The first game of the month was at home with 15th placed Hayes & Yeading, one of the most in-form teams in the league as they had three wins in a row. I had a pretty tricky situation in goal before the game, Adam Street was away with his national team, backup goalie James Dunn was injured, so I signed an emergency goalkeeper to see us through the next couple of games. On to the match then… We dominated the first half but we were struggling to convert possession into chances. We got lucky four minutes before the break when a shot from Akwasi Asante was deflected into the net but that luck turned against us in the second half as Hayes netted a similar goal. We could have won it with a late goal but Asante was not calm enough to convert when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
We had the FA Trophy third round match coming up and we had a good opportunity to advance to the next round as our opponents were Blue Square North side Guiseley. We controlled the game but we were rather wasteful again so centre back Fraser Kerr had to come to the rescue and see us through with a powerful corner kick header. We got a few thousand pounds in prize money for going through to the next round, that was a good breath of air for our budget.
Back to the more important league games, our next one was away at mid-table side Newport County. We had a decent first half, especially since our opponents were restricted to long shots and didn’t manage to get any of them on target. We also managed to take the lead on 23 minutes when a low cross from Omar Koroma was pushed in by left winger Sam Hart with a sliding finish. Things changed after the break, we found ourselves under pressure but survived with fair ease until the 70th minute. Then things changed dramatically, Newport fired in two goals in the space of three minutes and it was all over. We lost two of our last three games and we dropped into third place… We had to turn things around and fast!
We had a good chance to bounce back as our next game was at home with struggling 21st placed Forest Green, we had no choice but to win that game! We were not playing very well, our passes were not connecting anymore, but we did manage to take the lead when new signing Jacob Hronec fired in his first goal for the club on the stroke of half time. Omar Koroma netted his 10th goal of the season shortly after the break and we clinched the very important three points despite not having a good game.
Next up, an away game at 18th placed Macclesfield. I was hoping to get another win but the first half was a total nightmare. Macclesfield scored three goals inside the opening 24 minutes and even missed a penalty kick in the process! My players were looking like they were playing in slippers instead of football boots, it was an onslaught! As you can imagine I was furious at half time and I decided against making any substitutions: the same players that produced that shameful display had to turn things around. The strategy seemed to be working: Danny Uchechi netted his 20th goal of the season two minutes into the second half and then new striker Julius Gombala fired in a double to make it all square. We had another half an hour to win the game but unfortunately we missed no less than three huge chances… I was pleased with the fightback but I guess we dropped two points here…
The last league game of the month was a tough one as promotion contenders Gateshead were coming at Rivacre Park. We took the lead 24 minutes into the game when Michael Ball played a good assist form Akwasi Asante but we could have added another couple if Omar Koroma would have been more concentrated in front of goal (he missed the net even after dribbling past the goalkeeper on one occasion). Fortunately midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time with a beautiful shot from 20 yards out. Gateshead tried to fight back after the interval but we held firm and settled the game on a quick counter attack which saw Sam Hart heading in a Pietro Palladino cross.
We ended the month in third place, one point behind new leaders Luton and tied with runners up Histon. I guess a play-off spot is more or less in the bag but the title is there for the taking and I really wouldn’t want to go through a play-off at the end of the season…
We had one more game before the end of the month, the FA Trophy quarter final with Blue Square South side Ebbsfleet. We had a great chance to advance to the semi finals but our poor finishing nearly cost us the game. It was quite frustrating to watch but I was relieved to see Pietro Palladino heading in a stoppage time winner to get us through to the last four. It was his first goal of the season and I guess he picked the perfect moment to score it.
The good news is that we’re still in with a chance to win the league and the FA Trophy. The bad news is that we will have no less than nine games to play in March! We are going to meet Wrexham in the FA Trophy semi finals, I’m looking forward to that ;)
We’re going to be playing every three or four days for a full month and that will surely stretch our squad to its limits. Every single player will have his fair share of first team football and I hope they will be up to the task. March will make or break our season and hopefully we won’t have too many injuries added to the already precarious fitness situation caused by the crammed schedule. Thanks a lot for reading and thanks in advance for your good luck wishes, we’re going to need all the good fortune that we can get!
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.