-You for your advice. :)
Aguila
8 декабря, 2010 at 23:24
Forza Vauxhall!!
On the top of the league…. nicely done :)
Johnny Karp
9 декабря, 2010 at 05:49
Thanks Aguila. We’re not top of the league though.
Aguila
12 декабря, 2010 at 07:24
Meant 1st place at this time… ;)
True Football Manager
9 декабря, 2010 at 11:25
Excellent performance in the second season. Your and Ana’s stories are the most interesting here!
Johnny Karp
9 декабря, 2010 at 19:34
Thanks. We have other stories at least as interesting as those two, at least that’s my opinion.