Warren — FM 2011 Hartlepool United Aug+Sep 2011/12

Hi all and welcome to the next instalment of my Hartlepool United side. After the ins and outs of the transfer market it was now time to see which teams would float and which teams would sink in the first two months of the season. I would have a total of 12 games in the first two months and I was hoping to hit the ground running as soon as the first game of the season kicks off.

August

V Cardiff

The season kicks off with a game against Cardiff at Victoria Park. It was the first championship game this club have ever seen and I was hoping to make it memorable. I feared for the worst when Cardiff took an early lead and I thought that this was the start of what is going to be a long, hard season. The goal seemed to galvanise my players and we dominated proceedings and we got an equaliser just before half time from debutant Lee Mair. We ended up winning the game when Joe Keenan scored from the edge of the box to make the game 2-1. This is how the game finished and I was ecstatic and thrilled with the performance.

V Morecombe

A slightly weakened side was put out against League 2 Morecombe and it was enough to ensure a 3-1 victory with goals coming from Henaini and a brace from Brown. We were in the next round were we will play recently promoted Middlesbrough in what is sort of a local derby.

V Reading

In our second league game of the season we were facing another team that was looking for a promotion spot by the end of the season so I was anxious to see how well we could play against team. I shouldn’t have worried and we brilliantly won our second game of the season thanks to a first goal in the blue and white for Luke Moore.

V Watford

We were having a good start to the season but I knew we would have to keep this going for as long as possible. Next up was another former premier league side in Watford and against I was favourites to lose this game and for a third game running I proved the bookies wrong. A goal from Henaini was the difference this time and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing a team this is favourites to be relegated and have maximum points out of the first three games.

V Middlesbrough

We were unsurprisingly knocked out of the 2^nd round of the league cup by a superior Middlesbrough side but I was pleased in the way my team acquitted themselves against a side that had more talent. I would now have to concentrate on the league until the FA Cup comes round in January.

V Millwall

I came crashing down to earth with a massive bump and we were thrashed 5-0 by Millwall with a hat-trick from Steve Morrison. It was a painful loss especially with the start that I had made to the season. It was a game Millwall dominated from start to finish and deserved to win.

V QPR

The final game of August saw us face QPR who are in real life currently top of the Championship table. Adel Taarabt gave QPR the lead but we hit back start away and Eyeman Henaini scored it stay like that till half time and we took the lead early in the second when Henaini got his second of the match. Unfortunately we couldn’t hold on for a win but got a well-deserved point after Kaspers Gorkss scored from a header from a Taarabt corner.

Performance of the month

v Cardiff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9kHhmIKGt4

September

v Sheff Utd

The first game of the month saw another tricky match against Sheff United how are managed by former Newcastle hero Gary Speed. It was game where we were going to have to fight for every ball and win every tackle. It was an inspired performance and it was a well deserved 2-0 win and the unexpected results just kept on coming. Goals from Evans and Henaini settled the win for the Pools.

v Bristol City

A disappointing 1-0 loss against Bristol City and it seemed that the inconsistency that had nearly cost me a place in this league last season was starting to make its return. I was wishing that this wasn’t going to be the case.

v Leicester

Next up was Leicester and by the end of the game I definitely felt that this game was one point gained as we they were the better side for large periods of the match and deserved the three points but Henaini made sure that I could add another point to my tally for the fight against relegation.

v Southampton

Southampton were the next team to visit Victoria Park and they wanted revenge for my Hartlepool team getting their final promotion spot on the last day of the season. The revenge would have to wait for another day as I got all three points from the Saints. The goals came from Brown and Silerbauer.

v Blackpool

The final match in this post features a game against a side that was recently relegated from the premier league. This would be a tough game but when has that stopped me so far this season. It was certainly an enjoyable match with Blackpool winning the game by the odd goal in five. They took a 3-1 lead going into half-time but we threatened a comeback but it was all in vain as the game finished 3-2 Blackpool.

Performance of the month

V Sheff Utd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h_1MSYf4us

Aug+Sep Results

I had an excellent start to the season and if we continue this we should have absolutely no worries in surviving in this division. I was hoping for more of the same from the next few months.

Table

A total of 17 points had been taken from the first 10 games of the season we were already 9 points away from the relegation places and I was just hoping that this form could continue for the rest of the season.

Thanks for reading

Warren