Double Trouble

nastymiller · 10-28-2007, 05:30 PM

As a youngster, all I wanted to do was pull the red shirt of Rotherham United on. Feel the pride rush through my body walking down the whitewashed walls of the tunnel leading onto the pitch.

I never did, and why? Because I had two left feet and a head like a ten bob bit! I was rubbish, I could run all day, but when it came to staying onside, or timing tackles I was 100% rubbish.

My twin son's however had the engine their dad did, but they also knew how to play football! They had it all, they had just left school and signed contracts for Rotherham United and were looking forward to their first pre-season and friendly games.

How much Mark Robins rated my lads, time would tell. All I knew is that I was the proudest dad in the whole world!

I sat down in my living room and looked at the pre-season briefing Mark Robins had written about my two lads, looked and the pre-season friendlies and starting thinking about the journey me and my lads were about to take.

In fact - let me tell you all about it.

Mark Robins Report - The Twins

Elliott Davis-Wilkinson

16 years old, 11st 4lbs and can use both feet. Central Midfield player who has signed a contract worth £55 a week until 30.06.2010

Local lad who is pleased to have joined the club and has no plans for the future at the moment.

Decent young lad who is a natural player in the middle of the park, very strong with both feet.

Jake Davis-Wilkinson

16 years old, 13st 3lbs who is right footed. Striker who has signed a contract worth £55 a week until 30.06.2010

Local lad who is pleased to have joined the club and has no plans for the future at the moment.

Decent young lad who is a natural striker who is fairly strong on his left foot, but is very strong on his right.

Pre-Season Games

Rhyl - Away
Wolves - Home
Kidderminster - Away
Farnborough - Away
Lazio - Home
Northwich - Away

Having read Mr Robins thoughts on my boys and looking at the friendlies I was sure that they would get a run out, maybe against the likes of Kidderminster, Farnborough or Northwich. But only time will tell I said to myself.

*Editors note - FM2008 English leagues only - full database, have started unemployed - once given a job, both stories will run side by side. Enjoy everyone and please feedback with what is good and what is not.

nastymiller · 10-28-2007, 11:39 PM

Pre Season Report 2007

As a dad you sometimes want too much for your kids, sitting in the stands watching the team your lads play for is no fun. But then when they actualy play you would think it would be a joy! Oh let me tell you it is not.

Of all the games I expected the lads to play in they didn't! In fact only Jake got a run out in any of the games.

He came on for 29 mins against Lazio at Millmoor of all teams. Running around like a mad man, his body was full of adrenaline, completing only 1 of 3 passes and flying into tackles 5 times, and winning none of them. One flick on saw his power in the air,but that was about it. Swapping shirts at full time he was happy that he had shown his face to the Millmoor fathfull, but with a rating of 6 I doubt they would remmember the local lad.

And so, it was no doubt going to be a season of watching my boys in the U18's and hoping that one or both could break into the 2nd string.

nastymiller · 10-30-2007, 10:50 AM

Already August?

August came and went, you think life goes by quick as you get up day after day to do the same boring job. But keeping an eye on what your 16 year old twins are doing is another matter.

Have you eaten? Don't sit around doing nothing, where you going? What time will you be in? Nag, nag, nag and more nag from me and the mrs.

If you want to make it big, you have to work hard until the day you hang your boots up boys, was the message I was always giving out.

In regards a response, I was happy with both. Jake was on fire, 2 goals in his first 2 U18 games saw him rewarded with a place on the bence in the 2nd team against Notts County. He did get to grace the field, but was brought on in the 90th minute to run the clock down.

Elliott on the other hand had played in the same 2 U18 games, not setting the world alight and best known in the fans minds now for a booking in the opening game of the season against Carlise U18's.

Mark Robins had started talking to me about signing the boys on pro-contracts in the early year. I thought I had felt proud already, but man......wait until those pens were in the hands of the lads and signing that nice contract at the club of my dreams!

nastymiller · 10-30-2007, 10:28 PM

Bitter Sweet September

My first taste of super dooper joy, and my first taste of feeling gutted.

Jake carried on his super start to the season, hitting 4 goals, 1 assist and grabbing 2 man of the match awards in 4 more U18 games. He also got a 28 minute run out against Tranmere in the 2nd team.

Elliott however will be hoping he never has a month like he did this month. 3 U18 games saw 1 assist and 1 yellow card. Plus he picked up a strained neck against Liverpool U18's and then on his return against Newcastle U18's he picked up a thigh strain.

Mark Robins also told me that both my lads would be signing new contracts on the 1st of Jan 2008 - their birthdays!

nastymiller · 10-31-2007, 09:34 PM

Outstanding Ocober

What a month! Things just keep going from good to great.

First of all Elliott got back from injury to finally get a taste of 2nd string action. A busy month for him with 3 under 18 games and 3 2nd team games. Elliott managed to bag a yellow card, an assist and a goal in those 3 games. Whilst picking up a red card on his first start in the 2nd team, this on the back of a couple of subs apperances.

Jake on the other hand has already had a taste of 1st team action making his debut as a sub against Dag & Red in the 2nd division. Coming on with 12 minutes left he completed the 1 and only pass he tried, losing out on a header and being kicked up in the air once. Apart from the 1st team game, he played in 3 U18 games. For the 2nd string he played in 5 games scoring 2 goals and a man of the match award against Lincoln.

Overall a great month with both lads playing in the 2nd team on a regular basis and Jake getting a run out and being on the bench as an un used sub twice for the first team.

With the winter months coming thick and fast I hoped for the boys to stay fit and hopefully by the turn of the year more 1st team games will be in the history books for my lads.

Amaroq · 11-01-2007, 12:46 AM

Sweet start - you drew a belly-laugh from me with that second paragraph of the opening post, and its an intriguing concept. KUTGW!

Spav · 11-01-2007, 04:08 AM

I hope your boys go on to achieve great things. Good start. :thup:

nastymiller · 11-02-2007, 01:33 AM

Fan Mail November!

The boys had their first letters handed to them by the club this month. Amaroq was the first to write to the boys,more to laugh at the man who helped create them - but at least he had shown the time to write to them.

2nd letter was from Spav, whishing the boys to go on to bigger and better things.

Quote:

Replies to Amaroq and Spav,

Thanks for taking the time out to wish us well - oh, and laugh at our dad. We have some vidoe footage of him trying hard during a dads v son's game a few weeks ago. Two left feet? Worse then that - our sides and everyone else's are still aching.

On the playing front Jake was still playing, but poorly. He didn't play a full 90 minutes during the month and was rated as 5's or 6's - so November will be a month for him to forget. In total he played 3 U18 games with 1 goal, and 2 Reserve games.

Elliott on the other hand was on fire, 3 U18 games saw him grab a goal and his first man of the match award for the trophy room. He also played in 3 Reserve team games with a rating of 7 in each game. The red card from last month seems to have calmed him down and re-focused him.

Off the field the lads have been spending plenting of time with on loan Marcus Bean, the lads have took a shine to him and often I have come home to be dragged into a FIFA comp whislt the Mrs was running all over as hostess.

Just December to get through and on their 17th birthday's that contract signing day.

nastymiller · 11-03-2007, 09:31 PM

December Downer

The high's and low's just continue.

Not so much a low this month, but with the boys starting their season's off so well - it's sort of hard to take when nothing really happens.

Jake played in 5 U18 games with no goals, no assists, no nothing - and match rating sof 5 to 7 nothing really to get giddy about.

Elliott played in 4 U18 games and a 2nd team game, again no goals or assists but a couple of yellow cards saw him banned for the final U18 game of the month.

So the year ends, and 2008 is soon upon us. The lads will be signing contracts - how long for - who knows.

I recieved a call from Mark Robins who told me he would have a half year report ready for me for the turn of the year. With all the lads stats etc ready for me to look through - along with their earnings etc.

So bring on 2008, and lets see if Elliott can break into the 1st team. Or even a loan move for both the lads for 3 months would be good.

danny.harv · 11-03-2007, 09:49 PM

nastymiller - this is a very good start :thup: A highly original idea with a highly original idea. KUTGW :thup: